Best cosy crime series on Acorn TV in October 2024
Autumn in Britain is made for cosy crime dramas. Wrapping up with a cup of steaming tea, a woolly cardie, and with your amateur detective brain switched on. Here is TVGuide.co.uk's pick of the best cosy crime series on Acorn TV in October 2024.
Mrs Sidhu Investigates
Drama | Comedy | Crime | Mystery
Summary:An Acorn TV original based on the radio drama, this cosy crime follows recently widowed Mrs Sidhu as she attempts to juggle running her business while also solving mysteries in Berkshire. Comedian Meera Syal (Goodness Gracious Me) and Craig Parkinson (Line of Duty) lead this one, which so far consists of four 90-minute episodes.
Why you should watch: Despite there only being four episodes to watch so far, What She Said wrote: "There's plenty of fun to be had over four feature-length episodes." With a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 93%, this is one of the better cosy crime offerings available on Acorn TV at the moment. And we love the combo of Meera as amateur sleuth Mrs Sidhu, alongside Craig's dour DCI Burton.
Available now
My Life is Murder
Drama | Crime | Mystery | Comedy
Summary:Consisting of four seasons, this Australian cosy crime drama follows the adventures of former police officer (and current consultant) Alexa Crowe, as she solves murders and mysteries alongside her quirky assistant Madison. Along the way, she must also deal with her convicted criminal brother as well as the romantic advances of her co-worker. This series, which has 38 episodes, stars former Xena: Warrior Princess star Lucy Lawless, Ebony Vagulans, and Bernard Curry.
Why you should watch: If you're after something funny and light that will give you your cosy crime kick, then My Life is Murder is one of the best of Acorn's offerings. With a rating of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, this series has been described by Decider as being "fun and light entertainment, enhanced by well-written mysteries and performances that don't take themselves seriously". While Times TV says it "breaks the mould". Watch out for our very own Bill Bailey, too, who pops up in two episodes as Enzo Pavone. And who doesn't love to look at the beautiful locations Down Under...?
Available now
Agatha Raisin
Comedy | Mystery
Summary:Based on the popular books of the same name, Agatha Raisin has four seasons under its belt. It follows the adventures of Agatha, a former PR agent who solves mysteries in her village in the Cotswolds. Ashley Jensen plays the eponymous sleuth, while Waterloo Road star Jamie Glover and Gavin & Stacey star Matthew Horne also feature.
Why you should watch: What’s better than putting your feet up to watch a likeable amateur sleuth solve mysteries and murders in a quaint British village in the middle of the country? Agatha Raisin has this in spades and is a lot of fun. A very popular series, Agatha Raisin has a rating of 7.2 out of 10 on IMDB. It's a quintessentially British cosy crime drama, which sadly may not get a series 5 after Ashley Jensen defected to BBC to star in Shetland.
Available now
The Madame Blanc Mysteries
Drama
Summary:Broadcast on both Channel 5 and Acorn TV, The Madame Blanc Mysteries follows antiques dealer Jean as she travels to France to investigate her husband's mysterious death. Helped by the local Chief of Police, a local taxi driver, and the local chateau owners, Jean attempts to unravel some of the mysteries surrounding her husband, as well as other mysteries along the way. Sally Lindsay leads the cast of this cosy crime drama, which currently has three series available (with a fourth on its way).
Why you should watch: As well as having an overarching mystery about Jean's husband and his secrets, every episode also has its own mystery too, meaning every episode is intriguing in its own right. The Madame Blanc Mysteries has received widespread praise since first launching, with Decider describing it as an "easygoing light mystery series with a fun community of people around Sally Lindsay's title character". It has an 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It's filmed in Malta and Gozo, so plenty of opportunities for sight-seeing, too.
Available now
The Brokenwood Mysteries
Mystery | Drama | Crime
Summary:This long-running New Zealand drama follows the story of a DI who moves from the city of Auckland to the fictional town of Brokenwood. After solving a murder there, he decides to stay and continue cracking cases alongside a local detective. There are 10 series currently available on Acorn TV.
Why you should watch: The Brokenwood Mysteries has plenty of episodes available to keep you entertained for a long, long time. Featuring Neill Rea, Fern Sutherland, and Nic Sampson, this cozy crime series has a respectable 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And it's set in the beautiful landscape of New Zealand.
Available now
Queens of Mystery
Drama | Comedy | Mystery | Crime
Summary:Detective Matilda Stone probes mysteries and murders with the help of her three crime-writing aunts. This cosy crime, which consists of two seasons of six episodes each, has an all-star cast, including Julie Graham, Siobhan Redmond, and Sarah Woodward. It's an Acorn TV original and is available to stream in full on the platform.
Why you should watch: Like all good cosy crime dramas, there's an amateur sleuth - or four - who solves crimes in a picturesque location (this time the English village of Wildemarsh). The funny series has had some fantastic reviews, including one from the Sydney Morning Herald which described it as a "cheerful sort of thing made for the dunking of digestive biscuits into nice cups of tea as the bodies turn up remarkably unbloodied in quaint cottage gardens full of riotously blooming floral borders". It has a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Available now
The Chelsea Detective
Crime | Mystery
Summary:Gavin & Stacey star Adrian Scarborough stars as a detective who goes around the London borough of Chelsea solving mysteries. He's joined by young assistants who are different to him in every way as he solves murders in and around the wealthy area of the capital. There are currently two seasons available, with a third on the way. Sonita Henry stars as sidekick DC Priya Shamsie.
Why you should watch: Not a fan of cosy crime set in sleepy villages? Want something set in the city, but without all the darkness and grittiness of something like Line of Duty? The Chelsea Detective could well be that happy medium for you. With a rating of 4.9 out of 5 on Amazon, this is certainly one well worth checking out on Acorn TV. It's one of the newest offerings too, having first launched in 2022. There's a great flow of famous guest stars, too, including Frances Barber, Davood Ghadami, Neil Morrissey, Claire Skinner, and Siân Phillips.
Available now
Signora Volpe
Crime | Mystery | Drama
Summary:Disillusioned with her role as a spy, Emilia Fox's character Sylvia moves to Italy and attempts to settle down in the beautiful Panicale. However, it seems that no matter how far she runs, crime and mystery follow her wherever she goes. Both seasons of this show, which is an Acorn original, are available to stream.
Why you should watch: TV favourite Emilia Fox, star of long-running BBC series Silent Witness, is almost irritatingly likeable in Signora Volpe. It consists of six, 90-minute episodes, meaning you'll be soaking up sumptuous Italian surroundings for a fair amount of time. This series has an impressive score of 4.3 out of 5 on Amazon, and features guest performances from the likes of Tara Fitzgerald, Jamie Bamber, Nicholas Farrell, and Bronagh Gallagher. It's a class act.
Available now
Garage Sale Mystery
Crime | Mystery | TV Movie
2013 | Peter DeLuise | 120 mins
Summary:This series of TV movies is currently available to stream on Acorn TV. Each movie is 90 minutes long and follows the story of an antiques dealer who discovers that she has a surprising knack for solving murders. Full House star Lori Laughlin plays the role of dealer/detective Jennifer Shannon.
Why should you watch: If you want something a bit longer and meatier, then The Garage Sale Murders series of feature films is perfect. There are 16 x 90-minute films to get through, so you're bound to be kept busy for a while! The series has a fairly decent score of 6.9/10 on IMDB, so we'd say it's worth checking out.
Available now
Site Unseen: An Emma Fielding Mystery
Mystery | TV Movie | Crime | Drama
2017 | Douglas Barr | 84 mins
Summary:Site Unseen: An Emma Fielding Mystery (also known by The Site of Murder) is the first of three made-for-TV movies starring Ally McBeal's Courtney Thorne-Smith as Emma. She's an archaeologist who often stumbles across murdered dead bodies, and helps solve the mystery alongside her FBI friend Special Agent John Cooper, played by Big Little Lies' James Tupper. The first film, released in 2017, was followed by second film Past Malice in 2018, and More Bitter Than Death in 2019. They are American made.
Why should you watch: With easy plots to follow, a strong cast, and over five hours worth of murders and mysteries to get through, this set of films is perfect for a rainy autumn day. The trilogy has had some good reviews too, and holds a rating of 4.2 out of 5 on Amazon. Prepare to play spot-the-TV-star bingo as a whole raft of faces from US TV series pop up, including The White Lotus' Adam DiMarco, and Days of Our Lives' Mark Valley.
Available now
Real Murders: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery
Mystery | TV Movie | Drama | Crime
2015 | Martin Wood | 84 mins
Summary:Librarian Aurora Teagarden runs a true crime club. However, she probably didn't expect her love and knowledge of crime to be put to the test when she's forced to solve the mystery behind a real-life murder! Aurora clearly catches the bug for solving crimes, with the librarian featuring in 19 TV movies (14 of which are available to stream on Acorn TV). Full House star Candace Cameron Bure stars as the eponymous librarian-turned-amateur-sleuth in this US series os multiple films.
Why you should watch: You're sure to get your cosy crime kick with these fun, entertaining movies, which first aired on the Hallmark channel in the US. They've had some great reviews too, with the franchise landing itself a 5/5 rating on Amazon. There are more on the way too, with a prequel movie released last year.
Available now
The Sommerdahl Murders
Crime | Drama
Summary:This Danish cosy crime drama follows DCI Dan Sommerdahl as he investigates murders in a picturesque Danish town alongside his wife and best friend. However, with his marriage on the rocks, DCI Dan learns that his rival for his wife's affections is in fact his closest pal.
Why should you watch: Come for the cosy crime, stay for the messy love triangle! There are five seasons of this cool crime drama for you to fly through. This 40-episode long series has an impressive rating of 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon, and will keep you invested until the end.
Available now
Whitstable Pearl
Crime | Mystery
Summary:Kerry Godliman plays single mum Pearl who moonlights as a private detective from her restaurant business in Whitstable. Based on the books of the same name, this cosy crime drama follows Pearl as she juggles running a successful business while also solving mysteries and murders in the pretty Kentish seaside town. Doctor Who's Frances Barber and Top Boy villain Howard Charles also star.
Why should you watch: With two series so far and an 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes, this is one of the classiest crime dramas available to stream on Acorn TV. As AV Club writes, Whitstable Pearl is a "solid balance of the sombre, the suspenseful, and the cosy-mysterious". Kerry Godliman is so watchable, and engaging, and the Kent seaside location is the second star of the show. There's also a third season on the way, so best catch up with the first two seasons before the new one drops!
Available now
Darby and Joan
Mystery | Drama
Summary:Following her husband's death, nurse Joan becomes determined to find out what really happened to him. Her quest sees her head into the Australian outback where she meets former detective Darby. Together, the duo begin solving crimes together - while also trying to work each other out…
Why you should watch: It's a fun premise and acting leads Bryan Brown (Cocktail) and Greta Scacchi (Emma) have great chemistry together. The underlying mystery surrounding Joan's husband is pretty compelling too. Darby & Joan has a score of 7.7/10 on IMDB, so it's definitely one worth giving a go!
Available now
Recipes for Love and Murder
Mystery | Crime | Drama
Summary:This cosy comedy crime drama is set in South Africa, although Irish Kin actress Maria Doyle Kennedy is the leading lady (playing a Scot). She portrays recipe columnist Tannie Marie, who becomes an amateur sleuth when one of her correspondents is murdered. Tannie embarks on a quest to find out the truth, much to the annoyance of a local police detective. Based on the Tannie Maria Mystery novels by Sally Andrew.
Why you should watch: This one's quirkier than most - in a good way - with a compelling premise and storyline. It's one of the highest rated cosy crimes on Acorn TV too, with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 93%! Critics at stuff.co.nz branded the series "easily binge-able", while Decider highlighted lead Maria Doyle Kennedy's performance as a highlight. We couldn't agree more - she's simply brilliant in the role. We could watch her all day. Luckily there's a second series coming soon.
Available now
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries
Crime | Drama | Mystery
Summary:Set in Melbourne in the 1920s, glamorous detective Phryne Fisher solves mysteries and murders in a man's world. There are three seasons to get through, as well as a spin-off (more on that in a bit). The Babadook star Essie Davis stars as the eponymous detective Miss Fisher in this series. There's also a movie that's unfortunately not on Acorn TV yet.
Why you should watch: Want something that isn't set in the modern day where crimes can be solved using mobile phones and the internet? Then this series could well be right up your street. It's proven to be a huge hit since its release, with a 5/5 rating on Amazon Prime and a rare 100% on Rotten Tomatoes too! This one isn't to be slept on! And if you put the fun plot aside for a moment, Mis Fisher's wardrobe is to die for! It's a class act.
Available now
Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries
Mystery | Crime | Drama
Summary:This spin-off of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is set 40 years later - in the 60s. It follows Phryne Fisher's niece, Peregrine, as she becomes a world-class detective in a changing world. Two seasons have aired since it launched in 2019, with the second season consisting of double the amount of episodes in series one (eight, to be exact). Australian actress Geraldine Hakewill plays the lead in this spin-off.
Why you should watch: If you're a fan of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, then this spin-off is a no-brainer. It follows on nicely from the original series and is just as much fun! It doesn't have as good a reputation as the original series, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 78%, but it's still worth a watch. Not least for the fabulous Swinging Sixties costumes, and beautiful location of Melbourne, Australia.
Available now
Harry Wild
Drama | Mystery | Comedy
Summary:After being mugged in Dublin, Harriet (aka Harry) decides to take matters into her own hands and find out just who stole her things. Thus, the former college professor transforms into an amateur sleuth. Recruiting an unlikely new young sidekick, they go around solving crimes and mysteries together. Jane Seymour leads.
Why you should watch: This series is yet another that has proven to be pretty popular since first hitting streaming platforms. Amazon has awarded it a score of 4.1 out of 5, and it's been recommissioned twice, with Harry now having three seasons-worth of adventures to get through. As a critic from the Sydney Morning Herald wrote: "Jane Seymour is such a joy to watch that this slight and slightly silly amateur-sleuth series immediately becomes something you could easily idle away a couple of hours on." Give it a go!
Available now
Foyle's War
Mystery | Drama | War & Politics | Crime
Summary:A British classic, Foyle's War ran for eight seasons before it eventually ended in 2015. From the mind of Anthony Horowitz, it tells the story of Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle as he solves mysteries, murders, and crimes during and after World War II. Michael Kitchen, Honeysuckle Weeks, and Anthony Howell all star in this iconic drama.
Why you should watch: A true icon of British TV, Foyle's War was a huge hit during its time on the telly. In fact, it was so popular that it actually survived being cancelled in 2007. It subsequently went on for another eight years. The Michael Kitchen series has a hugely impressive 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. One you simply have to watch at least once.
Available now
Gourmet Detective
TV Movie | Mystery
2015 | Scott Smith | 84 mins
Summary:Famed culinary consultant Henry Ross is a charming food industry insider in San Francisco. When a guest at a distinguished dinner party dies, Henry is put on the case with strong-willed police detective and single mom, Maggie Price. Despite Maggie's protests, they must work together to decipher the clues and investigate all of San Francisco's top suspects.
Why you should watch: It's a bit silly, and preposterous in places, but there are only five feature-length episodes on Acorn TV, and they're a lot of fun if you suspend disbelief. Plus, the reviews aren't half bad, with the short-lived made-for-TV movies holding a 5/5 rating on Amazon.
Available now
A Beautiful Place to Die: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery
Mystery | Drama | TV Movie
2020 | Mark Jean | 85 mins | PG
Summary:The first of several Martha's Vineyard Mysteries, A Beautiful Place to Die follows a retired detective from Boston as he returns to his hometown in Massachusetts. However, it seems as though he can't escape crime, as he becomes embroiled in criminal investigations. There's also a romantic subplot, as he tries to come to terms with his feelings towards the local doctor. Desperate Housewives star Jesse Metcalfe plays Jeff Jackson.
Why you should watch: Who doesn't love a drama about a grizzled retired cop being forced back into action? As well as having a compelling mystery surrounding why Jeff Jackson moved back home, this series of TV movies has had great reviews, with a 5/5 rating on Amazon. Desperate Housewives fans will probably love seeing Jesse Metcalfe in a different type of role, too.
Available now
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Comedy | Drama
Summary:This heartwarming series of TV movies follows four US Postal Service workers from the dead letter's office. While there, the postal detectives try to solve the mysteries behind undeliverable letters and packages from the past, delivering them when they are needed most. Ugly Betty star Eric Mabius, Orphan Black actress Kristin Booth, Children of the Corn's Crystal Lowe, and Once Upon A Time's Geoff Gustafson lead the cast.
Why should you watch: With 10 episodes and 13 made-for-TV movies available, this sweet romantic comedy series will keep you entertained for hours and hours. It's something light and warmhearted that will definitely pull at your heartstrings. The series has proven a hit, with a 5/5 rating on Amazon.
Available now
Rosamunde Pilcher: The Other Wife
Drama
Summary:The Other Wife, based on the novel by Rosamunde Pilcher, is a two-part drama about a wife who finds out her husband has another wife and child after he is killed in a plane crash. Rebecca believed she had an lived an idyllic life with her husband - until his death, that is. Upon his death, his double life is revealed, leaving Rebecca reeling. Rupert Everett, Natalia Wörner, and John Hannah lead the cast.
Why should you watch: The Other Wife is a 2012 film you may have forgotten about. It's an easy watch, with an all-star cast including some of TV's favourites like John Hannah. This is something that you can chuck on when the weather is bad and you want to get your cosy crime fix fast.
Available now
Candice Renoir
Comedy | Crime
Summary:This French drama follows a divorced mum-of-four who returns to the police force after spending a decade away. In a desperate bid to prove her sceptical co-workers wrong about her, Candice embarks on a journey of solving several mysteries. The show ran for 11 seasons before being cancelled last year.
Why should you watch: Any show that survives 11 seasons must be worth a watch. French drama Candice Renoir currently has a score of 7.6/10 on IMDB, and follows a likeable mum struggling to juggle her busy home life with her packed and stressful job - all while trying to look professional.
Available now
