This week, we're checking out the best mystery series on Netflix.

We've covered a whole range of genres on Netflix in recent weeks, including romantic comedies, sci fi movies, musicals, war movies and biographies. Having looked at mystery movies last week, we're turning to the great selection of mystery series on Netflix this time around.

As with our movie selection, the sub-genre has crosses paths typically with thrillers. There's some crime, drama and science fiction in there also.

With the spooky season of Halloween upon us, this could be just the right time to dive into some mysteries.

 

Unsolved Mysteries

'Unsolved Mysteries' is a TV series that, for its time in the '90s, was relatively low-rent stuff. Host Robert Stack would recount the mysterious disappearance of an unfortunate soul, intercut with well-meaning but dry interviews of people involved in the case. Tonally, the Netflix reboot is very different, much more of the true crime documentary ilk it has become renowned for. It's forsensic and, as suggested by the name, mysterious, but don't blame us if it keeps you up all night...

 

Sherlock

There have been a lot of Sherlock Holmes iterations over the years with a lot of actors trying their hand at playing the world famous detective. Heck even Henry Cavill had a go in Netflix movie 'Enola Holmes'. The BBC series 'Sherlock' is a contemporary take on the character and while the most recent series was a little blasé, everything that led up to it was excellent. Benedict Cumberbatch plays the highly intelligent, somewhat insensitive investigator; Martin Freeman is his lovely, put upon bestie Watson.

 

The Stranger

Starring Richard Armitage, Jennifer Saunders in a rare dramatic role, Hannah John-Kamen, Stephen Rea and Paul Kaye, 'The Stranger' is conventional but highly entertaining. Adam Price leads a happy life with his wife and two children until a mysterious young woman reveals that his wife faked a pregnancy. Adam finds that not only is this the truth, but there is far more to the mystery than he could have anticipated. While he investigates, the stranger has more secrets to share.

 

The OA

We're still holding onto hopes that 'The OA' will return, even following news of its cancellation over two seasons. The eight-episode series tells the story of a missing blind girl (Brit Marling) who shows up seven years later with her sight restored. She gradually reveals the surreal story of what happened to her to a group of invested locals... Season 2 gets even trippier as 'The OA' expands out into other dimensions - yes, really.

 

How to Get Away with Murder

Produced by Shonda Rimes (best known as the showrunner of 'Grey's Anatomy'), 'How to Get Away with Murder' reignited the love for the truly awesome Viola Davis. She plays a law professor at a university in Philly who, with five of her students, becomes entwined in a murder plot. Davis won a Primetime Emmy Award for her terrific lead performance as well as two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

 

Dark

'Dark' is set in a German town in the present day. In its first season, the disappearance of two young children exposes the double lives and fractured relationships among four families. The story takes on a supernatural twist that ties back to the same town in 1986. 'Dark' proved to be a sleeper hit for Netflix. By season 3, which dropped earlier this year, viewers were gagging to know how it would all wrap up.

 

Hinterland

'Hinterland' is a Welsh noir series that has been compared to such shows as 'The Killing', 'Wallander', 'Broadchurch' and 'The Fall'. It follows troubled DCI Tom Mathias (Richard Harrington) as he solves murders while searching for redemption. Shot in both English and Welsh, it consists of three seasons of four to five feature length episodes, so plenty to keep you intrigued.

 

The Sinner

Another thriller series worth checking out on Netflix is 'The Sinner'. In the first season, Detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman) investigates a troubled woman (Jessica Biel) who stabbed a man to death. The second season sees Ambrose returns to his hometown after a young boy confesses to poisoning a couple. The mystery that unravels across the eight episodes of the respective seasons is tantalising.

 

Jack Taylor

There are two characters that Iain Glen will be forever associated with. One is Jorah Mormont on 'Game of Thrones'. The other is Jack Taylor. Set in Galway, our hero is a former member of the Garda Síochána who becomes a "finder", or private investigator, after retiring. Produced between 2010 and 2016, it received a mixed reception from critics, being a bit much at times, but the series has garnered a lot of fans over the years.

 

The Alienist

This is a show for those who like their crime fix muddled up with a period drama. Set in New York in 1896, it follows Daniel Bruhl, Dakota Fanning and Luke Evans as a thrown-together team of investigators (a criminal psychologist, a newspaper illustrator and a police secretary). They're intent on solving the mystery of a serial killer who is preying on street children. It's entertaining and well-made. Season 2 drops on Netflix on 22 October.

 

Stranger Things

We're three seasons in and we still can't get enough of 'Stranger Things'. We also can't stress enough how good this show is between the '80s homages, the characterisation, the intrigue of the plot, and its heart and humour. Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, things start turning upside down when a girl with supernatural powers named Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) shows up. Each season has a unique style and tone and we expect the fourth will be just as impressive.