There is something timeless about watching an investigator notice the detail everyone else missed.
That basic pleasure has kept detective fiction popular for generations, but modern crime thrillers have expanded well beyond the traditional whodunit. Today’s best mystery series combine deduction with psychological profiling, damaged investigators, serial-killer cases, conspiracies and morally complicated characters.
If you enjoy the investigative intelligence, twists and puzzle-solving spirit associated with Sherlock Holmes, these six series offer very different ways to get your next mystery fix.
1. His & Hers
Platform: Netflix
Based on Alice Feeney’s novel, His & Hers is a psychological mystery centred on Anna Andrews, a former television news anchor who returns to her hometown following a murder.
Her involvement in the case becomes particularly complicated when the investigation brings her into contact with Detective Jack Harper, the officer leading the inquiry and someone with whom she shares a complicated personal history.
As the investigation develops, personal relationships become inseparable from the mystery itself. New information repeatedly changes the way the audience understands the people involved, making the series a good choice for viewers who enjoy unreliable perspectives and layered investigations.
Why watch it: A modern mystery where personal history is just as important as the crime.
2. The Mentalist
Platform: Netflix
If Sherlock Holmes’ ability to read people is your favourite part of the character, The Mentalist is an obvious recommendation.
Simon Baker stars as Patrick Jane, a former television psychic whose supposed supernatural abilities are actually the result of observation, psychological insight and an exceptional understanding of human behaviour.
After a devastating personal tragedy involving serial killer Red John, Jane works as a consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation while continuing his pursuit of the killer responsible.
Each episode brings another case, but the larger Red John storyline gives the series an overarching mystery.
Why watch it: Clever deductions, behavioural analysis and a protagonist who solves cases by understanding people.
3. True Detective — Season 1
Platform: JioHotstar
The first season of True Detective is one of television’s most atmospheric crime dramas.
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson play detectives Rustin Cohle and Martin Hart, who investigate a disturbing murder in Louisiana. The case develops into something far larger as the detectives uncover connections that remain hidden for years.
The storytelling moves across different periods, gradually revealing both the investigation and the changing relationship between the two detectives.
Unlike a conventional procedural, True Detective spends considerable time exploring its characters, creating a dark atmosphere that becomes as important as the mystery itself.
Why watch it: A haunting investigation with layered characters and an intricate narrative.
4. Luther
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Idris Elba plays DCI John Luther, a brilliant but deeply unconventional detective working on some of London’s most disturbing cases.
Luther’s determination to catch criminals frequently pushes him beyond conventional boundaries. His instincts are often correct, but his methods can place him in ethically difficult territory.
His relationship with Alice Morgan, played by Ruth Wilson, adds another dimension to the series. Their psychological dynamic repeatedly challenges Luther’s assumptions and creates some of the show’s most memorable moments.
Why watch it: A brilliant but flawed detective facing criminals who challenge him intellectually as well as professionally.
5. Mindhunter
Platform: Netflix
For viewers fascinated by the psychology behind crime, Mindhunter takes a very different approach.
Set in the late 1970s, the series follows FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench, alongside psychologist Wendy Carr, as they work to understand the behavioural patterns of serial killers.
Instead of relying primarily on conventional detective work, the investigators conduct interviews with imprisoned murderers in an effort to understand how violent offenders think.
The series ran for two seasons and received substantial critical acclaim. Its restrained style makes the conversations themselves the source of much of the tension.
Why watch it: An intelligent exploration of criminal psychology and the development of behavioural profiling.
6. Young Sherlock
Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Young Sherlock offers a different way to revisit the famous detective by imagining him at an earlier stage of his life.
Hero Fiennes Tiffin plays a younger Sherlock, portrayed as more impulsive and less polished than the legendary detective audiences traditionally know.
The story combines mystery and adventure as Sherlock becomes involved in a dangerous conspiracy and forms an unlikely connection with James Moriarty, played by Dónal Finn.
Rather than presenting the familiar detective as an already established master of deduction, the series explores a younger version of the character and the experiences that shape him.
Why watch it: A youthful, more adventurous interpretation of one of fiction’s most recognisable detectives.
Which one should Sherlock Holmes fans watch first?
The best choice depends on what you enjoy most about detective stories.
If deduction and reading people are your priorities, start with The Mentalist. For a darker and more atmospheric investigation, True Detective Season 1 is difficult to overlook.
Mindhunter is the strongest choice for viewers interested in criminal psychology, while Luther offers a more action-driven detective experience. If you prefer mysteries built around shifting perspectives and personal secrets, His & Hers provides a contemporary option.
And for anyone who simply wants more Sherlock Holmes, Young Sherlock offers a fresh interpretation of the character rather than another straightforward retelling.
The common thread across all six is the same quality that has kept Sherlock Holmes relevant for more than a century: the satisfaction of watching seemingly unrelated clues gradually form a bigger picture.
