Solving Crimes From the Comfort of Your Couch: The Top 9 Detective Series

True Detective (2014–2019)

Season one follows two homicide detectives working to solve bloody murders in a small town in Louisiana. The second season is focused on the murder of a corrupt California city official, which sets off a series of sordid conspiracies and criminal schemes. In the third season, the events take place in the Ozarks, where two detectives investigate a horrific crime involving two missing children.

Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, and Mahershala Ali star in the show.

The Bridge (2011–2018)

The Swedish-Danish series written by Hans Rosenfeldt tells the story of a murder mystery on the Öresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden. One night, the power suddenly goes out, and then a woman's body is found in the middle of the bridge.

Police officers from both countries join forces to investigate the case and find the killer.

How to Get Away with Murder (2014–2020)

The legal drama from Shonda Rhimes, the creator of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, centers on Annalise Keating, a prominent criminal defense attorney and law professor. Keating selects several ambitious students to intern at her firm, and the young lawyers soon get to apply the knowledge they get from her classes.

Viola Davis received an Emmy Award and several Golden Globe nominations for her role as the brilliant law expert.

Strike (2017–)

Based on the novel series by J. K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, the BBC miniseries tells the story of Cormoran Strike, a wounded veteran of the Afghanistan war who found his calling in private investigation.

Working alongside his assistant Robin Ellacott, Strike develops a reputation as a detective who succeeds where the London police fail.

Twin Peaks (1990–2017)

The cult mystical crime series directed by David Lynch (Lost Highway) and written by Mark Frost revolves around the brutal murder of high school student Laura Palmer, which is gradually unraveled by young FBI agent Dale Cooper.

But the further the detective progresses in his investigation, the more secrets he uncovers.

Big Little Lies (2017–2019)

A detective drama miniseries by Jean-Marc Vallée (Wild, Dallas Buyers Club), Big Little Lies is set in an affluent Californian town on the Pacific coast, where a murder takes place in the midst of a charity event. As the relationships between the townspeople are far from friendly, anyone can be the killer.

The show's cast includes Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, and Shailene Woodley.

The Bletchley Circle (2012–2014)

The British crime series follows the story of four women who used to work as code-breakers during World War II and now, eight years after the end of war, unite forces once again to track down a serial killer.

Housewives and mothers, these women have only little time to solve the dangerous puzzle before the madman strikes again.

The Wire (2002–2008)

Created and written by David Simon (Generation Kill), HBO's iconic police drama series is set in Baltimore, a city rife with corruption, gang violence, and open drug dealing.

A group of cops tries to mend the current state of affairs, and their main instruments in fighting crime are wiretapping and hidden camera recording.

Des (2020)

Lewis Arnold's historical British miniseries stars David Tennant as the Scottish serial killer Dennis Nilsen, nicknamed Des.

The plot follows the story of Des' arrest and trial after human remains were discovered in a drain near his home, and his crimes and personality are revealed through two parallel stories and their characters — detective Peter and biographer Brian.