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- Olivia Benson: ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’ (1999 to Present) Topping my list with stellar sleuthing skills and an exceptional solve rate is none other than Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) of “Law & Order: SVU.”
- Mary Beth Lacey and Christine Cagney: ‘Cagney & Lacey’ (1982 to 1988) Throwing it back to a 1980s series, we have “Cagney & Lacey.” The pair of New York City police detectives, played by Tyne Daly as Lacey and (mostly) Sharon Gless as Cagney, beat the bad guys and combat patriarchal vibes.
- Emily Prentiss: ‘Criminal Minds’ (2005 to 2020, 2022 to Present) “Criminal Minds” is one of my favorite series of all time across all genres. Various FBI agents have led the esteemed Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) during the series and its spinoff, “Criminal Minds: Evolution,” but only one leading lady deserves a top-three spot on this list.
- Lilly Rush: ‘Cold Case’ (2003 to 2010) Slotting in near the top of my sleuth scale, Detective Lilly Rush (Kathryn Morris) and her knack for uncovering the truth in long-unsolved murder cases is unmatched.
- Vera. Vera kicked off in 2011, with Brenda Blethyn taking on the title role. DCI Vera Stanthrope is not your typical law enforcer, saying it how it is and even being a bit rude on some occasions.
- The Fall. We saw Gillian Anderson as DCI Stella Gibson in The Fall (2013-2016), starring opposite Jamie Dornan as a serial killer. Gibson is brought in to help track down and arrest a mysterious murderer, as the current squad of police officers are stumped.
- Prime Suspect. Helen Mirren took on the role of Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison in the series Prime Suspect from 1991 to 2006. DCI Tennison was not welcomed by her male counterparts, with their sexist behavior at the London precinct getting in the way of solving cases.
- Top of the Lake. The first season of Top of the Lake (2013) saw Elisabeth Moss as Detective Robin Griffin. Griffin is brought in to help with the search of a missing 12-year-old girl.
- Georgia May
- Broadchurch (2013) Created by Chris Chibnall. Starring David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Jodie Whittaker. Crime, Drama, Mystery. 24 episodes (3 seasons) 8.4 on IMDb.
- Happy Valley (2014) Created by Sally Wainwright. Starring Sarah Lancashire, Siobhan Finneran, James Norton. Crime, Drama, Thriller. 18 episodes (3 seasons)
- Mare of Easttown (2021) Created by Brad Ingelsby. Starring Kate Winslet, Julianne Nicholson, Jean Smart. Crime, Drama, Mystery. 7 episodes (1 season) 8.4 on IMDb.
- Sharp Objects (2018) Created by Marti Noxon. Starring Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson, Chris Messina. Crime, Drama, Mystery. 8 episodes (1 season) 8.1 on IMDb. Technically, Camille Preaker (played by Amy Adams) is a journalist, not a cop.
Aug 8, 2022 · If you're in the mood for some mystery, check out these great murder mysteries and crime dramas streaming on Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Acorn TV, BritBox, and more.
- Kaitlin Thomas
Best lady detective shows on Netflix. I love meaty British detective TV shows, and lately I’ve been finding ones with great female kick-ass detectives who have solid character, wit, and resolve, and fight crime with a world domination attitude.
Mindhunter. 2017–2019 19 eps TV-MA. 8.6 (347K) Rate. TV Series. In the late 1970s, two FBI agents broaden the realm of criminal science by investigating the psychology behind murder and end up getting too close to real-life monsters. Creator Joe Penhall Stars Jonathan Groff Holt McCallany Anna Torv. 4. Babylon Berlin. 2017–2025 48 eps TV-MA.
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Feb 29, 2024 · One of the more fun and light-hearted mystery shows on this list, Miss Scarlet and the Duke offers a bit of everything: a fantastic period setting, intriguing mysteries, a...
