The best detective series on Amazon Prime Video showcase the best and most iconic elements of the genre - the tension, the brilliant twists, the charismatic leads, and of course, the final reveal. Mysteries naturally appeal to problem solvers, and people who want to figure out the 'whodunnit' before even the lead does - although the best series are those where that 'aha' moment comes only moments before the reveal, if at all.

Though the offering of original series on Prime Video isn't quite as broad as certain other competitors, Amazon Prime Video more than makes up for it with a vast library of TV shows and movies, including mysteries. Since the soaring popularity of the crime drama genre in recent years, Amazon has commissioned an array of nail-biting mysteries from around the world. That catalog crosses over to many subgenres like comedy, sci-fi, and even fantasy. The best detective series on Amazon Prime Video range from some of the most iconic mystery shows in history to some hidden gems worth checking out for fans of the genre.

25 Hannibal (2013-2015)

Hannibal Lecter Catches Killers With The FBI

Hannibal makes for an interesting detective series because it puts one of the most famous pop culture villains in the lead role of the crime show. Mads Mikkelsen takes over the role of Hannibal Lecter in this series, which is set before he was discovered to be a serial killer and instead worked as a psychologist alongside the FBI, catching dangerous criminals. The show delves into gruesome murders while also exploring the fascinating relationship between Hannibal and FBI profiler Will Graham.

Though Anthony Hopkins made the role iconic in the Hannibal movies, Mikkelsen finds his own effective approach to the memorable character. The show is shockingly violent for a network crime show and that allows for Hannibal and Will to explore some truly unsettling crimes as well as criminals that rival Hannibal himself in of brutality.

24 Elementary (2012-2019)

Sherlock Holmes Solves Cases In Modern New York City

Bringing in perhaps the most famous detective character of all time immediately makes Elementary one of the stand-out shows in the genre. While Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock series is the more famous and effective approach to bringing Sherlock Holmes into the 21st century, Elementary managed the same idea without feeling unnecessary. The twist on this take is that Sherlock travels to New York City, where he helps out NYPD detective Joan Watson (Lucy Liu) with solving cases.

Johnny Lee Miller takes on the role of Holmes and makes it his own with a mix of brilliance, humor, and obliviousness to social situations. The show follows a fairly typical police procedural format with a new case each week. However, Holmes is such a fun character that it elevates the familiarity of the premise. The show also finds some fun ways to play around with the Sherlock Holmes lore.

23 Moonlighting (1985-1989)

A Rich Model And Immature Private Eye Run A Detective Agency

Before becoming a household name thanks to the success of Die Hard, Bruce Willis delivered perhaps his best performance of all time in the comedy-crime series Moonlighting. Cybil Shepherd also stars in the show as Madolyn "Maddie" Hayes, a former fashion model who finds her fortune gone thanks to shading money managers. With the only investment she has left being a small detective agency run by the fun-loving and immature David Addison (Willis), she decides to run it with him.

The show has clever and interesting cases for Maddie and David to investigate each week while they struggle with their love-hate relationship with each other.

The setup for the series does not prepare viewers for how inventive and bold Moonlighting is as a comedy series. The show has clever and interesting cases for Maddie and David to investigate each week while they struggle with their love-hate relationship with each other. However, the show also breaks the fourth wall constantly, makes meta jokes, and even falls into musical numbers on occasion, making for a hilarious, charming, and endlessly entertaining ride.

22 Bosch (2014-2021)

An Old-School Detective Plays By His Own Rules In Los Angeles

Sometimes a good detective show doesn't need a ground-breaking premise or an inventive approach to the genre, but rather just a memorable detective character at the center of it all. Such is the case with Bosch, which feels like a throwback detective series, exploring a hard-edged protagonist solving crimes each week. Harry Bosch is a skilled LAPD detective who refuses to evolve with the times as he investigates murders and pushes back against those who try to tell him how to do his job.

The series is not groundbreaking but it is a gripping and intense thriller with some interesting cases with Bosch typically investigating one over-arching crime across an entire season. He is also a character who, despite his many flaws, is fun to spend time with and see how he interacts with the modern world. The series was popular enough to earn a spinoff with Bosch: Legacy also available on Prime Video.

21 Reacher (2022-Present)

A New Adaptation Of The Action Novels

Some of the most famous literary detectives, like Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, are seen as more intellectual heroes than action heroes. In the case of Jack Reacher, the hero from Lee Child’s best-selling book series, there is a lot of muscle included with the character's sharp mind. The character was adapted for television with Alan Ritchson playing the large and powerful former member of the military police, who has not given up his penchant for sleuthing as he seems to find himself dragged into one mystery after another.

The character of Jack Reacher was first brought to the screen in 2012 with Tom Cruise in the lead role.

It is a lot of fun seeing this kind of detective character as Reacher is not afraid to embrace both aspects of his talents. He has a keen eye as an investigator, seeing things that others do not. Of course, he is also not shy about kicking down doors or punching out suspects if he thinks that is the more effective approach. Season 3 of Reacher will bring Ritchson back for more of a mix of brain power and muscle power.

20 House (2004-2012)

A Series Of Medical Mysteries With An Unlikeable Genius Lead

Some of the best detective shows on Prime Video find fun ways to blend the genres. House is largely seen as a medical procedural drama, but fans of the series will know that Gregory House is largely influenced by Sherlock Holmes. House is a brilliant doctor who specializes in diagnosing strange ailments that most other doctors would be baffled by. Like Holmes, he also has more than a few social issues which can make him a hard man to get along with.

The cases and the way House breaks them down are often fascinating, proving that there are more than just murder mysteries that can work in a detective show.

The series follows the case-of-the-week format with House tackling one unusual patient after another, punctuated by his often hilarious lack of bedside manner. The cases and the way House breaks them down are often fascinating, proving that there are more than just murder mysteries that can work in a detective show. Hugh Laurie makes for an entertaining and complex protagonist in the series.

19 Monsieur Spade (2024)

The Latest Take On The Classic Detective Story

One of the most iconic detectives of the noir genre has his own miniseries on Prime Video. Sam Spade is a character created by acclaimed author Dashiell Hammett and served as the protagonist for the mystery novel The Maltese Falcon. Clive Owen becomes the latest actor to play Spade in Monsieur Spade, a new series that follows the detective into his retirement. Now living a quiet life in , Spade is dragged into his old world when there is a series of murders that coincide with the emergence of one of Spade's old adversaries.

The series comes from filmmaker Scott Frank, known for writing some great crime movies, like Out of Sight and The Lookout, as well as creating the miniseries The Queen’s Gambit. His style fits in perfectly with the noir sensibilities of the character of Sam Spade while also taking his own approach to a neo-noir. Owen makes for a compelling lead as a detective in a gripping and complex mystery.

Humphrey Bogart famously played Sam Spade in the 1941 adaptation of The Maltese Falcon.

18 Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)

The World's Greatest Detective... In DC Comics, At Least.

One of the most acclaimed superhero series of all time is available on Prime Video and it also happens to be a solid detective show as well. Batman: The Animated Series is a beloved take on the Caped Crusader with Kevin Conroy providing the distinct vocals for the iconic hero. The show is a dark and noir-esque show that follows Batman on his various adventures in Gotham City, taking on some of his most famous villains, such as Two-Face, Mr. Freeze, and The Joker, voiced by Mark Hamill.

Batman is often referred to as the world’s greatest detective in his stories and this show helps to earn him that reputation more so than a lot of the blockbuster movies the character has appeared in. Episodes like “Perchance to Dream” and “Heart of Ice” see the character getting to the bottom of mysteries in some thrilling ways.

17 Batman: Caped Crusader (2024)

A New Noir Take On A Batman Animated Series

While Batman: The Animated Series is often regarded as the best superhero animated series of all time, Batman: Caped Crusader has managed to impress many fans of the original with a new take that is hugely influenced by the 90s cartoon, but it is also its own show. The show presents Gotham as a city straight out of old noir movies with Batman in his early days of crime-fighting, being pursued by the police as a vigilante while taking on the criminal element of the city.

The series is aimed at an older audience than even the surprisingly serious Batman: The Animated Series, so it's perfect for those who grew up with the original show. There is violence and death in each episode, while Batman is seen as a more complex character, one who seeks to take down criminals but has also lost a part of his humanity in the process.

16 Broadchurch (2013-2017)

A Tense Murder Mystery In A Coastal Town

Among the wave of British murder mystery series that came along in the last several years, Broadchurch is one of the most popular and served as an inspiration for many of the ones that followed. Olivia Colman and David Tennant star in the series as two detectives who arrive in a small coastal town to investigate a murder that has rocked the community and torn people apart.

The grim and brooding tone of the story makes for an emotional and impactful story, with a similar feel to HBO’s acclaimed Mare of Easttown. It focuses on the complicated lives of the detectives investigating the crime while also on the community that has been so affected by the shocking murder. Colman and Tennant make for top-notch leads, avoiding the typical stoicism of TV detectives and creating more authentic characters.