Mysteries have a way of drawing us in and enveloping our thoughts. They offer clues that we try to piece together without giving away the whole story, making us eager to know more. Because of this allure, mysteries are one of the most popular genres of television and have become increasingly favored in recent years.
To feed the appetites of the millions who can’t wait to see the next mystery unfold, writers, producers, and studios work hard year-round to film fantastic stories that slowly unravel to reveal unexpected truths. The best mystery shows offer season finales with nail-biting cliffhangers, leaving fans screaming for more. If you love the unknown and get excited by piecing clues together to lift the veil on a canny mystery, keep reading to learn about the best mystery TV shows that offer multiple seasons of incredible content you’ll absolutely love.
Only Murders in the Building
Premiering in 2021 as a Hulu exclusive, Only Murders in the Building features an incredible cast headlined by famed comedic actor Steve Martin with support from Selena Gomez and Martin Short. The trio are also executive producers of the show. It follows three residents of an enormous apartment complex (the Arconia) in New York City who bond together during a blackout over their love of a true crime murder podcast. When a resident seemingly commits suicide, the three agree that something sinister is at play and that the cops are wrongfully ruling out a homicide.
As the trio launches head-on into their own true crime podcast, they uncover secrets, hidden rooms, and the truth behind a well-known and beloved resident. Once the story comes to a head, the building is rocked by yet another murder—leading smoothly into season two (released in 2022). With three seasons (the third premiered in August 2023) now available and a fourth on the way, this show leaves you guessing until the very last episode. Featuring appearances from stars like Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd, it is also the most well-received Hulu Original title in history and has been nominated for several awards.
True Detective
Produced by HBO, True Detective gives mystery fans precisely what they love. The show’s incredible storyline is brought to life by an unbelievable cast, including Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, Vince Vaughn, and Jodie Foster.
Opening in Louisiana in 2012, the show follows two detectives who are recalled to uncover the truth about a murder in the late 1990s—a case they had already worked on and closed. While re-examining evidence and getting sucked into other unsolved cases, the two learn more about what happened than they ever bargained for.
Season one, which premiered in 2014, set the duo on a winding path that uncovered corruption at the highest level—on both sides of the law. By the time the second season arrived in 2015, their story was neatly concluded, and a new group of detectives facing fresh challenges and hardships appeared on the scene.
Season three (2017) also offered a new mystery and cast to draw fans in. With a fourth season set for release in early 2024, fans of this show and its incredibly detailed and mysterious world will be counting down the days. If you’re also in this boat, you can pass the time more quickly by reading mystery novels, getting lost in classic suspense games like Heavy Rain, and playing US slots recommended by casinos.com that have crime and mystery themes.
Stranger Things
Known far and wide as one of the most successful Netflix Originals ever, Stranger Things has been nominated for ten Primetime Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards. The fourth season garnered more than five billion weekly viewing minutes—something that only Tiger King and Ozark achieved.
The first season (2016) begins in a small Indiana town where a boy named Will has vanished. After local authorities launch an investigation, his mother and a group of his friends decide to do their own investigations to track him down. His mother, Joyce, is soon left behind as the friends discover a strange girl on the run.
Things quickly spiral out of control as the various investigations uncover things that were best left alone. From secret government laboratories and experiments to a supernatural force that begins moving through the area, the quaint town is clearly not what it seems.
While the first season has enough mystery to keep any fan occupied, the series expands through more thrilling tales of ‘stranger things’ throughout season two (2017), season three (2019), and season four (2022). Its fifth and final season is currently being filmed, scheduled to be released in 2025.
Criminal Minds
Since it debuted in 2005, Criminal Minds has won over 13 awards, including Favorite TV Crime Drama and Top Television Series. This is unsurprising, considering the show has everything a mystery fan could want.
Following the stories curated by members of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), the show discovers the minds of those who have committed heinous crimes and left a trail of mystery behind them.
As the agents uncover the truth behind the crimes, they struggle to deal with their personal lives. However, with more cases seeming ready to overwhelm them, the cast, including Mandy Patinkin, Thomas Gibson, and Lola Glaudini, must focus on only one thing—catching the unsub (the team’s unique name for an unknown subject).
Although the show ran for 16 consecutive seasons, it was canceled in early 2020. However, due to how fans reacted to this news, it was again revived in 2022, with yet another season underway. The new version of the show offers the same intriguing levels of mystery as the detectives try to uncover the truth and lead viewers to answers. In addition to a new season being in the works, the show has spawned two spin-offs,
