We love true crime documentaries just as much as the next person, but sometimes we want the shocking twists and turns that only a fictional story can provide, one where we haven't already heard the ending on the news or read up on its main players in the paper.
That's where the best detective series on Netflix come in (we also have the best shows on Netflix round-up if you want a broader look).
I'm a huge fan of detective dramas but of course, I've not seen every detective series on Netflix so other members of the What to Watch team have helped make this selection. We regularly update the list and it's also worth noting that the article gives more weight to recently added shows just because you're less likely to have watched these. We're hoping you read the list and gain a great idea for your next watch.
These 12 crime and mystery series keep audiences on their toes as investigators search for clues, follow leads and hunt down the bad guy (or in some cases we're following the bad guys!).
From Swedish-set thriller The Åre Murders to period-piece heart-racers like Mindhunter, here are riveting detective series you should add to your next Netflix watch list. At the time of the latest update, all of the shows listed are available on Netflix in the US and UK.
The best detective series on Netflix
The Åre Murders
The Åre Murders is a perfect slice of Nordic Noir that I really loved. There's something about the snowy setting that adds to the enjoyment of this five-part thriller based on two books, "Hidden in Snow" and "Hidden in Shadows" by Viveca Sten. The first three parts tells the story of "Hidden Snow", while the final two episodes focus on "Hidden in Shadows". We are introduced to Hanna, a cop from Stockholm whose life is falling apart. Her boyfriend has dumped her leaving her homeless and she's facing a complaint at work. So she takes a break at her rich sister's beautiful snowy retreat in Åre. However, when a young woman vanishes she's drawn into the case and teams up with reluctant Daniel, who doesn't trust Hana. It's a really good watch and the episodes zip past.
Why we love The Åre Murders: Swedish actor Carla Sehn is superb as troubled cop Hanna, who is a really engaging lead character. Great plots too.
Missing You
Missing You is another gripping adaptation from the master of crime thrillers, Harlan Coben. The story follows Kat Donovan whose fiancé Josh went missing eleven years ago, only for her to stumble upon him on a dating app. But, as always, things aren't as they seem and from that moment on Kat's life is turned upside and the twists and turns get more intense and bizarre. As Kat delves into what might have happened to Josh she soon unearths a link from a shocking present-day crime to the tragic death of her father more than a decade before. But as Kat tries to work out if the cases are connected, the grim reality is soon revealed and nothing can prepare Kat for the truth.
Why we love Missing You: This is a binge-worthy crime drama at its very best. Every episode is packed with twists and turns that will have you gripped right until the very end when a huge revelation will take your breath away.
The Breakthrough
The Breakthough is a detective drama that makes you think. The mini-series is based on the nonfiction book of the same name, about Sweden's second-largest murder investigation to date. The plot, which is fictional but inspired by actual events, sees a double murder go unsolved for 16 years. Detective John Sundin is in charge of the case and just when it looks like the murders will never get solved he discovers an expert who believes he can use a combination of genealogy and DNA to track down the killer. What The Breakthrough really does well is show the effect of the murders on the families of the victims making you even more desperate for the killer to be caught.
Why we love The Breakthrough: The DNA genealogy side is fascinating and once that's introduced to the story the whole drama is lifted. It's even more interesting when you know this was inspired by a true story.
Bodies
You get four detective stories for the price of one in Bodies, a time-travel murder mystery based on the graphic novel by Si Spencer. When a dead body appears in the streets of London, four detectives in four different time periods of England find themselves investigating the same murder: Alfred Hillinghead (Kyle Soller) in 1890, Charles Whiteman (Jacob Fortune-Lloyd) in 1941, Shahara Hasan (Amaka Okafor) in present-day 2023, and Iris Maplewood (Shira Haas) 30 years in the future.
Why we love Bodies: Engrossing mystery packed with great performances including from Stephen Graham, an actor who never disappoints.
Mindhunter
Though sadly only two seasons this psychological crime drama packs in plenty of chills and thrills. Set in the late 1970s, the story trails two FBI agents, Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), who alongside psychologist Wendy Carr (Anna Torv) launch a research project to interview imprisoned serial killers in the hopes that getting inside the murderers' minds will help solve future cases.
Why we love Mindhunter: While we're gutted this show only has two seasons, we love both the setting and how you get lost in the story.
Lupin
Inspired by the adventures of master of disguise Arsène Lupin, this French thriller is a cracker, with the most recent series, Lupin Part 3, bringing with it even more illicit hijinks from Paris-bred gentleman thief Assane Diop (Omar Sy). Throughout the clever crime series, Assane works to prove his father innocent of a 25-year-old crime, as police detective Youssef Guedira (Soufiane Guerrab) pursues the con man using his knowledge of the classic Arsène Lupin books.
Why we love Lupin: The Paris setting is a bonus, plus it's witty, clever, and absorbing.
The Sinner
In this Golden Globe-nominated anthology, police detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman) investigates a chilling new homicide each season. That means while Pullman remains as the connecting thread between the stories, the rest of the cast is changed up for each edition. The first explores the startling stabbing crimes of young mother Cora Tannetti (Jessica Biel); the second, the murder of a couple by their 11-year-old son; the third begins with an investigation into a suspicious car accident; and the fourth and final season finds the now-retired detective at the center of a tragedy himself.
Why we love The Sinner: This is a quality show with a great cast and terrific plots.
Collateral
A four-part story that takes place over four days, this British serial features Carey Mulligan as Detective Inspector Kip Glaspie, assigned to investigate the shooting of a delivery driver in inner-city south London after he dropped off a pizza to Karen Mars (Billie Piper), the ex-wife of the Shadow Minister for Transport David Mars, MP (John Simm). A wider web of spies, smugglers and other shady characters is discovered as Kip tries to untangle the case.
Why we love Collateral: Collateral is BBC drama at its very best. Carey Mulligan has of course gone on to more famous roles, but she's never better than in this fabulous 2018 crime drama.
Unbelievable
Based on a harrowing true crime, this eight-episode Netflix miniseries recounts the real-life story of Marie Adler (played by Kaitlyn Dever), a teenage sexual assault survivor in Washington who is accused of fabricating reports that she was raped by a masked intruder in her home. After noticing a pattern of similar intruder rapes, two female detectives, Grace Rasmussen (Toni Collette) and Karen Duvall (Merritt Wever), work together to methodically track down the culprit and shine a spotlight on a horrifying miscarriage of justice.
Why we love Unbelievable: The story really draws you in and it has such an amazing cast.
Seven Seconds
A streaming adaptation of the Russian movie The Major, this provocative Netflix drama from The Killing creator Veena Sud stars Beau Knapp as Pete Jablonski, a white New Jersey police officer who accidentally hits a 15-year-old Black boy with his car on the way to the hospital to meet his pregnant wife. The crooked cop enlists his fellow law enforcement officers to help him cover up the hit-and-run. That is until an investigator (Michael Mosley) and assistant district attorney (Clare-Hope Ashitey) start delving deeper into the incident and unlock an underbelly of social injustice and racial division.
Why we love Seven Seconds: A really interesting idea for a series and one that makes you desperate to find out what happens next.
Narcos
This fast-paced, three-season Netflix series is centered on the rise and fall of notorious Colombian narcoterrorist and drug kingpin Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura), the leader of the Medellin Cartel who became a billionaire through the production and distribution of cocaine. The show is told from the perspective of American DEA agent Steve Murphy (Boyd Holbrook), who is tasked with bringing down Escobar and is partnered with fellow agent Javier Peña (Pedro Pascal). Fun fact: the real-life Peña was a consultant on the show.
Why we love Narcos: We love the pace and thrills of this excellent series.
Peaky Blinders
Birmingham gangster Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) encounters more nefarious antagonists as the years go on in this BBC crime drama. But in its debut season, Peaky Blinders is a classic cat-and-mouse story between the ambitious Brummie criminal and law enforcement, specifically Chief Inspector Chester Campbell (Sam Neill) and undercover agent Grace Burgess (Annabelle Wallis), who is posing as a barmaid in the Blinders' local pub to get information on Tommy and his illicit operations. Things get even more complicated for the crime boss when he starts to fall for Grace and the lines between love and the law get blurred.
Why we love Peaky Blinders: We're slightly pushing the detective genre here, but Peaky Blinders is just so good it's worth it! Cillian Murphy is mesmeric as Tommy Shelby, while Sam Neill gives a chilling performance as Chief Inspector Chester Campbell. If you've somehow missed this series, then get stuck in!
