There aren't many things that can top a brilliantly twisty, impossible-to-crack whodunnit. From cosy crime capers to the gritty, full-throttle-thrills kind, we welcome any excuse to put our feet up on the sofa and start playing armchair detective. If you're looking to do the same, we've been busy selecting the very best murder mystery series so you can get started immediately.
From not one but two perfectly executed Agatha Christie adaptations to the best Harlan Coben series on TV, our list includes everything from hidden gems to megahits and shows that earned top scores with both viewers and critics. So, take note, because these are the 10 terrific murder mystery series to watch now on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more.
And Then There Were None
Adapted from one of Agatha Christie's best-loved novels, screenwriter Sarah Phelps brings this thoroughly chilling story to life in a way that makes you keep wanting more. The three-part series sees 10 strangers lured to an island off the coast of Devon, only to be murdered by a hidden killer one by one. After baiting them, their mysterious host uses a recording to accuse the 10 of that escaped legal punishment - before killing them. Starring the likes of Aidan Turner, Anna Maxwell Martin and Charles Dance, it's addictive, atmospheric and really rather terrifying. Available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
Fool Me Once
Master of twists, Harlan Coben, strikes again with this Michelle Keegan-led thriller. The Brassic star plays former special-ops pilot Maya Stern, whose suspicions over her husband Joe's (Richard Armitage) untimely death are amplified when she sees him alive on a nanny cam. The question is: is he actually still alive or is there something much darker going on? One of the most successful thrillers in Coben's catalogue, the eight-part series stormed the charts after its 2024 New Year's Day release and is easily the best Harlan Coben series on TV. Available to watch now on Netflix.
The Beast in Me
A psychological thriller that doubles as an intense murder mystery, this top-rated series stars Clare Danes as acclaimed author Aggie Wiggs, who's shut herself away from the world following the loss of her son. But when she gets a new next-door neighbour in the form of Nile Jarvis (Matthew Rhys) - once the prime suspect in his wife's disappearance - she finds an unlikely subject for her next book. The pair form a connection laced with suspicion and deception - and the closer Aggie gets to the truth, the more danger she finds herself in. Available to watch now on Netflix.
Bodies
You know you're in for a rollercoaster ride when the same dead body crops up across multiple time periods: in 1890, 1941, 2023 and 2053, to be precise. Four detectives lead the investigation across each timeline, but accompanying the body in every period is the elusive Elias Mannix (Stephen Graham), who, perhaps unsurprisingly, is integral to a dark and twisted conspiracy that spans 150 years. This one's a real head-scratcher that will require some serious detective skills to crack. Good luck! Available to watch now on Netflix.
The Residence
You'll need to embrace the nutty, outlandish world of idiosyncratic yet whip-smart investigator Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba) in order to truly enjoy this one. The story unfolds at a lavish state dinner in the White House where the bloodied body of Chief Usher AB Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito) is discovered. His killer still roams the White House where no one permitted to leave - not even guest performer Kylie Minogue - and it's up to detective Cupp to figure out who killed him and why. Everyone has a motive it seems, so can Cupp unmask the killer? Available to watch now on Netflix.
I, Jack Wright
Fans loved this series when it aired last year and, excitingly, a second series is on the way. When wealthy businessman Jack Wright (Trevor Eve) dies by apparent suicide, betrayal, scheming and secrets come to light and all those who hoped to inherit the remains of his estate suddenly find themselves under the spotlight. Jack's third wife Sally (Nikki Amuka-Bird) and his two sons, Gray (John Simm) and John (Daniel Rigby) are among the dysfunctional family and let's just saying you'll be surprised, moved and appalled by many of their actions. Available to watch now on U.
Only Murders in the Building
The hugely popular series features Steve Martin, Selena Gomez and Martin Short as New York neighbours (Charles-Haden, Mabel and Oliver) who set up a podcast and go on to solve murder cases that have baffled the authorities. It's a brilliantly addictive watch that's picked up four People’s Choice awards and many other award nominations in the process. It also has a reputation for pulling in some stellar names as cameos, including the likes of Meryl Streep, Eva Longoria, Paul Rudd and Melissa McCarthy. And the best part? Another instalment is coming in December. Available to watch now on Disney+.
Agatha Christie's Seven Dials
Another perfectly executed Agatha Christie adaptation, Mia McKenna-Bruce leads in this 1925-set murder-mystery series, which is more faithful in terms of setting and milieu than many other recent Christie clones. The sleuthing begins after a lavish country house party at Eileen 'Bundle' Brent's (McKenna-Bruce) family home, thanks to a practical joke going very wrong. As the intelligent, inquisitive Bundle digs further into the mystery, she uncovers a chilling plot that changes her life forever. Available to watch now on Netflix.
The Flight Attendant
What starts as a fiery mile-high-club romp quickly escalates into murder when flight attendant Cassie Bowden (Kaley Cuoco) wakes to find her new lover dead in bed beside her. Cassie can only recall the night in flickers, but she also has visions of her dead lover talking through the evidence. With the FBI on her back, she strives to prove her innocence - not exactly an easy task for the reckless self-proclaimed "crazy drunk flight attendant". Available to watch now on ITVX.
Prime Suspect
Dame Helen Mirren fronting a crime drama? Of course you're already sold. This nostalgic series aired on ITV between 1991 and 2006 and revolves around Mirren’s iconic no-nonsense detective, Jane Tennison, one of the first female detectives in London’s Met Police. The drama follows her battles to prove herself within the male-dominated force, where sexism isn't just rife, it’s institutionalised - and Mirren is as wonderfully commanding as you'd hope. Available to watch now on ITVX.
