46 Best Crime, Mystery & Thriller Shows On Britbox In 2025

We’re thrilled to unveil the updated 2025 edition of our curated guide to the best crime dramas, mysteries, and thrillers streaming on BritBox. This year’s selection spans everything from beloved traditional mysteries to modern police procedurals and gripping original thrillers.

For 2025, we’ve carefully vetted a wide range of titles to bring you the very best BritBox has to offer. Highlights include timeless classics stories like Murder Is Easy and critically acclaimed gems such as Until I kill You and The Jetty. What follows is a comprehensive list of the top crime and mystery series currently available on the platform—perfect for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Want to revisit past editions? You can explore our 2024, 2023 and 2022 lists here, here and here.

Looking for more recommendations? Be sure to check out our Watching Lists for top picks across platforms like Acorn TV, HBO Max, and others. And for a deeper dive into iconic detectives, don’t miss our Best Britbox Mystery Shows Featuring Iconic Detectives: 2021 Edition.

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46. Ludwig

​”Ludwig” is a British detective dramedy that follows John “Ludwig” Taylor (David Mitchell), a reclusive puzzle maker who assumes the identity of his missing identical twin, DCI James Taylor, to unravel the mystery of his disappearance. As John navigates his brother’s world, his knack for puzzles proves unexpectedly adept at solving complex crimes. The show blends humor with suspense, offering a fresh take on the detective genre.

45. A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story

​”A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story” is a gripping 2025 true-crime drama that chronicles the life of Ruth Ellis, the last woman executed in Britain. Set in 1950s London, the series delves into Ellis’s tumultuous relationship with racing driver David Blakely, culminating in his murder. Starring Lucy Boynton as Ellis and Toby Jones as her solicitor John Bickford, the show offers a poignant exploration of love, abuse, and justice. ​

44. The House Across the Street

Claudia (Shirley Henderson), often unnoticed by her community and struggling to bridge the gap with her son, yearns for a meaningful connection. Her chance arises when a local child mysteriously disappears. Claudia becomes entangled in the investigation, becoming fixated on unraveling the truth independently.

43. Sister Boniface Mysteries

Sister Boniface of Saint Vincent’s Convent helps solves the police solve the various crimes in the village of Great Slaughter, a small place known for it’s unexpectedly large body count, whilst also making wine and driving her vespa.

42. ​Until I Kill You

​”Until I Kill You” is a gripping four-part British true-crime drama that aired on ITV in November 2024. The series chronicles the harrowing real-life ordeal of nurse Delia Balmer (Anna Maxwell Martin), who survived a relationship with serial killer John Sweeney (Shaun Evans). The narrative delves into their tumultuous relationship, Sweeney’s violent confessions, and Balmer’s courageous journey through the criminal justice system to ensure his conviction. ​

41. In Plain Sight 

After a two-year murder spree, Peter Manuel was hanged in Glasgow. Follow this three-part true crime drama on Scotland’s first serial killer and the media circus that surrounded him.

40. Death in Paradise

Death in Paradise is a British-French crime drama television series created by Robert Thorogood. The show covers British detective Richard Poole (Ben Miller) who is assigned to investigate the murder of a British police officer on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie.

After he successfully finds the murderer, he is ordered by his supervisors to replace the victim and stay on as the head detective inspector (DI) of the island, solving new cases as they appear and being the object of many fish-out-of-water jokes.

39. Reyka 

Haunted by her past, flawed but brilliant criminal profiler Reyka Gama investigates brutal murders committed in the sugar cane fields of South Africa.

38. Murder Is Easy

​”Murder Is Easy” is a two-part British mystery thriller based on Agatha Christie’s 1939 novel. Set in 1954, the story follows Luke Fitzwilliam (David Jonsson), a Nigerian attaché who, after a chance encounter with Miss Pinkerton (Penelope Wilton) on a train, becomes entangled in a series of suspicious deaths in the quaint village of Wychwood under Ashe. As Fitzwilliam investigates, he uncovers hidden secrets and a potential serial killer among the villagers. The series delves into themes of colonialism and immigration, offering a fresh perspective on Christie’s classic narrative. ​

37. The Long Call 

Based on Ann Cleeves’ bestselling novel, the intriguing and flawed DI Matthew Venn is led back into the community he left behind – and the deadly secrets that lurk there.

36. Sherwood

​”Sherwood” is a compelling British crime drama series created by James Graham, drawing inspiration from real-life events in a Nottinghamshire mining village. The show intricately weaves past and present tensions, stemming from the 1984–85 miners’ strike, into gripping murder investigations.​

Season 1 (2022): The inaugural season delves into two unexpected murders that fracture an already divided community. As DCS Ian St Clair (David Morrissey) leads the investigation, long-standing animosities resurface, revealing deep-seated secrets and the lingering impact of historical betrayals. The narrative is enriched by stellar performances from a cast including Lesley Manville and Alun Armstrong. ​

Season 2 (2024): Building upon the foundation of the first, the second season introduces new families and characters, further exploring themes of community division and political turmoil. The plot centers around a proposed new mine, reigniting old conflicts and introducing fresh tensions. The addition of actors like Monica Dolan and David Harewood brings new depth to the evolving storyline. ​

“Sherwood” has been lauded for its intricate plotting, authentic portrayal of community dynamics, and its reflection on the socio-political landscape of Britain. The series masterfully combines elements of mystery with profound character studies, making it a standout in contemporary British television.

35. Lucan 

An infamous earl suspected of murder disappears, never to be seen again. Rory Kinnear and Michael Gambon star in this riveting drama that explores one of the greatest mysteries of modern times.

34. Maigret

This crime drama is based on Georges Simenon’s world-renowned fictional French detective Jules Maigret. Rowan Atkinson plays the legendary detective who features in 75 books written by Simenon. Other leading cast members include Fiona Shaw, Lucy Cohu, Shaun Dingwall and Rufus Wright.

The first episode is based on the story `Maigret Sets a Trap’, in which the detective investigates the murder of four women found dead in the Montmarte region of Paris, during the summer of 1955. After setting up an elaborate trap, Maigret is able to uncover crucial details of the events.

33. Vera

With her caustic wit and singular charm, DCI Vera Stanhope and her trusted right-hand man face a series of captivating murder mysteries set against the breathtaking Northumberland landscape.

32. Trauma

A thriller miniseries by Mike Bartlett, the multi-award winning creator of Doctor Foster, `Trauma’ focuses on the lives of two fathers, Dan and Jon, whose different lives collide after Dan’s 15-year-old son, Alex, is stabbed and dies in the trauma department attended by Jon.

Doctor Who star John Simm portrays the grieving Dan Bowker, a factory manager struggling to cope with an increasingly unraveling life, and Adrian Lester stars as family man Jon Allerton, an educated, high achieving, and confident trauma surgeon. Dan believes that Jon is responsible for the death of his teenage son, and striving for justice, begins to unpick the very fabric of Jon’s life in the fast-paced three-part miniseries.

31. Waking the Dead

A specialized team of police officers uses newfound evidence and new technology to try and solve cold cases. Led by the temperamental Detective Superintendent Peter Boyd, the experts work on bringing justice to murder victims and their families.

30. Grace

A Britbox Original: The best-selling Peter James novels make it to the screen in this two-part crime drama starring John Simm (Life on Mars, Doctor Who).

Haunted by the disappearance of his wife, tenacious yet troubled detective Roy Grace has a reputation for his unorthodox methods in pursuit of the truth. As he walks a career tightrope, he is assigned to a missing person case that becomes a race against time full of twists and turns.

29. Silent Witness

The critically acclaimed, award-winning BBC crime drama series, which first aired in 1996, focuses on a team of London-based forensic pathologists and scientists and their investigations into various crimes.

Emilia Fox stars as Dr Nikki Alexander, a skilled pathologist whose expertise in archaeology and forensic anthropology make her an invaluable asset. The team work together with police as they seek justice for the victims of violent crimes.

28. Trigger Point

​”Trigger Point” is a high-stakes British crime thriller that delves into the perilous world of bomb disposal within London’s Metropolitan Police. The series centers on Lana Washington (Vicky McClure), an ex-military bomb disposal operative and Afghan War veteran, as she confronts escalating terrorist threats.​

Season 1 (2022): Lana and her team race against time to neutralize a series of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) menacing London during a summer terror campaign. The season explores the intense pressure and personal sacrifices inherent in the life of an “Expo,” offering viewers a visceral look at counter-terrorism policing. Critics noted the show’s gripping tension and McClure’s compelling performance.

Season 2 (2024): The narrative intensifies as Lana returns from a sabbatical to face a sophisticated terror campaign threatening the city. The season introduces new characters and complex challenges, pushing Lana to her limits both professionally and personally. The Guardian remarked that the series “goes harder than ever,” delivering heightened explosions and drama. ​

“Trigger Point” has been praised for its adrenaline-fueled storytelling and McClure’s standout portrayal of Lana Washington, making it a must-watch for fans of intense crime dramas.

27. Bergerac  

One of British TV’s most beloved detectives, the blue-eyed maverick Jim Bergerac (John Nettles) returns to the Bureau des Étrangers.

26. Traces

Breaking Bad’s Laura Fraser stars in this suspense-filled crime thriller driven by a personal tragedy and murder left unsolved – until now.

A Britbox Original: Emma Hedges needs to find out what happened to her mum. In a world of danger and deceit, will Emma have the nerve to follow the evidence no matter where it takes her?

25. Shetland

This is one of our favorite series on Britbox that’s also available on some other streaming services. Shetland is a British television crime drama television series, made by ITV Studios for the BBC and broadcast on BBC One, that first broadcast on 10 March 2013. Initially based upon the novels of Ann Cleeves, the series was brought to screen by David Kane, who has remained a principal writer through all five series.

The series stars Douglas Henshall as Jimmy Perez, a detective inspector working for the Shetland police, Alison O’Donnell as Detective Sergeant Alison “Tosh” Macintosh, and Steven Robertson as Detective Constable Sandy Wilson. Mark Bonnar, Lewis Howden, Erin Armstrong, Julie Graham, and Anne Kidd are also credited as principal members of the cast.

The story takes place largely on the eponymous Scottish archipelago, although much of the series’ filming takes place on the Scottish mainland, with only some location filming actually taking place on Shetland. Five series have been broadcast to date.

Douglas Henshall won the 2016 BAFTA Scotland award for best actor for his role as Jimmy Perez, and the series received the award for Best TV Drama.

24. Boon

When ex-fireman Ken Boon’s services are advertised in the local paper with the words `Anything Legal Considered’, he finds himself taking on a variety of jobs. With help from ex-colleague Harry, his career of courier, bodyguard and PI begins.

23. Death On The Tyne

In this thrilling and hilarious sequel to Murder on the Blackpool Express, passengers and crew aboard an overnight ferry trip are bumped off one by one in grizzly circumstances.

22. Agatha Christie’s Poirot

David Suchet stars as the dapper, diminutive Belgian who solves the most serpentine cases with the sharpest of minds and the driest of wits.

21. Miss Marple

Gloriously remastered from 16mm film, see this series like never before. Who is the strangled woman in Gossington Hall? Fortunately for the Bantrys, Miss Marple is their neighbor. In this version, Joan Hickson plays the role of Miss Marple.

20. The Pembrokshire Murders 

A Britbox Original: The extraordinary true-to-life pursuit of the most notorious serial killer in Welsh history.

19. Rosemary And Thyme

Brought together by heartache professionally (fired suddenly and underhandedly from her academic position) and personally (husband of more than 20 years left her for a younger woman), two plucky ladies plant the seeds for a brighter future.

Rosemary Boxer, who holds a doctorate in plant pathology, and Laura Thyme, a former police constable and avid gardener, discover their shared love of green-thumbness and start a gardening business. But as they restore various English gardens back to their lavish states, the inquisitive pair also happen upon mystery after mystery, and the more they dig the deeper the sleuthing gets.

18. The Coroner

One of our favorites on Britbox. Claire Goose stars as Jane Kennedy in this crime drama series. Jane, a former high-flying solicitor, returns to her hometown to work as a coroner. Her new position requires her to examine mysterious deaths and work alongside the local detective sergeant, Davey Higgins, who also happens to be an ex-boyfriend.

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The coroner juggles the danger and intensity of her cases with the warm relationships she has with her colleagues, family and community. The lines are blurred, however, when Jane’s daughter Beth begins dating Matt, the best friend of a boy whose unexplained death she is investigating.

17. The Doctor Blake Mysteries

One of our favorites on Britbox. Accompanied by haunting memories of his service time in World War II, Dr Lucien Blake returns home to Australia after 30 years to take over his deceased father’s medical practice. As he deals with his own personal loss and changed by his war experiences, the wry, personable doctor performs his other role as police surgeon with gusto.

His unconventional and unpredictable manner unnerve some, but it becomes clear Dr Blake is ahead of his time in his use of forensic science, and in his own understanding of the human heart, to help solve murder mysteries in the country town of Ballarat.

16. Stonemouth

We liked this Britbox show: It’s based on a novel by Scottish author Iain Banks. Stewart Gilmour returns to Stonemouth, a fictional seaport town north of Aberdeen, for a funeral. It is five years since he ran away to London after a sexual indiscretion at a wedding.

Stonemouth is controlled by two rival gangs, the Murstons and the MacAvetts, and Gilmour was engaged to a member of the former clan before he had to leave.

15. Murder On The Blackpool Express

In this feature-length mystery comedy, a crime writer takes fans on a coach tour of locations from his books. Soon, the passengers are faced with the possibility of a murderer on board.

14. Bancroft 

Bancroft is a four part British television thriller first shown in December 2017. It features Sarah Parish as Elizabeth Bancroft, a well-respected Detective Superintendent, attempting to bring down a criminal gang whilst a cold case is re-investigated by young Detective Sergeant Katherine Stevens, played by Faye Marsay.

13. Prime Suspect

After a colleague suffers a near-fatal heart attack, Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison takes over an investigation into the murder of Delia Mornay, a young prostitute. The case is challenging enough in its own right, since Jane quickly determines that there is very little tangible evidence against the main suspect, an ex-convict.

Worse, however, she suspects there is a cover-up going on in her department, where her male team of investigators isn’t making a secret of their displeasure to be working for a woman. After a second body is discovered, what started as a single murder inquiry turns into an investigation stretching back over 10 years, forcing Jane to devote every waking hour to the case and taking a toll on her home life with her recently divorced live-in lover, Peter Rawlins.

12. Poirot’s Final Cases

If you’re into classics, make sure you check this show on Britbox. An ailing Poirot returns to Styles with Hastings nearly three decades after solving their first mystery there in order to prevent a serial killer from claiming more victims.

11. Zen

Zen is one of our favorite shows on Britbox. Detective Aurelio Zen, a smart and honest police detective in Rome, struggles to maintain his integrity amongst the bureaucracy and political interference in the department. He is in love with Tania Moretti, but long odds in the betting for who will sleep with her first.

10. Wild Bill 

Six-time Golden Globe nominee Rob Lowe stars as once high-flying US police chief who relocates to East Lincolnshire, England to shake up the local police force, as well as his own life.

9. The Jetty

​”The Jetty” is a British crime drama miniseries that stars Jenna Coleman as Detective Ember Manning, who investigates a fire at a holiday home in a picturesque Lancashire lake town. This case becomes intertwined with a podcast journalist’s probe into a long-standing missing person’s case and an illicit relationship involving a man in his twenties and two underage girls. As Ember delves deeper, she uncovers dark secrets that challenge her understanding of her past and the community she thought she knew. ​

8. Maigret (1992)

In the first season of this 1992 show, which is less intense than the more recent version played by Rowan Atkinson, Inspector Maigret’s wife prods him to take a vacation. But there is no time to relax when a jewel thief is shot, and the only suspect is his mistress.

Other mysteries involve a burglar who sees a murder during a break-in, a teacher at odds with an entire village, an elderly woman whose schemes are mistaken for lunacy, and a serial killer targeting young women in Montmartre.

7. The Night Manager

Based on John le Carre’s best-selling novel, ex-British soldier Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) is recruited by MI-6 to infiltrate the inner circle of a dangerous arms trader (Hugh Laurie).

6. After The Flood

​”After the Flood” is a British crime mystery thriller that follows PC Joanna Marshall (Sophie Rundle), a dedicated officer in the fictional town of Waterside, who becomes embroiled in a complex murder investigation after a man’s body is discovered in a flooded underground car park. As Joanna delves deeper, she uncovers hidden secrets within the community, all while navigating personal challenges, including her pregnancy. The ensemble cast features Lorraine Ashbourne as Joanna’s mother, Molly, and Philip Glenister as local property developer Jack Radcliffe. The show has been praised for its compelling narrative and strong performances. ​

5. Little Boy Blue

This four-part crime drama is based on the true story of Rhys Jones, an 11-year-old boy who was murdered on his way home from football practice in 2007. The series is filmed in Liverpool, where the crime took place, and the North West, and stars Stephen Graham, Sinead Keenan, and Brian F O’Byrne.

The drama focuses on the aftermath of this tragic event, the ordeal Rhys’s parents endured, and how Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly was tasked with leading the investigation and bringing the murderer and associates to justice.

4. The Tower

Gemma Whelan (Game of Thrones) and Jimmy Akingbola (Kate & Koji) star in this eye-opening crime thriller based on the acclaimed novel by former detective Kate London. DSI Sarah Collins sets out to uncover the truth around two grisly deaths, and the investigation takes her into the dark heart of policing.

3. Payback

In this compelling original crime drama, Lexie Noble becomes entangled in a police investigation into a dangerous crime boss. Starring Morven Christie and Peter Mullan.

2. Karen Pirie

After the promotion to Police Scotland’s Historic Cases Unit, Karen Pirie reopens the cold case of a murdered barmaid. Her investigation unearths flaws in the original 1995 inquiry.

1. Passenger

When Family Liaison Officer Lisa Armstrong is assigned to a missing persons investigations, it initially seems like any other – tragic, but all too familiar. This time, it is especially challenging for her not to get emotionally involved.