10 Best Crime TV Shows You’ve Probably Never Even Heard Of

10 Best Crime TV Shows You’ve Probably Never Even Heard Of

If you’re tired of the same old crime dramas, there’s a whole world of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Beyond the mainstream hits lie brilliant shows that never quite got the audience they deserved. These overlooked crime series offer fresh takes on familiar genres, from gritty police procedurals to quirky detective stories, each bringing something unique to the table.

1. Terriers (FX, 2010)

FX’s one-season wonder became the textbook definition of ‘canceled too soon.’ Following ex-cop Hank Dolworth and his reformed-criminal partner Britt as they navigate life as unlicensed private investigators in San Diego, the show blends humor with genuine heart.

What makes Terriers special isn’t just the cases but the authentic friendship at its core. The leads have chemistry that can’t be manufactured, making their scrappy underdog status all the more endearing.

Critics adored it, but poor marketing doomed the show from the start – many thought it was about actual dogs! Today it stands as one of television’s most beloved cult classics.

2. Southland (NBC/TNT, 2009–2013)

Raw, unflinching, and utterly authentic – Southland redefined police drama for a generation. Shot documentary-style with handheld cameras, the series drops viewers directly into the chaotic daily lives of LAPD officers and detectives.

Unlike procedurals with neat resolutions, Southland embraced messy reality. Cases often went unsolved, good cops made bad choices, and personal demons followed everyone home at the end of shift.

The stellar ensemble cast including Regina King and Michael Cudlitz delivered powerhouse performances that never felt like acting. Despite critical acclaim and passionate fans, network shuffling and modest ratings kept this gritty masterpiece from becoming the phenomenon it deserved to be.

3. Quarry (Cinemax, 2016)

Set against the sweltering backdrop of 1970s Memphis, Quarry follows Mac Conway, a Marine sniper returning from Vietnam only to find himself shunned by his community. When a mysterious figure known as The Broker offers him work as a hitman, Mac’s moral compass is put to the ultimate test.

Logan Marshall-Green delivers a haunting performance as a man hollowed out by war yet desperately seeking redemption. The period setting isn’t just window dressing – the show authentically captures America’s post-Vietnam identity crisis.

With stylish direction, soulful music, and noir sensibilities, this criminally overlooked gem was axed after just eight perfect episodes, leaving fans heartbroken.

4. Sneaky Pete (Amazon Prime, 2015–2019)

Giovanni Ribisi shines as Marius, a con artist who assumes his prison cellmate’s identity to escape a vengeful gangster. The twist? He ends up embedded with his cellmate’s unsuspecting family, running their bail bond business while orchestrating cons on the side.

Created by David Shore (House) and Bryan Cranston, the series masterfully balances high-stakes criminal schemes with genuine family drama. The supporting cast, including Margo Martindale and Peter Gerety, brings warmth and complexity to what could have been a one-note premise.

Each season builds on an intricate web of lies that threatens to unravel at any moment. Despite its clever premise and stellar performances, Sneaky Pete remained one of streaming’s best-kept secrets.

5. The Bridge (FX, 2013–2014)

Murder knows no borders in this atmospheric adaptation of the Scandinavian crime drama. When a body is discovered precisely on the El Paso-Juárez border, detectives from both countries must overcome cultural differences to catch a killer with a twisted agenda.

Diane Kruger delivers a revelatory performance as Detective Sonya Cross, whose undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder makes her brilliant at patterns but challenged by social interaction. Her partnership with Mexican detective Marco Ruiz (Demián Bichir) evolves from reluctant to profound as they navigate cartel violence, corruption, and poverty.

The show’s greatest strength was its authentic portrayal of border life, treating both sides with nuance rather than stereotypes. Canceled after two seasons, it remains a masterclass in cross-cultural storytelling.

6. Hap and Leonard (Sundance TV, 2016–2018)

Southern-fried noir meets buddy comedy in this adaptation of Joe R. Lansdale’s beloved novels. Set in 1980s East Texas, the series follows Hap Collins (James Purefoy), a white working-class laborer, and Leonard Pine (Michael K. Williams), a gay black Vietnam vet, as they stumble into increasingly dangerous situations.

What appears to be a simple odd-couple formula transforms into something special through the genuine chemistry between its leads and its unique sense of place. The humid East Texas setting becomes a character itself, filled with eccentric personalities, hidden dangers, and moral ambiguity.

Each season adapts a different Lansdale novel, creating self-contained crime stories that never sacrifice character development. Its cancellation after three seasons left fans of quirky crime fiction heartbroken.

7. Get Shorty (Epix, 2017–2019)

Forget what you know about the 1995 film – this darkly comic series takes Elmore Leonard’s premise and transforms it into something fresh and surprising. Chris O’Dowd stars as Miles Daly, a Nevada enforcer for a deadly crime ring who attempts to become a Hollywood producer while laundering money through the film industry.

Ray Romano delivers a career-best performance as Rick, a washed-up producer whose desperation makes him the perfect partner for Miles’ schemes. Their unlikely friendship forms the emotional core of a show that balances brutal violence with genuine laughs.

The series brilliantly satirizes both Hollywood and organized crime, suggesting the two worlds aren’t as different as they seem. Despite critical acclaim, it remained hidden on the lesser-known Epix network.

8. Briarpatch (USA Network, 2020)

When investigator Allegra Dill (Rosario Dawson) returns to her bizarre Texas hometown to solve her sister’s murder, she discovers a community where corruption runs deeper than blood. Animals roam free from the local zoo, the heat is unbearable, and everyone seems to be hiding something behind their smiles.

Based on Ross Thomas’s novel and developed by Andy Greenwald, Briarpatch marries neo-noir sensibilities with surrealist touches that would make David Lynch proud. The town itself becomes a disorienting character – beautiful, dangerous, and impossible to trust.

With its stylish direction, razor-sharp dialogue, and Dawson’s commanding performance, this anthology series was primed for multiple seasons. Sadly, low ratings cut short what could have been a groundbreaking crime franchise.

9. The Night Of (HBO, 2016)

A night of impulsive decisions leads Pakistani-American student Nasir Khan (Riz Ahmed) into a nightmare when he wakes up to find his one-night stand brutally murdered. What follows is a devastating examination of how the American justice system grinds people down, regardless of guilt or innocence.

John Turturro delivers a career-defining performance as John Stone, an eczema-suffering lawyer who becomes Naz’s unlikely champion. The series methodically documents Naz’s transformation from naive college student to hardened prisoner as the machinery of justice slowly crushes his spirit.

Created by Steven Zaillian and Richard Price, this limited series offers no easy answers or tidy resolutions – just a haunting portrait of a system where truth is often the first casualty.

10. Damages (FX, 2007–2012)

Glenn Close mesmerizes as Patty Hewes, perhaps television’s most terrifying attorney – a legal shark who will stop at nothing to win her high-stakes cases. When ambitious protégée Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) joins her firm, she’s pulled into a world where loyalty is currency and betrayal means death.

What sets Damages apart is its innovative narrative structure, with each season jumping between past and present to gradually reveal shocking twists. The cat-and-mouse game between mentor and protégée evolves into one of TV’s most complex female relationships.

Despite garnering critical acclaim and multiple Emmy wins, the series never found the audience it deserved. After three seasons on FX, it finished its run on DirecTV’s Audience Network, where many viewers lost track of this brilliant psychological thriller.