“Better than Shetland”: 7 “5-star” detective dramas to watch this weekend on Netflix, ITV, the BBC & more

The weekend is upon us, which means we can finally take some time to put our feet up, curl up on the sofa, and enjoy some brilliant television. After searching through the schedules and previewing all the upcoming sagas and older hidden gems, we’ve found the very best shows you’re going to want to watch this weekend.

From a series that’s even better than Shetland, to a Ray Winstone classic for fans of The Gentlemen and an outstanding spin-off of The Good Wife – there’s something for however you might be feeling. So, remotes at the ready – here are the seven 5-star detective dramas to watch this weekend on Netflix, ITV, the BBC and more.

The Long Call

This series which, dare we say, is marginally better than Shetland, introduces us to Detective Inspector Matthew Venn (Ben Aldridge) who returns to his Devon hometown, an oppressive evangelical community, 20 years after he left. Why? He must attend his father’s funeral and investigate a murder after a mysterious corpse washes ashore the beach. Without any clear witnesses, a motive and forensics, can Matthew be able to solve the seemingly impossible case whilst grappling with his difficult relationship with his mother Dorothy (Juliet Stevenson) and his long-buried past? The Long Call is available to watch is now on ITVX.

Murder In A Small Town

For a picturesque murder mystery follows detective, Karl Alberg (Rossif Sutherland), who abandons the hustle and bustle of the city for what he hopes will be a quieter life in the harbour town of Gibsons, British Columbia. His hopes of peace turn out to be a short-lived fantasy – when he arrives, bodies are washing up on his shore and he realises the town is keeping a heap load of secrets. Over two series, we follow Karl putting his old skills to the test while he falls for local librarian Cassandra (Kristin Kreuk). Murder In A Small Town is available to watch now on Netflix.

Blue Lights

This popular Northern Irish police drama is coming back – so this weekend brings the perfect opportunity to catch up on the first three series. The show centres around the fictional Blackthorn police station in Belfast and three rookie recruits. The first series sheds light on the challenges faced by newbies Grace (Sian Brooke), Annie (Katherine Devlin) and Tommy (Nathan Braniff), as they start their careers on the front line. Across two further series, we’ve seen them tackle a complex slew of cases – from drugs and violence plaguing the city to the sinister operations of high-ranking individuals. Now, they’re hard at work again facing a new threat, as well as a murder trial that exposes a long-buried secret from within the force. Blue Lights series 4 will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this September and you can catch up on the first three series on BBC iPlayer.

The Chelsea Detective

The dynamic duo of Detective Inspector Max Arnold (Adrian Scarborough) and Detective Sergeant Layla Walsh (Vanessa Emme) are back to tackle a string of mysterious cases in the upmarket West London borough of Chelsea. Series four will see Vanessa and Max reprise their roles and take on more murder mysteries across four feature-length episodes. There’s a cryptic double murder that takes the investigation out of Chelsea and into the cut-throat world of architecture, while elsewhere a wellness and beauty salon owner is hiding deadly secrets. But it’s not all doom and gloom – between the criminal sprees, romance is on the cards for Max. Series 4 of The Chelsea Detective will premiere on U&Drama on Wednesday 16 September. The first three series of The Chelsea Detective is available to watch now on U.

Elsbeth

This sensational spin-off of The Good Wife takes us to New York City where the larger-than-life, pink-clad female Columbo tackles murder cases as colourful as her wardrobe. Elsbeth initially joins the NYPD as a procedural observer to ensure standards are in check; however, it soon becomes apparent that she has an ulterior motive for moving from her native Chicago – she’s tasked with investigating the department lead Captain Wagner for possible corruption, while also taking down killers. Elsbeth is available to watch on NOW.

Something Undone

This dark 10-part Canadian series follows couple Jo (Madison Walsh) and Farid (Michael Musi) who have their own true-crime podcast. They decide to investigate a chilling cold-case involving the 1989 mass murder of the Chaffey family. However, the deeper they go, the more dangerous the investigation becomes to both their lives – and their marriage. Something Undone is available to watch now on ITVX.

Vincent

If you’ve already devoured series 2 of The Gentlemen, you’re going to want to tune into this Ray Winstone classic. The drama follows impulsive private investigator Vincent (Ray Winstone) and his calmer sidekick, Beth (Jones) as they tackle a string of cases the police either can’t or refuse to solve. Across two exhilarating series, they investigate everything from murder to dangerous conspiracies – meanwhile, Vincent’s troubled personal life proves every bit as complex as the cases. Vincent is available to watch now on ITVX.