The series is based on Laura Lippman's novel of the same name, which drew inspiration from two real-life murders the author knew of in her youth.

The novel's fictional cases were inspired by the 1969 abduction and murder of 11-year-old Esther Lebowitz, a white Jewish girl whose case received widespread media coverage, and the death of 33-year-old Black bartender Shirley Parker, whose body was found in the Druid Hill Park Reservoir fountain and whose story was only reported in African-American newspapers like the Baltimore Afro-American.

The miniseries was greenlit in March 2021 with Natalie Portman and Lupita Nyong'o originally set to star, with Alma Har'el directing every episode.

Lupita Nyong'o exited the series in May 2022 and was replaced by Moses Ingram the following month.

Filming began in April 2022 on location in Baltimore.

Production briefly paused in late August 2022 after the crew reportedly received threats of violence while filming in the city, though a police investigation found the threats to be unsubstantiated.

On Rotten Tomatoes the series holds a 75% approval rating with an average score of 7/10 based on 65 critic reviews, while Metacritic gave it 61/100 based on 31 critics, indicating 'generally favorable' reviews.

Natalie Portman received widespread critical acclaim for her performance, and the show earned a nomination at the 23rd Visual Effects Society Awards for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode.