From a Welsh Whodunit to Netflix Scammers – The Best in Crime Drama TV This Week

New on BBC this week is Death Valley — a darkly comedic crime drama that follows beloved retired actor John Chapel, once the star of fictional hit detective show Caesar, as he’s reluctantly pulled into real-life investigations. Partnering with the sharp and no-nonsense Detective Sergeant Janie Mallowan, the unlikely duo were first thrown together by the murder of John’s neighbour – and have been solving cases ever since.

Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Wales, Death Valley blends quirky character dynamics with weekly mysteries. The cast is led by Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth, alongside Steffan Rhodri, Alexandria Riley, Melanie Walters, and more.

Meanwhile, Netflix viewers can’t get enough of the British thriller Love Rat, which has surged into the UK Top 3. Originally airing on Channel 5, Love Rat stars Sally Lindsay (of Coronation Street fame) as a woman desperate to reinvent her life after a divorce. Her escape to Cyprus takes a dangerous turn when she falls for charismatic hotel owner Niko (Gerald Kyd). Swept up in romance, she soon discovers she’s been conned out of her life savings. Cue the return of her ex-husband – played by Neil Morrissey (Waterloo Road) – as the pair team up to recover what was stolen.

Also making waves on Netflix this week is Sirens, a new series from Maid creator Molly Smith Metzler. The story follows Devon (Meghann Fahy), who’s barely managing life while caring for her father with dementia. When she pays an unexpected visit to her sister Simone (Milly Alcock), she finds her living in the shadow of enigmatic socialite Michaela (Julianne Moore), known to her inner circle as “Kiki.” As Devon digs deeper, what looks like an elite social circle begins to resemble a cult. Sirens delivers plenty of unsettling intrigue and a unique blend of sharp humour and psychological suspense.

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Death Valley – BBC One – 25 May

Death Valley see DS Janie Mallowan teams up with eccentric national treasure and beloved TV detective John Chapel, to solve a murder.

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Sirens – Netflix – 22 May

Worried about her sister’s too-close relationship with her billionaire boss, a scrappy everywoman seeks answers at a lavish seaside estate. Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, and Kevin Bacon star.

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Love Rat – Netflix – Available now

Sally Lindsay stars as a woman desperate to reinvent her life after a divorce. But her escape to Cyprus takes a dangerous turn when she falls for charismatic hotel owner Niko (Gerald Kyd). Swept up in romance, she soon discovers she’s been conned out of her life savings.

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The Game – Channel 5 – 12 May

Jason Watkins stars as Huw Miller, who is settling into retirement when he believes he has found the killer in a vase he failed to solve – his new neighbour Patrick Harbottle (Robson Green). The official synopsis says: “What follows is a high-stakes game of psychological chess between the two neighbours as Huw’s world begins to crumble around him.’’

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Malpractice – ITV1 – 4 May

When on-call Psychiatric Registrar Dr James Ford (Tom Hughes) is caught between an anxious new mother’s postnatal check-up and the sectioning of a psychotic patient, no one could predict the devastating outcome. The MIU ask serious questions when they investigate the doctor.

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Harry Wild – Acorn TV – 5 May

Harry Wild returns for season four with a two-episode premiere. Starring Jane Seymour, the new season follows Harry and Fergus as their detective agency faces fresh mysteries—including a case involving Harry’s son, a secretive dance school, and a deadly literary tour—while Fergus’ future is thrown into doubt when Lola considers studying abroad.

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Signora Volpe – U&Drama and Acorn TV – Available now

A disillusioned British spy-turned-detective (Emilia Fox) starts a new life in the beautiful heart of Italy, but soon finds out trouble follows her wherever she goes. Two seasons are available.

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Another Simple Favour – Prime Video – Available now

Stephanie Smothers agrees to travel to Italy to be the maid of honour for the devious and cunning Emily Nelson. However, she soon suspects Emily’s good will is part of an elaborate plan for revenge. Starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively.

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Secrets We Keep – Netflix – 15 May

When the young Filipino au pair Ruby disappears from one of Denmark’s most affluent neighborhoods north of Copenhagen, the neighbor, Cecilie, (Marie Bach Hansen) becomes convinced that something has happened to her.

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The Glass Dome – Netflix – 15 April

A criminologist and her former police chief partner investigate the vanishing of a local girl in the small Swedish town where she was once held captive.

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Good Cop/Bad Cop – The CW and Stan – Available now

A procedural dramedy following Lou and Henry, an unlikely sister-brother detective duo in a quirky Pacific Northwest town. With limited resources, eccentric locals, and their own tangled relationship, solving crimes is only half the battle.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IyJWZI8KHRc

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Just Act Normal – BBCiPlayer – 16 April

Tiana, Tionne and Tanika try to live life under the radar after their mum seemingly disappears, but when her drug dealer arrives demanding money, their secret risks being exposed.

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Your Friends & Neighbors – Apple TV – 11 April

After being fired in disgrace, a hedge fund manager (Jon Hamm) still grappling with his recent divorce, resorts to stealing from his neighbors’ homes in the exceedingly affluent Westmont Village, only to discover that the secrets and affairs hidden behind those wealthy facades might be more dangerous than he ever imagined.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5qo7oAFQxxo

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The Stolen Girl – Disney+ – 16 April

The gripping trailer takes us to the heart of suburbia where life is not quite as tranquil as it first seems. When Elisa (Denise Gough) and Fred Blix’s (Jim Sturgess) daughter goes missing after what appears to be a normal sleepover with a school friend, the couple’s mundane existence spirals into chaos.

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Dark Winds – Available on Prime Video

Set in 1971 on the Navajo Nation, the show follows Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnin) and his deputy, Jim Chee, as they navigate a series of complex and interconnected crimes.

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Surface – Available on Netflix

Surface follows Gugu Mbatha-Raw‘s Sophie Ellis, a character who lost her memory after a failed suicide attempt, meaning that she does not remember why she made that decision.

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Grace – ITV – 6 April

As Grace navigates the aftermath of Sandy’s suicide, his newfound son Bruno, and a profound personal loss in his and Cleo’s life, his team is called to a Sussex beach when an unidentified male body washes up dead in a barrel –

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Reunion – BBC One/iPlayer – 7 April

Daniel Brennan, a deaf man recently released from prison and alienated from his friends and family, embarks on a journey to uncover the events that led to his incarceration. Starring Matthew Gurney, Eddie Marsan, Anne-Marie Duff, Olive Gray, and Rose Ayling-Ellis.

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The Last Anniversary – AMC+ and Binge – 30 March

Based on another novel from Liane Moriarty — the author behind the Big Little Lies miniseries — The Last Anniversary — is being billed as “a wickedly funny, heartfelt dramedy wrapped in a gripping mystery about family, motherhood and the women who define the generations that come after them’’. It’s her first book to be set in Australia.

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Policing Paradise – Available now on BBCiplayer

Get ready for a thrilling behind-the-scenes look at Bermuda’s crime-fighting police force in Policing Paradise, a new documentary series on BBC One. While the picturesque palm trees and crystal-clear waters of Bermuda might suggest a tranquil haven, the island’s officers face their own set of high-stakes challenges. From protecting locals and tourists to keeping even the most high-profile visitors safe, the show offers an exclusive glimpse into the daily grind of Bermuda’s dedicated law enforcement. For something lighter give this one a try.

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