From criminal investigations to buddy spy comedies to cat-and-mouse thrillers, there’s no shortage of great mysteries on Peacock. We’ve narrowed down our favorites so you can spend less time scrolling and more time watching. Here are the best mystery series on Peacock.
What are the best mystery series on Peacock?
While we’ve narrowed our list to our top picks, we wanted to throw in a few additional shoutouts for different mystery vibes. If procedural mysteries are your thing, FBI: Most Wanted is an easy, bingeable watch — think Law & Order with higher stakes and more intense criminals. Deep Water is another solid pick, serving as the British answer to HBO’s Big Little Lies. It doesn’t quite hit all the highs of its inspiration, but it’s still worth a watch. Likewise, Amanda Seyfried stars in the miniseries Long Bright River. A Friend of the Family is also a solid American biographical crime drama miniseries that falls into the mystery category.
Broadchurch (2013)
We’d watch David Tennant and Olivia Coleman in just about anything, but it’s even better when the team gang up to solve a crime. In this instance, an 11-year-old boy, Danny Latimer, is found dead on a beach in the coastal town of Broadchurch in idyllic Dorset. Detectives Alec Hardy (Tennant) and Ellie Miller (Colman) are assigned to investigate this strange crime, as the town is known for its closeness. As the case unfolds, long-buried secrets emerge within the tight-knit community, and the intense media attention complicates the search for the killer.
Across its seasons, the series follows the detectives as they hunt for the killer and subsequent cases while dealing with the personal and professional fallout of their work. But alongside the crime-sleuthing side of the story is the personal narrative of the family dealing with tremendous grief and unwanted media attention. It’s really a brilliant show from writing to directing to cinematography, and is one any mystery fan would love.
Ponies (2026)
A recent release and a Peacock original, Ponies is a funny mystery-tinged buddy comedy that doubles as a slick Cold War spy thriller. If you enjoyed Killing Eve, this series would similarly be up your alley. Ponies stars Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson as two American women living in Moscow whose CIA-operative husbands die under mysterious circumstances.
Initially dismissed as “Persons of No Interest” — aka PONIES — the pair turn the label on its head, convincing the CIA to recruit them as operatives. No one would expect these women to be anything more than…well, anything. With sheer willpower and a sense of humor, the two are thrown into a dangerous world of espionage and international intrigue. Together, the two navigate spy training and high-stakes missions as they work to uncover the truth about what happened to their husbands.
Poker Face (2023)
Natasha Lyonne is outstanding in this lighter, “how-to-catch ’em” style mystery series. She plays Charlie Cale, a sharp-witted casino worker with an ability to detect when people are lying. After uncovering a conspiracy at her casino, she finds herself on the run from a dangerous mob boss. Armed with her incredible intuition and cruising across the country in a striking 1969 Plymouth Barracuda (not exactly inconspicuous, we’ll admit), Charlie encounters a new mystery in nearly every town she visits — from clever thefts to complex murders — turning her journey into an episodic, high-stakes road trip.
The series from Rian Johnson (Knives Out) is the most entertaining mix of suspense, humor, and character-driven storytelling. Not to mention, the guest and recurring cast are impressive. Alongside Lyonne, the show features actors like Adrien Brody, Giancarlo Esposito, Cynthia Erivo, Tim Blake Nelson, Cherry Jones, Jamila Jamil, and John Mulaney, among many others, in a rolodex of talent. Sadly, the series hasn’t been renewed for a third season on Peacock, but Rian Johnson is actively shopping it to other networks. Hopefully, we’ll see more of it in the future.
Dr. Death (2021)
Dr. Death is a gripping anthology series that’s perfect for mystery fans who also have a taste for true crime, which is probably a large portion of us. Based on the popular podcast of the same name and written by Patrick Macmanus, Dr. Death dramatizes real-life medical cases in which physicians are accused of severe malpractice. Season one centers on neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch, whose surgical procedures leave patients permanently injured or dead. This prompts colleagues and prosecutors to launch a high-stakes investigation into these cases.
Starring Joshua Jackson as investigative lawyer Ben Taub, Christian Slater as a fellow doctor, and Mandy Moore as Duntsch’s ex-wife, the series does a great job of doling out suspenseful storytelling with complex character studies in equal measure. Under the guidance of showrunner Patrick Macmanus, also known for his leads on other true crime series, including The Girl From Plainville and Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy, Dr. Death examines systemic failures within the medical system and the legal and ethical efforts required to hold those responsible accountable.
Mr. Mercedes (2017)
Based on the novel by Stephen King, this binge-worthy thriller series follows retired detective Bill Hodges (the formidable Brendan Gleeson), who is still haunted by an unsolved case, “Mr. Mercedes”, where a Mercedes drove into a crowd at a job fair, killing sixteen people. Hodges is called back into action when a man responsible for the deadly car attack begins taunting him. As Hodges forms an unlikely investigative team, he becomes locked in a psychological cat-and-mouse game with the perpetrator.
The executive producer on this series, David E. Kelly, is the creator of Big Little Lies, so you can trust the team behind this to deliver a series that’s equally as compelling.
How we picked the best mystery series on Peacock
While Peacock is a true crime lover’s dream subscription service, it doesn’t offer quite as many mystery series as some other streaming platforms. That said, what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. We focused on series that feature strong storytelling, engaging characters, and compelling mysteries — whether that’s a slow-burn psychological thriller, a fast-paced procedural, or a true crime adaptation. We also considered critical reception, audience response, and the uniqueness of each show’s approach to the mystery genre.
