If you’ve already worked your way through the likes of Grantchester, Harry Wild and the The Marlow Murder Club and are searching for a new cosy crime drama to watch, you’re in luck. We’ve scoured the back catalogues to bring you the very best hidden gem cosy crime dramas to watch now, including one we believe to be the pinnacle of comfort shows.
From Anna Maxwell Martin’s standout performance as a wartime code-breaker turned detective in The Bletchley Circle, to the Metropolitan Police’s smallest unit solving art-related murder cases in Art Detectives, we've found the series that are cosy, charming and very clever indeed. So, sit back and relax, as these are the 7 best cosy crime dramas to watch now on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more.
Art Detectives
Murder meets antiques in this brilliant series that takes us to the heart of the art world. Detective Inspector Mick Palmer (Stephen Moyer) and Detective Constable Shazia Malik (Nina Singh) form the Metropolitan Police’s Heritage Crime Unit – their smallest department - and together they get to work solving brutal murders connected to the art world. Think Old Master paintings, medieval manuscripts and Banksy street art. Quirky, creative and wonderfully addictive. Art Detectives is available to watch now on U.
Return to Paradise
Forget Beyond Paradise, Return to Paradise is the Death in Paradise spin-off worth having on your radar. The Australian series follows DI Mackenzie "Mack" Clarke, a detective who's spent some time in the UK working in the Met Police, but circumstances have meant she’s back cracking cases in her Australian hometown of Dolphin Bay. From the death of a wellness influencer to a hairdresser who's killed in the salon, she's got plenty of murder mysteries to solve while also dealing with an array of personal issues, including the impending wedding of her ex, who’s admits to still having feelings for her. Return to Paradise is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
Hudson & Rex
If you love dogs and you love drama, you're going to really love Hudson & Rex, which is the pinnacle of comfort shows. The Canadian series follows Detective Charlie Hudson (John Reardon) of the St. John’s Major Crimes and his impressive K9 German Shepherd, Rex, who make the perfective detective duo. While Hudson uses his human intuition, Rex brings a unique edge with his heightened animal senses and often spots the clues humans miss. Rex is, as you might imagine, the star of the show and keeps us enthralled throughout eight fantastic series. Hudson & Rex is available to watch now on U.
The Green Glove Gang
What happens when a heist goes wrong? The Green Glove Gang, which follows a mischievous trio of noble thieves, Zuza (Magdalena Kuta), Kinga (Małgorzata Potocka) and Alicja (Anna Romantowska), deals with exactly that. The women make a rookie error during a robbery by leaving behind a key piece of evidence, forcing them into hiding in a nursing home, where they uncover a dark secret. While in series two, retirement is on the horizon, the trio find themselves forced back onto the criminal path for one last hurrah. A thoroughly enjoyable series. The Green Glove Gang is available to watch on Netflix now.
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Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?
A classic whodunnit based on Agatha Christie's 1934 classic of the same name, naval officer Bobby Jones (Will Poulter) and his friend, Lady Frances “Frankie” Derwent (Lucy Boynton), find a man dying at a foot of a cliff. In his final breaths he utters “Why didn’t they ask Evans?”. When the pair endeavour to honour the dying man’s wishes and go on a quest to answer the question, they set off on a trail of betrayal, deceit and murder. Why Didn't They Ask Evans is available to watch now on ITVX.
High Country
High Country takes us Down Under where Detective Andrea Whitford (Leah Purcell) is transferred to the Victorian High Country to try and solve the bewildering case of five missing people who seemingly vanished into the wilderness. As she delves deeper into the investigation, she begins to uncover a web of murder, deceit and revenge that's rather chilling. Though it's less cosy than the rest of the dramas on this list, High Country does make for excellent viewing. High Country is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
The Bletchley Circle
Fancy stepping back in time for a moment? It’s 1952 London and four women who worked at Bletchley Park to help crack the German’s “enigma cypher”, which ultimately changed the course of the war, have returned to civilian life. However, when Susan (Anna Maxwell Martin) spots a pattern in a series of female murders, she recruits the help of her former friends and colleagues, Millie (Rachael Stirling), Jean (Julie Graham) and Lucy (Sophie Rundle). The Bletchley Circle is available to watch now on Channel 4.
