Last updated March 2024
Looking for acclaimed Best detective Tv Shows worth adding to your watch list? Check out our selection of 30 stellar, must-see Best detective Tv Shows available for your immediate viewing pleasure. Universally beloved by IMDB critics and our knowledgeable community of users, these top-tier Best detective Tv Shows earn high praise across the board. Help other viewers discover hidden gems by voting for the titles you consider keepers. We value your contributions toward spotlighting the cream of the crop!
The Wire (2002)
Plot Summary:
Told from the points of view of both the Baltimore homicide and narcotics detectives and their targets, the series captures a universe in which the national war on drugs has become a permanent, self-sustaining bureaucracy, and distinctions between good and evil are routinely obliterated
Duration: 59 min
IMDB Rating: 9.3/10
IMDB Votes: 367000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: organized crime, corruption, police detective, police, urban ghetto life, life is a bitch, working undercover, fighting crime, drug dealing, surveillance, shooting, police investigation, gang, urban decay, drug lord, murder, cop, black, wiretap, team, politics, criminal, journalism, legal, dirty cop
Sherlock (2010)
Plot Summary:
A modern update finds the famous sleuth and his doctor partner solving crime in 21st century London
Duration: 88 min
IMDB Rating: 9.1/10
IMDB Votes: 977000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK, USA
Plot tags: sherlock holmes, investigation, private detective, murder mystery, mastermind, genius, friendship, british, murder, mind game, riddles and clues, prodigy, danger, partner, talented, buddies, eccentricity, intelligence, expert, friendship between men, inspector, police detective, deduction, mysterious character, teamwork
Persona (2018)
Plot Summary:
After being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, a retired judicial officer decides to commit a murder that he had been planning for years
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 9.0/10
IMDB Votes: 45000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Turkey
Plot tags: serial killer, investigation, rape, secret, police, death, journalist, anti hero, danger, alzheimer's disease, family relations, muslim, murder mystery, sister, life lesson, nordic, cognitive science, killer, police officer, cat, suicide, corruption, blood, flashback, dead body
Fargo (2014)
Plot Summary:
A close-knit anthology series dealing with stories involving malice, violence and murder based in and around Minnesota
Duration: 53 min
IMDB Rating: 8.9/10
IMDB Votes: 398000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: dark humor, psychopath, small town, police investigation, law enforcement, policewoman, cop, snow, killings, small town life, social relations, dishonesty, killer, female police officer, scheme, sheriff, police officer, winter, gory, shooting, blackmail, victim, crime gone awry, gangster, family relations
Undercover (2011)
Plot Summary:
Just an ordinary boy from the Sofia suburbs becomes the first bulgarian undercover cop. Forced by his father when he was young to lie and cheat, Martin becomes the perfect liar. That skill, and also the hatred of the 'underworld' makes him the perfect match for a dangerous mission - to infiltrate the crime organisation of a rich and powerful businessman. While infiltrating and living in fear of being uncovered, Martin falls in love with the most inappropriate woman - Djaro's girlfriend, Suni. Just when he gains the trust of the mobsters, it appears that the real enemy is in the police. Martin is alone against all, facing difficult decisions
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.9/10
IMDB Votes: 27000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: Bulgaria
Plot tags: hidden identity, undercover, mob boss, gang war, corruption, organized crime, mission, danger, peril, characters in danger, gangster, promotion, mafia, law enforcement, spy, passion, science, wartime, law firm, fight, police, street racing, undercover agent, police corruption, police operation
Black Sun (2017)
Plot Summary:
A historical fiction drama and thriller set in the turbulent period of the late 1930s in the Balkans as a place where high politics, local interests, capital and crime all merge together
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.9/10
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Serbia
Plot tags: secret society, conspiracy, police detective, law enforcement, secret movement, criminal, murder investigation, undercover, politician, partner, dishonesty, female nudity, political intrigue, political conspiracy, geopolitics, interwar period, female pubic hair, nudity, gangster, police, nude, female full frontal nudity, nudity (full frontal - brief), crime, crimes
Death Note (2006)
Plot Summary:
Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects—and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But will Light succeed in his noble goal, or will the Death Note turn him into the very thing he fights against?
Duration: 851 min
IMDB Rating: 8.9/10
IMDB Votes: 365000
Genere: Animation, Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Japan
Plot tags: mind game, anti hero, secret identity, vigilante, police, rivals, battle of wits, supernatural, heart attack, law enforcement, supernatural ability, intelligence, serial killer, teenage life, fighting crime, outsmarting, artifact, student, arrogance, police detective, moral dilemma, fbi, mature, eternal love, darkness
When They See Us (2019)
Plot Summary:
Five teens from Harlem become trapped in a nightmare when they're falsely accused of a brutal attack in Central Park
Duration: 296 min
IMDB Rating: 8.9/10
IMDB Votes: 134000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama, History
Country: USA
Plot tags: investigation, legal, social injustice, black, black lives matter, black cast, racial injustice, black history, lgbtq, criminal justice, suspect, false accusation, social problems, fight for justice, social issues, false accusation of rape, falsely accused, racial issues, social justice, law and order, courtroom, accusation, guilty verdict, framed for a crime, blaxploitation
The Shield (2002)
Plot Summary:
The story of an inner-city Los Angeles police precinct where some of the cops aren't above breaking the rules or working against their associates to both keep the streets safe and their self-interests intact
Duration: 47 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 86000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: law enforcement, police corruption, police detective, corrupt cop, dirty cop, cop, police brutality, cruelty, dishonesty, murder, tough law enforcer, peril, victim, machismo, corrupt law enforcer, crime investigation, police, racism, honest law enforcer, police protagonist, investigator, officer, policewoman, robbery, partner
Homicide: Life on the Street (1993)
Plot Summary:
Homicide: Life on the Street is an American police procedural television series chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Police Department's Homicide Unit. It ran for seven seasons on NBC from 1993 to 1999, and was succeeded by a TV movie, which also acted as the de facto series finale. The series was originally based on David Simon's book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets. Many of the characters and stories used throughout the show were based on events depicted in the book, which was also part of the basis for Simon's own series, The Wire on HBO. Although Homicide featured an ensemble cast, Andre Braugher emerged as the series' breakout star through his portrayal of Frank Pembleton. The show won Television Critics Association Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Drama in 1996, 1997, and 1998. It also became the first drama ever to win three Peabody Awards for best drama in 1993, 1995, and 1997. In 1997, the episode "Prison Riot" was ranked No. 32 on TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time. In 2007, it was listed as one of Time magazine's "Best TV Shows of All-TIME." In 1996 TV Guide named the series 'The Best Show You're Not Watching'. The show placed #46 on Entertainment Weekly's "New TV Classics" list
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: police detective, police, murder, justice, homicide detective, cop, police protagonist, team, fighting crime, police investigation, fbi, african american, workplace, partners against crime, tough law enforcer, police officer, police procedural, investigation, die hard, swat team, serial killer, legal, punishment, black, law and order
Line of Duty (2012)
Plot Summary:
Steve Arnott is a young officer who’s fallen foul of his superiors for refusing to help in the cover-up of an operation that ended in the shooting of an innocent father. He seems ideal to join AC-12, an anti-corruption police unit, just as it starts to investigate Detective Chief Inspector Tony Gates, the regional force’s Officer of the Year
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 68000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
Plot tags: police corruption, honest law enforcer, corruption, female police detective, dirty cop, police detective, police, british police, policewoman, twists and turns, law enforcement, law enforcer, police procedural, secret, evidence, corrupt law enforcer, right and wrong, interrogation, police officer, officer, dishonesty, squad, investigation, internal affairs, murder mystery
Mouse (2021)
Plot Summary:
A psychopath’s ruthless serial murders have left the entire nation gripped with fear and chaos. A honest and justice-seeking rookie police officer and a veteran detective with tragic past, face against the killer. After the encounter with the psychopath, their lives totally change
Duration: 80 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Action, Crime, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: South Korea
Plot tags: investigation, serial killer, murder, serial murder, murder mystery, psycho killer, psychopath, murder investigation, police officer, homicide detective, killings, homicidal maniac, criminal, crime investigation, dna, killing spree, secret, police investigation, fighting crime, crime solving, police partner, teamwork, unsolved crime, partner, cold case
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984)
Plot Summary:
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984–1985), The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1986–1988), The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (1991–1993) and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1994), collectively known as Sherlock Holmes, are a series of adaptations of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories which were produced by Granada Television and originally broadcast by ITV in the United Kingdom. The series starred Jeremy Brett as Holmes and David Burke (in the Adventures series) and Edward Hardwicke (Return, Case-Book, Memoirs) as Dr. Watson. The programme adapted 42 of the original stories in 41 episodes, with 36 running for 50 minutes (in a one-hour timeslot), and five being feature-length specials. Adventures ran for two series totalling 13 episodes, from April to June 1984 and August to September 1985. Return ran for two series from July to August 1986 and April to August 1988, as well as the specials "The Sign of Four" and "The Hound of the Baskervilles", which aired on 29 December 1987 and 31 August 1988 respectively. Case-Book ran for one series from February to March 1991 and three specials which aired on 2 January 1992 and 27 January and 3 February 1993. Memoirs ran for one series from March to April 1994. A short episode was also produced as part of "The Four Oaks Mystery" which aired during the ITV Telethon in 1992. Sherlock Holmes appeared in the first part, with the casts of Van der Valk, Taggart and Inspector Wexford appearing in the second, third and fourth parts respectively
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 24000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Plot tags: sherlock holmes, private detective, investigation, riddles and clues, partners against crime, murder, victorian england, who done it, ego clash, rivalry, danger, law enforcement, talented, misfit partners, friendship, brother brother relationship, police, murder mystery, asexual, christmas, serial killer, steampunk, writers, driver, taxi
The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1986)
Plot Summary:
Dr. Watson, finds a mystery in an empty house, while Holmes and he later solve the mysteries of an abbey grange, the Musgrave ritual, a second stain, a man with a twisted lip, the priory school, and a half-dozen plaster busts of Bonaparte
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Plot tags: sherlock holmes, private detective, investigation, mind game, mastermind, serial killer, police, writers, spirituality, murder mystery, murder, prodigy, who done it, law enforcement, partner, partners against crime, uncover truth, riddles and clues, gangster, isolation, mystery, crime, tv show, crimes
Justified (2010)
Plot Summary:
A character drama based on the 2001 Elmore Leonard short story "Fire in the Hole." Leonard's tale centers around U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens of Kentucky, a quiet but strong-willed official of the law. The tale covers his high-stakes job, as well as his strained relationships with his ex-wife and father
Duration: 3400 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 116000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Western
Country: USA
Plot tags: drug lord, u.s. marshal, lone wolves, justice, fighting crime, officer, white trash, tough law enforcer, ex convict, family feud, crime family, rivals, shooting, conflict, machismo, gunfight, dirty cop, criminal, afghanistan veteran, arrest, dumb criminal, police officer, police, murder mystery, cop
Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989)
Plot Summary:
From England to Egypt, accompanied by his elegant and trustworthy sidekicks, the intelligent yet eccentrically-refined Belgian detective Hercule Poirot pits his wits against a collection of first class deceptions
Duration: 100 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 50000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
Plot tags: private detective, investigation, whodunit, murder, murder mystery, who done it, private investigator, murder investigation, danger, multiple suspects, uncover truth, riddles and clues, sleuth, police, suicide, captain, hercule poirot, magical, sherlock holmes, conspiracy, spirituality, lady, team, inspector, crime solving
Foyle's War (2002)
Plot Summary:
As WW2 rages around the world, DCS Foyle fights his own war on the home-front as he investigates crimes on the south coast of England. Foyle's War opens in southern England in the year 1940. Later series sees the retired detective working as an MI5 agent operating in the aftermath of the war
Duration: 90 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, War
Country: UK
Plot tags: world war two, investigation, police investigation, police detective, war crime, spy, police, espionage, homicide detective, whodunit, detective inspector, murder investigation, investigator, law enforcement, crimes of passion, murder, cold war, village, nazism, bomb, detective sergeant, wartime, robbery, fighting crime, world war
Mindhunter (2017)
Plot Summary:
An agent in the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit develops profiling techniques as he pursues notorious serial killers and rapists
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 323000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: serial killer, psychopath, psychology, fbi, police, serial murder, murderer, criminal psychologist, police investigation, murder, fbi agent, killings, interview, profiler, prison, rapist, true crime, killer, lesbian, investigation, whodunit, criminal, murder mystery, sapphic, sociopath
The X-Files (1993)
Plot Summary:
The exploits of FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully who investigate X-Files: marginalized, unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena. Mulder believes in the existence of aliens and the paranormal while Scully, a skeptic, is assigned to make scientific analyses of Mulder's discoveries that debunk Mulder's work and thus return him to mainstream cases
Duration: 45 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 243000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: ufo, supernatural, investigation, fbi, conspiracy, paranormal investigation, alien, top secret, paranormal activity, alien contact, space and aliens, female fbi agent, alien abduction, uncover truth, monster, mysterious place, paranormal investigator, violence against women, female agent, alien conspiracy, government facility, danger, heroine, special agent, alien invasion
The Bridge (2011)
Plot Summary:
When a body is found on the bridge between Denmark and Sweden, right on the border, Danish inspector Martin Rohde and Swedish Saga Norén have to share jurisdiction and work together to find the killer
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 75000
Genere: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Norway
Plot tags: serial killer, multiple suspects, police investigation, murder, police detective, cop, twists and turns, mind game, partners against crime, murder investigation, murderer, videotaping, police, riddles and clues, forensics, suspicion, female protagonist, policewoman, disguise, surprising revelation, rivalry, victim, heroine, determination, killings
Flower of Evil (2020)
Plot Summary:
Baik Hee Sung, an ordinary family man, is actually a psychopath whose past is dotted with crime and violence. His hopeless life changes completely after he meets his wife. He had to falsify everything about himself to marry her. His wife, Cha Ji Won, starts to doubt her husband as a suspect of a murder case. She becomes emotionally overwhelmed with betrayal, and rages as secrets behind his husband reveal. The story will draw faith and truth between a man and woman who trusted the most and loved each other
Duration: 70 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Crime, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Country: South Korea
Plot tags: hidden identity, female detective, investigation, murder, father daughter relationship, serial murder, psychopath, dark secret, husband wife relationship, mother daughter relationship, family conflict, dual identity, twists and turns, strong female lead, law enforcement, bad guy, forensic, forensics, asian, deception, antisocial personality disorder, basement, married couple, sociopath, hindi
Endeavour (2012)
Plot Summary:
The early days of a young Endeavour Morse, whose experiences as a detective constable with the Oxford City Police will ultimately shape his future
Duration: 89 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 32000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Plot tags: police, police detective, investigator, murderer, talented, police investigation, coworker, british, oxford, murder, intelligence, bodies, police procedural, law enforcement, investigation, whodunit, police protagonist, justice, murder mystery, who done it, uncover truth, mafia, pride and honor, boss, victim
Stranger (2017)
Plot Summary:
Hwang Shi-Mok had brain surgery when he was a child, which caused him to lack emotion. Now, Hwang Shi-Mok works as a prosecutor. He is rational, but cold and lonely. He is also one of the only prosecutors not involved in corruption. One day, a dead body is thrown in front of him. He meets Police Lieutenant Han Yeo-Jin at a murder crime scene. They work together to eradicate corruption at the prosecutor's office and solve a serial murder case
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: South Korea
Plot tags: prosecutor, female detective, corruption, murder mystery, murder investigation, serial killer, police, investigation, emotionless, crime investigation, police corruption, buddy cop, murderer, murder, secret, homicide detective, suspect, dark secret, criminal justice, coworker relationship, secret plan, abuse of power, police investigation, forensics, fighting crime
Case Closed (1996)
Plot Summary:
The son of a world famous mystery writer, Jimmy Kudo, has achieved his own notoriety by assisting the local police as a student detective. He has always been able to solve the most difficult of criminal cases using his wits and power of reason
Duration: 25 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Animation, Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: Japan
Plot tags: private detective, secret identity, riddles and clues, who done it, teenage detective, prodigy, murder, boy, fighting crime, partners against crime, high school, detective conan, rivalry, danger, investigation, father daughter relationship, sherlock holmes, love and romance, police, asian, mind game, adult as child, cop, experiment, gadget
Southland (2009)
Plot Summary:
Since premiering in 2009, Southland has redefined the police drama with its raw, authentic look at the lives and work of Los Angeles detectives and beat cops. The show centers on four main characters: Officer John Cooper (Cudlitz), a seasoned cop who will have to prove himself again after recovering from surgery; Officer Ben Sherman (McKenzie), who still has much to learn after recently completing his training rotation; Detective Lydia Adams (King), whose unending caseload hits closer to home; and Sammy Bryant (Hatosy), a former detective who decided to go back to being a uniform cop after the traumatic death of his partner
Duration: 42 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 29000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: lapd, policewoman, police detective, law enforcement, partners against crime, police protagonist, fighting crime, police officer, swat, police, peril, team, responsibility, workplace, tough law enforcer, workplace situations, rookie, investigation, sex, relationships, car chase, justice, feminist, love affair, legal
Happy Valley (2014)
Plot Summary:
Happy Valley is a dark, funny, multi-layered thriller revolving around the personal and professional life of Catherine, a dedicated, experienced, hard-working copper. She is also a bereaved mother who looks after her orphaned grandchild
Duration: 58 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 62000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: UK
Plot tags: policewoman, police, police investigation, investigator, kidnapping, police protagonist, investigation, british police, whodunit, law enforcement, criminal, drug dealer, police station, loss of daughter, revenge, crime investigation, drug lord, ransom, rapist, sister sister relationship, unsolved crime, sergeant, rape, police officer, police procedural
The Expanse (2015)
Plot Summary:
A thriller set two hundred years in the future following the case of a missing young woman who brings a hardened detective and a rogue ship's captain together in a race across the solar system to expose the greatest conspiracy in human history
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 168000
Genere: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: outer space, space travel, space opera, human in outer space, spacecraft, space station, investigation, space colony, alien life-form, spaceship, space wars, conspiracy, space exploration, society, space and aliens, rivalry, galaxy, space, space battle, alien technology, survival, transformation, danger, solar system, uncover truth
Bosch (2014)
Plot Summary:
Based on Michael Connelly's best-selling novels, these are the stories of relentless LAPD homicide Detective Harry Bosch who pursues justice at all costs. But behind his tireless momentum is a man who is haunted by his past and struggles to remain loyal to his personal code: “Everybody counts or nobody counts.”
Duration: 51 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 81000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Plot tags: police, determination, police detective, law enforcement, murder investigation, police investigation, murder, suspicion, coworker, homicide detective, father daughter relationship, lapd, danger, cop, police procedural, evidence, superior officer, riddles and clues, murder trial, legal, criminal, murder mystery, whodunit, stephen king, swat team
Hannibal (2013)
Plot Summary:
Both a gift and a curse, Graham has the extraordinary ability to think like his prey—he sees what they see, feels what they feel. But while Graham is pursuing an especially troubling, cannibalistic murderer, Special Agent Jack Crawford teams him with a highly respected psychiatrist – a man with a taste for the criminal minded – Dr. Hannibal Lecter
Duration: 1680 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 271000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: serial killer, cannibal, psychopath, mind game, cannibalism, death, murder, psychiatrist, mental patient, graphic violence, fbi, mental health, troubled, blood, killer, murder investigation, manipulation, homoeroticism, profiler, violence, deception, psychiatry, psycho killer, gore, doctor
Person of Interest (2011)
Plot Summary:
Person of Interest follows former CIA paramilitary operative, John Reese, who is presumed dead and teams up with reclusive billionaire Finch to prevent violent crimes in New York City by initiating their own type of justice. With the special training that Reese has had in Covert Operations and Finch's genius software inventing mind, the two are a perfect match for the job that they have to complete. With the help of surveillance equipment, they work "outside the law" and get the right criminal behind bars.
Duration: 43 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 186000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: artificial intelligence, surveillance, computer system, hi-tech, partners against crime, mysterious character, privacy invasion, hacker, computer genius, characters in danger, fighting crime, computer, secret, law enforcer, teamwork, programmer, ex cia agent, computers and web, hitman, unconventional method, ex military, heroes, inventions and discoveries, protector, changing lives