Detective shows are already so much fun to watch. The way a perfectly written mystery unravels as the viewer tries to put the clues together (at home!) all leading to a satisfying conclusion as a perpetrator is caught? The feeling is unmatched. But detective shows led by women deserve to be a genre of its own.
What I love most about it is just how wildly different these stories can be: some detectives fight to prove their worth in an era which is male-dominated, some wear extremely fashionable clothes and climb the side of buildings, and some teenage detectives decide to crack a murder case instead of doing their homework. Regardless of these differences, they all share one essential trait: each of them refuses to mind their own business and back down, not when it comes to the greater good (they’re all also really good at snooping, which I think is an important skill in itself, when used right.)
Here are ten shows with female detectives, all who solve their mysteries with intuition, stubbornness, and unabashed confidence, available to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, and more!
Morgan Gillory - High Potential (2024)
High Potential is for anyone who likes their detective shows with characters who exude oddball charm while solving mysteries intuitively and impulsively all at once. Morgan, our genius cleaning-lady-turned-detective-consultant with zero-filter honesty helps solve crimes in a classic modern metropolitan police world. Though the show is largely watchable because of Morgan’s dynamics with the actual cops, the real hook is how she processes clues and patterns (she can casually walk around a living room and pick up clues right there, which is honestly the kind of observational skills I aspire to master).
High Potential is a bright and breezy show, where it feels as though the makers wanted to write a procedural, but also wanted everyone to have fun, which is something that’s on the opposite end of the spectrum from the darker vibes of Clarice. If you enjoyed the “gifted civilian-consultant solves crimes better than the cops” energy like in Elementary, then Morgan is the more likable version of Holmes, who can out think a room of detectives while holding a mop.
Pip Fitz-Amobi - A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2024)
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder follows Pip Fitz-Amobi, a high-schooler who decides to solve a closed case for her senior project (I know, very casual, right?) The show’s modern, yet moody tone, combined with Pip’s determination and the small town setting that screams “everyone here has secrets!” makes the show a bingeable watch. In some scenes, the show does get a tad bit dramatic, like it wants every episode to end with a cliffhanger, but that might be the large reason why I couldn’t stop clicking on “next episode.”
Fans of Pretty Little Liars will enjoy the twists and turns of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, only the latter believes in logic (a controversial take, I know). If you enjoy teen drama but with actual investigative competence, like Veronica Mars, then this show is a must watch. Pip might be the most intense teen sleuth I’ve seen since Nancy Drew, but I respect her for using her perfectionism for crime solving instead of only AP classes.
Phryne Fisher - Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (2012)
The most stylish detective on this list, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries follows Phryne Fisher in 1920s Australia where she solves crime (first as an amateur sleuth, then as a private detective, and finally as a police consultant) sometimes in a circus, sometimes at the theatre, but each time looking glamorous. The setting is absolutely enticing, and Phryne’s charisma, as she flirts (literally!) with danger and floats through rooms makes you wish this three season show went further.
Along with a rag tag group of accomplices and the stern Detective Inspector (who, despite his complaints, is in awe of her), Phryne solves murder with wit and charm (unbothered about always poking her nose into mysteries before said-Inspector has a chance to even view the crime scene.) Tonally, the show is similar to Miss Scarlet, with both unfolding in period setting and a will-they-wont-they relationship dynamic with grumpy police officers. If you enjoyed Miss Fisher, and want more shows with vintage glamour, cocktails, and fashion, head on over to watch Miss Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries, a show about Phryne’s niece continuing her crime solving legacy in 1960s Australia.
Susan, Jean, Millie, Lucy - The Bletchley Circle (2012)
If you like your detective shows with slow-burn mysteries, historical settings, and brainy women, then The Bletchley Circle is a gem. The female leads are all exceptionally smart, trauma-scarred WWII codebreakers who now solve civilian crimes after once helping win a world war, because the men in their lives haven’t yet realized that they’re brilliant.
The tone is tense and moody, and unlike other typical procedurals, it brings cerebral work to the forefront. The show can be slightly slower paced, so if you’re looking for something that moves faster, High Potential would be a better fit. If, after watching both seasons of the show, you want more methodical puzzle solving and unexpected friendships, then your next natural pick should be the spinoff, The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco, where two of our original ex-codebreakers head to—you got it!—San Francisco for more crime-solving.
Eliza Scarlet - Miss Scarlet (2020)
Do you find Victorian-style mysteries, with fog, cobblestone streets, and stubborn detectives (this is the most important part), exciting? Then, you’ve stumbled upon Miss Scarlet, a show that hits all those notes. Eliza Scarlet is London’s first female private detective, and our heroine, who bulldozes into crime scenes much to the exasperation of ‘The Duke’ (a Detective Inspector who wildly underestimates her). Where the atmosphere of Frankie Drake Mysteries is lighter and colorful, Miss Scarlet is colder and more shadowy, though both shows are meant to take place in a period setting. If you like shows that are made up of equal parts crime and romantic tension (who doesn’t like an old-fashioned enemies-to-lovers trope) like Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries or Castle, then you’ll enjoy this show. If in some universe, Frankie Drake, Eliza Scarlet, and Phryne Fisher were to make an alliance, they could outsmart every gangster in town, and still find time to go dancing.
Veronica Mars - Veronica Mars (2004)
Where in A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, Pip is methodical and earnest (and loves a murder board with red string), our girl detective from Veronica Mars is sarcastic and snarky, someone who could outsmart the entire police department before lunch. The show mixes mystery and drama in a California setting, where things seem sunny, but are actually corrupted underneath. Kristen Bell’s performance is iconic, bringing the right balance of vulnerability, trust issues, and witty quips, all which makes the show so addictive. Though the first few seasons were pretty interesting (season 1 was especially so good), the later revival season still gets mixed reviews from fans (honestly, same). Veronica is truly the star of the show, and makes this show extremely watchable. If you’re a fan of teen detectives and noir vibes, both of which you’ll find in Nancy Drew and Riverdale, then Veronica Mars is your soulmate.
Clarice Starling - Clarice (2021)
If you want a detective show with bite and brains, and a plot that makes you double-check if you’ve locked all your doors and windows before bed, then Clarice brings that vibe. Picking up after the events of The Silence of the Lambs, Clarice Starling tackles cases while at the same time, trying not to get eaten alive by sexism and bureaucracy (and occasionally, a literal psychopath) in a male-dominated FBI world.
Unlike the calm and polished tone of The Bletchley Circle, Clarice is the darkest entry on the list. Though A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder isn’t as tonally unsettling as Clarice, it comes closest to the show in the sense that they both follow arcs which are season long, with Clarice’s personal growth evolving over the season, just like Veronica Mars. Clarice is perfect for anyone who loves psychological horror and smart, fearless detectives who face tense and twisty situations head on.
Frankie Drake - Frankie Drake Mysteries (2017)
Frankie Drake Mysteries is for anyone who watches historical detective shows and thinks, “Loving this, but can we make the heroine cooler and better dressed?” Frankie is Toronto’s first female private investigator, and the show leans into the Roaring Twenties in an energetic and fun way. The jazz clubs, speakeasies, and smoky bars, are all settings that provide an upbeat personality to the show, and sets it apart from moodier titles like Clarice.
Similar to Miss Scarlet or Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, our lead protagonist is daring and clever, someone who isn’t afraid to jump on a motorcycle and chase down the bad guy if needed, and like The Bletchley Circle, Frankie and her three friends join forces to solve crime (which I find very endearing). Though the cases are entertaining, they could be considered a little too neat; however, sometimes that’s just what we need as a palette cleanser, and personally I’m loving it too much to care. Fans of character-driven detective shows like Rosemary & Thyme, will like this show.
