“Better than Broadchurch”: 7 “outstanding” detective dramas to watch now on ITV, Netflix, the BBC & more

Now October is here, cosy season is officially underway. The evenings are getting longer, giving us all the more excuse to stay inside with some brilliant television and conduct some top-tier sofa sleuthing. We’ve scoured all the schedules and previewed all the upcoming shows to bring you the very best detective dramas you’ll want to have on your radar.

From a series that’s even better than Broadchurch to Lesley Manville’s much anticipated return to the small screen and a classic murder mystery, there’s something for whatever mood you might be in. So, remotes at the ready, here are the seven outstanding detective dramas to watch this week on Netflix, ITV, the BBC and more.

Gracepoint

This US remake of Broadchurch – which, in our humble opinion, is even better than its predecessor – sees David Tennant back as the lead investigator on a chilling murder case. This time, he’s got an American accent and swapped the southern English coastline for California, taking on the role of Detective Emmett Carver. The 10-part series opens with the discovery of a 12-year-old boy’s body on the beach. Emmett and his partner Detective Ellie Miller (Anna Gunn) are assigned the case but the deeper they go into their investigation, the wider the fractures grow within the close-knit community. Gracepoint is available to watch now on Prime Video.

A Remarkable Place To Die

Now we’re heading over to New Zealand for an unmissable crime drama. The series follows detective Anais Mallory (Chelsie Preston Crayford) who returns from Sydney to her hometown Queenstown to take on a very personal case – the unsolved murder of her sister and father. Meanwhile, she must also investigate a string of small-town killings and confront ghosts from her past (including her ex fiancé who’s now with her former best friend). Every time she gets closer to discovering the truth, something – or someone – gets in her way. A Remarkable Place To Die is available to watch now on U and Channel 4.

Winter

This new series takes us to Bristol, where skilled forensic pathologist Dr Ethan Winter (Richard Armitage) is called to investigate the frozen body of a young woman found in the back of a truck. He works alongside DI Lauren Bell (Annabel Scholey), who’s every bit as meticulous as Winter – but his arrogance means they don't get off to the best of starts. While their partnership proves difficult, it's also unstoppable. However, it soon becomes clear they're both battling demons of their own. Winter is available to watch now on ITVX.

Marble Hall Murders

Following Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders, Lesley Manville is back as book-editor-turned-part-time-detective Susan Ryeland for the final instalment of the Anthony Horowitz series. This time, Susan is hired to work on a continuation novel in the Atticus Pünd series, written by troubled author Eliot Crace (Jamie Blackley). As ever, fiction and non-fiction collide, as she’s drawn into a real-life murder investigation and unexpectedly finds herself as a suspect. Marble Hall Murders is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

The Final Problem

Now we're travelling back in time to 1959 to meet a Spanish Sherlock Holmes. The murder mystery follows Basil (Jose Coronado), a fading actor best-known for playing the British detective. His trip to Mallorca turns disastrous when a ferocious storm hits, stranding holidaymakers in a hotel. But things escalate when a British tourist is killed and he’s forced to reprise his role as the lead investigator in a real-life whodunit – with each of the holidaymakers becoming a prime suspect. The Final Problem is available to watch now on Netflix.

Blue Murder Motel

For another sun-soaked escape – this time to New Zealand’s coast – look no further. The series follows two retired detectives Vinny (Michala Banas) and Cole (Brett Tucker) who retire to start a peaceful new life by running a charming hotel in Mōwai Bay. They’re only weeks into their venture when a body is found on the property. The pair dust off their notebooks and help the local police get to the bottom of the it – but that’s just the beginning of their new case load. Blue Murder Motel is available to watch now on ITVX.

Anna Pigeon

Now we’re heading to America to become acquainted with Anna Pigeon (Tracy Spiridakos), a national park ranger who dedicates her life to protecting America’s wilderness. Before embracing the great outdoors, Anna was a proud New Yorker, but after the heartbreak of losing her husband, she decides she needs a fresh start away from the city. She’s soon wrapped up in a whole slew of mysteries, with the drama beginning with the discovery of a fellow ranger's body. Anna Pigeon Mysteries is available to watch now on U.