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If you're currently counting down the days until Dept. Q drops on Netflix, you're definitely not alone. The crime thriller series, inspired by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen's bestselling novels and set in Edinburgh, Scotland, follows detective Carl Morck as he leads a ragtag team tasked with solving the city's most chilling crimes.
It's set to hit the streaming giant on May 29, 2025, and plenty of crime lovers are already on the edge of their seats. However, there's no shortage of other gripping shows to binge in the meantime.
Ahead, here are 8 of the best crime thriller series to satisfy your craving for suspense as you wait for Dept. Q.
1. True Detective — Stream on Max
JIm Bridges/Home Box Office
Few crime dramas have left as much of a lasting impression as True Detective. This anthology series first premiered in 2014 and has four seasons, each of which offers a standalone story. So, you can actually jump in anywhere and still be completely immersed in the criminal investigations.
Whether it's Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson investigating a Louisiana murder in Season 1 or Mahershala Ali tackling two disappearances in the Ozarks during Season 3, True Detective continues to fascinate audiences. You can stream all four seasons on Max.
2. The Undoing — Stream on Max
Niko Tavernise/HBO
If you're in the mood for a slow-burn mystery, The Undoing might just be your perfect match. Starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, this limited series follows a successful New York therapist whose life begins to unravel following a violent murder. As secrets bubble to the surface, the story becomes a "whodunnit" with a psychological edge.
Written by David E. Kelley and directed by Susanne Bier, The Undoing is available to stream on Max.
3. Sharp Objects — Stream on Max
Fox/HBO
Based on the novel by Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn, Sharp Objects is another limited series that stars Amy Adams. She plays Camille Preaker, a journalist who goes back to her hometown to report on the murder of a young girl, and possibly reconnect with her troubled past.
As Camille investigates, she's forced to confront buried childhood trauma and toxic family dynamics, making Sharp Objects more than just a murder mystery. You can watch it now on Max.
4. The Outsider — Stream on Max
HBO
Anyone who likes their crime thrillers with a supernatural twist shouldn't sleep on The Outsider, a 2020 adaptation of Stephen King's bestselling novel.
What starts as a straightforward investigation into a child murder quickly turns eerie when evidence points to a suspect who couldn't have possibly been in two places at once. The Outsider features standout performances from actors such as Ben Mendelsohn, Cynthia Erivo, and Jason Bateman. Head over to Max to begin streaming it today.
5. Mindhunter — Stream on Netflix
Netflix
Mindhunter first debuted in 2017 and dives into the birth of criminal profiling at the FBI. It takes place in the late 1970s and follows agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench as they begin interviewing serial killers to understand how they think and to apply those insights to active cases.
Directed by David Fincher and starring Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany, Mindhunter is a must-watch for fans of true crime and those intrigued by sociopathy. The show's two seasons are both available on Netflix.
6. The Night Of — Stream on Max
HBO
This eight-part series explores the criminal justice system through the eyes of a single case. When a college student named Nasir "Naz" Khan is accused of murder after a night of partying, his fate becomes entangled with his attorney, John Stone, and an inmate at Rikers Island.
The Night Of features powerful performances from actors Riz Ahmed and John Turturro. You can watch it now on Max.
7. The Blacklist — Stream on Netflix
NBCUniversal
Want a longer-term binge? The Blacklist will deliver. This show has 10 seasons, and James Spader commands practically every scene as Raymond "Red" Reddington, a notorious criminal who mysteriously turns himself in to the FBI and offers to help catch other high-profile criminals. The catch? He only wants to work with profiler Elizabeth Keen.
What begins as a case-of-the-week series evolves into a huge web of conspiracies and personal revelations. The Blacklist is a pretty addictive watch, so you should start streaming it on Netflix.
8. Fool Me Once
Netflix
Finally, Fool Me Once is adapted from Harlan Coben's novel of the same name and centers on Maya Stern, a former soldier who sees her supposedly dead husband alive on a nanny cam.
That seemingly unbelievable discovery sets off a chain of events linking his "death" to the unsolved murder of her sister and a powerful family with secrets. The cast includes Michelle Keegan, Adeel Akhtar, Richard Armitage, Joanna Lumley, and more. You can stream Fool Me Once on Netflix.
Check out Sydney Sweeney Just Spilled On Her "Magnetic" New Crime Thriller Americana for more intrigue!
