Fall is now officially here, but Netflix has already added a slew of new shows that are perfect to watch as summer fades into autumn.
In addition to blockbuster series like Ryan Murphy’s latest Monster anthology series and the return of The Gentlemen with Theo James for season 2, Netflix is now offering a great lineup of crime and mystery shows that are worth your time.
Not a Stranger is like a loose remake of the Rebecca De Mornay-led thriller The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, except the show’s twisted nanny is far more devious than her cinematic counterpart.
If gruff, overworked detectives are more your thing, check out Detective Hole, a gripping mystery series about a Norwegian investigator trying to catch a slippery serial killer.
‘Not a Stranger’ Season 1
Funda (Elçin Sangu) is a new mother who needs a little help. Still dealing with postpartum depression, she and her husband, İlker (Ozan Dolunay), decide to hire Nazlı (Melis Sezen) as a live-in nanny for young Mavi (Ada and Arya Özdemir). At first, everything is perfect: Funda’s mental health improves enough for her to begin painting again and Mavi seems happier than she’s ever been under Nazlı’s watchful eye. But Funda gradually suspects the caretaker of her children isn’t just content with being good at her job — she wants to replace her as Mavi’s mom! Is Funda’s suspicions fueled by irrational jealousy? Or is she right to think Nazlı has ulterior motives for her and her family?
With the recent Lindsay Clancy trial sparking a debate about postpartum depression, Not a Stranger is an unintentionally timely series. Even without that coincidental true crime story still dominating the headlines, the show would still be worth watching due to its blend of drama and suspense. Yes, it’s pretty much a remake of the 1992 thriller classic The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, but it has enough fresh ideas and stellar acting to make it seem new — and worth watching.
‘Detective Hole’
No, that title is not a joke — there really is a show called Detective Hole, and it’s not a porn parody. It’s actually a pretty good mystery series that adapts Jo Nesbø’s massively popular Harry Hole novels. In the nine-episode first season, Detective Harry Hole (Tobias Santelmann) must solve a series of brutal murders committed by the same person. At every crime scene, the same two clues are left for him to find: a missing finger and a red diamond shaped like a pentagram. Is an unknown cult terrorizing the streets of modern-day Oslo? Or is the killer intentionally misleading his or her pursuers to mask their real identity?
This isn’t Harry Hole’s first screen appearance — the character was played by Michael Fassbender in the feature film The Snowman, an awful 2017 thriller with an impressively bad 7 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating. Detective Hole is much, much better, with a story that needs nine episodes to fully develop and compelling performances by Santelmann and Joel Kinnaman as Hole’s corrupt colleague, Captain Tom Waaler. With the weather cooling down, now’s the perfect time to plunge into Detective Hole’s icy mystery.
‘I Will Find You’ (2026)
The popular mystery novelist Harlan Coben is his own mass-media franchise, with book-to-Netflix hits like Fool Me Once, Run Away and Missing You. The latest adaptation, I Will Find You, promises to be his wildest suspense story yet, as it blends elements of Prison Break, The Fugitive and Gone Girl.
Avatar: Fire and Ash’s Sam Worthington stars as David Burroughs, a once-respectable man who was convicted of killing his 3-year-old son, Matthew. After being incarcerated for five years, his ex-wife, Cheryl (Erin Richards), shows him a photo of an 8-year-old boy who looks exactly like his supposedly dead child. Is Matt alive? The only way David can know for sure is to do the impossible — break out of prison and find the boy himself.
What a premise! But it’s also a classic Coben story — start with a far-fetched plot point and then follow it up with a twisty narrative that will keep you guessing. I Will Find You has a murderer’s row — pardon the pun — of talent, with Severance’s Britt Lower, Jonathan Tucker, Madeleine Stowe and Milo Ventimiglia appearing as friends, foes and friends who are secretly foes. It’s all slightly silly, but impossible to resist. I Will Find You has a tangled web of a plot that only Harlan Coben could weave.
‘The Witness’ (2026)
On July 15, 1992, 23-year-old mother Rachel Nickell was walking with her two-year-old son on Wimbledon Common in London when she was stabbed 49 times in the torso and neck. A suspect was soon caught, but he was released after the police determined he wasn’t the culprit. The case then went cold for over a decade until new evidence emerged that incriminated another man, who was later discovered to be a serial killer who had preyed on other women like Rachel.
This grisly true-crime story is brought to life in The Witness, a binge-worthy three-episode series that dramatizes Rachel’s story and her family’s quest for justice. The series avoids exploiting Rachel’s (Eleanor Williams) murder by focusing on her husband André (Jordan Bolger), who never gives up finding Rachel’s killer, even though everyone else does. While the identity of Rachel’s killer is public knowledge, the reveal of who he is is genuinely shocking, as is his connection to other unsolved murders he committed before and after Rachel’s killing. The Witness is riveting crime TV, and though it can be gruesome to watch at times, it never feels tawdry or exploitative.
‘The Chestnut Man’ (2021-2026)
What is it about Denmark? The small, seemingly peaceful country has been the setting for a fair amount of murder mysteries lately, and by far the most twisted is The Chestnut Man. The show premiered in 2021 and instantly hooked viewers with its bizarre plot about the missing politician’s daughter, whose kidnapper might also be linked to the murder of a family in the 1980s.
Season 2, Hide and Seek, tells a different story but keeps the same two leads, bickering detective duo Mark Hess (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) and Naia Thulin (Danica Ćurčić). They need to figure out who kidnapped and murdered a 41-year-old woman and how it’s linked to — you guessed it — another murder that occurred in the past. The Chestnut Man sticks to its formula of overly complicated mysteries spanning different periods, but if it worked the first time, why change it in season 2? The series so convincingly portrays a land filled with secrets and dangers lurking in the shadows that it will deter anyone who watches it from booking their next vacation to Denmark.
‘Nemesis’ (2026)
Fans of Heat starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino should watch the new Netflix series Nemesis, which tells a similar cops-and-robbers story set in crime-ridden Los Angeles. LAPD veteran Isaiah Stiles (Matthew Law) is good at his job — a little too good, according to his wife, Candace (Gabrielle Dennis). She’s upset he’s obsessed with taking down crime kingpin Coltrane Wilder (Y’lan Noel), who Isaiah believes is behind a series of heists throughout the city. Because Isaiah is driven by past tragedy, he’s unyielding in his determination to get his man — even if he has to sacrifice everything he cares about.
Co-created by Power mastermind Courtney A. Kemp, Nemesis shows a similar care for intricate worldbuilding and thoughtful character development that made that Starz series such a success. Nemesis has a fascinating crime narrative, but its best feature is how it portrays its lead characters. Isaiah isn’t as perfect as he’d like to be, and Coltrane isn’t the bad guy his nemesis thinks he is. These men have a lot more in common than they’d like to acknowledge, which makes their antagonistic relationship all the more absorbing to watch as it evolves throughout the show’s eight addictive episodes.
‘Killing Eve’ (2018-2022)
This fantastic spy thriller series from Phoebe Waller-Bridge and, later, Emerald Fennell, stars Sandra Oh as MI5 agent Eve Polastri, whose dissatisfaction with her job leads her to make a brash mistake that gets her fired. However, her interest in pursuing female assassins leads her to join an underground MI6 division dedicated to tracking Villanelle (Jodie Comer): a psychopathic international assassin who consistently evades capture. But when Eve and Villanelle eventually encounter one another, they find themselves locked in a game of cat-and-mouse that draws both women closer to one another in unexpected ways.
Killing Eve does an excellent job at subverting tropes of spy thrillers and hinging on truly electric chemistry between Comer and Oh. Oh is thrilling in her role portraying the unconventional and messy Eve, while Comer is an utterly magnetic “femme fatale” type of villainous psychopath. The mutual obsession between these disparate parties creates a compelling dynamic, and the sharp writing, genuinely funny dark humor and high production values (from lush cinematography to meticulous costuming) work together to create an unforgettable and dynamic series.
‘Veronica Mars’ (2004-2007)
Popular high school student Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) has the perfect life and the perfect boyfriend, but it all falls apart following the tragic murder of her best friend Lilly Kane (Amanda Seyfried), the downfall of her respected sheriff father and the abandonment of her mother (Corinne Bohrer). In the aftermath of both Veronica and her father (Enrico Colantoni) being ousted by their community, they open up their own private investigation agency, where Veronica works part-time solving crimes around town.
Though Veronica Mars only lasted for a criminally short three seasons, the series has endured as a cult hit with a passionate fanbase. The show boasts a smart blend of teen drama and crime noir, and Bell commands the show with her magnetic breakout performance. Veronica is a strong female character given rich character development, but the supporting characters are terrific too, creating a show with textured, dense world-building. While the revival season leaves something to be desired, the first run of Veronica Mars is some of the best television ever.
‘Unfamiliar’ (2026)
Meret (Susanne Wolff) and Simon Schäfer (Felix Kramer) are former German spies who have settled down in Berlin, raising their teenage daughter Nina (Maja Bons) while running a restaurant and a safe house together. On the night of their daughter’s sixteenth birthday, a man who’s been attacked requests shelter at their safe house. But the man isn’t all he appears to be, and he bears knowledge of a disastrous covert operation from years ago, the consequences of which the Schäfers have been desperately trying to run from. Suddenly, all their skeletons are threatened to be revealed.
This German espionage thriller has proven to be a surprise hit for Netflix, having only recently debuted and already becoming one of the streamer’s most popular shows. Viewers can’t get enough of Unfamiliar’s riveting twists and turns while also being a smartly written narrative with high-stakes drama, complex, nuanced characters and an emotional grounding that frees it from some of the familiar tropes of spy stories. The fast pace and scant six-episode arc create a truly binge-worthy experience full of surprises you won’t expect.
‘His and Hers’ (2025)
Former news anchor Anna (Tessa Thompson) purposefully spends her days alone and isolated, until she hears about a murder in her hometown of Dahlonega, Georgia. Finding herself suddenly reinvigorated in her career, Anna travels to Dahlonega to investigate, where she is forced to contend with her estranged husband, Jack Harper (Jon Bernthal), who just happens to be assigned to the case. Having been drawn to the killing partly out of curiosity, partly because of loose ends left from her past, Anna searches for the truth while repeatedly butting heads with Jack, who is increasingly suspicious of Anna’s true motives.
This gripping, fast-paced murder-mystery wouldn’t be quite what it is without two compelling performances from Bernthal and Thompson, who really inject some complex character nuance and emotional tension into an already bingeable narrative. Though there are aspects of His & Hers that might strain plausibility, it only adds to the entertaining, crime pulp intrigue of this taut, tight thriller.
‘The Following’ (2013 – 2015)
Over a decade ago, Kevin Bacon was enticed to join his first network TV series, The Following, a mystery thriller with the Tremors actor as former FBI agent Ryan Hardy. After catching a serial killer named Joe Carroll (James Purefoy), Ryan left his job behind and even briefly romanced Carroll’s ex-wife, Claire Matthews (Natalie Zea). The only thing that could bring Ryan out of retirement is the escape of Joe Carroll.
In his time behind bars, Joe has amassed a large following of devoted maniacs who are willing to kill for him and die for him if necessary. It’s a brand new game with Joe as the ringleader, and nearly anyone in Ryan or Claire’s life could be one of the followers hiding in plain sight until it’s time to strike at their enemies.
‘City of Shadows’ (2025)
Suspended cop Milo Malart (Isak Férriz) is tapped by Judge Susana Cabrera (Ana Wagener) to look into the circumstances surrounding the mysterious death of a construction company CEO. Ostracized by his other colleagues, Malart is subsequently paired up with Deputy Inspector Rebeca Garrido (Verónica Echegui) to investigate. Ultimately, the single grisly murder ends up being one of a string of ritualistic killings that take place atop historic landmarks in Barcelona. Will Malart be able to find redemption and catch the killer?
City of Shadows prioritizes pacing and atmosphere over shock and gore, and while there are still some twists and turns to look forward to, the show is more interested in showcasing solid storytelling and the fantastic chemistry between its two leads. For crime drama fans who could use less blood and guts and more character drama and moody tension, City of Shadows is likely to be the perfect fit for you.
‘Love and Death’ (2023)
Texan Candy Montgomery (Elizabeth Olsen) lives the normal day-to-day of a late-’70s suburban housewife. But when Candy decides to shake things up and engage in an extramarital affair with her neighbor and friend from church, Allan Gore (Jesse Plemons), things end up turning shockingly deadly. Allan’s wife, Betty (Lily Rabe), is discovered murdered with 41 blows from an axe, and Candy becomes the prime suspect. Love & Death takes a look at the events leading up to this grisly crime, in addition to the trial and the verdict.
Love & Death offers an empathetic look at the boredom and ennui experienced by American housewives in the 20th century, packaged within a genuinely twisted and engaging true-crime story that still raises questions today. Screenwriter David E. Kelley writes Candy’s character with tact, giving her empathy while articulating how her repression could manifest violent outcomes. For her towering performance as Candy, Olsen received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress – Limited Series or Television Film.
‘The Beast in Me’ (2025)
Novelist Aggie Wiggs (Claire Danes) has isolated herself in the wake of her son’s tragic death and her divorce from her wife. Struggling with writer’s block while working on her new book, she gets an unexpected source of inspiration: her new next-door neighbor, Nile Jarvis (Matthew Rhys, who won an Emmy for his performance), the prime suspect in his wife’s disappearance. With Jarvis’ invitation, Wiggs begins writing about him. But as their coy, cat-and-mouse relationship progresses, is Wiggs really in danger herself?
This new series from the creatives behind The X-Files and Danes’ own Homeland is a constantly engaging crime-thriller pulp led by a pair of phenomenal performances from Rhys and Danes. Critics have lauded the show for its deliciously addictive nature that leaves you guessing with every episode, and the unmistakable chemistry between the two leads in this intriguing mystery and character drama.
‘Absentia’ (2017-Present)
Netflix recently added the Amazon Prime series Absentia, which was sadly cancelled after only three seasons, but is nevertheless a fantastic and absorbing thriller. The show focuses on FBI Agent Emily Byrne (Stana Katic), who is declared dead after going missing while investigating a serial killer. Six years later, Byrne is found in a cabin in the woods with no memory of the previous six years. As she struggles to understand what happened to her, she is implicated in a series of murders.
Castle co-star Katic shines in this wonderfully dark and intense show, with a compelling psychological thriller plotline. The show blends a hybrid of crime investigation, twist-filled mystery and engaging character drama. The excellent pacing and high stakes keep viewers engaged and on the edge of their seats.
‘Untamed’ (2025-Present)
In Yosemite National Park in California, Kyle Turner (Eric Bana) is a special agent for the Investigative Services Branch of the National Park Service. Turner is tasked with investigating the death of a woman who fell from a cliff and curiously ended up with a gnawed leg and a gunshot wound before she fell. The investigation of the dark crime leads Turner into the lawless terrain of the open wilderness as his own past wounds open up to haunt his present day.
Untamed is a stellar crime thriller with a central mystery that will keep you hooked throughout the scant six-episode season, and is bolstered by a gravitas-heavy performance from Bana. Plus, the gorgeous backdrop of the real-life Yosemite is easy on the eyes as Bana is. In addition to Bana, the terrific supporting cast includes Rosemarie DeWitt (The Boys) and Sam Neill (Jurassic Park).
‘Black Rabbit’ (2025-Present)
Mismatched brothers Jake (Jude Law) and Vince (Jason Bateman) are reunited in New York City, as Vince’s chaotic, hard-up life leads him to get a job working at his successful brother’s elite restaurant, Black Rabbit — which he happened to co-found and once owned alongside Jake. But any semblance of a happy reunion is short-lived, and both brothers find themselves navigating the criminal underworld as they evade loan sharks whom Vince owes money to.
While you might not have guessed Bateman and Law to play convincing siblings, Black Rabbit received praise in particular for the chemistry between the two actors. Their simpatico performances elevate the gritty, fast-paced crime story that has received comparisons to the Safdie brothers’ anxiety-inducing Uncut Gems. Riveting and endlessly engaging, Black Rabbit is a prestige thrill ride like no other.
‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ (2024)
The second season of Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology series takes a look at the infamous Menendez brothers case from 1989, in which the two brothers (played by Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez in the show) killed both of their parents after allegedly enduring years of abuse. The show depicts the fraught family life between the brothers and their parents, offering a depiction of the environment in which children could be led to commit parricide.
A newly minted Emmy winner, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story features exceptional lead performances from Javier Bardem and Chlöe Sevigny, who play the brothers’ parents, José and Kitty Menendez. Using a Rashomon-style storytelling device, the series utilizes different perspectives on important events and potentially unreliable narrators to paint a portrait of the case that is ultimately left up to interpretation by the viewer.
‘Mindhunter’ (2017-2019)
Set in the late 1970s, Mindhunter follows two FBI agents who track down psychopathic killers by getting into their heads. Agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) attempt to understand the psychology of a serial killer, looking at their upbringings and mangled psyches to think like them. While effectively pioneering modern serial killer profiling, the two agents find themselves often getting a little too close to their subjects.
Executive produced by director David Fincher (who frequently directed episodes, oversaw the screenwriting and production, and was viewed by many as the de facto showrunner), Mindhunter was sadly canceled after only two seasons but had developed a passionate fanbase. The series was widely acclaimed, unique within its genre for its cinematic visual flair and painstaking character development. At the same time, Groff and McCallany have fantastic chemistry, which adds a richness to the already compelling and detailed narrative.
‘Dark’ (2017-2020)
When walking home through the woods with friends, a child mysteriously vanishes one night in the small German town of Winden. In the race to find him, secrets are revealed among the otherwise ordinary citizens and their families, along with the troubled history that the town rests on — and that they are all connected to. The interconnections between past and present prove to be cosmic, and a dark, supernatural secret that’s been hiding in plain sight threatens to unravel both Winden and the entire world.
Starring Louis Hoffman and a cast of talented, mostly unknown-to-Americans German actors, Dark is a stellar hybridization of science fiction, crime drama, and mystery, working as a piece of puzzle box art filled with complex twists and existentialist themes. The intricate nature of the multi-generational plot includes a time-travel conspiracy, while handling its expansive web of characters and decades with care. The first German-language show produced for Netflix, Dark transcends genre trappings. It’s an atmospheric, philosophical slow-burn that can’t be missed.
