We picked a few (eight) returning crime shows we enjoyed in 2025 — did we include your favourites?
It’s a good time to be a fan of crime shows, particularly in the UK if you like the more cozy end of the scale. We’ve collected some of the shows we’ve enjoyed once more this year (and most we hope to see again soon).
Our favourite returning crime shows of 2025 (there are many others)
Several regulars on the list, but plenty of room for more next year.
Darby and Joan season 2
Available in the UK via UKTV / U streaming app, this is as much a road trip romance as it is a crime show. Season 1 saw Joan (Greta Scacchi) travel other Australia to uncover her husband’s mystery past (why did he die in Australia when he told her he was off to Spain?) There she met retired detective Jack Darby (Bryan Brown) who helped her figure out her mystery as they toured fabulous scenery. We had hints of Jack’s own mystery, and in this season it’s all about why he left the police. It’s a comfortable watch, mostly simple plots, mountains and coasts and lots to enjoy.
At this stage we’ve no news of a possible season 3, but we’re optimistic.
Death in Paradise series 14 / Beyond Paradise series 3 / Return to Paradise series 2
Beyond Paradise came back for a strong series 3 not only focusing on Humphrey (Kris Marshall), Martha (Sally Bretton) and the rest of the local police force, but also telling some human stories about adoption, relationships with the odd murder and other crime for good measure. We’ve a Christmas special to come as well as series 4.
Death in Paradise continued with series 14. It’s fair to say not all fans warmed to Don Gilet’s DI Mervin Wilson, nor what seems to be the retirement of Don Warrington’s Commissioner Selwyn Patterson. We remembered previous changes of lead, and were happy letting the show develop. Like Beyond Paradise the show is back soon for a Christmas special — is the Commissioner really not on St Marie? We shall find out.
Return to Paradise series 2 for a long time there was no news on the newest Australia based paraverse spin-off, but we’re happy series 2 has just been on. We felt it was stronger than before and left some interesting angles for a possible series 3. Can we have a Christmas special as well, please?
Only Murders in the Building season 5
Available in the UK on Disney+, this Hulu show continues to mix an increasingly stretched concept (you have to die in the building to be investigated) with a range of eccentric characters, secret rooms, crime gangs and a few murders. This season past we had billionaires, AI and a robot. We also seemed to be losing the show as the building itself was threatened with demolition and the tenants all losing their apartments. Fortunately Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez saved the day with a cast of many (including a lot of brief returns for characters from earlier seasons), Meryl Streep and luck.
Series 6 is already confirmed, with a murder victim dying as they touched the building itself. This will lead to season 6 being set in London. You have to admire the show for taking chances and experimenting.
Signora Volpe season 2
Back to Italy with Emilia Fox as semi-retired MI6 agent Sylvia Fox. Once again the scenery is stunning, the episodes to few and we have to console ourselves with the news season 3 is coming. This season gave us some surprise backstory and more action than we had before (the escape from a locked cell is very well conceived). We assume Fox is too busy to film a longer series, but we live in hope.
The Brokenwood Mysteries season 11
It could be characterised as New Zealand’s take on Midsomer Murders, and while it has a long way to go to match the series count, series 11 was as quirky and entertaining as ever. Neill Rhea’s Inspector Mike Shepherd and Fern Sutherland’s Detective Kristin Sims continue to wade through the complexities of the local crime rate in comfortable chunky episodes. There’s even a Christmas episode. Series 12 has finished filming so more to come.
Whitstable Pearl series 3
Kerry Godliman returned as Pearl Nolan for a third run of Whitstable Pearl, which saw the departure of boyfriend Tom (Robert Webb) and an exploration of the backstory of DI Mick McGuire (Howard Charles). The show isn’t rushing to get the leads back together, and continues to impress with its exploration of Kentish crime. No news of a series 4, which we are surprised about, but we’re keeping our eyes open.
We hope you found something of interest in our look back, and perhaps ideas on shows to try in what’s left of the festive break.