- Chantal W.
- Thursday, March 26, 2020
If you like your mysteries, thrillers, and crime drama TV and didn't haven't a chance to load up on DVDs before the library closed and don't have access to streaming services such as Hulu, Netflix, and the like, then you should definitely think about giving hoopla, one of our Stream and Download services, a try.
There are a plethora of suspense filled TV shows (series, miniseries, and TV movies), some with several seasons available, to be found here for your viewing pleasure. It's a pretty exhaustive list so there should be a little something here for everyone. #WatchFreely
SOME OF CHANTAL'S FAVORITES:
I think I have pretty good taste in Mystery TV 😉 so please consider giving these a try...
- Agatha Christie's Marple I love this series, definitely a good fit for those who like classic mysteries or mysteries with a cozy feel. During the course of the show Miss Marple is played by two different actresses, Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie. They are both excellent, but I'm partial to Ms. McKenzie's Miss Marple 👵. There is a debate to be had here, so...go! If you want to read Agatha Christie's Miss Marple's mysteries check them out on OverDrive.
- Agatha Raisin This is just a fun TV show. Even if you haven't had a chance to read M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin series you will still want to watch this nosy neighbor get up in everybody's business and solve the crime while she does it! Oh yeah, and check out OverDrive to read the very popular mysteries as well. Miss Beaton passed away late last year, but she was very prolific and I'm really looking forward to more shows based on her books.
- And Then There Were None Find out who makes it off the island and read the eBook - it's a classic!
- The Brokenwood Mysteries - Check out this Australian mystery show. It's good, it's fun, and it has a really great soundtrack. I don't know about you, but I never really associated country music with Australia, but it's really good and adds a certain something to the show.
- Foyle's War I love, love, love ❤️ this show. Seriously, it is that good! Foyle's War "combines uncompromising historical accuracy with compelling mysteries, and stars Michael Kitchen as Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Foyle. Set in the beautiful southern English countryside amid the disorder and danger of World War II, Foyle's War takes place far from the glory of the front. His is an ordinary struggle-against everyday evil-in extraordinarily dangerous times." By season 8 the war has ended and "the acclaimed detective series returns with more mysteries set in the uncertain days at the beginning of the Cold War. In 1946 London, former DCS Christopher Foyle now employs his unerring investigative skills on behalf of MI5, assisted by his ever-faithful driver, Samantha Wainwright."
- George Gently Another series that I ❤️ . This show is just really well done. "In 1960s Britain, an upstanding detective takes on a dangerous world. Award-winning actor Martin Shaw stars as Commander George Gently-an incorruptible, uncompromising cop transplanted from London's Scotland Yard to England's North Country. Gently's reputation for honesty and relentlessness makes him almost as feared among his colleagues as he is among criminals. But he finds an odd ally in John Bacchus (Lee Ingleby), an overeager, opinionated young sergeant who plays fast and loose with police procedures. Together the two tackle cases involving murderers, drug dealers, gun runners, and more. Based on the long-running series of novels by Alan Hunter, these feature-length modern dramas boast clever writing, stylish direction, and strong casts. The powerful mysteries unfold against the beautiful backdrop of rural Britain, a region just beginning to feel the rumbles of the era's social and cultural quakes."
- Inspector Lewis This series makes me want to hang around Oxford, England - even if there is a good deal of murder and mayhem happening. Another one that is really well done. "Inspector Robert Lewis steps out of the shadow of his mentor--the inimitable Inspector Morse--in this highly-acclaimed series. Together with his partner, Detective Sergeant James Hathaway, they take on the elite criminal underworld of Oxford, England, relying on Lewis' instinct and Hathaway's intellect."
- No Offence " Described as a police comedy-drama with fierce female characters and a shrewd, irreverent take on crime...loaded with dark humor and shocking plot twists." If you like strong female leads, flawed characters, and the aforementioned shocking plot twists this one is definitely for you.
Check out author Maureen Johnson's "YOUR GUIDE TO NOT GETTING MURDERED IN A QUAINT ENGLISH VILLAGE" on CrimeReads. Lots of useful information here, apropos to any serious British mystery TV fan, and it's good for a laugh.
MYSTERY AND CRIME TV SHOWs THAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER FOR YOUR TO BE WATCHED LIST:
All of these are highly rated on IMDB, I checked!
- 19-2
- Agatha Christie's Poirot Get your little gray cells going by watching the hit series in which "Agatha Christie's beloved detective solves complex cases with flair and finesse" Also, if you want to catch up on Hercule Poirot's adventures check his mysteries on OverDrive. Death on the Nile will be coming to theaters this fall.
- Alibi
- The Alienist - I really, really want to watch this one! It premiered on TNT in 2018. "An unflinching psychological thriller amidst the underbelly of New York City's "Gilded Age," The Alienist follows Laszlo Kreizler (Daniel Brühl, Rush), a brilliant and obsessive "Alienist" in the controversial new field of treating mental pathologies, who holds the key to hunting down a never-before-seen ritualistic killer murdering young boys. Based on the award-winning, fan-favorite novel by Caleb Carr,(Check the eBook out from OverDrive) with standout performances from Luke Evans (The Girl on the Train) and Dakota Fanning (American Pastoral) The Alienist is a gripping, turn-of-the-century murder mystery like none other."
- Blood
- Chasing Shadows
- The Code
- Code of a Killer
- Collision
- The Commander
- Dalziel and Pascoe
- DCI Banks "Based on the Inspector Banks novels from award-winning international crime writer Peter Robinson, this series features carefully worked stories crammed with twists and turns, and intriguing and memorable characters."
- Death in Paradise This is a fun, breezy show. Reminds me of Monk, but set in the Caribbean and the detective is not OCD, just very British! 😊
- Deep Water
- The Driver
- East West 101
- The Fall - This one is definitely on my list."Emmy and Golden Globe winner Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) smolders as a British detective summoned to Belfast to solve a high-profile murder. She quickly recognizes the signs of a serial killer, but the culprit (Jamie Dornan, Fifty Shades of Grey) has already targeted his next victim."
- Father Brown - This one is fun! "Based on the stories of G. K. Chesterton, Father Brown follows the crime-solving priest of St. Mary's Catholic Church in the fictional village of Kembleford in the early 1950s. The mild-mannered priest looks unremarkable, but his gentle nature and slightly crumpled look belie a razor-sharp wit and intellect. Father Brown is aided in his crime-solving activities by his parish secretary, Mrs. Bridgette McCarthy, who checks his facts and defends him from the frustration of his congregation and makes sure he eats." This one stars Mark Williams, of Harry Potter fame - he plays Mr. Weasley!
- Good Cop
- Harry
- Hidden
- I Am the Night Another one on my to be watched list! "Inspired by true events, I Am the Night tells the gripping story of Fauna Hodel (India Eisley), a teenage girl who is given away at birth, and grows up outside of Reno, Nevada. Fauna lives more-or-less comfortably with the mysteries of her origin, until one day she makes a discovery that leads her to question everything. As Fauna begins to investigate the secrets of her past, she meets a ruined reporter (Chris Pine), haunted by the case that undid him. Together, they follow a sinister trail that swirls ever closer to an infamous Los Angeles gynecologist, Dr. George Hodel (Jefferson Mays), a man involved in some of Hollywood's darkest debauchery, and possibly, its most infamous unsolved crime."
- The Ice House A young Daniel Craig stars in this one.
- Inside Men
- The Inspector Lynley Mysteries "Based on the novels from the best-selling stories by Elizabeth George, this series of contemporary murder mysteries feature the charismatic Inspector Lynley, whose title as the 8th Earl of Asherton fuels a sparky relationship with his working class sidekick Barbara Havers." Check out some of the eBooks and eAudiobooks on OverDrive.
- Jack Irish
- Jack Taylor
- Janet King
- Jericho of Scotland Yard
- Keeping Faith
- The Last Enemy Stars Benedict Cumberbatch - for some that is enough said. You know who you are! 😉
- Line of Duty This one has been called a "gripping cat and mouse thriller" - I would have to agree.
- The Loch (Loch Ness)
- Manhunt
- Marcella
- Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries "Based on the novels by Kerry Greenwood. In 1920s Melbourne, the Honorable Phryne Fisher is a thoroughly modern woman operating in a mostly male world. The glamorous "lady detective" goes about her work with a pistol close at hand-and, more often than not, a male admirer even closer." Another fun one!
- Mike Hammer, Private Eye Only the first of two seasons is here, but let the viewing experience spur your interest in Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer books on OverDrive.
- Mr. Mercedes "A demented killer taunts a retired police detective with a series of lurid letters and emails, forcing the ex-cop to undertake a private, and potentially felonious, crusade to bring the killer to justice before he can strike again. Based on the bestselling novel by Stephen King (Check out the ebook and eAudiobook on OverDrive)."
- Mrs. Bradley Mysteries
- Murder in the First Only the first season of three seasons is here, but give it a try.
- Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries "In this spin-off to the wildly popular Australian mystery series, Peregrine Fisher inherits her aunt Phryne's estate after she goes missing on a case. As the plucky Peregrine steps into her aunt's fabulous lifestyle in 1960s Melbourne, she also decides to follow in Phryne's footsteps as a lady detective for a new era." Premiered in 2019.
- Murdoch Mysteries "In the 1890s, Detective William Murdoch adopts modern techniques like "finger marks" and forensics to track Toronto's most sinister killers."
- My Life is Murder
- Mystery Road
- New Blood
- Single Handed
- Suspects
- Trial and Retribution
- Vera "Based on the bestselling mysteries by Ann Cleeves, Vera follows a solitary, obsessed, cantankerous investigator who happens to be pure genius at her job." These have a kind of dark and brooding feel to them.
- Waking the Dead
- Whitechapel
- Winter
- Wire in the Blood
- Zen "Rufus Sewell stars as the sharp-suited Italian detective Aurelio Zen in a series based on the best-selling novels by the late Michael Dibdin. Set in and around Rome, Zen finds it tough being the only honest cop in town. As admirable as this may be, it's made him enemies and held back his career. Plotting politicians, a stressed-out boss and vengeful gangsters don't make it easy. But the addition of the clever and ambitious Tania to the team sees Zen's vigour reawakened as he negotiates a complex string of murder cases, never afraid to question authority or use a few unorthodox methods to get results." It's good - I was always a little bummed that they only did this as a TV mini-series rather than a multi-season series!
DO YOU MIND...SUBTITLES?
Looking for something with a little more international flair? If so, give these options a try.
- DANISH
- DUTCH
- FRENCH
- Agatha Christie's Criminal Games (Les petits meurtres d'Agatha Christie)
- Agatha Christies Family Murder Party (Petits meurtres en famille)
- Little Murders Of Agatha Christie (Les petits meurtres d'Agatha Christie)
- Blood of the Vine (Le sang de la vigne)
- Braquo
- Caïn
- Détectives
- Mafiosa
- Magellan (Commissaire Magellan)
- Maigret
- Spiral (Engrenages)
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GERMAN
-
ITALIAN
- SWEDISH