Whodunit shows have been one of the most popular TV genres for years, meaning that there’s no shortage of series for fans to discover. A good whodunit should present a clear case with a list of potential suspects, as audiences often enjoy the puzzle of trying to figure out who the culprit is along with the on-screen investigators.
Whodunits are perfectly suited to the miniseries format, since this allows enough time for a knotty criminal investigation to explore several different paths, but it doesn’t drag on for so long that the show has to use filler episodes, inevitably slowing down the pace. The best whodunit shows strike the perfect balance, and a compelling solution is essential.
Kate Winslet won an Emmy forMare of Easttown,but her performance is just one of many reasons which make the dark crime drama worth watching. Winslet stars as a Philadelphia detective struggling with her own personal demons as she tries to solve the death of a young mother and a missing girl.
It wouldn’t be quite as captivating if not for the strength of the characterization.
Mare of Easttowncreates a perplexing whodunit, but it wouldn’t be quite as captivating if not for the strength of the characterization. While the main character’s troubles make her feel real and relatable, the same can be said for many of the characters, whether they’re potential suspects or not.
True Detectiveaired its explosive first season back in 2014, but there was a five-year gap between season 3 andNight Country.The truncated fourth season has just six episodes, but this gives it an intense focus.Night Countrystars Jodie Foster and Kali Reis as two detectives investigating a strange mystery during the long dark winter in Alaska.
Night Countrykeeps audiences guessing right to the very end. It’s not just a question of who is responsible for the disappearances of a group of Arctic researchers, asthere are countless other theories involving aliens, demons and psychosis. The enchanting landscape provides the ideal backdrop for an unpredictable investigation which often borders on the supernatural.True Detectiveseason 5has been confirmed, although fans will have to wait a couple of years.
8Poker Face
Rian Johnson’s Crime Comedy Gets The Best Out Of Natasha Lyonne
Poker Faceseason 2is set to premiere in May, so there’s still time to catch up on the first season of one of the best original crime shows of the last few years.Poker Faceis bingeable murder mystery chaoswith a great comedic performance by Natasha Lyonne. It also showcases Rian Johnson’s love of playing with genres once more.
Poker Faceuses the “inverted mystery” structure popularized by shows likeColumbo, in which the solution to the mystery is shown at the beginning, and the detective has to muddle through the investigation while the audience can already see who the guilty party is. Just likeColumbo, Poker Facefinds inventive ways to keep things fresh.
Bad Sistersis as dark as comedy comes, butthe underrated Irish gem lets a gripping murder mystery unfold in the midst of its dysfunctional family comedy. The story follows a group of sisters who are faced with some difficult questions after one of their husbands is murdered. The narrative is split between two timelines, one before the death and one after.
AlthoughBad Sistersshows the suspects in every intimate moment of their lives, it still keeps some information agonizingly out of reach. This creates a murky mystery in which the focus keeps constantly shifting as new theories present themselves. The talents of the ensemble cast keep things entertaining throughout.
Magpie Murdersis based on the book of the same name by Anthony Horowitz, one of Britain’s greatest living crime writers. Although the novel gains an added metatextual layer, because the story is about publishing, the show adds one or two of its own ideas to make up for it.
Magpie Murdersfollows two mysteries running in tandem. One takes place in the “real” world, as a publisher tries to find out who killed a successful author, and the other takes place within the author’s final detective novel. These two cases interact with one another in surprising ways, and theending ofMagpie Murdersdelivers a hefty dose of satisfying payoff.
Ludwigstars David Mitchell as a puzzle-setter who is forced to use his logical reasoning skills to solve the disappearance of his identical twin brother, stepping into his shoes as a detective to keep up appearances. Each episode delivers a fiendish new mystery, all while developing the overarching story that drives the show.
Ludwigshows a keen awareness that fans of the whodunit shows often treat shows like puzzles waiting to be solved from the beginning. It uses a variety of different puzzles as the basis for each mystery, and there’s always a compelling list of suspects before the big reveal. With the added bonus thatLudwigis a treat for fans of British humor, it became a surprise international hit in 2024.
American Vandaldoesn’t follow an investigation into murder, kidnapping, theft or any of the other usual subjects for a whodunit. Instead, it features a group of high school sleuths searching for the truth behind an act of petty vandalism in their school’s parking lot. Season 2 examines another low-stakes investigation, this time featuring a shocking prank.
American Vandalpokes fun at the whodunit genre, specifically the way that amateur sleuths try to hype up their own investigations. Despite its satirical angle,American Vandalis a surprisingly effective mystery. It’s just as confounding and intriguing as any murder mystery.
Each season ofOnly Murders in the Buildingfeatures a new murder mystery, and they also have distinct atmospheres. For example, season 3 takes place against the backdrop of frenzied rehearsals for a new Broadway show, and season 4 has an injection of Hollywood glamour.Only Murders in the Buildingseason 5looks as though it will take things back to basics.
Only Murders in the Buildingbalances its compelling murder mystery plots with a lot of humor. Martin Short and Steve Martin’s dynamic is revitalized with the addition of Selena Gomez as an unlikely third member, andthe show is also famous for its procession of huge guest stars, which include Meryl Streep, Paul Rudd and Eva Longoria, to name just a few.
Deadlochis one of only a handful of Australian TV shows which has managed to make an international impact in recent years. Prime Video’s darkly hilarious whodunit tells the story of two detectives who must reluctantly team up to solve the case of a serial killer in a sleepy seaside town.
Deadlochseason 2is on the way, so it’s a great time to catch up on the first season. The next season will leave the titular town behind as the detectives travel to Darwin for a different kind of mystery. Hopefully,the show’s impeccable balance of laugh-out-loud humor and complex mysterywill remain intact.
Netflix’s latest murder mystery hit takes place in the White House, tracking the investigation after a body is found during a state dinner.The Residencehas a great cast, and the performances help flesh out a long list of potential suspects. Uzo Aduba stars as the peculiar detective tasked with sifting through an overload of conflicting information.
The Residenceis a brilliantly scripted whodunit, toying with its audience as it leads the investigation down different side streets
The Residenceis a brilliantly scripted whodunit, toying with its audience as it leads the investigation down different side streets. Its non-linear structure is designed to reveal information at a steady pace, dragging the detectives in different directions as they learn that everyone in the White House has some secret or another.The White House is often filmed to look like a doll’s house, perfectly mirroring the playful tone of this toybox mystery.
