There are few TV shows as consistently compelling as a mystery series. Though lighthearted crime drama TV shows are a fun way to pass the time, there’s something uniquely enrapturing about a series that creates a foreboding atmosphere and imparts a sense of dread to the viewer. These series typically incorporate horror and thriller elements into the story and have a cohesive visual style that creates a moody feel as much as the plot. For audiences looking to be immersed in a narrative unafraid to get serious and almost surreal, these shows are perfect.
It’s impossible to guess the killer right away in these murder mysteries, as the stories are full of twists and turns that leave the audience guessing until the end. While the crime aspects are vital to the plot, these series are character-driven, focusing on the detectives who take on the investigation and unravel them. The detectives are often just as flawed as their criminal counterparts and are looking to heal a piece of themselves by delivering justice to the victims. Of course, this rarely goes as planned, and the protagonists get sucked into larger conspiracies than they could imagine.
10The Sinner (2017-2021)
Bill Pullman leads this unconventional crime drama
The Sinner
Thriller
The Sinner is a crime anthology series created by Derek Simonds that ran for four seasons on the USA Network. Bill Pullman is the star in each season, which all examine a different crime committed by the unlikeliest of culprits. The series was originally supposed to be an eight-part mini-series, but the success of season 1 caused USA to continue it as an anthology.
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CastJessica Biel , Bill Pullman
Release DateAugust 2, 2017
Seasons4
NetworkNetflix
Streaming Service(s)Netflix
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Bill Pullman is one of the only consistent parts of The Sinner, other than the fact that every crime he investigates is even more unsettling than the last. This anthology series sees Pullman’s character, Harry Ambrose, look into unexpected crimes that aren’t what they seem on the surface. Typically, Pullman will have an inkling about who committed the crime or even a confession. However, his job is to find out what drove them to these acts and if there’s a larger conspiracy afoot.
Though Pullman anchors the series, the performances of each season’s new cast can’t be overlooked for how much they change the series with every installment.
This means that Ambrose enters every investigation from the perspective that he can’t trust anyone, establishing a sense of uncertainty from the outset. Though Pullman anchors the series, the performances of each season’s new cast can’t be overlooked for how much they change the series with every installment. While Ambrose might be investigating a crime no matter what, each location and the communities he enters are unique and force Ambrose to crack them open.
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Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Sinner (2017–2021)
92%
74%
9Sharp Objects (2018)
The Southern Gothic genre is pushed to the extreme in Sharp Objects
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9.5/10
Sharp Objects
Crime
Drama
Mystery
Sharp Objects is an HBO thriller mini-series that centers on reporter Camille Preaker, a woman with a dark past returning to her hometown. Returning to Wind Gap, Missouri, to investigate two murders, she takes up at her childhood home, where she must now contend with her mother, who will force her to reckon with her past.
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CastAmy Adams , Patricia Clarkson , Chris Messina , Eliza Scanlen , Matt Craven , Henry Czerny , Taylor John Smith , Madison Davenport , Miguel Sandoval , Will Chase
Release DateJuly 8, 2018
Seasons1
Creator(s)Marti Noxon
Based on the book by Gillian Flynn, Amy Adams gives a career-making performance in Sharp Objects, the Southern Gothic mystery that pulls no punches. Adams plays Camille, a journalist who returns to her hometown in Missouri in the wake of a rash of murders. While solving the murders is a large part of the story, Camille’s relationship with her mother and sister plays a huge role in the plot’s progression as the audience learns about Camille’s upbringing and what’s led to her issues.
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The final twist in the last moments of Sharp Objects is so effective that it throws the entire show into question and makes the audience reconsider what they thought was true. Planning a twist this arresting is difficult, but Sharp Objects pulls it off brilliantly and ensures that the viewer is just as shocked as Camille. Adams is the essential piece of Sharp Objects that makes the show work. The positive reviews for Nightbitch, Adam’s new movie, are an exciting development and bode well for audiences and critics to remember what an amazing performer she is.
Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Sharp Objects (2018)
92%
83%
8True Detective (2014–Present)
While each installment of True Detective is compelling, nothing beats season 1
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9.2/10
True Detective
TV-MA
True Detective is an anthology series exploring intricate criminal investigations through multiple timelines. Each season examines dark personal and professional secrets revealed during the course of solving complex cases, highlighting the impact of crime on individuals both within and outside the law enforcement community.
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CastMatthew McConaughey , Colin Farrell , Mahershala Ali , Woody Harrelson , Vince Vaughn , Stephen Dorff , Michelle Monaghan , Rachel McAdams , Carmen Ejogo , Michael Potts , Taylor Kitsch , Scoot McNairy , Tory Kittles , Kelly Reilly , Ray Fisher , Chris Kerson , Ritchie Coster , Christopher James Baker , Afemo Omilami , James Frain , Abigail Spencer , Jodie Foster , Kali Reis , Fiona Shaw , Finn Bennett , Isabella Star LaBlanc , Christopher Eccleston , John Hawkes , Dana Gourrier , Madison Wolfe , J.D. Evermore
Release DateJanuary 12, 2014
Seasons4
NetworkHBO Max
Streaming Service(s)Hulu , Max
WritersNic Pizzolatto
DirectorsCary Fukunaga
ShowrunnerNic Pizzolatto
Creator(s)Issa López , Nic Pizzolatto
Despite its critical acclaim and prestigious reputation, True Detective hasn’t been the most consistent series since its premiere in 2014. It’s widely agreed upon that the show peaked in season 1 when Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson teamed up to bring the terrifying story to life. However, season 3 and Night Country have successfully brought True Detective back to the forefront of the cultural conversation and encouraged viewers to revisit the seminal series.
Related
10 Surreal Crime TV Shows That Border On Absurd
Surrealism is often used in crime shows that intend to trick and mislead the audience, and while this can disconnect from reality, it’s intriguing.
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The settings are a large part of what makes True Detective effectively thrilling, with sparsely populated corners of the U.S. serving as the backdrop for the horrible crimes. However, the detectives themselves are often as surreal and inscrutable as the criminals they’re investigating. Unsurprisingly, spending so much time entrenched in violent crimes leads the characters down dark and uncertain paths. While this is detrimental to the characters, it makes for amazing television as the audience watches the case and the people unravel.
Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
True Detective (2014–Present)
79%
58%
7Mindhunter (2017–2019)
With only two seasons under its belt, Mindhunter is unforgettably dark
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10/10
Mindhunter
TV-MA
Crime
Drama
Thriller
From executive producers David Fincher and Charlize Theron comes Mindhunter, a series that chronicles the founding of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit used to track and apprehend serial killers. Mindhunter follows Agent Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) as they work to establish a framework for understanding the minds of some of America’s most dangerous serial killers. Mindhunter adapts a number of true crime stories, including the BTK murders and the notorious Co-Ed Killer, Edmund Kemper.
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CastJonathan Groff , Holt McCallany , Hannah Gross , Cotter Smith , Anna Torv , Stacey Roca , Cameron Britton , Michael Cerveris , Joe Tuttle , Lauren Glazier
Release DateOctober 13, 2017
Streaming Service(s)Netflix
WritersJoe Penhall
DirectorsDavid Fincher
ShowrunnerJoe Penhall
It’s no surprise that David Fincher is one of the key creatives behind Mindhunter, as the iconic director has contributed to the modern conception of the thriller with movies like Zodiac and Seven. Though it’s a tragedy that there are only two seasons of the brilliantly crafted show, they pack a punch and have Fincher’s characteristic patience and attention to detail. The psychology of crimes is at the forefront of Mindhunter, as the series tracks the early stages of the behavioral analysis unit of the FBI.
Mindhunter does a great job of drawing the audience into the killers’ traps just as deeply.
The end of Mindhunter is a Netflix TV show cancelation that hurt a lot, and there are no plans for Fincher and the cast to reunite for a third season. This means that audiences will always be wondering about the fate of the complex and troubled characters at the heart of Mindhunter, like Holden (Jonathan Groff), who was uniquely susceptible to the serial killers he interviewed. However, Mindhunter does a great job of drawing the audience into the killers’ traps just as deeply.
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Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Mindhunter (2017–2019)
97%
95%
6Broadchurch (2013–2017)
This British drama successfully keeps the audience off the trail
Created by Chris Chibnall, Broadchurch is set in the fictional Dorset town of the same name and follows Ellie Miller and Alec Hardy, two police detectives who are tasked with solving the death of an 11-year-old boy killed under mysterious circumstances. The first and second seasons of the show focus on the case and its fallout in the community, with the third season focusing on a new case. Olivia Coleman and David Tennant star as Ellie and Alec.
CastDavid Tennant , Olivia Colman , Jodie Whittaker , Carolyn Pickles , Andrew Buchan
Release DateMarch 4, 2013
Seasons3
Streaming Service(s)Amazon Prime Video
WritersChris Chibnall
DirectorsDavid Tennant
ShowrunnerChris Chibnall
A tragic murder that disrupts the peace of a small town is not a new conceit for a murder mystery, but Broadchurch refreshes the story and makes it new. David Tennant and Olivia Colman star as the opposite detectives who pair up to solve the murder of a local boy. Of course, in such a small town, word travels fast, and Colman’s Ellie is a longtime resident of the town, creating a conflict of interest. However, Broadchurch interrogates how well we know our neighbors and the people we love.
Though there are moments of humor and breaks in the tension, the reveal of the killer at the end of Broadchurch season 1 sets the rest of the series on a grim and twisting path. Broadchurch season 1 is the tightest installment of the show, but every season has something to offer and tackles the darkness that hides just below the surface of seemingly idyllic communities. The beautiful seaside setting juxtaposes the grisly murder and the lengths people will go to keep their secrets buried.
Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Broadchurch (2013–2017)
92%
91%
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5Under The Bridge (2024)
Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone make an unforgettable pair in Under the Bridge
Based on the book by Rebecca Godfrey, Under the Bridge is a 2024 true crime series that explores the murder of a teenaged girl named Reena Virk through the testimonies of her accused killers.
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CastRiley Keough , Izzy G , Chloe Guidry , Ezra Faroque Khan , Archie Panjabi , Vritika Gupta , Javon Walton , Aiyana Goodfellow , Lily Gladstone , Anoop Desai
Release DateApril 17, 2024
Seasons1
Streaming Service(s)Hulu
ShowrunnerSamir Mehta , Liz Tigelaar
Under the Bridge joins the ranks of Hulu’s best true crime drama TV shows and successfully adapts the real-life story while being respectful of the people involved. Riley Keough plays Rebecca Godfrey, the woman who wrote the book the show is based on, with Lily Gladstone joining her as the detective Cam Bentland, who becomes romantically involved with Godfrey. These two adults attempt to unpack the death of a teenage girl and uncover the deadly perils of adolescence in their town.
It’s almost unbelievable what Under the Bridge discovers about the cruelty that young people inflict upon each other and how far bullying can go. As she investigates the case, Keough’s Rebecca and Gladstone’s Cam both grapple with their personal demons and the traumatic history of their home. Taking place in British Columbia, much of the series utilizes the gorgeous natural landscape of the town while simultaneously showing its darker parts. This sets the scene for the budding romance and tough investigation to commence.
Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Under the Bridge (2024)
86%
77%
4The Night Of (2016)
The inherent flaws with criminal prosecution are exposed by this show
The Night Of
Drama
Crime
The Night of is a TV mini-series revolving around Nasir ‘Naz’ Khan, a young college student who, after partying with a woman, finds her stabbed to death in his room the following morning. Riz Ahmed stars as Naz alongside John Turturro as his lawyer and Michael K. Williams as Freddy Knight, an influential inmate at Rikers Island.
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CastRiz Ahmed , Xavier Cadeau , David Chen , Chris Bryant , Syam M. Lafi , Reginald L. Barnes , Poorna Jagannathan , Lord Jamar , John Turturro , Amara Karan
Release DateJune 24, 2016
Seasons1
NetworkHBO Max
Streaming Service(s)Max , Hulu , Netflix
WritersJames Marsh
DirectorsJames Marsh
Mystery series are exceptionally good at tapping into deeper social and cultural issues through the lens of a crime. This is the case in The Night Of, which follows the prosecution of Nasir Khan, played by a critically lauded Riz Ahmed, after he wakes up to find the woman next to him dead with no memory of the night before. Throughout the story, the failures of the criminal justice system and the built-in discrimination that leads to people of color and those with limited financial resources being unfairly imprisoned and targeted.
Unlike other mysteries, The Night Of is just as much about the legal process and seeing Nasir set free as it is about catching the true killer.
It’s a tragic tale that presents few happy endings or silver linings, as few people step up to help Nasir, and his time in prison has detrimental effects on his health. Unlike other mysteries, The Night Of is just as much about the legal process and seeing Nasir set free as it is about catching the true killer. However, the audience becomes just as unsure as Nasir about his innocence and the part he played in the woman’s death.
Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Night Of (2016)
94%
93%
3A Murder At The End Of The World (2023)
Emma Corrin leads this updated version of a whodunit
A Murder at the End of the World
Drama
Mystery
Thriller
A Murder at the End of the World is an FX psychological thriller created and directed by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij. The show centers on Darby Hart, an amateur detective who is invited to a billionaire’s remote location only to be forced to solve a murder. A Murder at the End of the World stars Emma Corrin, Brit Marling, and Clive Owen.
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CastEmma Corrin , Clive Owen , Brit Marling , Harris Dickinson , Alice Braga , Joan Chen , Raúl Esparza , Jermaine Fowler
Release DateNovember 14, 2023
Seasons1
NetworkFX
Streaming Service(s)Hulu
WritersZal Batmanglij , Brit Marling , Cherie Dimaline , Rebecca Roanhorse , Melanie Marnich
DirectorsZal Batmanglij , Brit Marling
ShowrunnerZal Batmanglij , Brit Marling
Creator(s)Zal Batmanglij , Brit Marling
There are plenty of well-crafted whodunit murder mysteries for audiences to watch from different eras, but A Murder at the End of the World attempts to bring technology and contemporary sensibilities to the genre. Emma Corrin stars as Darby Hart, a detective and hacker who must uncover the secrets of a reclusive billionaire. Artificial intelligence and its role in humanity’s future is discussed in A Murder at the End of the World, which uses its new age themes and stylization to great effect.
Brit Marling is one of the minds behind A Murder at the End of the World, along with Zal Batmanglij, and it makes sense that the series is so meta-textual and complex, as they also created the sci-fi thriller The OA. Though A Murder at the End of the World doesn’t hit the same heights as The OA, it’s still a propulsive mystery that leaves audiences questioning their own biases and beliefs by the end of the narrative.
Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
A Murder at the End of the World (2023)
89%
88%
2Under The Banner Of Heaven (2022)
A detective’s faith is challenged by the horrible death of a young woman
Under the Banner of Heaven
TV-MA
Crime
Drama
Mystery
Under the Banner of Heaven is a true crime series based on Jon Krakauer’s book and stars Andrew Garfield as Detective Jeb Pyre. Jeb, a religious man, works alongside another detective, Bill Taba. The two attempt to discover the truth behind a murder traced to Mormonism, igniting contentious religious discourse during the case.
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CastAndrew Garfield , Daisy Edgar-Jones , Sam Worthington , Denise Gough , Wyatt Russell , Billy Howle , Chloe Pirrie , Seth Numrich
Release DateApril 28, 2022
Seasons1
Streaming Service(s)Hulu , AppleTV+ , Dis
WritersDustin Lance Black
DirectorsDustin Lance Black
ShowrunnerDustin Lance Black
Andrew Garfield and Daisy Edgar-Jones play the dual protagonists in Under the Banner of Heaven, even though they exist in parallel timelines. Garfield’s character, Jeb Pyre, is a detective who investigates the murder of Edgar-Jones’s Brenda Lafferty, who is seemingly the victim of a group of extremist men within her church. The series flashes between Brenda’s experiences leading up to her death, the detective work from the conflicted Jeb, and the founding of the Church of the Latter-day Saints.
If anything, it’s even more affecting to see the inevitable fate of Brenda draw closer and witness how much her experience changes Jeb and his faith in the church.
Though the series is based on true events, and it’s easy to see where the story is going, this doesn’t make it any less compelling to watch it unfold. If anything, it’s even more affecting to see the inevitable fate of Brenda draw closer and witness how much her experience changes Jeb and his faith in the church. This series is a great example of a show that explores higher questions of faith within a gripping mystery.
Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)
87%
82%
1The Outsider (2020)
Stephen King’s novel is made even more chilling
The Outsider (2020)
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Cynthia Erivo might be getting a lot of attention today for her upcoming role in the Wicked movie, but she’s lent her skills to a variety of genres before this. In the miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s book, Erivo plays Holly Gibney, a private detective who investigates the case, with Jason Bateman and Ben Mendelsohn starring alongside her. Bateman also served as the director of a few of the episodes and has been lauded for his ability to capture the thrills and terror of King’s work.
King’s work is notoriously difficult to bring to life onscreen since there are always surreal and supernatural elements that the series must balance with the gritty reality of the crimes. However, in terms of atmosphere, this mystery series hits all the marks and is elevated by its strong performances. Like many tragic shows, the death of a young boy is at the heart of the small town’s conspiracy, which makes the story all the more intense and upsetting.
Series
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Outsider (2020)
91%
82%
