The Top 30 Murder Mystery TV Shows for October and November

There’s Something For Everyone This Fall!

Welcome to a brand new edition of Only Murders In The Inbox! If you’re a regular reader, thanks for returning, I appreciate you. If you’re only just now joining us, hello, we’re happy to have you! Every week, OMITI covers murder mysteries in literature and entertainment. We delve into the ways the Mystery genre is significant in pop culture. You’ll also find curated suggestions and lists here so if you’re looking for a particular type of book, movie or series, I’ve got you! If you’d like to support my writing, please sign up for a paid monthly subscription, become a patron sleuth or gift a subscription to a friend. A monthly paid membership includes all archived editions of Only Murders In The Inbox, as well as exclusive editions, for less than the price of a latte. That works out to just sixty-two cents for each OMITI edition. I would love to have your support! Click this button to subscribe for free or upgrade to a paid subscription:

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Murder In A Small Town, Image Courtesy of FOX

One reason I created Only Murders In The Inbox is because it’s becoming harder and harder to find murder mysteries and crime thrillers easily in television, especially when it comes to new releases. Online, you’re sifting through an endless haystack with the world’s smallest needles hidden inside. There are a few websites that review series as they’re released, but there’s not a comprehensive list released on a regular basis that updates exactly what’s out there when you’re looking for murder mysteries and crime thrillers.

Don’t think AI will be helpful when it comes to accurate lists, either. I recently googled “best crime thrillers currently streaming” and “best murder mysteries for the month of October” and the list is ridiculous. Severence is definitely worth watching, but it is not a murder mystery. Emily in Paris, really? And when it comes to Dexter, I’m pretty sure we know who did it!

So here at Only Murders In The Inbox, there will always be a list updated regularly, with only shows that are currently available and streaming that month. For example, other lists online mention Sherlock, but it wasn’t streaming here in the States for quite some time unless you’d purchased it previously through Prime Video, and you wouldn’t know it wasn’t available simply by looking at lists from the past two years. I’ll also include brand new releases, and, because it’s ranked, you’ll have a good idea of what to try first — you’re going to be surprised where the new Matlock lands on this list!

So here it is, OMITI’s mega-compilation of the Top 30 murder mysteries and crime thrillers currently streaming on all major platforms. Some of these series are also available for free through your local library’s Hoopla and Kanopy platforms. With these shows, I purposefully kept some descriptions vague for some lesser-known mysteries that have big twists so I don’t give too much away and spoil it for you, but just know I’ve vetted every single recommendation on this list. Let me know what you think in the comments below.

*This list has been updated from the July 2024 Top 30 edition of Only Murders In The Inbox.

Image Courtesy of Hulu

30. High Potential - Hulu

(One Season, 43 minute episodes, 11 episodes total) Kaitlin Olson is Morgan, a single mom with three kids who works as a custodian at the local police precinct. While cleaning during her evening shift, Morgan notices the LAPD murder board of a particularly difficult case and realizes the detectives overlooked key pieces of evidence. Eventually, her high IQ lands her a consulting gig with the LAPD, which annoys Detective Karadec, a by-the-book detective who becomes her new partner (sound familiar check out #13 on this list). This show annoys my teens because the family dynamic is a carbon copy of the family on Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia, which isn’t untrue. Drew Goddard, who got his start in television with ABC’s Lost, is the creator and writer of this series. The show is currently streaming on Hulu.

29. Miss Scarlet And The Duke - PBS

(Three seasons, 53 minute episodes) Eliza Scarlet inherits her father’s detective agency and decides to become the first female detective with the support of her lifelong friend on the police force, The Duke. This Victorian England mystery series is more about the characters and their chemistry than the mysteries themselves. Think Howard’s End with a dash of classic Sherlock Holmes stories.

28. Longmire - Netflix

(Six Seasons, 43 minute episodes, 63 episodes total) Fans of westerns who appreciate a good mystery will love Longmire, a show based on Craig Johnson’s mystery series. Walt Longmire is a small town sheriff in Wyoming who recently lost his wife. In a way similar to Fox Mulder’s hunt for his sister, or Monk’s hunt for his wife’s murderer, Longmire is struggling with grief as he seeks justice, even if he doesn’t know where to look. As he upholds the law in his rural town, he finds himself juggling more political and societal relationships than he’d like. In a world full of Sherlocks, Longmire is John Wayne, Lee Van Cleef and Clint Eastwood rolled into one. This show entices viewers who don’t typically gravitate toward mysteries, so if you’re looking for an atypical crime drama, this is perfect.

Image Courtesy Of Paramount+

27. Elsbeth - Paramount+

(Two Seasons, 15 episodes total, 43 minutes each) In this howdunit, Elsbeth Tascioni is an unconventional attorney who regularly tags along with the NYPD as they make inquiries and follow leads. This causes friction with her assigned investigative team. Like Brenda Leigh Johnson, Elsbeth is often underestimated because of her Southern charm and disarming manner, but in the end, that’s inevitably how she ensnares the killer.

26. Resident Alien - Seasons 1&2 on Netflix, Season 3 on Hulu

(Three seasons, 43 minute episodes total) Things are heavy in the world right now, so maybe a murder-mystery-sci-fi mashup injected with a ton of humor is the way to go. If so, Resident Alien should be your first pick. The talented Alan Tudyk (Firefly) heads up an ensemble cast that includes Corey Reynolds (The Closer) and Sara Tomko (Once Upon A Time). An alien crash-lands in a small Colorado town and assumes the identity of a vacationing physician. There’s been a murder, and the community needs a new doctor, so the alien decides to fake it until he makes it. It’s brimming with snarky jokes that, fortunately, don’t undermine the more serious topics it sometimes tackles (addiction, adoption, abuse). Linda Hamilton and Terry O’Quinn make guest appearances.

The first five recommendations will always be free. However, the rest of this list is for paid subscribers only. If you’re a paid subscriber, thanks for supporting me! If you’d like to join us, here’s the link. You may cancel at any time.