Streaming apps have gotten pretty good at serving up suggestions for what to watch in clearly defined categories such as “Thriller TV” and “Swoonworthy Romance.” They’re terrible, however, at making niche recommendations, like for captivating crime/mystery series that also feature a satisfying love story. Even when they try, can you really trust an algorithm that considers Dan Levy’s tragicomedy Good Grief a “Romantic Movie”? No, you can’t. Which is probably why you’re here!
Next time you’re searching for a twisty mystery or gritty crime series with a certifiably great romance in the mix, consider dipping into one of the seven shows on this list. Not only have I watched them all myself, but I can personally vouch for each series and ship–they won’t leave you hanging. So when you’re craving the perfect balance of thrilling plot and toe-curling romance, I recommend…
#1: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (Netflix)
The Ship: Pip/Ravi
High school senior Pip Fitz-Amobi doesn’t set out to become a private investigator. She just can’t shake the feeling that the police bungled her classmate Andie Bell’s murder case five years ago. Based on Holly Jackson’s book by the same name,A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a 6-episode British crime miniseries with a sweet romance at the center. You see, Pip doesn’t investigate Andie’s death alone, oh no. She recruits the prime suspect’s younger brother, Ravi, as her partner, because she (correctly) assumes he’ll want to help prove Sal Singh’s innocence. The pair grow closer even as their hunt for a killer gets more and more dangerous.
#2: The Killing (Hulu)
The Ship: Linden/Holder
Detective Sarah Linden meets Detective Stephen Holder on what’s supposed to be her last day with the Seattle Police Department. Originally brought in to replace Linden on the homicide squad, Holder instead becomes her ride-or-die partner. The Killing aired for four seasons on AMC as a remake of a popular Scandinavian crime noir drama, and romance fans definitely weren’t the target demographic. And yet the chemistry between Linden and Holder wouldn’t be denied! Their personal lives may fall apart as a result of their single-minded, obsessive pursuit of justice, but that only strengthens their (slightly toxic, totally codependent) bond.
#3: Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (Acorn)
The Ship: Phryne/Jack
A cozy mystery series set in 1920s Australia, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries is first and foremost the Phryne Fisher show, as it should be. Phryne’s a fiercely independent, ahead-of-her-time heiress with a knack for unmasking killers–and running circles around the local all-male police squad. What takes this series to another level, however, is the amateur sleuth’s fascinating relationship with Detective Inspector John “Jack” Robinson. Their evolution from professional rivals to unofficial partners to something…more…should not be missed.
Pro tip: Watch the spin-off movie, Miss Fisher and the Crype of Tears, for a resolution to Phryne and Jack’s slow-burn love story.
#4: Bones (Hulu)
The Ship: Booth/Brennan
What do you get when you pair a literal-minded forensic anthropologist with an emotionally intelligent FBI agent? Magic! Not only do Dr. Temperance Brennan and Special Agent Seeley Booth make a crack investigative team, but their chemistry powers 12 seasons of TV. Lighter in tone than most of the series on this list, Bones is the show to turn to when you’re missing the soothing case-of-the-week format. You can always count on Brennan and Booth to solve each murder mystery in about 45 minutes–and flirt the whole way through.
#5: Flower of Evil (Netflix, Viki)
The Ship: Hyeon-su/Ji-won
“Dexter, but then make it romance” is the simplest way to describe the vibes of the sexy, suspenseful Korean drama Flower of Evil. The 16-episode series centers on Detective Cha Ji-won and her devoted husband, Do Hyeun-so. What at first appears to be a routine missing-persons investigation becomes much, much more complicated–to the point where Ji-won must ask herself if she knows her husband as well as she thought… While Ji-won and Hyeun-so are married with a child from the jump, the couple’s journey to a true happily-ever-after has as many twists and turns as the best rom-coms.
#6: Nancy Drew (CW)
The Ship: Nancy/Ace
In the latest take on the iconic character, Nancy Drew establishes our girl as a recent high school graduate and amateur private eye whose cases usually have a paranormal bent. Her co-workers at The Claw, a local restaurant, start out as her fellow murder suspects but become her best friends and partners in mystery-solving. Among them are Ned “Nick” Nickerson, her sweetheart in Carolyn Keene’s books, and the mysterious “Ace,” who may or may not be a Hardy boy. As heartbreaking secrets and highly personal cases take their toll on Nancy’s heart, though, it’s Ace who emerges as her One True Love.
#7: Yargī (TBD)
The Ship: Ilgaz/Ceylin
Murder, messy family dynamics, and an epic love story collide in the Turkish dizi Yargī (meaning “Judgment”). While an official English translation is not yet available to stream in the U.S., this soapy drama–which is also known as Family Secrets–is worth keeping on your radar. Yargī is about a pair of star-crossed lovers, defense attorney Ceylin Erguvan and prosecutor Ilgaz Kaya, who can’t help falling in love while investigating the murder of Ceylin’s little sister. Tragic, right? You don’t know the half of it. No matter how many obstacles fate throws in their way, though, Ilgaz and Ceylin always manage to find their way back to each other.
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