Murder mysteries often bring to mind clear images. The lone, quirky detective, a gloomy setting, Hercule Poirot’s mustache. Or Professor Plum in the library with the candlestick. But murder mysteries come in many forms. There are some dark and moody, some are light and funny, and some follow a strict formula. Because they are dependable. So, Television offers all kinds. Whatever your preference, there’s a murder mystery for you (which is much better than a murder weapon with your name on it). We have put together a list of top picks to showcase the best murder mysteries. These include period dramas, modern tales, snowy noirs, and colorful fairy tales. There are Serious Dramas and shows that mix humor with death’s shadow. Also, there’s something for every mood. So, you will likely find something you will enjoy. Here are the best 7 mystery crime tv series to stream right now.
Mare of Easttown
Watch On Max
If you enjoy small-town murder stories mixed with deep emotional pain and personal trauma. The HBO series “Mare of Easttown” is perfect for you. Emmy winner Kate Winslet stars as Mare Sheehan. A worn-out detective and former local basketball star from a town near Philadelphia.
She is trying to solve the murder of a local teenager while searching for others who have gone missing. Mare has to do all this while barely holding her own life together. Shattered by a deep and painful experience. The show focuses on personal stories and how everyone is damaged.
With Winslet delivering a memorable performance. Excellent supporting roles from Evan Peters, Julianne Nicholson, and Jean Smart. This makes it a gripping murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the end.
Inside Man
This four-part series features Jefferson Grieff (Stanley Tucci), a former criminology professor jailed for killing his wife. But now, he helps solve cold cases from his cell. His keenest follower is Beth (Lydia West), a journalist. Grieff and his assistant, fellow death row inmate Dillon (Atkins Estimond). Guide her in cracking the cases herself.
Reverend Harry Watling (David Tennant) gets caught up in a crime to protect his friend Edgar (Mark Quartley) and Edgar’s son. Ben (Louis Oliver). How these stories intersect and who is truly guilty is yet to be revealed.
Death and Other Tidbits
Watch On Hulu
Rian Johnson, thank you. His hit movie Knives Out (2019) brought back the fun group mystery style of Agatha Christie. And Hulu’s Death and Other Details is the newest addition to this loved genre.
Eighteen years ago, young Imogene’s (Violett Beane) mother died in a car explosion on the rich Collier family’s property. As a valued employee, the Colliers took in her now-orphaned daughter and hired the “world’s greatest detective. Rufus Cotesworth (Mandy Patinkin), to solve the case, but he failed. But Without answers, grown-up Imogene carries deep resentment. It never had closure on the event that changed her life.
When Imogene and Rufus meet again on the Colliers’ luxury cruise (which is meant to start a deal between their company and rich Chinese investors). A murder brings them together once more, linking back to the old mystery they couldn’t solve. Beane and Patinkin make a great mystery-solving team. And this series is worth watching for its clever plot and engaging main characters.
MindHunter
Ever wanted to see inside a serial killer’s mind? That’s what FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) do. They work with psychologist Wendy Carr (Anna Torv) in Quantico. Virginia’s new Behavioral Science Unit (BSU).
Set in the late 1970s to early 1980s, the show tells how the BSU and criminal profiling started. At their work, Holden and Bill visit jailed killers to record their stories. They believe that understanding these criminals’ minds can help solve current cases.
As they meet notorious killers like Edmund Kemper, Son of Sam, and Charles Manson. They try to uncover why these murderers committed their crimes.
Hinterland
The United Kingdom loves dark murder mysteries and Hinterland. A three-season Welsh drama is one of the best ones out there. It’s about DCI Tom Mathias, played by Richard Harrington. Who moves to Aberystwyth after leaving his job in London under mysterious circumstances.
He solves some pretty gruesome murders against the backdrop of beautiful Welsh scenery (seriously. It will make you want to live there). Like many similar shows, it also delves into the complex character of its main guy. They filmed it twice. Once in Welsh and then again in English, though there’s still some Welsh in the English version. So, that’s some serious dedication to making it great.
The Afterparty
This funny murder mystery show mixes the clever twists of Knives Out with the humor of Upright Citizens Brigade. The star-studded cast includes Ben Schwartz, Sam Richardson, Ilana Glazer, John Early, Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz, and Jamie Demetriou.
They play old classmates of a pop star. Played by Dave Franco, who gets killed at his own high school reunion afterparty. Each of them had a reason to want him dead. Every episode shows a different guest’s side of the story.
It’s both silly and a real murder mystery, with an investigation led by the unlikely cop duo Haddish and Early. The show is directed by Christopher Miller. Known for his work on The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street, in his first solo project.
The White Lotus
Like many murder mysteries, The White Lotus starts with a dead body, but that’s not the main focus of the show. It’s more than that. The show is a mix of drama and comedy, set in a beautiful resort in Hawaii. And follows the lives of the guests and staff over one eventful week.
It’s incredibly captivating, with its sharp writing and quirky characters, like Jennifer Coolidge’s emotionally fragile Tanya and Murray Bartlett’s tense hotel manager Armond. As you laugh at the wild antics of the rich guests.
The White Lotus keeps a sense of looming danger. This makes you wonder who will die in the end. It’s a show that makes solving the murder as enjoyable as deciphering the meanings in the hotel’s decor.
