Best Binges for Mystery Buffs on Netflix

I can watch hours of mystery TV shows. That’s why I put together this list of Best Binges for Mystery Buffs on Netflix. It’s almost like a game for me – seeing if I can solve the mystery myself.

BEST BINGES FOR MYSTERY BUFFS ON NETFLIX CANADA

I just love me a good mystery. Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sue Grafton, Mary Higgins Clark, James Patterson – I could go on and on listing some of my favorite mystery writers. It doesn’t really matter if they are period dramas or more modern ones, there is something compelling about gathering a series of clues as the mystery slowly unravels.

Recently updated for 2021. Netflix has removed many of my favorite mysteries but there is still a core list available.

Murdoch Mysteries –

Ahh, Detective William Murdoch. He’s a member of the Toronto constabulary in 1895 (and continuing into the early 1900s) with a love for gadgets and inventions. Like Miss Fisher, he is ahead of his time with his clever forensic inventions and procedures, which enable him to solve crimes

Broadchurch –

True confession time: I am not a Doctor Who fan. And out of all the episodes I have seen, David Tennant’s frenetic portrayal of the Doctor simply annoyed me. But David Tennant’s performance in Broadchurch is absolutely gripping.

The character development season over season brings me back to this compelling show again and again. Unlike the shows above which, for the most part, deal with a new crime to be solved each week, Broadchurch goes more in depth, tackling one major mystery over the course of an entire season.

Sherlock –

Well you know, this one had me with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson respectively. They have exactly the chemistry I would want of these characters. The plots are based on the classic Conan Doyle books with slight variations and a modern twist.

Don’t think though, that once you’ve seen one Sherlock Holmes series, you’ve seen them all. This series has its own charm and intensity. (Is it possible to have both charm and intensity? Yes, it must be, because that’s the best way I can think of to describe this show).

Vexed

A detective comedy about DI Jack Armstrong and his partner to solve crimes in the UK. The best part about this one is definitely the quirky relationship between Armstrong and his partner – first Kate Bishop and then Georgina Dixon.

It’s not your typical police procedural, with its generous dose of humor added to it.

Shetland

A Scottish mystery series based on a series of Ann Cleeves books. Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez and his team investigate cases on the island of Shetland. Typical noir style police procedural set against a bleak but beautiful backdrop.

This doesn’t make my list of “watch them over and over again” binges (like Father Brown, Murdoch Mysteries, Midsomer Murders, etc) but it was still compelling enough to continue watching.

Ripper Street

I’ll admit that it took me a bit of time to get into this one. I loved episode 1 but by about the 3rd or 4th episode, my interest was waning a bit. I hoped it was just a temporary lull and continued on. Thankfully, it picked up again quickly!

It’s a Victorian crime thriller taking place in Whitechapel in the east end of London, about 6 months after the last victim of Jack the Ripper is murdered. This is a darker, edgier show than many of the others. Be forewarned, it’s also a little more gruesome than most of the others as well but with the references to Jack the Ripper, that’s to be expected.

As for movies, I recommend Agatha and the Truth of Murder and Enola Holmes. For the kids, check out Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase, The Inbestigators, The Spy Next Door, and Annabelle Hooper and the Ghosts of Nantucket.

There are other mysteries available on Netflix but these are definitely my current favorites. Do you have any to add to this list? I’d love some more recommendations to try!

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