If you’ve worked your way through all 15 series of Death In Paradise and are in need of a sun-soaked murder mystery replacement, we’re here to answer your prayers. As the nights draw in, we’re reminiscing on warmer summer days. And what better way to embrace that cosy feeling than snuggling up with some comfort TV?
From its exceptional Down Under spin-off to Sally Lindsay’s unmissable sleuthing series and a fantastically fun show set in Benidorm, there’s something for all regular visitors to Saint Marie. Winter blues, be gone! Here’s our pick of 7 detective rivals that are, in our humble opinion, even better than Death In Paradise.
Return To Paradise
The Australian spin-off of Death In Paradise is every bit as charming as the original. The series introduces us to DI Mackenzie Clarke (Anna Samson), who begrudgingly returns to her hometown of Dolphin Cove after working for London’s Metropolitan Police. Why? Someone framed her for planting evidence, and she’s hardly returning to a welcome committee after jilting her ex at the altar years earlier. She reluctantly joins Dolphin Cove Police Station and, once a case lands on her desk, she realises solving mysteries is her true calling. But will she manage to win over the community? Across two series, Mack works on all sorts of cases, from the death of a rock band member to a chemical poisoning out at sea. Series 1 and 2 of Return To Paradise are available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
Murder In A Small Town
A sprinkling of romance, a beautiful setting and a deadly mystery: who could resist? The series follows Karl Alberg (Rossif Sutherland), who abandons the hustle and bustle of the city for what he hopes will be a quieter life in the harbour town of Gibsons, British Columbia. His hopes of peace turn out to be a short-lived fantasy – when he arrives, bodies are washing up on the shore and he realises the town is keeping a heap of secrets. Over two series, we follow Karl putting his old skills to the test while he falls for local librarian Cassandra (Kristin Kreuk). Murder In A Small Town is available to watch now on Netflix.
Carpe Diem
This French pick introduces us to a different kind of detective – solicitor Tom Villeneuve (Samuel Le Bihan), who was wrongly imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Set on the stunning French Riviera, the drama begins as Tom is freed after spending 18 years in prison for the murder of his wife. Now he’s adopted the mantra ‘carpe diem’ and is dedicating his freedom to helping others who have faced miscarriages of justice. He’s tasked with all manner of cases, from a hotel valet charged with murder to a teenage gymnast accused of theft. The question is, will he ever uncover his wife’s real killer? Carpe Diem is available to watch now on Channel 4.
Benidorm Is Murder
If you have summer withdrawal symptoms, this series will help. The six-part saga introduces us to former detective Dennis Crown (John Hannah), who’s moved to Spain to open a bar, hoping for a quieter life in the sun – or so he thought. He’s reluctantly drawn back into tackling crime when tourists start showing up dead. But he’s not working alone. His overly enthusiastic barmaid Rosa (Carolina Bécquer), an aspiring actress and true-crime fanatic, takes on the role of his partner. Benidorm Is Murder is available to watch now on Channel 5.
The Madame Blanc Mysteries
Sally Lindsay is the creator and lead of this series, in which she plays Jean White, an antiques dealer turned amateur sleuth in the southern French village of Sainte Victoire. The story starts with Jean in a vulnerable situation. Her husband Rory (Peter Gaynor) is killed in a car crash, and she’s left penniless. To make matters worse, she learns he’s been having an affair. She teams up with local taxi driver Dom (Steve Edge) to get to the bottom of his death. She believes his missing valuable ring could be the key to cracking the case. This is only the start of Jean’s investigative work, as she discovers she has a serious knack for sleuthing. All four series of The Madame Blanc Mysteries are available to watch now on Channel 5.
Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators
Now we’re heading to the cobbles of Stratford-upon-Avon for some more murder mysteries. The series follows unlikely private investigating partners: hardened ex-cop Frank Hathaway (Mark Benton) and kind-hearted ex-hairdresser Lu Shakespeare (Jo Joyner), as they take on mysterious murder cases. But they’re not always the most compatible pairing, and have faced various hiccups along the way. Luckily, they have a buffer in the form of their theatrical assistant Sebastian Brudenell (Patrick Walshe McBride). Shakespeare & Hathaway is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer and U.
Sunny Nights
Now we’re back in Australia to meet the newly relocated American brother and sister Martin (Will Forte) and Vicki Marvin (D’Arcy Carden), who move to Sydney with a big entrepreneurial vision: a spray tan van. As you might expect, their million-making mission doesn’t quite go to plan. But their financial woes are the least of their problems when a blackmail scheme drags them into Sydney’s criminal underworld… Sunny Nights is available to watch now on ITVX.