40 Best Crime Drama Shows to Put Your Detective Skills to Work

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Do you identify as an armchair sleuth? Whether you're into true crime podcasts like Ree, or you'd rather curl up with a suspenseful murder mystery book or mystery thriller movie, there’s nothing like trying to crack the case from the comfort of your own living room. Another great way to get your thrills and chills is by binge-watching the best crime drama shows.

It seems like some of these have been on forever. Olivia Benson is practically a member of the family at this point! Others have unfortunately been cancelled (justice for CSI and Criminal Minds!!!) but still shouldn't be overlooked when you're on the hunt for something to watch on a rainy Saturday.

There's a surprising amount of variety here, too. Some series like NCIS and Blue Bloods are procedurals where they catch a culprit in every episode. Others like True Detective follow one specific case for an entire season, and will leave you tossing and turning as you consider all the possible theories. And there's no shortage of character studies about troubled detectives solving small-town murders on this list (hi, Mare of Easttown, Happy Valley, and Broadchurch).

So are you ready to find your newest crime obsession? Grab your evidence bag and get to it!

The Killing

This compelling cop show based on the Danish television series Forbrydelsen follows homicide detectives Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) and Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman) as they try to solve the murder of a teenage girl, among other crimes.

Unforgotten

If there's a seemingly uncrackable cold case in London, DCI Cassie Stuart (Nicola Walker) and DI Sunny Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) are on the job. Each of the five seasons in this critically acclaimed series revolves around a new murder mystery.

The Fall

Serial killer Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan) has been one step ahead of the police for some time—but it looks like he's finally met his match in Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson).

The Sinner

A day at beach turns fatal when a young mother, Cora (Jessica Biel), attacks another beachgoer for no apparent reason. Detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman)s slowly unravels Cora's story, ultimately uncovering the shocking reason behind her crime.

Murdoch Mysteries

Are you a fan of both murder mysteries and period pieces? Then you're sure to love this Canadian drama about William Murdoch, a police detective solving murder cases in Toronto, Ontario in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Unbelievable

Inspired by true events, this heartbreaking Netflix miniseries tells the story of a young woman charged with lying about rape, and two female detectives determined to prove she was telling the truth.

The Rookie

We love a good police procedural, and this one based on real-life LAPD officer William Norcross is no exception. Nathan Fillion stars as 40-something officer John Nolan, who becomes the oldest rookie at the Los Angeles Police Department.

You

Meet Joe Goldberg: an avid reader, a true romantic, and, yes, a serial killer. Prepare to be as obsessed with this addictive Netflix thriller as Joe is with his love interests—or should we say victims?

Magpie Murders

This Masterpiece series based on the bestselling book of the same name follows a mystery book editor turned amateur sleuth who gets drawn into a real-life murder.

The Nurse

When relatively healthy patients start to die in a Danish hospital, one nurse grows suspicious that another might be behind it all. This Netflix thriller is based on horrifying true events that unfolded between 2012 and 2015.

Mare of Easttown

Kate Winslet's spellbinding performance (not to mention her mastery of the Philly accent) made this story about a troubled detective investigating the murder of a young woman in a small town must-watch TV.

Broadchurch

This slow-burning British mystery series about two detectives investigating the murder of an 11-year-old boy will keep you guessing until the last episode. Over the course of three acclaimed seasons, Broadchurch set the new standard for police procedurals.

Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story

Season 2 of the true crime anthology series Dirty John tells the story of Betty Broderick, a San Diego socialite who killed her ex-husband and his new wife in 1989. Amanda Peet's nuanced performance as a woman scorned will leave you reeling.

Happy Valley

There's nothing "happy" about this award-winning series that centers on a strong-willed police sergeant seeking justice for her late daughter. But what it lacks in sunniness it makes up for in suspense, dark humor, and a spectacular performance from star Sarah Lancashire.

Cruel Summer

This teen thriller anthology series is full of twists and turns and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final shocking moment. It follows two teenage girls: a beloved popular girl who one day disappears without a trace, and the awkward outcast who seemingly takes over her life.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Dun, dun! Mariska Hargitay is the heroic Olivia Benson, who leads a squad of detectives taking on the most heinous criminals in New York City.

NCIS

There’s a reason NCIS has been around for 17 seasons and has multiple spinoffs. Mark Harmon and the rest of the cast make every episode about the Naval Criminal Investigative Service an adventure.

True Detective

There are now three seasons of this HBO show, all examining a different case that will keep you guessing until the end.

The Blacklist

You’ll never quite know who to trust in this drama about infamous fugitive Red Reddington (James Spader) and his exploits with the FBI.

Blue Bloods

Come to crack the criminal cases, stay for the Reagan family dinners made famous by Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Will Estes, and the man, the myth, the mustache, Tom Selleck.

Criminal Minds

We were crushed when Criminal Minds ended in 2020, but there’s no reason we can’t re-watch every hour with the BAU again, right?

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

CSI had several stars throughout its 15-year run, including William Petersen, Laurence Fishburne, and Ted Danson.

Sherlock

The British series put a modern spin on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous character, Sherlock Holmes.

Quantico

Priyanka Chopra’s Alex starts out as a young FBI recruit who quickly gets mixed up in a terror investigation.

Dexter

People were obsessed with Dexter when it first came out. Probably because the likable main man is actually a serial killer who targets other murderers. Light!

Chicago P.D.

What you’re really tuning in for here is all the ups and downs between the very attractive Chicago police officers.

Castle

Nathan Fillion plays the charming author Richard Castle, who teams up with Stana Katic’s Beckett to battle crime all over New York.

White Collar

Speaking of charming, Matt Bomer’s character—a former criminal who agrees to help the FBI—will win you over from minute one.

S.W.A.T.

We were immediately drawn to this one because former Criminal Minds star Shemar Moore is front-and-center. What’s not to like!?

Law & Order

The original stopped airing 10 years ago, but the ripped-from-the-headlines format and performances by S. Epatha Merkerson and Sam Waterston are still incredibly entertaining.

Bones

A forensic anthropologist and an FBI agent make an unlikely, yet successful, pair at solving murders in Washington D.C.

The Wire

HBO’s highly regarded drama digs into the narcotics scene in Baltimore. Though it ended in 2008, many still consider it one of the most brilliant crime shows ever. At least, we do!

The Mentalist

A famous physic gets involved with the California Bureau of Investigation so he can track down who killed his wife and daughter.

Magnum, P.I.

One Tom Selleck show is not enough! Who can forget when he played the Hawaii-based private investigator in the '80s?

24

Kiefer Sutherland is Jack Bauer, a counterterrorism expert who has one day to stop an attack.

Mindhunter

The Netflix original follows two FBI agents in the '70s who discover more about the psychology of serial killers by studying them—sometimes a little too closely.

Hawaii Five-0

There’s a special place in our crime-loving hearts for both the remake and the original of the Hawaii-based series that follows fictional duo Steve McGarrett and Danny Williams.

NCIS: Los Angeles

It takes a lot for a spinoff to be good, but somehow NCIS: Los Angeles did just that. It’s probably because the cast includes so many lovable stars, like Chris O’Donnell, LL Cool J, Eric Christian Olsen, and Daniela Ruah.

Prison Break

One man gets himself sent to prison in order to save his brother, who’s on death row for a crime he didn’t commit.

Luther

This BBC show starring Idris Elba is full of shocking twists and turns. Don't be surprised if you end up watching the entire first season in one day!

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