Best Crime Series on Netflix for Mystery and Thrills
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Best Crime Series on Netflix for Mystery and Thrills

Best Crime Series on Netflix: 8 Picks for Mystery, Thrills, and True Crime

Key takeaways

  • Unbelievable is a serious investigative drama, while Bodyguard brings political tension and action.
  • The Chestnut Man suits fans of dark Nordic noir; Making a Murderer is a true-crime documentary.
  • These picks cover scripted dramas, mysteries, and documentary series rather than treating “best” as a universal ranking.
  • Netflix’s catalogue varies by country and changes over time, so check your local service before settling on a watchlist.

Table of contents

Quick picks: which crime series should you start with?

If you want… Try…
A focused, serious investigation Unbelievable
A tense political thriller Bodyguard
Nordic mystery and police work The Chestnut Man
Dialogue-led interrogations Criminal: UK
Street-level crime drama Top Boy: Summerhouse
A true-crime documentary Making a Murderer
A newer small-town mystery The Åre Murders
Family conflict mixed with crime Black Rabbit

Netflix’s crime-drama guide and crime-TV listings are useful places to discover titles, but they’re catalogue guides, not independent rankings.

Best crime dramas and thrillers on Netflix

1. Unbelievable — best for a serious investigation

This limited series follows the investigation of a sexual-assault report and the work of detectives pursuing a pattern of related crimes. It’s a strong choice if you want a character-focused story that gives weight to investigative procedure and the consequences of being believed—or not believed.

The subject matter is intense. Netflix identifies the series as TV-MA and flags its difficult themes in its crime-drama guide. Consider that content before watching.

Choose it if: You want a contained, dramatic investigation rather than a light procedural.
Content note: Sexual violence and trauma.

2. Bodyguard — best for a tense political thriller

In Bodyguard, a veteran is assigned to protect a controversial politician, setting up a story that combines security work, political conflict, and personal strain. The premise gives the series a different rhythm from a conventional murder investigation: the central tension is as much about protecting someone as deciding whether they can be trusted.

Netflix’s description of the series also notes the protagonist’s PTSD, an important part of the show’s subject matter.

Choose it if: You prefer a fast-moving thriller with political stakes and psychological tension.
Content note: The series addresses PTSD and includes violence.

3. The Chestnut Man — best for Nordic noir

This Danish crime mystery is a good fit for viewers who like bleak settings, methodical police work, and investigations that build over time. Its central case gives the story a darker, more unsettling feel than a light detective series.

Netflix includes it in its crime-drama catalogue. If you’re choosing between this and a more action-led show like Bodyguard, go with The Chestnut Man for atmosphere and sustained mystery rather than political suspense.

Choose it if: You enjoy international crime stories with a somber tone and a central mystery.

4. The Åre Murders — best for a small-town mystery

Set in a Swedish ski town, The Åre Murders brings together a missing-person search and an investigative partnership. The isolated setting is part of the appeal: a small community can make a mystery feel close and claustrophobic, while also giving the investigation a distinct sense of place.

Netflix lists the title among its crime dramas, describing it as a one-season series in its guide.

Choose it if: You want a relatively contained Nordic police mystery rather than a long-running procedural.

5. Criminal: UK — best for interrogation-room drama

Criminal: UK keeps its focus on suspects, investigators, and the pressure of an interview room. That stripped-down setup makes it a natural choice if you’re more interested in questioning and reading people than in chase scenes or elaborate action sequences.

It’s listed among Netflix’s crime-TV titles. The format also makes it an option for viewers who want crime stories built around dialogue and tension.

Choose it if: You like contained scenes, verbal sparring, and the gradual reveal of what a suspect may be hiding.

6. Top Boy: Summerhouse — best for street-level crime drama

For a crime story grounded in neighbourhood life, Top Boy: Summerhouse offers a different focus from detective-led mysteries. Its appeal lies in street-level conflict and the wider effects crime has on people and communities—not just in solving a single case.

Netflix includes the title in its crime-TV listings. If you’re considering other Top Boy titles on Netflix, check the catalogue carefully: Summerhouse is presented as its own title.

Choose it if: You want a crime drama centred on community and lived consequences rather than police procedure.

7. Black Rabbit — best for family conflict and crime

Black Rabbit is a contemporary crime thriller about two brothers, with debt, nightlife, and family tension driving the story. That mix makes it a different kind of pick from an investigator-led series: the focus is on personal relationships under pressure as well as criminal stakes.

Netflix includes it in its crime-drama guide.

Choose it if: You’d rather watch a character-driven thriller about family and trouble closing in than a case-of-the-week procedural.

Best true-crime series on Netflix

8. Making a Murderer — best for a real-case documentary

Unlike the scripted dramas above, Making a Murderer is a documentary series about a real legal case. It suits viewers who want a long-form account built around interviews, evidence, and courtroom proceedings rather than fictional detectives and invented plotlines.

Netflix lists it among its crime-TV titles. As with any true-crime documentary, keep in mind that a series presents selected material and perspectives; it isn’t a substitute for the full legal record.

Choose it if: You want an extended documentary investigation and are prepared for a more complicated, less tidy viewing experience.

How to choose the right crime series

  • For a limited, serious drama: Start with Unbelievable. Its subject matter is heavy, but the investigation is central to the story.
  • For pace and political tension: Pick Bodyguard.
  • For a dark international mystery: Try The Chestnut Man or The Åre Murders.
  • For dialogue over action: Choose Criminal: UK.
  • For crime’s impact beyond the investigation: Watch Top Boy: Summerhouse.
  • For a real case: Choose Making a Murderer, bearing in mind that documentaries offer a particular presentation of events.

If you’re still undecided, start with the tone you’re in the mood for: Bodyguard for urgency, Criminal: UK for tightly focused conversations, or The Chestnut Man for a slower, darker mystery. Then confirm the title appears in your local Netflix catalogue, since availability differs between regions. Netflix’s help centre explains how regional availability works.