“Better than Death In Paradise”: 8 “beyond brilliant” detective dramas coming to ITV, Netflix, the BBC & more

If you’ve worked your way through series such as Broadchurch and Unforgotten, you’ll know there’s nothing quite as gripping as a brilliant detective drama. If you’re on the lookout for your next TV obsession, we’ve scoured the schedules and previewed the upcoming shows to bring you our top picks you won't want to miss.

From the Death In Paradise spin-off (we think is even better than the original) to the much-awaited return of Shetland and a sensational reboot – there’s a lot to look forward to. So, get ready to take note, here are the eight beyond brilliant detective dramas coming to ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more.

Return To Paradise

The Australian spin-off of Death In Paradise is coming back to our screens next week, and it’s set to be even better than its predecessor. DS Mackenzie Clarke (Anna Samson) is returning to take on the impossible murder cases of Dolphin Cove. From an artist stabbed in full view of an audience to a wildlife worker killed in a locked cage, she’s got her work cut out – but the biggest mystery of all will relate to Mack’s own heart… Return to Paradise series 3 will air on Friday 6 November at 7.30pm on BBC One with a double bill.

An Impossible Way To Die

The Celebrity Traitors star Sharon Rooney is showing off her sleuthing skills again in Channel 5’s upcoming drama. DS Katie Salter (played by Sharon) is happily solving everyday crimes until she’s dragged into a baffling dinner-party murder mystery. She’s partnered with DI Niall Conway (Emmett J Scanlan), whose all-consuming dogged attitude clashes with her more grounded approach. They’ll have to learn to work together as a tense race against the clock soon unfolds to unmask a killer. An Impossible Way To Die is coming to Channel 5 in 2027.

The Detection Club

Deadly intrigue, literary glamour and huge social change – welcome to The Detection Club. The BBC’s upcoming detective drama will welcome us into the real-life 1930s crime-writing society, whose members included Agatha Christie (Bryony Hannah), Dorothy L Sayers (Cara Theobold) and GK Chesterton (Miles Jupp). But the trio, who are acclaimed for writing murder mysteries, become embroiled in a real one upon receiving an elusive invitation. The Detection Club is coming to the BBC. We’ll keep you updated here with the official release date as soon as it lands.

Shetland

Finally! DI Ruth Calder (Ashley Jensen) and DI Alison ‘Tosh’ McIntosh (Alison O’Donnell) are returning to our screens for another gripping investigation in the Shetland Islands. The action begins with a grim discovery. When a car is pulled from the water, they find the remains of an unknown man crammed in the boot. The team manage to track down the vehicle’s owner, a respected local GP who left the isles nine years earlier. The deeper Calder and Tosh dig, the darker the case becomes… Shetland series 11 will return to BBC One on Thursday 12 November at 9pm.

Dalziel And Pascoe

Two powerhouse women are stepping into the boots of Inspector Andy Dalziel and Detective Sergeant Peter Pascoe for a fantastic reboot. Kerry Godliman is taking on the abrasive and seasoned Dalziel, while Nina Singh is playing the friendlier newcomer Pascoe. The drama will follow the mismatched detective duo as they put their clashing methods aside to forge a formidable partnership and tackle the mysteries of Wetherton, Yorkshire. Dalziel And Pascoe will arrive on ITVX in 2027.

Maigret

The adaptation of the BBC’s beloved detective drama is finally making its way to British shores after its success across the pond. French detective Jules Maigret (Benjamin Wainwright) has had a transformation as we reacquaint ourselves with him on the streets of Paris in the present day – and he's got a new style. He may have ditched his pipe and hat for a more casual wardrobe, but he has the same unconventional methods to outwit some of Paris’s most cunning and violent criminals. Maigret series 1 will premiere on U and U&DRAMA in December 2026, with series 2 following in 2027.

Blackmere

Black Mirror’s creator Charlie Brooker is taking aim at the detective genre in this fantastically fun new crime comedy. The story starts with Detective John Blackmere leaving his rain-soaked northern city of Bleakford for London to avenge his partner’s death and catch a ritualistic serial killer. Starring MobLand’s Paddy Considine and The Diplomat’s Rory Kinnear – it’s going to be unmissable viewing. Blackmere is expected to premiere globally on Netflix in early 2027.

Cooper & Fry

After the first series’ successful run, our favourite unlikely detective duo Ben Cooper (Robert James-Collier) and Diane Fry (Mandip Gill) are returning for another case. This chapter will see them back in the mystery-shrouded Peak District as they navigate cases steeped in the legendary folklore of the area. They also must face each other’s conflicting investigation styles and complicated personal baggage. Cooper & Fry series 2 will air on Channel 5 in 2027.