These 10 Recent Whodunit TV Shows Will Keep You Guessing All The Way Through
Whodunit shows have been one of the most popular TV genres for years, meaning that there’s no shortage of series for fans to discover. A good whodunit should present a clear case with a list of potential suspects, as audiences often enjoy the puzzle of trying to figure out who the culprit is along with the on-screen investigators.
Whodunits are perfectly suited to the miniseries format, since this allows enough time for a knotty criminal investigation to explore several different paths, but it doesn’t drag on for so long that the show has to use filler episodes, inevitably slowing down the pace. The best whodunit shows strike the perfect balance, and a compelling solution is essential.
10
Mare Of Easttown
Mare Of Easttown Has Set The Standard For TV Murder Mysteries
8/10
- Release Date
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2021 – 2021-00-00
- Network
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HBO Max
- Showrunner
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Brad Ingelsby
- Directors
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Craig Zobel
- Writers
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Brad Ingelsby
Kate Winslet won an Emmy for Mare of Easttown, but her performance is just one of many reasons which make the dark crime drama worth watching. Winslet stars as a Philadelphia detective struggling with her own personal demons as she tries to solve the death of a young mother and a missing girl.
It wouldn’t be quite as captivating if not for the strength of the characterization.
Mare of Easttown creates a perplexing whodunit, but it wouldn’t be quite as captivating if not for the strength of the characterization. While the main character’s troubles make her feel real and relatable, the same can be said for many of the characters, whether they’re potential suspects or not.
9
True Detective: Night Country
Any Season Of True Detective Is Worth Watching For Mystery Fans
True Detective aired its explosive first season back in 2014, but there was a five-year gap between season 3 and Night Country. The truncated fourth season has just six episodes, but this gives it an intense focus. Night Country stars Jodie Foster and Kali Reis as two detectives investigating a strange mystery during the long dark winter in Alaska.
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Night Country keeps audiences guessing right to the very end. It’s not just a question of who is responsible for the disappearances of a group of Arctic researchers, as there are countless other theories involving aliens, demons and psychosis. The enchanting landscape provides the ideal backdrop for an unpredictable investigation which often borders on the supernatural. True Detective season 5 has been confirmed, although fans will have to wait a couple of years.
8
Poker Face
Rian Johnson’s Crime Comedy Gets The Best Out Of Natasha Lyonne
- Release Date
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January 26, 2023
- Network
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Peacock
- Directors
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Lucky McKee, Natasha Lyonne, Janicza Bravo, Ben Sinclair
- Writers
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Wyatt Cain, Alice Ju
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Natasha Lyonne
Charlie Cale
-
Benjamin Bratt
Cliff Legrand
Poker Face season 2 is set to premiere in May, so there’s still time to catch up on the first season of one of the best original crime shows of the last few years. Poker Face is bingeable murder mystery chaos with a great comedic performance by Natasha Lyonne. It also showcases Rian Johnson’s love of playing with genres once more.
Poker Face uses the “inverted mystery” structure popularized by shows like Columbo, in which the solution to the mystery is shown at the beginning, and the detective has to muddle through the investigation while the audience can already see who the guilty party is. Just like Columbo, Poker Face finds inventive ways to keep things fresh.
7
Bad Sisters
The Dark Comedy Doesn’t Neglect Its Murder Mystery
Bad Sisters is as dark as comedy comes, but the underrated Irish gem lets a gripping murder mystery unfold in the midst of its dysfunctional family comedy. The story follows a group of sisters who are faced with some difficult questions after one of their husbands is murdered. The narrative is split between two timelines, one before the death and one after.
Although Bad Sisters shows the suspects in every intimate moment of their lives, it still keeps some information agonizingly out of reach. This creates a murky mystery in which the focus keeps constantly shifting as new theories present themselves. The talents of the ensemble cast keep things entertaining throughout.
6
Magpie Murders
Magpie Murders Is An Intelligent Adaptation
- Release Date
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2022 – 2022-00-00
- Network
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PBS
- Directors
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Peter Cattaneo
- Writers
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Anthony Horowitz, Tim Morris
Magpie Murders is based on the book of the same name by Anthony Horowitz, one of Britain’s greatest living crime writers. Although the novel gains an added metatextual layer, because the story is about publishing, the show adds one or two of its own ideas to make up for it.
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Magpie Murders follows two mysteries running in tandem. One takes place in the “real” world, as a publisher tries to find out who killed a successful author, and the other takes place within the author’s final detective novel. These two cases interact with one another in surprising ways, and the ending of Magpie Murders delivers a hefty dose of satisfying payoff.
5
Ludwig
David Mitchell Stars In A Typically British Whodunit
Ludwig stars David Mitchell as a puzzle-setter who is forced to use his logical reasoning skills to solve the disappearance of his identical twin brother, stepping into his shoes as a detective to keep up appearances. Each episode delivers a fiendish new mystery, all while developing the overarching story that drives the show.
Ludwig shows a keen awareness that fans of the whodunit shows often treat shows like puzzles waiting to be solved from the beginning. It uses a variety of different puzzles as the basis for each mystery, and there’s always a compelling list of suspects before the big reveal. With the added bonus that Ludwig is a treat for fans of British humor, it became a surprise international hit in 2024.
4
American Vandal
A More Comedic Take On The Genre
American Vandal doesn’t follow an investigation into murder, kidnapping, theft or any of the other usual subjects for a whodunit. Instead, it features a group of high school sleuths searching for the truth behind an act of petty vandalism in their school’s parking lot. Season 2 examines another low-stakes investigation, this time featuring a shocking prank.
American Vandal pokes fun at the whodunit genre, specifically the way that amateur sleuths try to hype up their own investigations. Despite its satirical angle, American Vandal is a surprisingly effective mystery. It’s just as confounding and intriguing as any murder mystery.
3
Only Murders In The Building
Hulu’s Whodunit Has Delivered Four Great Seasons
Each season of Only Murders in the Building features a new murder mystery, and they also have distinct atmospheres. For example, season 3 takes place against the backdrop of frenzied rehearsals for a new Broadway show, and season 4 has an injection of Hollywood glamour. Only Murders in the Building season 5 looks as though it will take things back to basics.
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Only Murders in the Building balances its compelling murder mystery plots with a lot of humor. Martin Short and Steve Martin’s dynamic is revitalized with the addition of Selena Gomez as an unlikely third member, and the show is also famous for its procession of huge guest stars, which include Meryl Streep, Paul Rudd and Eva Longoria, to name just a few.
2
Deadloch
The Australian Hit Deserves More International Attention
Deadloch is one of only a handful of Australian TV shows which has managed to make an international impact in recent years. Prime Video’s darkly hilarious whodunit tells the story of two detectives who must reluctantly team up to solve the case of a serial killer in a sleepy seaside town.
Deadloch season 2 is on the way, so it’s a great time to catch up on the first season. The next season will leave the titular town behind as the detectives travel to Darwin for a different kind of mystery. Hopefully, the show’s impeccable balance of laugh-out-loud humor and complex mystery will remain intact.
1
The Residence
Netflix’s Newest Whodunit Features A Dense Tangle Of Potential Killers
8/10
- Release Date
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2025 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Liza Johnson
- Writers
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Paul William Davies
Netflix’s latest murder mystery hit takes place in the White House, tracking the investigation after a body is found during a state dinner. The Residence has a great cast, and the performances help flesh out a long list of potential suspects. Uzo Aduba stars as the peculiar detective tasked with sifting through an overload of conflicting information.
The Residence is a brilliantly scripted whodunit, toying with its audience as it leads the investigation down different side streets
The Residence is a brilliantly scripted whodunit, toying with its audience as it leads the investigation down different side streets. Its non-linear structure is designed to reveal information at a steady pace, dragging the detectives in different directions as they learn that everyone in the White House has some secret or another. The White House is often filmed to look like a doll’s house, perfectly mirroring the playful tone of this toybox mystery.
