Netflix boasts must-watch TV series in every genre, and the streaming service has some particularly great murder mystery shows that everyone should see. The platform is already famous for their murder mystery movies that feature an all-star cast solving crimes, from Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery to the already highly rated The Thursday Murder Club.
A murder mystery show is even more fun than a film since it allows viewers to go on an epic journey and try to guess the victim, the culprit, and all the red herrings and plot twists along the way. While the genre follows a beloved formula, the most intriguing shows have premises that stand out as fresh takes on classic tropes.
Whether it’s a dark story with a sci-fi twist, a cozy tale of a teenager determined to solve a cold case, or a dramatic Nantucket-set family saga, these series are a perfect binge-watch.
Fool Me Once (2024)
Netflix’s 11 TV shows based on Harlan Coben books all tell a bleak yet obsession-worthy tale of a missing person or a gruesome crime. Fool Me Once, which was released in 2024 and based on the book published in 2016, finds family members looking into the murders of Claire Walker (Natalie Anderson) and Joe Burkett (Richard Armitage).
Fool Me Once has a smart twist right off the bat, which sets it apart from the crowded landscape of Coben stories. When you tune into a Coben show, you know what you’re going to get: a compelling tale about a brutal situation that still feels comforting thanks to the likable characters and small-town settings.
The series is also worth watching because of the well-crafted main character, Maya Stern (Michelle Keegan), who is desperate to learn about what happened to her husband Joe. It expertly weaves the past into the present and explores the fascinating reason why Maya is no longer an army pilot.
Elite (2018-2024)
Teenagers from different backgrounds, a school setting, and a terrifying murder are always a recipe for TV success. Elite, a Spanish series that has eight seasons, takes place at the prestigious Las Encinas school and centers on a murder in season 1 that changes everything.
The 73% Rotten Tomatoes series is perfect for fans of teen dramas who love watching storylines based on common tropes such as first love, friendship issues, and academic pressure. The added theme of class differences between the students makes this a thought-provoking show.
While the murder mystery element could be removed, and Elite would still be an impressive show, this added note of danger makes it a must-watch. It’s easy to get swept up in the personal lives of the main characters and impossible not to want answers about this gruesome crime.
The Perfect Couple (2024)
Adapted from Nantucket author Elin Hilderbrand’s book, which was published in 2018, The Perfect Couple has a distinctive setting that is perfect if you want a break from picturesque small towns where every bad thing under the sun tends to happen.
With wealthy characters, a highly anticipated wedding, a beach location, and a murder, The Perfect Couple is a fun binge-watch with only six episodes.
The show is an especially great star vehicle for Meghann Fahy, who plays maid of honor Merritt Monaco in The Perfect Couple‘s cast. Although it’s tough to like most of these self-centered characters, Fahy makes Merritt more endearing than the others. The dance sequence in the opening credits might not be universally appealing, but it arguably adds a welcome dose of whimsy.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2024)
As the clever and cheeky title suggests, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder fits into the cozy murder mystery genre, and is adapted from Holly Jackson’s 2019 book. The precocious protagonist Pip Fitz-Amobi (Emma Myers), who decides to solve the murder of former classmate Andie Bell (India Lillie Davies) for a school project, is just one reason to tune in.
Pip may not be the only wise beyond-her-years young adult character on TV, but Myers’s performance sparkles in every scene, and she has a special confidence and impressive determination that help her stand out. Pip’s budding love story with Ravi Singh (Zain Iqbal), the younger brother of Andie’s boyfriend and suspect number one, is another reason to watch.
If you want a classic murder mystery story with clues, timelines, and a satisfying ending that leads into the next season, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a great bet.
The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window (2022)
Although the title is a mouthful, it sums up the funny and wise tone of this series starring Kristen Bell as a woman going through a challenging time who thinks she saw someone get killed.
Meant as a parody of thriller books and movies with “girl” and “woman” in the name, The Woman in the House… impressively combines serious topics with lighter moments. While there are plenty of jokes, Anna Whitaker’s (Bell) character arc involves a disturbing tragedy, and the show explores what’s next when the unthinkable happens.
Bodies (2023)
The sci-fi story at the heart of Bodies is so cool and different, it’s enough to draw anyone in. The characters investigate a murder mystery that definitely hasn’t been seen before: a body showing up in 2053, 2023, 1941, and 1890.
Sometimes a show set in a few timelines can be confusing and unsettled, but that’s not the case here. Bodies deserves high praise for how expertly it moves between time periods and focuses on a handful of detectives while keeping a lot of information and details straight and easy to follow. The limited series, which has 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, is an exciting ride.
The Residence (2025)
A Shondaland series is always going to deliver drama, surprises, and heart, and The Residence is a joy to watch. The White House setting is unique, and Uzo Aduba plays a police consultant named Cordelia Cupp perfectly.
Rather than a dry political thriller that puts everyone to sleep, The Residence fleshes out Cupp’s character well. She’s a fan of birdwatching, a nice and intriguing detail that is explored in the fourth episode, “The Last of Sheila.” The episode titles also feature endearing references to classic stories, like “Dial M for Murder.”
The Residence was canceled after one season, which is a shame because it would have been great to see Cupp continue to figure out mysteries that others can’t solve. Thankfully, though, the eight-episode season has a smart ending that wraps it all up.
Dead Boy Detectives (2024)
Although a traditional whodunnit is a lot of fun, a new take on the murder mystery genre is also welcome, and that’s where Dead Boy Detectives comes in. The main characters are actually spirits named Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri) and Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew), and this paranormal element is particularly entertaining.
Rather than focusing on solving a murder across a season-long arc, Charles and Edwin look into a new case in every episode, which keeps the show interesting. This premise will appeal to fans of the long-running drama Supernatural, although Dead Boy Detective unfortunately only got one season before Netflix canceled it.
Murderville (2022)
Since so many murder mystery movies and TV shows have corny characters and big reveals that fall flat, the genre was just waiting for a hilarious series that would poke fun at it. Murderville, which has just one seven-episode season, centers around Detective Terry Seattle (Will Arnett) as he looks into a case.
The element of improv sets this show apart, and it’s fun to watch the all-star Murderville cast, from Jennifer Aniston to Pete Davidson, Maya Rudolph, Kumail Nanjiani, and Sharon Stone. Although it’s a shame that the show didn’t get a second season, the December 2022 special “Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery” adds some comforting holiday cheer to the premise.
The Sinner (2017-2021)
With 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, there’s no beating The Sinner when it comes to adding a distinct twist to the murder mystery show. Instead of revealing the killer in the season finale, every season shares who committed a murder and dives into the reasoning behind it.
The well-done anthology show centers around a new case each season, which Detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman) cracks each time. Pullman gives a gripping performance, layered on top of genuinely engaging cases with no simple answers.
Anyone feeling fatigued by dull procedural episodes where accused criminals sit in interrogation rooms and answer dull routine questions will want to watch Netflix’s top-notch murder mystery show, The Sinner.
