To be honest, I’m tired of this hunt for “perfect” content. You know, when everyone around you says you should only watch something “very cool” and “very intellectual.” But I just want to be hooked. To sit on the couch in the evening, turn on a series, and forget about everything else. And most often, that’s what happens with detective shows. They have some kind of magic, or something… You feel like you become a detective yourself, digging into secrets, looking for motives, trying to get ahead of the characters. It’s like a game, you know?
Well, yesterday I was sitting here, going through my mind again, trying to figure out what to watch. And I thought: “Enough already, I need to share my list, maybe it will help someone.” I’ve watched so much on Netflix that I could get a diploma for it. So I decided to put together the **best detective series on Netflix** — the ones I couldn’t tear my eyes away from. Without unnecessary words, without “filler,” just from the heart.
Why these shows are not just detective stories, but something more?
This isn’t just a list, you know. Each of these shows is, in essence, a separate world. Sometimes I’m amazed at how directors manage to twist the plot so much that you’re sitting there and just don’t understand what’s going on until the last episode, when everything falls into place. It’s probably what they say in Ukraine: “A mystery covered in darkness.” And it is precisely these “mysteries” that I love. Also, these series are real psychology. They show that people can be more complex than any puzzle. So, are you ready for our marathon?
1. Mindhunter (2017-2019)
Well, where to start? Of course, with “Mindhunter.” It’s probably the best thing I’ve seen in this genre. By the way, the legendary David Fincher is the **director**. It’s his style—dark, tense, with a ton of details. The series takes us to 1970s America, when the FBI was just learning to understand what was going on in the minds of serial killers. And two agents—Ford and Tench—began to talk to these “monsters.” Just imagine, they sit down, like you and me, and start asking: “Why did you kill?” And it becomes scary because you start to understand how these people think. This isn’t just a search for a criminal, it’s a search for his soul, if one exists at all. I remember watching the episode about Ed Kemper… he’s so calm, relaxed, and you’re sitting there, and his words make you physically sick. The actor Jonathan Groff, who played Ford, is just fire. He transformed so much that I even forgot he was an actor. And the **IMDb** rating of 8.6/10 speaks for itself. My rating? Well, 9.5 out of 10, because I’m still mad there isn’t a third season. This is a true psychological thriller that uncovers the criminal from the inside. It’s not about chases, it’s about a mind game. And that, in my opinion, is much scarier.
2. Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)
Oh, this is my love! Anyone who doesn’t know Tommy Shelby probably hasn’t watched quality **crime dramas**. This series is about a gangster family from Birmingham after the First World War. But they aren’t just bandits; you could say they’re the elite. Well, in their own world, of course. And each season is a real detective story. Tommy is constantly looking for traitors, uncovering conspiracies, and thinking about how to get around his enemies. I remember in the first seasons, he was trying to figure out which of his people was leaking information… The tension was enough to make you bite your nails to the quick. And Cillian Murphy? He just lives that role. That look of his, that way of being silent—it’s cooler than any dialogue. The music, by the way, is also gorgeous. **Director** Steven Knight created such an atmosphere that you want to put on a hat and walk down the street with a confident stride. It has an **IMDb** rating of 8.8/10, which I think is well-deserved. My rating is 9 out of 10. You should watch it, it’s not just a series, it’s a whole era.
3. Lupin (2021-2025)
Well, what can I say? A gentleman thief! A classic of the genre, just with a modern twist. If you like something stylish, light, and with intellectual humor, then this is for you. The main character, Assane Diop, was inspired by the adventures of Arsène Lupin and decided… well, you get it. He doesn’t just steal, he does it elegantly, like a work of art. And all this is to avenge his father. I remember watching the scene in the Louvre where he pulled off that heist… I was just sitting there with my mouth open. Honestly, I couldn’t even imagine how it was possible. Of course, it’s a movie, but it’s so well-made! And the **actor** Omar Sy—he is pure charisma. He acts so effortlessly that it seems like it’s his real life. It has an **IMDb** rating of 7.5/10. My rating is 8 out of 10. This is a show you can watch when you just want to relax, but without getting a boring story.
4. Ozark (2017-2022)
Oh, this is pure tension. I started watching it with the feeling, like, “Well, what could be so special about it?” And then I got sucked in and couldn’t stop. The main character, a financial advisor, suddenly becomes a money launderer for a Mexican cartel. And he’s forced to move his family to some backwater, to the Ozarks, where, as it turns out, there are even more problems. This isn’t “who killed him?” but “how do you survive when everyone wants to kill you?” Every episode is a real game of survival, and you constantly have to untangle someone’s schemes. And Julia Garner, who played Ruth, is a pure genius! I remember how much I rooted for her character because she was so… real, so alive. The show has an **IMDb** rating of 8.5/10. My rating is 8.5 out of 10. If you love crime dramas that have both a detective line and a lot of psychology, then this show is for you.
5. Unbelievable (2019)
This series is a separate conversation. It’s based on real events, and that makes it even scarier. It’s the story of a girl who reported a rape, but no one believed her. And in parallel, two female detectives investigate similar cases. This is a very painful series; it shows how unfair the system can be. And that the truth is not always what’s on the surface. I remember watching it and just getting angry at some of the characters, at their indifference. I thought, “How can you be like that?” And then it was so wonderful to watch how these female detectives, played by Toni Collette and Merritt Wever, piece together the truth bit by bit. They’re not heroes; they’re just doing their job, and it’s so inspiring. It has an **IMDb** rating of 8.4/10. I give it 9 out of 10. This is probably the most important series on this list, and everyone should watch it.
6. The Sinner (2017-2021)
This is what I love about detective stories. When you know who the killer is, but you don’t know why. It’s so cool! Each season is a new story, a new crime, and the main character is Detective Harry Ambrose, who acts like a psychologist, digging into the past. I remember in the first season, Jessica Biel’s character committed a murder on the beach for no apparent reason. And you’re sitting there thinking, “But why? Why?” And it’s that “why” that keeps you glued to the screen. This is a case where the **genre** of “detective” becomes a true psychological thriller. The actor Bill Pullman, who plays the detective, is just incredible. On **IMDb**, it has 7.9/10. My rating is 8.5 out of 10. If you love solving psychological puzzles rather than just looking for fingerprints, then this is definitely for you.
7. The Lincoln Lawyer (2022-2024)
You know, sometimes you just want to watch a classic of the genre. This series is exactly that. Lawyer Mickey Haller, who works… from his “Lincoln.” Well, that’s already funny. He’s not just a lawyer; he also investigates cases himself. And that’s so cool! When you watch him, sitting in his car, dismantling the entire case piece by piece. I remember sitting there and thinking, “Oh, that’s a clever idea!” You could say it’s a kind of courtroom drama, but with a soul. The main actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo is very charismatic, and he, in essence, carries the whole series. It has an **IMDb** rating of 7.7/10. I give it 7.5 out of 10. This is a show you can turn on after a hard day and just enjoy the process without straining your brain too much.
8. The Madness (2025)
Oh, this is something new. It’s a political thriller, but with a detective plotline. The main character is a famous commentator who is accused of murder. And now he has to not only prove his innocence but also untangle the entire web of conspiracies. I liked how the series shows that you can’t trust anyone. And that, unfortunately, is very relevant. For example, in Ukraine, it’s also often the case that people have to search for the truth themselves. And this despair of his, this fight against the system—it’s very gripping. And the **actor** Colman Domingo, known from “Euphoria,” is simply magnificent. It has an **IMDb** rating of 6.9/10, but I would give it 7 out of 10. It’s a fresh, dynamic story that won’t let you get bored.
9. Criminal: UK (2019-2020)
Honestly, when I first heard about this series, I thought, “Well, what could be interesting? The whole thing is in one room!” But it’s just brilliant! It’s a **detective show** without chases, without gunfights, without anything like that. Just you, the suspect, the detectives, and… an interrogation. It’s a pure psychological game. I remember watching the episode with David Tennant… he played the suspect. And how he gradually revealed himself, how the detective skillfully led him to a confession… It’s just a masterclass. The series has an **IMDb** rating of 7.6/10. I give it 8 out of 10, because it’s truly unique and forces your brain to work at full capacity.
10. Adolescence (2025)
And finally, a fresh one. A series that hasn’t had time to gain wild popularity yet. But it has already hooked me. It’s a detective story with elements of mysticism. A girl goes missing, and her sister, along with a detective, begin an investigation. Here, you know, not everything can be explained by logic. There are some secrets that seem to be from the past. As a lover of all things mystical, I simply couldn’t pass it by. And I liked how they combined a family drama, loss, and a real investigation. It has an **IMDb** rating of 7.2/10. I’ll give it 7 out of 10 because it’s genuinely interesting and unlike others. Watch it if you like when a detective story is intertwined with something… inexplicable. Perfect for a weekend binge.
In short
Well, friends, that’s my list. I hope you found something for yourself. Honestly, all these series are united not by the plot, but by something else. They are all, without exception, about people. About their fears, their secrets, about what drives us. They are about the fact that the truth is not always what we want to see. These are the shows that make you think. And that, in my opinion, is the most important thing. If you thought there was nothing worthwhile on Netflix—you were wrong. Verified by me. By the way, if you have your own favorite detective shows, write in the comments, I’m always open to new recommendations.
Finally, I want to leave you with a quote that, in my opinion, is very relevant: “I’m not looking for evil. Evil finds me.” This is a line from “Mindhunter.” And it perfectly describes the feeling when you immerse yourself in the world of detectives. You feel like you become a part of it, and the criminal world begins to reveal its secrets to you.
Think… Watch… Feel.
Author: ReelPoint
Questions from readers
Which of these shows is the scariest?
I would say “Unbelievable.” It’s not scary in terms of jump scares, but scary in its realism. It genuinely makes you feel uneasy.
Is there anything for a family to watch?
Well, you have to be careful here. “Lupin” and “The Lincoln Lawyer” might work, but it’s better to watch them alone or with a partner. There are moments that might not be for everyone. After all, these are detective stories, not children’s cartoons.
Can these series be watched out of order?
Most of them, except for “The Sinner” and “Criminal,” have one major storyline, so it’s better to watch them sequentially. It’s a detective story, after all; you don’t want to miss the most important parts, do you?
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