Crime Series You Are Sleeping On (but Shouldn’t)

There is a mountain of crime television out there, which means plenty of excellent shows never break into the weekly watch lists. This roundup highlights series with distinctive settings, focused storytelling, and strong casts that deliver tense investigations and criminal worlds without the noise.

You will find international titles, limited series, and single season gems that wrap up their stories with precision. There are also multi season sagas that trace organized crime and complex police work across years, cities, and countries, so you can pick a weekend binge or a long haul watch with confidence.

‘Giri/Haji’ (2019)

Set between Tokyo and London, ‘Giri/Haji’ follows a Tokyo detective searching the UK for his missing brother who is tied to a Yakuza feud. The series blends Japanese and English dialogue and uses animation interludes and time shifts to track family ties and gang rivalries across borders.

The cast includes Takehiro Hira, Kelly Macdonald, and Will Sharpe, with key London neighborhoods and Tokyo wards used as primary locations. The single season delivers a closed narrative across eight episodes that connect police work, organized crime, and cross cultural pressures.

‘ZeroZeroZero’ (2020)

‘ZeroZeroZero’ maps one large cocaine shipment from producers in Mexico to buyers in Italy with brokers in the United States managing logistics. The story moves through Monterrey, Calabria, New Orleans, and international waters while showing the financing and shipping methods behind global trafficking.

The series features Andrea Riseborough, Dane DeHaan, and Gabriel Byrne, and splits episodes among cartels, brokers, and buyers. Its eight parts adapt Roberto Saviano reporting and use multiple languages to depict enforcement tactics and criminal countermeasures.

‘McMafia’ (2018)

‘McMafia’ centers on a London based banker who is drawn into his family connections to Russian organized crime. The plot covers money laundering routes, shell companies, and cross border deals that move through the UK, Israel, India, and the Czech Republic.

James Norton leads the cast with support from Merab Ninidze and David Strathairn, and the series adapts Misha Glenny nonfiction. The season uses eight episodes to dramatize sanctions evasion, cyber enabled finance, and corrupt intermediaries in global markets.

‘Quarry’ (2016)

Set in Memphis in 1972, ‘Quarry’ follows a Marine who returns from Vietnam and is recruited as a contract killer. The show recreates period details around river ports, music venues, and freight yards while tracking investigations and underworld hierarchies.

Logan Marshall Green stars, with Peter Mullan as a handler who runs a network of hitters and fixers. The eight episode season adapts Max Allan Collins novels and threads police inquiries with criminal retaliation and cover operations.

‘Trapped’ (2015–2021)

‘Trapped’ is an Icelandic series set in the town of Seydisfjordur where a snowstorm isolates residents during a murder investigation. The weather, fjord terrain, and ferry schedules shape the logistics of the case for local police who must contain suspects in a closed environment.

Ólafur Darri Ólafsson leads the police team across three seasons that each open with a major incident tied to old disputes. The production uses real locations in East and North Iceland and features Icelandic and Danish dialogue with English subtitles.

‘Bordertown’ (2016–2020)

Finnish series ‘Bordertown’ follows detective Kari Sorjonen who moves from Helsinki to the Russian border city of Lappeenranta seeking a quieter posting. Cases connect to cross border trafficking, political pressure, and local industry with investigations unfolding in multi episode arcs.

Ville Virtanen stars, and the show uses a mix of Finnish and Russian language scenes and lakeside settings near Saimaa. Across three seasons and a feature length finale, the team works homicide and organized crime units with forensic detail.

‘Undercover’ (2019–2022)

Belgian Dutch series ‘Undercover’ sends two agents into a campground to infiltrate an ecstasy operation run by a local kingpin. The undercover structure drives long term proximity to suspects, controlled buys, and coordination with German and Belgian services.

Tom Waes and Anna Drijver lead the operation across three seasons, with a companion film that focuses on the crime boss background. The production films in Limburg and Antwerp and uses Dutch and Flemish dialogue with English subtitles.

‘River’ (2015)

‘River’ is a British series about a London detective who sees and speaks to victims and people from his past as he works active cases. The device functions as a memory and guilt lens while the team processes evidence through standard Metropolitan Police procedures.

Stellan Skarsgård and Nicola Walker star, and the single season uses six episodes to complete the central investigation. Filming occurs across Southwark and central London with detailed attention to interviews, custody protocols, and surveillance review.

‘The Night Of’ (2016)

Set in New York City, ‘The Night Of’ follows a college student after a murder leads to arrest, arraignment, and a full trial. The story tracks public defender strategy, plea negotiations, jury selection, and Rikers Island conditions along with the homicide investigation.

Riz Ahmed and John Turturro headline, and the eight part miniseries completes its case within one season. The courtroom sequences use New York criminal procedure and show coordination between detectives and the district attorney office.

‘The Outsider’ (2020)

Based on Stephen King, ‘The Outsider’ begins with a small town murder case that appears to have a clear suspect and then introduces conflicting forensic evidence. The investigation examines timelines, chain of custody, and eyewitness reliability while expanding to linked incidents.

Ben Mendelsohn leads the local detective unit with Cynthia Erivo as a private investigator who maps patterns across jurisdictions. The ten episode season uses Georgia locations and presents interviews, warrants, and lab queries as the case broadens.

‘Perpetual Grace LTD’ (2019)

‘Perpetual Grace, LTD’ centers on a drifter who targets a pastor involved in a complex insurance scheme in New Mexico and Texas. The plot uses guardianship papers, identity swaps, and corrupt officials to move money and property among multiple parties.

The cast includes Jimmi Simpson, Ben Kingsley, and Jackie Weaver, and the season runs ten episodes. Towns, highways, and border crossings provide the geography, while the story tracks law enforcement response to a string of scams and disappearances.

‘Banshee’ (2013–2016)

Set in Pennsylvania Amish country, ‘Banshee’ follows an ex con who assumes the identity of a murdered sheriff. The series works through case files ranging from armored car theft to drug distribution while the impostor navigates county politics and old criminal contacts.

Antony Starr leads the ensemble with Ivana Milicevic and Ulrich Thomsen, and the production uses North Carolina locations for small town settings. Four seasons cover internal affairs scrutiny, federal task force involvement, and organized crime retaliation.

‘Cardinal’ (2017–2020)

Canadian series ‘Cardinal’ is set in the fictional town of Algonquin Bay, filmed in North Bay and Sudbury in Ontario. Each season adapts one Giles Blunt novel and follows a single case over six episodes with winter and summer settings affecting searches and evidence handling.

Billy Campbell and Karine Vanasse star as detectives who run joint operations with provincial police and local units. The show emphasizes aerial searches, freezer storage protocols, and pathologist reports in northern conditions.

‘Marcella’ (2016–2021)

‘Marcella’ is a British crime series about a former detective who returns to duty while managing blackouts that complicate her case work. The investigations involve serial offenders, real estate corruption, and organized crime with links to Belfast and overseas fronts.

Anna Friel leads across three seasons with changes in units and undercover roles that alter her access to targets. London neighborhoods, CCTV pulls, and mobile data extractions provide recurring evidence sources.

‘Gomorrah’ (2014–2021)

Italian series ‘Gomorrah’ tracks the Camorra in Naples with a focus on clans that control housing estates and port routes. The show uses Neapolitan dialect and films extensively in Scampia and Secondigliano to depict drug distribution and extortion systems.

Five seasons and a concluding film cover leadership transitions, alliances, and wars that shape street level operations and international links. Police activity is present through raids and investigations, but the narrative centers on internal clan logistics and financing.

‘Top of the Lake’ (2013–2017)

Set in New Zealand for the first season and in Sydney for the second, ‘Top of the Lake’ follows a detective handling cases involving missing persons and abuse. The geography influences searches through lakes, mountains, and urban coastal areas with multi agency coordination.

Elisabeth Moss and David Wenham lead the first season, with Gwendoline Christie and Nicole Kidman joining later. The limited series format presents two separate cases that each resolve within their season.

‘Hidden’ (2018–2022)

Welsh series ‘Hidden’ known as ‘Craith’ in Welsh focuses on rural policing in North Wales with bilingual dialogue in Welsh and English. Cases involve isolated communities, family secrets, and environmental factors like quarries and forests that affect evidence recovery.

Sian Reese Williams stars as the lead detective, and each season presents a self contained case across eight episodes. Production takes place in Gwynedd and Anglesey, and the show collaborates with local services to depict search protocols.

‘No Offence’ (2015–2018)

Set in Manchester, ‘No Offence’ follows a team in a fictional division handling serious crimes that range from trafficking to serial offenses. The unit structure shows uniformed officers, detectives, and forensic staff coordinating raids and surveillance.

Joanna Scanlan leads the cast with Elaine Cassidy and Alexandra Roach, and the series runs three seasons. The show uses city locations, custody suites, and control rooms, and presents recurring case conferences and operational briefings.

‘The Break’ (2016–2018)

Belgian series ‘The Break’ known as ‘La Trêve’ is set in a small Ardennes town where a newcomer detective works a suspicious death tied to local sports and business. The case spreads through town politics, river searches, and forensic analysis of recovered items.

Yoann Blanc stars, and the first season uses ten episodes while the second presents a separate case. The production features French language dialogue with regional accents and on location filming in the province of Luxembourg.

‘Pagan Peak’ (2019–2023)

German Austrian series ‘Pagan Peak’ known as ‘Der Pass’ starts with a body on the border between Bavaria and Tyrol. The joint investigation requires coordination between German and Austrian police with jurisdictional rules shaping evidence handling and suspect pursuit.

Julia Jentsch and Nicholas Ofczarek lead across three seasons that each build a case over eight episodes. Alpine terrain, ski resorts, and border checkpoints provide the backdrop for search patterns and tactical deployments.

‘Deadwind’ (2018–2021)

Finnish series ‘Deadwind’ known as ‘Karppi’ follows a Helsinki detective who balances major crimes with family responsibilities. Cases merge municipal contracting, energy firms, and nonprofit activity, with interviews and surveillance conducted across the capital.

Pihla Viitala and Lauro Goran Stolecki appear across three seasons that structure investigations in ten episode runs. The show uses Finnish dialogue with occasional Swedish and English and highlights coastal and harbor locations for key scenes.

‘The Valhalla Murders’ (2019–2020)

Set in Reykjavik and nearby towns, ‘The Valhalla Murders’ investigates killings connected to a former state run institution. The case draws on archival records, witness protection concerns, and inter agency cooperation between national and local police.

The eight episode season stars Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir and Björn Thors and completes its story within one run. Locations include harbor areas, remote farms, and urban schools, with weather conditions factoring into searches and transport.

‘The Shadow Line’ (2011)

‘The Shadow Line’ is a British miniseries that opens with the killing of a drug trafficker and follows both police and criminal sides of the fallout. The investigation includes covert units, informant handling, and black ledger accounting that expose connections to official circles.

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rafe Spall, and Christopher Eccleston star across seven episodes. London road networks, storage units, and meeting houses feature in surveillance and counter surveillance sequences.

‘Babylon Berlin’ (2017–2024)

Set in late Weimar Berlin, ‘Babylon Berlin’ follows a vice squad inspector as cases intersect with political groups, banking interests, and the entertainment industry. The series reconstructs 1920s policing methods and forensic capabilities while mapping criminal finance and smuggling through the city.

Volker Bruch and Liv Lisa Fries lead the cast across multiple seasons with large scale sets at Studio Babelsberg. The production uses German dialogue with Russian and Polish scenes and incorporates tram lines, rail yards, and airfields into investigations.

‘Animal Kingdom’ (2016–2022)

Set in Southern California, ‘Animal Kingdom’ follows a family crew that plans robberies using boats, dirt bikes, and construction access to move cash and goods. The police response includes surveillance of storage lockers, financial audits, and task force coordination.

Ellen Barkin and Shawn Hatosy lead the ensemble across six seasons with episodes that cover planning, rehearsal, and execution of crimes. Filming uses Oceanside and neighboring beaches and shows fencing operations and laundering fronts like bars and shipping businesses.

‘Tokyo Vice’ (2022–2024)

Set in Tokyo, ‘Tokyo Vice’ follows a foreign crime reporter on the metropolitan police beat as he builds sources inside organized crime and the vice division. The series shows how reporters work within press club rules, cultivate informants, and corroborate tips about nightclub extortion, loan sharking, and trafficking. It tracks rival clans and a power shift that affects territory, money flows, and police pressure, with scenes in bars, hostess clubs, and corporate offices that link street level enforcers to white collar intermediaries.

Key figures include a veteran detective in organized crime who oversees joint operations and a yakuza lieutenant managing disputes and revenue streams. Investigations move through stakeouts, background checks, and controlled meetings arranged through fixers, while editors push for publishable evidence and legal clearance. The production films on location in Tokyo neighborhoods and uses English and Japanese dialogue, highlighting procedure inside interview rooms, police boxes, and newsroom conference calls.

Share the crime series you would add to this list in the comments.