Do you prefer a fast-paced police chase or a slow-burn atmospheric mystery – or perhaps a bit of both? Whatever kind of armchair detective you might be, we've scoured the schedules and worked our way through the latest releases (as well as a few old favourites) to bring you our top pick of detective dramas. The best news is they're all available to watch now.
From a BBC drama that we think is the best thing since Happy Valley to an atmospheric Irish mystery and a cosier choice set in the Peak District, there’s plenty to get excited about. So, remotes at the ready, these are the seven 5-star detective dramas to watch on ITV, Netflix the BBC and more.
Blue Lights
Based on the streets of Belfast, the latest instalment of the BBC’s hit drama has been the most explosive yet. We first met Constables Grace Ellis (Siân Brooke), Tommy Foster (Nathan Braniff) and Annie Conlon (Katherine Devlin) when they were rookie recruits at the fictional Blackthorn police station. Since then, they've tackled all kinds of crime – from drug rings to the sinister operations of high-ranking individuals. Series 4 (the latest instalment) kicks off with a violent anti-immigrant mob at a migrant centre. Later, t...