15 Shows Like Netflix’s ‘A Couple of Lies’ You Will Absolutely Love

Netflix

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Netflix’s Swedish psychological thriller ‘A Couple of Lies’ explores the hazardous consequences of a luxury home exchange between two couples traveling between Stockholm and Sicily. What begins as a temporary escape from daily life rapidly descends into a volatile cycle of mutual surveillance, infidelity, and murder as dark secrets emerge from both households.

Viewers drawn to this narrative framework often search for stories that combine picturesque vacation settings, domestic tension, and deceptive marriages. The television shows on this list share these narrative hallmarks, presenting multi-layered mysteries where affluent facades conceal betrayal, voyeurism, and criminal acts.

‘Behind Her Eyes’ (2021)

'Behind Her Eyes' (2021)
Left Bank Pictures

‘Behind Her Eyes’ follows Louise, a single mother who begins an affair with her new boss, a psychiatrist named David. The situation becomes complicated when Louise forms an unexpected friendship with David’s wife, Adele. As Louise is drawn deeper into the couple’s relationship, she uncovers disturbing secrets and psychological mind games controlling their marriage. The six-part limited series is an adaptation of Sarah Pinborough’s novel of the same name and explores themes of manipulation and marital deceit.

‘The Undoing’ (2020)

'The Undoing' (2020)
David E. Kelley Productions

In ‘The Undoing’, successful New York psychologist Grace Fraser lives a privileged life with her oncologist husband Jonathan and their young son. Their seemingly idyllic existence unravels when Jonathan disappears following the brutal murder of a woman connected to their elite private school. As the police investigation intensifies, Grace discovers a series of hidden affairs, financial deception, and secret identities maintained by her spouse. Directed by Susanne Bier and starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, the HBO miniseries focuses on the destruction of an affluent family’s carefully curated facade.

‘A Nearly Normal Family’ (2023)

'A Nearly Normal Family' (2023)
Jarowskij

Based on the novel by M.T. Edvardsson, the Swedish limited series ‘A Nearly Normal Family’ centers on a respected family in Lund whose lives fall apart when their daughter is accused of murder. Nineteen-year-old Stella Sandell is arrested for the fatal stabbing of a wealthy entrepreneur with whom she had a secret relationship. Her father, a pastor, and her mother, a criminal defense attorney, must confront hidden truths about their daughter while trying to protect her from imprisonment. The six-episode crime drama examines how far parents will go to shield their loved ones when secrets threaten to destroy their family unit.

‘The Girl Before’ (2021)

'The Girl Before' (2021)
42

Adapted from J.P. Delaney’s novel, ‘The Girl Before’ follows Jane, who moves into an ultra-minimalist home designed by an enigmatic architect named Edward Monkford. To reside in the property, tenants must adhere to strict rules while living under constant technological surveillance from an integrated smart system. Jane soon discovers that the previous tenant, Emma, died under suspicious circumstances while living in the identical environment. As Jane uncovers the parallels between their lives, she attempts to determine whether the house and its creator are dangerous.

‘The Holiday’ (2022)

'The Holiday' (2022)
Clapperboard Studios

In ‘The Holiday’, police officer Kate arrives with her family at a luxury Mediterranean villa to vacation alongside three of her closest friends. The gathering quickly deteriorates when Kate discovers text messages indicating that her husband is conducting an affair with one of the women present. Paranoia and mutual suspicion escalate until a body is discovered at the base of a nearby cliff, triggering a murder investigation. The four-part drama is based on the novel by T.M. Logan and stars Jill Halfpenny as a woman untangling betrayal among lifelong companions.

‘Anatomy of a Scandal’ (2022)

'Anatomy of a Scandal' (2022)
David E. Kelley Productions

‘Anatomy of a Scandal’ chronicles the public fallout when British politician James Whitehouse is accused of a serious crime by a female colleague with whom he had an extramarital affair. His wife Sophie attempts to support him publicly while privately grappling with revelations about his character and history. Prosecuting barrister Kate Woodcroft pursues the case in court, exposing a pattern of privileged entitlement and buried transgressions from the past. Developed by David E. Kelley and Melissa James Gibson from Sarah Vaughan’s novel, the six-part series investigates domestic betrayal and power dynamics within high society.

‘Doctor Foster’ (2015–2017)

'Doctor Foster' (2015–2017)
Drama Republic

‘Doctor Foster’ centers on Dr. Gemma Foster, a respected general practitioner whose domestic life collapses when she suspects her husband Simon of infidelity. As Gemma investigates his activities, she uncovers a network of friends and colleagues who have actively assisted him in concealing his relationship with a younger woman. Rather than immediately confronting him, Gemma orchestrates a calculated sequence of actions to expose his deceit and protect her assets. Created by Mike Bartlett and starring Suranne Jones, the two-season British drama depicts the psychological unraveling and retaliatory actions surrounding a broken marriage.

‘Big Little Lies’ (2017–2019)

'Big Little Lies' (2017–2019)
David E. Kelley Productions

Set in the wealthy coastal community of Monterey, California, ‘Big Little Lies’ explores the turbulent personal lives of several mothers whose children attend the same elementary school. Behind their affluent lifestyles lie issues of domestic abuse, infidelity, financial insecurity, and hidden past traumas. The narrative uses a murder investigation at a school trivia night as a framing device to gradually reveal the conflicts among the couples. Created by David E. Kelley and based on Liane Moriarty’s novel, the series features an ensemble cast including Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley.

‘Fool Me Once’ (2024)

'Fool Me Once' (2024)
Quay Street Productions

‘Fool Me Once’ follows Maya Stern, a former military pilot attempting to adjust to life following the violent murder of her husband Joe. Her grief turns into bewilderment when she spots footage of Joe alive on a hidden nanny camera installed to monitor her young daughter. Meanwhile, Detective Sergeant Sami Kierce investigates Joe’s death while Maya uncovers connections between her husband’s family and the earlier murder of her sister. Adapted from Harlan Coben’s novel, this eight-part series explores domestic surveillance, concealed corporate misdeeds, and marital deception.

‘The Stranger’ (2020)

'The Stranger' (2020)
Red Production Company

In ‘The Stranger’, family man Adam Price is approached at a sports club by an unknown woman who reveals a secret regarding his wife Corinne. After Adam confronts Corinne about the revelation, she mysteriously vanishes, leaving him to search for answers on his own. As Adam tracks her whereabouts, he realizes the enigmatic stranger has been blackmailing several other suburban residents with damaging personal secrets. The eight-episode British miniseries stars Richard Armitage and adapts Harlan Coben’s thriller novel focusing on the fragility of suburban domestic trust.

‘Stay Close’ (2021)

'Stay Close' (2021)
Red Production Company

‘Stay Close’ follows Megan Pierce, a suburban mother whose stable life with her fiancé and children is threatened by unresolved events from her past. When a local man goes missing on the anniversary of another disappearance from seventeen years prior, Detective Michael Broome reopens the cold case. Megan’s past identity as a dancer named Cassie brings her back into contact with former acquaintances and an eccentric pair of contract killers. Based on the novel by Harlan Coben, the eight-episode mystery centers on the extreme measures individuals take to hide double lives from their families.

‘Clickbait’ (2021)

'Clickbait' (2021)
NBCUniversal International Studios

‘Clickbait’ centers on the abduction of family man Nick Brewer, who suddenly appears in an online video holding placards that confess to abuse and declare he will die at five million views. His sister Pia and wife Sophie urgently work with local law enforcement to locate him before the view count reaches the fatal threshold. As investigators examine Nick’s digital presence, they uncover evidence of clandestine online dating profiles, secret bank accounts, and identity theft. The eight-episode miniseries shifts perspectives across each chapter to examine how digital culture and domestic secrets distort the truth during a criminal investigation.

‘Safe’ (2018)

'Safe' (2018)
Red Production Company

Created by Harlan Coben, ‘Safe’ focuses on Tom Delaney, a widowed pediatric surgeon living in a gated British community with his two teenage daughters. After his eldest daughter Jenny disappears following a party, Tom begins his own search and discovers that the people in his neighborhood are keeping dark secrets. His investigation reveals infidelity, hidden crimes, and cover-ups involving close friends, neighbors, and even his new romantic partner. Starring Michael C. Hall and Amanda Abbington, the eight-part drama highlights the breakdown of security and trust within an ostensibly protected suburban enclave.

‘Quicksand’ (2019)

'Quicksand' (2019)
FLX

‘Quicksand’, based on Malin Persson Giolito’s novel, is a Swedish crime drama centering on high school student Maja Norberg. Following a fatal shooting at an affluent prep school in a wealthy Stockholm suburb, Maja is arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Through flashbacks and courtroom proceedings, the series details her toxic relationship with Sebastian Fagerman, the troubled son of a billionaire. The six-part miniseries explores how emotional manipulation, class privilege, and concealed domestic trauma culminate in violence.

‘Dear Child’ (2023)

'Dear Child' (2023)
Netflix

‘Dear Child’ is a German psychological thriller miniseries based on Romy Hausmann’s bestselling novel. The plot begins when an unidentified woman escapes from a secluded cabin in the woods with a young girl following years of captivity and surveillance. After the woman is injured in a car crash, investigators realize her situation matches the thirteen-year-old unsolved disappearance of a university student named Lena Beck. Across six episodes, the production unpicks a web of psychological conditioning, domestic confinement, and obsessive control.

Share your thoughts in the comments about which of these psychological thrillers best captures the deception and suspense found in ‘A Couple of Lies’.

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