If your perfect night in involves a gripping mystery, a comforting cuppa, and a cast of delightfully quirky characters, then cosy crime dramas are your callinggg. From sleepy seaside towns to sun-soaked villages in France, these shows blend warmth, humour, and a sprinkle of danger in all the right ways. Freely has gathered the ultimate line-up of binge-worthy mysteries to keep you entertained, so grab your fluffiest blanket, pop the kettle on, and get ready to binge the best cosy crime shows streaming right now!
Ludwig
Available now on BBC iPlayer
Following the disappearance of his twin brother DCI James Taylor, puzzle maker and twin brother John Taylor is talked into impersonating his brother by his sister-in-law to try and get to the bottom of his vanishing. With many twists and turns and a few laughs along the way, if you love a crime drama then be sure to watch Ludwig. Starring David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell-Martin.
The Marlow Murder Club
Stream on U
Rotten Tomatoes: 🍅83%
The Marlow Murder Club is cosy crime at its finest. A delightful mystery unfolds in the picturesque village of Marlow, where retired archaeologist Judith Potts (Samantha Bond) joins forces with local dog walker Suzi (Jo Martin) and the Vicar’s wife Becks (Cara Horgan) to crack a string of puzzling murders. Guided by Judith’s sharp instincts and dry wit, this unlikely trio sift through clues, eccentric suspects, and the secrets lurking beneath Marlow’s surface.
All three season are available now on U.
Death Valley
Watch now on BBC iPlayer
Retired eccentric national treasure and beloved fictional TV detective John Chapel (Timothy Spall) and DS Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth) team up in an unlikely partnership, tackling mysteries set against the striking backdrop of rural Wales!
Murder Before Evensong
Stream now on 5
Rotten Tomatoes: 🍅89%
Murder Before Evensong brings the Sunday Times bestseller to life with plenty of small-town intrigue. Canon Daniel Clement (Martin Lewis) leads a peaceful life as the rector of Champton – until his plans for a new church toilet set off a scandal. When a body turns up, long-buried secrets bubble to the surface, forcing Daniel to balance faith, community, and a very real murder mystery. Thought-provoking and gently funny, it’s the perfect slow-burn detective tale to sink into.
Sister Boniface Mysteries
Stream on U
Part comedy, part whodunnit, Sister Boniface delivers pure joy from start to finish. Our moped-riding, wine-making, crime-solving nun (Lorna Watson) is a forensic genius who helps local police crack the trickiest of cases – all while maintaining her habit and humour. Light, clever and utterly charming, it’s a much watch for cosy crime lovers.
Towards Zero
Watch on BBC iPlayer
Its 1936 in England and an explosive love triangle, a formidable matriarch and a deadly web of jealousy and deceit come together resulting in a huge murder plot in this Agatha Christie adaptation.
Whitstable pearl
Watch now on U
Set against the backdrop of the charming seaside town of Whitstable, this cosy crime drama follows single mum Pearl Nolan (Kerry Godliman) as she swaps serving seafood for solving murders. Running a private detective agency from the back of her family restaurant, Pearl teams up with local detective Mike McGuire (Howard Charles) when a friend’s suspicious death shakes the town.
Interested in more dramas on U?
The Hairdresser Mysteries
Available now on BBC iPlayer
Welcome to the Midlands in the 1970s, where high-end hairdresser Lily Petal has left the competitive city life behind for a quiet village salon. She soon finds herself knowing allll the town's secrets, and thanks to her hairdresser's intuition, empathy and understanding, she begins solving the village's biggest mysteries!
Art Detectives
Available now on U
Murder and antiques collide in this crime drama! The series follows art-loving DI Mick Palmer (Stephen Moyer) and DC Shazia Malik (Nina Singh), who make up the (fictional) Heritage Crime department, solving crimes and murders in the fascinating world of art and antiques. From tracking down Old Master paintings to uncovering stolen Banksy street art, each episode follows the duo as they tackle these high-stakes, high-drama cases!
The Madame Blanc Mysteries
Watch now on 5
Sunshine, secrets and a dash of suspense – The Madame Blanc Mysteries whisks you away to the idyllic French village of Sainte Victoire. When antiques dealer Jean White (Sally Lindsay) loses her husband in mysterious circumstances, she turns detective to uncover the truth, soon finding herself solving a string of local cases. It’s escapist, comforting and effortlessly watchable and the perfect cosy crime drama for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Queens of Mystery
Watch on U
Queens of Mystery follows three crime‑writing sisters and their detective niece as they team up to crack murders in the beautifully quirky village of Wildemarsh. The series blends cosy mystery with playful humour and a sprinkle of family chaos.
Return to Paradise
Watch now on BBC iPlayer
Return to Paradise is a sun-drenched spin-off of Death in Paradise that takes the action Down Under. London detective Mackenzie Clarke (Anna Samson) returns home to the Australian coastal town of Dolphin Cove after a scandal threatens her career. Determined to clear her name, she can’t resist getting involved in local investigations – much to the annoyance of her ex-fiancé and fellow officers.
Darby and Joan
Watch now on U
A slow-burn, character-driven gem, Darby and Joan pairs retired English nurse Joan Kirkhope (Greta Scacchi) with Aussie detective Jack Darbie (Bryan Brown) after a fateful car accident. Together they roam the Australian outback, uncovering secrets and solving mysteries while Joan searches for the truth about her husband’s death. It’s the kind of road trip drama that makes you laugh, cry and crave another episode.
Grantchester
Stream now on ITVX
An all-time favourite of cosy crime fans, Grantchester takes us back to the 1950s, where faith meets forensics in a picturesque English village. Anglican vicar Sidney Chambers (James Norton) teams up with Detective Inspector Geordie Keating (Robson Green) to solve crimes, with later seasons following Will Davenport (Tom Brittney) as he takes up the collar. From moral dilemmas to murder mysteries, Grantchester is the epitome of vintage charm and clever storytelling.
Monsieur Spade
Watch on U
Sun-drenched south of France, 1963… and a mystery that refuses to stay buried. Retired detective Sam Spade (Clive Owen) is enjoying a quieter life – until a brutal murder shocks the local convent. As he’s pulled back into investigation mode, long-buried secrets begin to resurface.
Recipes for Love and Murder
Watch now on Channel U
Deliciously dark and irresistibly quirky, Recipes for Love and Murder follows Tannie Maria (Maria Doyle Kennedy), a food and advice columnist in South Africa’s Karoo region. When one of her readers is found dead, Maria and her colleague Jessie (Kylie Fisher) set out to solve the murder, much to the frustration of detective Khaya (Tony Kgoroge). Blending culinary comfort with crime-solving flair, this cosy crime drama proves that sometimes the best recipes include a hint of danger.
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