Few genres capture a viewer’s undivided attention like detective drama. From the gritty street-level crime solving of the '70s and '80s to the high-tech forensic thrillers of today, viewers have long been fascinated by watching their favorite sleuths use their talents and get to the bottom of complex mysteries. In the golden age of classic TV, shows like Columbo and Magnum P.I. were dominating the genre with their compelling protagonists, intricate stories, and satisfying conclusions. Despite the passage of time, these shows hold up remarkably well.
In the modern era, the detective genre has evolved enormously. Today, viewers are on the lookout for grittier narratives, flawed characters, and a greater sense of realism. And the small screen has delivered. With a new generation of crime solvers who are equally brilliant and complex, the pursuit of justice is not black and white anymore. And in a sea of innovative shows, a select few modern detective shows have already established themselves as classics-in-the-making. Here are 10 series poised to join the ranks of the genre’s most delectable offerings.
10. 'Fargo' (2014 – Present)
Inspired by Joel and Ethan Coen’s 1996 movie of the same name, Fargo is a darkly comedic and critically acclaimed anthology series that tells stories of small-town crimes and moral decay in each season, while staying true to the offbeat tone of the original. While the characters and circumstances change every time, what stays the same is the bleak, snow-covered backdrop of the Midwest.
Constantly Reinvents Itself
Fargo has an enduring appeal due to its impeccable blend of gritty crime drama elements with pitch-black humor, which creates a unique yet recognizable aesthetic that pays homage to its cinematic roots and still manages to carve out its own identity. Across four seasons of masterful storytelling, it delivers fresh ensemble and powerful performances by actors like Billy Bob Thornton, Kirsten Dunst, and Ewan McGregor, Chris Rock, Ben Whishaw, and more. Overall, it is a detective series that is as much about solving crime as it is about subverting the genre.
Release Date
2014 - 2023
Network
FX
Showrunner
Noah Hawley
Writers
Noah Hawley
Franchise(s)
Fargo
Genre
Anthology
Crime drama
Noir
Thriller
Black comedy
9. 'Mindhunter' (2017 – 2019)
Moody and atmospheric, Mindhunter transports audiences back to the late 1970s and into the early days of criminal profiling to tell the story of how the FBI was formed. It follows agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench, along with psychologist Wendy Carr, as they visit a series of prisons to interview serial killers in an attempt to understand their twisted minds and use their learnings to solve active investigations.
Slow-Burning and Cerebral
Mindhunter pays extreme attention to detail. The chilling conversations with real-life killers like Ed Kemper and Richard Speck offer a glimpse into the aspects of crime solving that are often overlooked. It also explores the personal toll it takes on the protagonist to sit through the uneasy conversations and delve into the psyches of criminals. Even though the show ended after just two seasons, its impact on television is undeniable.
Release Date
2017 - 2018
Showrunner
Joe Penhall
Directors
David Fincher
Writers
Joe Penhall
Genre
Crime drama
Psychological thriller
8. 'Reacher' (2022 – Present)
Based on the best-selling novels by Lee Child, Prime Video’s Reacher follows the titular character, Jack Reacher, a former military police officer and leader of the Army’s 110th Special Investigators Unit, as he stumbles through life as a drifter. While traveling across the United States, he becomes part of dangerous and elaborate conspiracies, rights wrongs, and dispenses justice with a cool efficiency.
Action-Packed and Filled with Suspense
Reacher’s entire appeal lies in Alan Ritchson’s performance as the eponymous character. His version has been praised for its faithfulness to the source material and the command he brings on the screen. Each season adapts a different novel, but Reacher’s sharp intellect and physical powers remain at the forefront of every investigation. The series combines classic detective tropes with pulse-pounding action and tells each story with a cinematic flair.
Release Date
February 3, 2022
Network
Prime Video
Showrunner
Nick Santora
Directors
Omar Madha, Carol Banker, Julian Holmes, Lin Oeding, M.J. Bassett, Norberto Barba, Stephen Surjik, Thomas Vincent
Writers
Cait Duffy
7. High Potential(2024- Present)
High Potential is an American crime drama television series created by Drew Goddard for ABC. It is based on the 2021 French and Belgian television series HPI. The series stars Kaitlin Olson as Morgan Gillory, an intellectually gifted cleaning woman who becomes a police consultant. Also starring are Daniel Sunjata as Morgan's partner Adam Karadec and Judy Reyes as Selena Soto, the head of their department. The series premiered on September 17, 2024. In January 2025, the series was renewed for a second season.
Suspense filled
The show centers on Morgan Gillory, a single mother with three children who works as a cleaning lady for the Los Angeles Police Department. She is also a high potential intellectual, with an IQ of 160. After solving a case using her unconventional mind, she becomes a consultant for the LAPD's Major Crimes division, where she is paired with no-nonsense detective Adam Karadec.
A subplot involves Morgan using the LAPD's help and resources to find out what happened to her first husband, Roman, the father of her older daughter Ava, who disappeared 15 years earlier when Ava was a baby.
Genre
Crime drama
Created by
Drew Goddard
Based on
HPI
by Nicolas Jean
Stéphane Carrié
Alice Chegaray-Breugnot
Showrunner
Todd Harthan
6. Mare of Easttown' (2021)
Starring Kate Winslet in the main role, Mare of Easttown takes you to a small Pennsylvania town rocked by the mysterious murder of a teenage girl. Detective Mare Sheehan investigates the case while being haunted by another unsolved one – the disappearance of a local teenage girl. Meanwhile, Mare’s own life is a tangled mess of grief over losing her son, guilt over not being able to solve her case, and a custody battle for her grandson.
Contemporary Crime Fiction
Close-knit communities often serve as an ideal backdrop for telling complex and unconventional detective stories where fully-realized characters and their fractured relationships drive the narrative to outstanding conclusions. Mare of Easttown is known for its authentic setting, attention to detail, sentimental beats, and intricate plot twists, as well as Winslet’s mesmerizing performance. She even earned an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress for the role.
Release Date
2021 - 2020
Genre
Crime drama
Network
HBO Max
Showrunner
Brad Ingelsby
Directors
Craig Zobel
Writers
Brad Ingelsby
5. Will Trent' (2023 – Present)
Will Trent is adapted from Karin Slaughter’s series of bestselling novels. Ramón Rodríguez plays the titular character, a Special Agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), who carries scars of being abandoned as a child and growing up in Atlanta’s foster care system. Using his personal background and sharp observational skills, Will solves a series of high-profile cases, with Detective Angie Polaski by his side.
Detective Story with Grit and Heart
Developed by Liz Heldens and Daniel T. Thomsen, Will Trent made its debut on ABC in 2023, and it has already established itself as a modern classic. The reason? It is a deft mashup of detective drama, character development, and an on-again, off-again romance between Rodríguez and Erika Christensen’s characters. Not only does the show delve into their lives and how their experiences shape them, but it also portrays authentic challenges faced by law enforcement.
4.'Found' (2022 – Present)
Found is not your average detective show. It follows Gabi Mosley, a former victim of a kidnapping and now a recovery specialist who has dedicated her life to reuniting missing persons with their loved ones. Gabi leads a team of skilled individuals, each with personal ties to abduction cases, and together, they use unconventional methods to solve several kidnapping mysteries.
Combines Procedural Thrills and Personal Stakes
Found is created by Nkechi Okoro Carroll, and it stars Shanola Hampton of Shameless fame as Gabi. It’s refreshing to see her balance her character’s strengths and vulnerabilities while using twisted insights to get to the bottom of the most perplexing cases. It is a role that challenges traditional detective tropes, and that’s exactly what earns the show praise. The unique premise and emotionally charged premise resonated with viewers and Found was renewed for a second season in 2024.
Genre
Procedural drama
Crime drama
Mystery
Thriller
Release Date
October 3, 2023
Network
NBC
Showrunner
Nkechi Okoro Carroll
Directors
DeMane Davis
Writers
Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Jennifer King
3. 'FBI' (2018 – Present)
One of the longest-running detective shows on the list, FBI immerses you into the fast-paced, high-stakes world of the New York City field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Led by the relentless Special Agent Maggie Bell and her brilliant partner Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, the team handles all sorts of criminal threats, from local to international, and tackles cases involving terrorism, organized crime, and more.
Explores Timely Issues in Timeless Manner
The lives of those tasked with keeping the nation safe is perhaps the most arduous, and FBI offers a thrilling look at the day-to-day workings of one of the world’s most elite law enforcement agencies. The show has solidified its status as a classic already thanks to its commitment to realism. The intricate elements of intense investigations as well as action-packed sequences, the compelling performances by Missy Peregrym and Zeeko Zaki, as well as a stark focus on the human side of law, make the series a standout.
Genre
Crime drama
Police procedural
Action
Release Date
September 25, 2018
Network
CBS
Directors
Dick Wolf
Writers
Dick Wolf
2. 'True Detective' (2014 – Present)
True Detective is an anthology crime drama where each season follows a different case and features a new set of detectives, but they are all united by the grim and unsettling nature of their investigations. The first season, set in Louisiana, follows two world-weary cops, Rustin Cole and Martin Hart, as they are drawn into the search for a ritualistic killer over the course of 17 years.
Leaves a Lasting Impression
Subsequent seasons of True Detective take detectives through twisted histories, suspenseful clues, and moral ambiguity, from California’s criminal underbelly to the haunting landscapes of Arkansas. Created by Nic Pizzolatto, the series stands out for its philosophical depth, complex characters, and atmospheric setting. Later seasons received mixed reviews, but overall, it is a modern classic that sets the benchmark for detective fiction.
Genre
Anthology
Crime drama
Detective
Mystery-thriller
Neo-noir
Southern Gothic
Release Date
January 12, 2014
Network
HBO Max
Showrunner
Nic Pizzolatto
Directors
Cary Fukunaga
Writers
Nic Pizzolatto
1. 'Bosch' (2014 – 2021)
Based on Michael Connelly’s bestselling novels, Bosch is a gritty and intelligent detective drama that follows LAPD detective Harry Bosch, a grizzled veteran seeking justice in the streets of Los Angeles. The series begins with Bosch investigating the murder of a 12-year-old boy while also dealing with a lawsuit for a suspect he killed in self-defense. Raynard Waits, a serial killer, also ropes Bosch into his game of cat-and-mouse.
Dedicated to Realism
Over seven seasons and a spin-off, titled Bosch: Legacy, Bosch navigates a labyrinth of complex cases, political manipulation, and personal demons. Each case is a mind-bending puzzle that combines procedural elements with character-driven drama. Developed by Eric Overmyer and starring Titus Welliver in the lead role. The series has earned a lot of praise for its realistic portrayal of police work and for creating a rich and gripping narrative that only elevates the genre.
Genre
Detective fiction
Drama
Release Date
2014 - 2020
Showrunner
Eric Ellis Overmyer
Directors
Ernest R. Dickerson, Alex Zakrzewski
Writers
Eric Ellis Overmyer, Michael Connelly
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