Best mystery series
by lamemoviesguy | created - 06 Jul 2013 | updated - 10 Sep 2014 | PublicFor mystery, British is the word. Unfortunately, because this is strictly a list of mystery series, the American series "Columbo" does not feature here. But Columbo has to be one of the best crime series ever made.
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1. Poirot (1989–2013)
TV-14 | 100 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Hercule Poirot, a famous Belgian detective, who has an impeccable knack for getting embroiled in a mystery, solves crimes along with Captain Hastings and Scotland Yard Chief Inspector James Japp.
Stars: David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson, Pauline Moran
Votes: 52,133
There are several seasons and none of them is worth missing. Beyond Christie's plots, the success of this undisputed number 1 series lies largely on the shoulders of David Suchet. In the final few seasons, the series deviated from the original Christie plots, yet the liberties taken with Poirot are not as high as with Marple.
2. Jonathan Creek (1997–2016)
TV-MA | 60 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Jonathan Creek, a magician with a natural ability for solving puzzles, works from his home in a converted windmill. He uses his abilities to solve impossible crimes and mysterious murders.
Stars: Alan Davies, Caroline Quentin, Stuart Milligan, Julia Sawalha
Votes: 9,012
This features among the most intriguing and perplexing plots, yet all with a simple explanation. Focuses more on how dunnit than who dunnit. Caroline Quentin and Alan Davies are fun to watch together (sadly the pairing is limited to only the first two seasons).
3. Quincy M.E. (1976–1983)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The cases of a brilliant, if Irascible, coroner who investigates suspicious deaths which usually suggest murder.
Stars: Jack Klugman, John S. Ragin, Robert Ito, Joseph Roman
Votes: 7,335
The best American mystery series I have found. Dr. Quincy is reminiscent of Dr. Joseph Bell, the real-life inspiration of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. What I particularly like about the series, other than the harmless humor, is that this has logically the most sound plots of all the series listed here - Dr. Quincy considers all alternatives and uses a lot of 'if' in his suppositions, instead of divinely arriving at the correct explanation among all possible ones.
4. Miss Marple
Crime, Mystery | Announced
A reinvention of the crime-solving character created by Agatha Christie.
Star: Lynne Young
The original unadulterated 1980s series featuring Joan Hickson as Miss Marple - often named "Agatha Christie's Miss Marple". Joan Hickson was best suited to play the role of Miss Marple. Also, the original series remained faithful to Christie's plots. The recent Marple videos (featuring Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie) have taken liberties with the plots, sometimes distorting them altogether.
5. Murdoch Mysteries (2008– )
TV-PG | 48 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
In the 1890s, William Murdoch uses radical forensic techniques for the time, including fingerprinting and trace evidence, to solve some of the city's most gruesome murders.
Stars: Yannick Bisson, Helene Joy, Thomas Craig, Jonny Harris
Votes: 17,487
A well-crafted, well-acted Canadian series. Great plots and great on-screen chemistry among characters.
6. Midsomer Murders (1997– )
TV-14 | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A veteran Detective Chief Inspector and his young Sergeant investigate murders around the regional community of Midsomer County.
Stars: John Nettles, Jane Wymark, Barry Jackson, Neil Dudgeon
Votes: 39,480
Entangled (even if sometimes unbelievable) plots - lots of fun despite unconvincing detective work. John Nettles shines as Detective Barnaby.
7. Sherlock (2010–2017)
TV-14 | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The quirky spin on Conan Doyle's iconic sleuth pitches him as a "high-functioning sociopath" in modern-day London. Assisting him in his investigations: Afghanistan War vet John Watson, who's introduced to Holmes by a mutual acquaintance.
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Una Stubbs, Rupert Graves
Votes: 999,231
A very modern approach to the character of the classic detective and his nemesis has made the series highly engaging and enjoyable.
8. Endeavour (2012–2023)
TV-14 | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Set from 1965 into the 1970s, the show follows Endeavour Morse in his early years as a police constable. Working alongside his senior partner DI Fred Thursday, Morse engages in a number of investigations around Oxford.
Stars: Shaun Evans, Roger Allam, James Bradshaw, Sean Rigby
Votes: 33,456
The good points of Inspector Morse coupled with mid 20th century charm. Shaun Evans is quite a revelation. Also, the opera music helps the series quite a bit.
9. Waking the Dead (2000–2011)
TV-14 | 100 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Drama series following a team of detectives who investigate unsolved murders using modern technology.
Stars: Trevor Eve, Sue Johnston, Wil Johnson, Tara Fitzgerald
Votes: 6,438
Fun to watch.
10. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (2012–2015)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, History
A female sleuth sashays through the back lanes and jazz clubs of Melbourne in the late 1920s, fighting injustice with her pearl-handled pistol and her dagger-sharp wit.
Stars: Essie Davis, Nathan Page, Hugo Johnstone-Burt, Ashleigh Cummings
Votes: 17,727
Charming Australian series.
11. Foyle's War (2002–2015)
TV-14 | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
As WWII rages, DCS Foyle fights his own war on the home-front; investigating crime on the south coast of England. Later series, see the retired detective working as an MI5 agent in the aftermath of the war.
Stars: Michael Kitchen, Honeysuckle Weeks, Anthony Howell, Ellie Haddington
Votes: 18,278
12. Mystery!: Cadfael (1994–1998)
TV-14 | 983 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The medieval era cases of a Crusader-turned-Monk who investigates mysteries in the Norman English town of Shrewsbury.
Stars: Derek Jacobi, Michael Culver, Julian Firth, Terrence Hardiman
Votes: 3,115
13. Inspector Morse (1987–2000)
TV-14 | 3,431 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Chief Inspector Morse has an ear for Western classical music, a taste for beer, and a nose for crime. He and Detective Sergeant Robert Lewis solve intriguing cases in and around the Oxford area.
Stars: John Thaw, Kevin Whately, James Grout, Peter Woodthorpe
Votes: 14,367
14. Rosemary & Thyme (2003–2006)
TV-PG | 48 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Set amongst the stunning gardens of Europe, Rosemary Boxer and Laura Thyme, two professional gardeners, find themselves drawn into solving mysterious crimes.
Stars: Felicity Kendal, Pam Ferris, Ryan Philpott, Daisy Dunlop
Votes: 5,333
Simple plots but fun to watch. Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris add to the charm.
15. The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2001–2007)
TV-14 | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
British crime investigation series based around aristocratic, Oxford-educated Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his working-class assistant Sergeant Barbara Havers.
Stars: Nathaniel Parker, Sharon Small, Lesley Vickerage, Paul Hickey
Votes: 5,749
16. The Commander: Virus (2005 TV Movie)
136 min | Crime, Drama
Commander Blake is still dealing with the aftermath of the James Lampton case. Not only has he pleaded not guilty to the murders for which he is accused, it now means that Blake will have ... See full summary »
Director: Charles Beeson | Stars: Amanda Burton, Matthew Marsh, Poppy Miller, Thomas Lockyer
Votes: 234
IMDB has this and other episodes of this TV series listed as individual TV movies. The series stars Amanda Burton in the lead role and has some very engrossing plots.
17. Wallander (2008–2016)
TV-PG | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Unable to unsee the dark crimes he's tasked to investigate, Wallander's job comes at a cost to his family and relationships.
Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Richard McCabe, Jeany Spark, Sarah Smart
Votes: 16,498
18. Inspector Lewis (2006–2015)
TV-PG | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
DI Robert Lewis and DS James Hathaway solve the tough cases that the learned inhabitants of Oxford throw at them.
Stars: Kevin Whately, Laurence Fox, Clare Holman, Rebecca Front
Votes: 15,886
19. Blue Murder (2001–2004)
60 min | Drama, Crime
Blue Murder is a Canadian crime television series featuring a Toronto based police squad investigating murders.
Stars: Joel Keller, Mimi Kuzyk, Kathleen Laskey, Jeremy Ratchford
Votes: 147
Intriguing plots. Caroline Quentin charms.
20. Vera (2011–2025)
TV-PG | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
With her caustic wit and singular charm, DCI Vera Stanhope leads her team as they face a series of captivating murder mysteries set against the breathtaking Northumberland landscape.
Stars: Brenda Blethyn, Jon Morrison, Riley Jones, Kenny Doughty
Votes: 20,103
21. Heat of the Sun (1998)
334 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Set in the 1930s, a former Scotland Yard detective is sent to colonial Kenya to head the new criminal investigation unit.
Stars: Trevor Eve, Susannah Harker, Michael Byrne, Julian Rhind-Tutt
Votes: 657
This really needs to be re-aired - beautiful location and good performances.
22. The Last Detective (2003–2007)
90 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
"Dangerous" Davies always gets the cases no one else wants, and no one notices when he eventually succeeds. But his old-fashioned decency and dogged determination have won him legions of loyal fans.
Stars: Peter Davison, Sean Hughes, Rob Spendlove, Charles De'Ath
Votes: 1,923
23. Above Suspicion (2009–2012)
46 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A team of dedicated detectives investigate gruesome murders across London.
Stars: Kelly Reilly, Ciarán Hinds, Shaun Dingwall, Amanda Lawrence
Votes: 3,473
24. Cracker (1993–1996)
TV-MA | 100 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Dr Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald is a criminal psychologist. He is rather anti-social and obnoxious but he has a gift for solving crimes. Thus he is employed as a consultant by the Manchester Police.
Stars: Robbie Coltrane, Geraldine Somerville, Kieran O'Brien, Barbara Flynn
Votes: 7,876
25. Prime Suspect (1991)
TV-14 | 104 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A female police detective investigates a series of serial murders while dealing with sexist hostility from her male comrades.
Stars: Helen Mirren, John Benfield, Tom Bell, Craig Fairbrass
Votes: 9,232
26. Trial & Retribution (1997–2009)
TV-14 | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The team of Det. Supt. Michael Walker, DI North, and DCI Connor follows each case from crime committed, through the pursuit of justice, to the law courts where the efforts of the force will be tested--sometimes to the breaking point.
Stars: David Hayman, Dorian Lough, Victoria Smurfit, Kate Buffery
Votes: 1,209
27. Inspector George Gently (2007–2017)
TV-MA | 89 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
With the help of DS John Bacchus, Inspector George Gently spends his days bringing to justice members of the criminal underworld who are unfortunate enough to have the intrepid investigator assigned to their cases.
Stars: Martin Shaw, Lee Ingleby, Simon Hubbard, Lisa McGrillis
Votes: 8,529
28. Murder in Suburbia (2004–2005)
TV-14 | 580 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
The series focused on various murders in the fictional suburban English town of Middleford. The crimes are solved by two female police detectives, Inspector Kate Ashurst and Sergeant Emma Scribbins, aka "Ash and Scribbs".
Stars: Caroline Catz, Lisa Faulkner, Jeremy Sheffield, Glen Davies
Votes: 1,728
29. Dalziel and Pascoe (1996–2007)
TV-14 | 120 min | Crime, Mystery, Drama
Superintendent Dalziel and partner DI Pascoe investigate murder, and find a bond forming between them despite their blatantly different personalities.
Stars: Warren Clarke, Colin Buchanan, David Royle, Jennifer James
Votes: 3,307
30. Father Brown (1974)
TV-14 | 668 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Based on the stories of G.K. Chesterton, a British Catholic Priest solves mysteries.
Stars: Kenneth More, Dennis Burgess, Graham Crowden, Bill Maynard
Votes: 479
31. Single-Handed (2007–2010)
TV-14 | 841 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Jack Driscoll moves back to the town on the west coast of Ireland where he was born. He takes over his retired father's Garda post, and solves different cases.
Stars: Owen McDonnell, David Herlihy, Ruth McCabe, Brian Gleeson
Votes: 1,459
32. Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1987–2000)
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
From cold, rock-strewn moors to comfortable suburban estates, award-winning writer Ruth Rendell explores the dark fissures between friends and family members that motivate murder.
Stars: George Baker, Christopher Ravenscroft, Louie Ramsay, Ken Kitson
Votes: 693
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