The series is based on Kathleen Barber's 2017 debut novel Are You Sleeping, but unlike the book, the show shifts the main role to podcaster Poppy Parnell, played by Octavia Spencer.

Apple announced it was developing the series based on the novel on January 3, 2018, and gave it a straight-to-series order for ten episodes on May 2, 2018.

The series was executive produced by a notable team including Octavia Spencer via her Orit Entertainment, Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter through Hello Sunshine, and Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and Kristen Campo through Chernin Entertainment.

Actress Moon Bloodgood was originally cast in a main role (Cath Min) and had already filmed the first four episodes before dropping out; her scenes were reshot with Katherine LaNasa, whose character was reworked into a new role called Noa Havilland.

Lizzy Caplan, Aaron Paul, and Elizabeth Perkins all reportedly signed one-year deals for the first season.

Principal photography for season one took place in Los Angeles starting June 25, 2018 and wrapped on December 12, 2018.

Filming of the second season was briefly delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a planned shoot at Leimert Park in February 2021 was postponed after local protests against the filming; production then moved to the Arts District in Los Angeles for April 2021.

The soundtrack was composed by John Paesano and released by Lakeshore Records on the same day as the series premiere, December 6, 2019.

The episode titles of season 3 are drawn from a poem.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 28% approval rating based on 29 critic reviews, with critics noting the true-crime plot was less engaging than the surrounding family drama.