Murder mysteries have long been a popular genre. Authors like Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie have taken full advantage of the genre's popularity, and while it may seem like all the murder mystery tricks have been played out, it remains both a tantalizing and incredibly popular genre.
What makes it so popular is hard to say. Perhaps it's the intriguing and pulpy story at the core. Perhaps it's the fun of solving a crime (or trying to solve a crime) alongside the protagonist. Either way, murder mysteries have long enthralled the world. Let's look at some of the best TV shows to fall within the genre that any The Flight Attendant fan is bound to enjoy.
Updated on October 26th, 2021 by Danielle Bruncati: While its true murder mysteries have been a popular genre for decades, the truth is their popularity spikes and drops every few years. However, it's safe to say that 2020s are revitalizing the murder mystery genre in new and exciting ways. From murder mysteries comedies with legendary actors to teen murder mysteries with lots of drama - there is certainly something for everyone to watch.
Only Murders In The Building (2021– ) - Available On Hulu
Only Murders In The Building is Hulu's newest original series and has already been renewed for a season 2. While the murder at the center of the show is interesting and enticing, the real heart of the show lies in the character relationships of the lead characters.
The series centers on 3 true-crime podcast fans who all live in the same building. When one of their residents is murdered, the 3 strangers team up to solve the mystery while also broadcasting on their own true-crime podcast. The first season is equal parts dramatic and hilarious, especially with Steve Martin's iconic physical comedy.
True Detective (2014–2019) - Available On HBOMax
Much of True Detective is worth watching, but the first season is particularly great. The season was widely praised for nearly all aspects of its production, including the acting (led by the always wonderful Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey), production design, and writing.
On the surface, it follows two detectives who attempt to solve the grisly and bizarre murder of a prostitute. And while the story is great, it mostly uses the murder mystery trappings to explore the characters' psyches and expound on richly philosophical themes.
Mare Of Easttown (2021) - Available On HBOMax
Murder mysteries are a hard tv genre because there is only so many twists and turns one can come up with to keep a story going. However, murder mysteries work great with the invention of TV miniseries which is exactly why HBO's Mare of Easttown is such a big hit.
The murder mystery drama centered on a suburban police detective who begins investigating the mysterious murder of a local teenage mother. However, the town is skeptical of her skills since she has failed to solve the case of another local missing teenage girl.
Sharp Objects (2018) - Available On Hulu
Despite the rise of competing streaming services, HBO remains the king of television. Shortly after the brilliant first season of True Detective, HBO unleashed another excellent murder mystery in the form of Sharp Objects.
Based on Gillian Flynn's novel of the same name, Sharp Objects stars Amy Adams as Camille Preaker, a mentally unstable reporter who returns to her small hometown to investigate the murder of two girls. It was easily one of the best shows of 2018, led by commanding performances from Adams and Patricia Clarkson.
Dark (2017–2020) - Available On Netflix
Serving as one of Netflix's greatest exclusives, Dark is an expansive German drama that is quite hard to describe. The story begins with the disappearance of a child and quickly escalates into an expansive ensemble concerning four estranged families and elements of time travel.
The show requires a dedicated viewer who is willing to sit down and actively engage with the story, and while it may prove dense and hard to follow, the story also rewards viewers for their engagement.
One Of Us Is Lying (2021– ) - Available On Peacock
One Of Us Is Lying is the newest young adult novel to get its own tv series. The series is not only entertaining but it certainly could lead to the revitalization of the murder mystery genre in the teen world.
The series begins with five students from different cliques in high school in detention a la The Breakfast Club. However, things take a turn when one of the students mysteriously drops dead, having been poisoned by peanut oil. While everyone believes one of the four survivors is the killer, the teens know that isn't true and team up to solve the murder.
Big Little Lies (2017–2019) - Available On HBOMax
Another HBO success story, Big Little Lies proved one of the best and most popular shows of 2017. Based on Liane Moriarty's novel, Big Little Lies begins with a murder at a prestigious public school. Unlike other murder mysteries, neither the victim nor the killer is revealed.
The story then flashes back and reveals the sordid and drama-filled lives of various upper-class families, each of whom has a child in the first grade. It's a fantastic show filled with some of the best movie star acting to be found on television.
The Undoing (2020) - Available On HBOMax
Serving as the most-watched HBO show of 2020, The Undoing stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant as Grace and Jonathan Fraser. Grace is a New York psychologist who befriends the weird and enigmatic Elena.
However, Elena is later found dead in her studio apartment, and her husband is pegged as the primary suspect. Of course, there's a lot more to it than that, and viewing the show is an exercise in surprise and shock. It was arguably one of the best shows of 2020, and the acting on display once again proved commendable.
Behind Her Eyes (2021) - Available On Netflix
Airing on Netflix in 2021, Behind Her Eyes is a supernatural-based psychological thriller based on Sarah Pinborough's novel of the same name.
Primarily written by Steve Lightfoot of Hannibal and The Punisher fame, Behind Her Eyes proves an exceptionally written drama that is filled to the brim with plot twists and unexpected surprises. It's one of the most unpredictable dramas in some time, and it's led by a great Eve Hewson in the role of Adele Ferguson.
I Am The Night (2019) - Available On Hulu
Starring Chris Pine, I Am the Night aired for just six episodes on TNT. However, those are six exceptional episodes, making I Am the Night one of the most engaging crime dramas of 2019. The story follows young Fauna Hodel as she uncovers truths about her biological mother and father.
Her grandfather is George Hodel, a prominent physician who is widely known as a suspect in the mysterious Black Dahlia murder. It's a great pulp drama reminiscent of noir films and novels of the '40s.
Broadchurch (2013–2017) - Available On Netflix
Entirely written by Chris Chibnall (penning all 24 episodes), Broadchurch is a tantalizing murder mystery set in the fictional town of England. The story follows two police officers - Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller - and the mysterious death of a young boy named Danny.
The first season was particularly acclaimed, winning a Peabody Award and earning widespread praise for the performances of David Tennant and Olivia Colman.
How To Get Away With Murder (2014–2020) - Available On Netflix
How to Get Away with Murder will go down in TV history as one of the most popular programs of the 2010s. Produced by Shonda Rhimes, How to Get Away with Murder stars the impeccable Viola Davis as Annalise Keating, a law professor who becomes embroiled in a mysterious murder case with some of her college students.
Davis continuously earned praise for her lead performance, even becoming the first black woman to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Collateral (2018) - Available On Netflix
Not to be confused with the Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx drama of the same name, Collateral is a BBC drama starring Carey Mulligan as detective inspector Kip Glaspie. Glaspie is assigned to investigate the murder of a pizza delivery man in London.
The man is shot and killed while delivering pizza to the ex-wife of the Shadow Minister for Transport, prompting a high degree of publicity and investigative importance. It's a good little murder mystery that is both well shot and led by great performances from Mulligan and Billie Piper, playing the ex-wife.