13 Overlooked Mystery TV Gems from the Last 5 Years Worth Discovering

13 Overlooked Mystery TV Gems from the Last 5 Years Worth Discovering

Streaming services have given us more mystery shows than ever before, but some incredible series slip through the cracks while everyone talks about the same big hits. These hidden gems offer clever twists, unforgettable characters, and stories that will keep you guessing until the very end. Whether you love psychological thrillers, classic whodunits, or supernatural puzzles, this list has something special waiting for you to discover.

1. The Devil’s Hour (2022–)

Waking up at the exact same time every night sounds annoying, but for Lucy Chambers, it becomes a doorway into something far darker. Jessica Raine delivers a haunting performance as a woman whose nightly 3:33 a.m. wake-ups connect her to a string of brutal murders she can’t explain.

Peter Capaldi joins as a mysterious figure whose connection to Lucy unravels across layers of psychological twists. The show builds its tension slowly, rewarding viewers who pay attention with mind-bending reveals.

What makes this series truly special is how it blends time-bending concepts with raw human emotion, creating a thriller that feels both intelligent and deeply unsettling.

2. Home Before Dark (2020–2021)

Imagine moving to a new town and discovering your dad’s childhood holds secrets nobody wants to talk about. That’s exactly what happens to Hilde Lisko, a real-life child journalist whose story inspired this Apple TV+ series.

Brooklynn Prince shines as a determined young detective who refuses to let adults dismiss her questions. The show balances family warmth with genuine suspense, making cold case investigation feel accessible without talking down to younger viewers.

While many shows about kids solving mysteries feel silly, this one earns its emotional weight through honest performances and writing that respects both its characters and audience.

3. Magpie Murders (2022)

Book lovers will feel right at home with this brilliant puzzle box of a mystery. When editor Susan Ryeland receives the final manuscript from her bestselling author, she discovers he’s hidden clues to a real murder within his fictional whodunit.

The series jumps between the 1950s-style detective story in the book and Susan’s present-day investigation into her author’s suspicious death. Lesley Manville brings sharp intelligence to Susan, who must solve both mysteries simultaneously.

Fans of Agatha Christie and classic British mysteries will appreciate the clever way this show celebrates and deconstructs the genre at the same time.

4. Bad Sisters (2022–)

Five sisters, one terrible brother-in-law, and a death that may or may not have been an accident. This Irish dark comedy starts with a simple question: Did the Garvey sisters actually kill John Paul, and if so, which one did it?

Sharon Horgan leads an ensemble cast that makes you root for potential murderers through perfect chemistry and devastating backstory reveals. The show balances laugh-out-loud moments with genuine heartbreak as it explores how abuse affects entire families.

What could have been a simple mystery becomes a powerful story about sisterhood, survival, and the lengths people go to protect the ones they love.

5. Dark Winds (2022–)

Most detective shows ignore Indigenous communities entirely, making this 1970s-set noir feel refreshingly authentic. Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon play Navajo Tribal Police officers investigating crimes that reveal corruption reaching far beyond their reservation.

The show respects Navajo culture while delivering tense mystery plotting that would work in any great crime drama. Period details feel lived-in rather than showy, from the costumes to the beautifully shot New Mexico landscapes.

Based on Tony Hillerman’s beloved novels, this series proves you can honor source material while creating something that stands powerfully on its own terms.

6. Slow Horses (2022–)

Gary Oldman disappears into the role of Jackson Lamb, a deliberately disgusting spy boss who leads MI5’s biggest failures at a dumping ground called Slough House. These disgraced agents handle cases nobody else wants, but their investigations keep uncovering conspiracies that matter more than anyone expected.

Beneath the cynical humor and Lamb’s truly revolting habits lies surprising emotional depth. The ensemble cast makes you care about these broken spies trying to prove they still have value.

Based on Mick Herron’s novels, the show delivers sharp dialogue and intricate plotting that rewards viewers who pay attention to every detail.

7. Cruel Summer (2021–)

What really happened between Kate Wallis and Jeanette Turner during three crucial summers in the 1990s? This teen psychological thriller tells its story across multiple timelines, showing how the same events look completely different depending on who’s remembering them.

Olivia Holt and Chiara Aurelia deliver complex performances as girls whose lives become horribly entangled. The show uses unreliable narration brilliantly, making you question everything you think you know with each episode.

While marketed as teen drama, the sophisticated storytelling and moral complexity appeal to viewers of any age who enjoy mysteries that challenge their assumptions.

8. The Way Home (2023–)

Not every mystery needs a murder to keep you hooked. When Kat Landry returns to her family’s farm with her teenage daughter, they discover a pond that somehow allows them to travel through time and confront buried family secrets.

Andie MacDowell, Chyler Leigh, and Sadie Lafayette play three generations working through decades of misunderstandings and heartbreak. The supernatural element serves the emotional story rather than overwhelming it.

This Hallmark Channel series surprises viewers expecting simple comfort TV with genuinely compelling mysteries about identity, regret, and the complicated love between mothers and daughters.

9. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2024–)

High school student Pip Fitz-Amobi decides to investigate a supposedly closed murder case for her senior project, never expecting to uncover evidence that the wrong person went to prison. Emma Myers brings infectious energy to a character who refuses to accept easy answers.

This BBC adaptation captures the novel’s perfect balance of teen life and serious crime investigation. The show doesn’t shy away from discussing consent, justice, and how quickly communities turn on vulnerable people.

Fresh, smart, and socially aware, this series proves young adult mysteries can tackle complex themes while keeping viewers frantically binge-watching for answers.

10. Three Pines (2022)

Alfred Molina brings quiet intensity to Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, who solves murders in a Quebec village that looks like paradise but hides devastating secrets. Based on Louise Penny’s bestselling novels, the show takes its time developing both mysteries and characters.

Unlike fast-paced procedurals, this series lets moments breathe and allows Gamache’s thoughtful approach to investigation unfold naturally. Each case connects to larger themes about community, grief, and healing.

The show’s meditative tone won’t work for everyone, but viewers seeking intelligent mysteries with genuine heart will find something truly special here.

11. The Chestnut Man (2021)

When handmade chestnut dolls start appearing at murder scenes across Copenhagen, detectives Naia Thulin and Mark Hess must track a killer whose crimes connect to a year-old case everyone thought was solved. This Danish thriller delivers the bleak atmosphere and complex plotting Nordic noir fans crave.

Danica Curcic and Mikkel Boe Følsgaard create believable tension as mismatched partners forced to work together. The investigation grows increasingly disturbing as personal stakes rise.

Based on Søren Sveistrup’s novel, the series never reached the international audience that made The Killing and The Bridge famous, despite matching their quality.

12. One of Us Is Lying (2021–2022)

Five students walk into detention. Four walk out alive. Simon Kelleher, who ran a gossip app exposing everyone’s secrets, dies mysteriously, and his four classmates become suspects with clear motives for wanting him dead.

This adaptation of Karen McManus’s hit novel updates the classic whodunit formula for the social media age. The show explores how online personas differ from real identity while delivering genuinely surprising twists.

Dismissed by some as just another teen drama, the series actually offers sharp commentary about reputation, privilege, and how quickly people believe the worst about each other.

13. From (2022–)

Strangers find themselves trapped in a nightmare town they can’t leave, where terrifying creatures emerge after dark to hunt anyone foolish enough to stay outside. Harold Perrineau leads an ensemble cast of people trying to survive while unraveling why this place exists.

The show builds mythology slowly, answering some questions while raising dozens more. Fans of Lost will recognize the balance of character drama and supernatural mystery.

Many viewers avoid it because the lack of quick answers frustrates them, but patient fans appreciate the complex world-building and genuinely creepy atmosphere that makes this feel truly unique.