Shetland fans will be obsessed with these gritty crime dramas

Another series based on novels by Ann Cleeves, the series follows a sharp and determined detective solving crimes for the Northumberland & City Police. The popular ITV series, set against the moody and picturesque landscape of Northumberland, ran for 14 years from 2011 until January last year. 

Brenda Blethyn is brilliant as the iconic trench coat-wearing detective, DCI Vera Stanhope, who is driven by her own demons as she solves crimes in Northumberland.

She’s joined by David Leon as DS Joe Ashworth, Vera’s sidekick from seasons one to four, and Kenny Doughty as DS Aiden Healy, who took over as Vera’s right-hand man from series four to 12. 

Like Shetland, Vera is gritty and atmospheric, delving into the complex characters behind the crimes occurring in close-knit communities. 

A particular favourite of mine, Vera remained a staple of my Sunday night viewing schedule during its run. There’s something quite comforting about seeing the scruffy-mac and bucket hat-wearing detective pop up on the screen, even if it is to solve a gruesome murder.

Watch on ITVX. 

This gripping, slow-burn drama follows DS Ellie Miller (Olivia Coleman) and DS Alec Hardy (David Tennant) as they investigate a murder which sends shock waves through the close-knit West-Country seaside community of Broadchurch. 

When the body of 11-year-old Danny Latimer is found lying on a beach, Miller and Hardy’s investigation threatens to expose dark, deep-buried secrets as suspicions begin flying around the town. The tight-knit community begins to unravel as it’s thrust into a media frenzy. 

Both Olivia and David received critical acclaim for their performances in the series, which won three BAFTAs in 2014. 

The series was a huge watercooler hit when it first aired in 2013, back in the days when TV series were broadcast weekly. The entire nation turned into amateur detectives, eagerly waiting to find out who killed Danny and why – and the final episode’s twist was nothing short of spectacular. 

Watch on ITVX and Netflix. 

The Jersey-set series, which stars Damien Molony, follows the talented but complex detective, Jim Bergerac, as he grapples with life as a widower and recovering alcoholic.  

The drama, which is a reboot of the original 1980s BBC show starring John Nettles, focuses on one murder investigation across all six episodes. It follows Jim Bergerac, who returns to work following the devastating death of his wife to solve the murder of a wealthy local woman. 

Like Shetland, this gripping series follows a talented but tortured detective and is set against a dramatic and picturesque backdrop.

A second season is on the way and will arrive on our screens this spring, so now is the time to get binge-watching!

ITV’s hit crime drama follows two London detectives as they tackle complex cold cases, in which long-buried secrets and difficult truths are unearthed decades after a crime has occurred. 

Sanjeev Bhaskar stars as DI Sunny Khan alongside Nicola Walker stars as DCI Cassie Stuart from seasons one to four. Sinéad Keenan joined the cast in season five, taking over from Nicola as the lead detective.

Like Shetland, Unforgotten focuses on character-driven narratives and follows determined detectives as they uncover uncomfortable, long-buried secrets.

The BAFTA-award winning series, penned by Chris Lang, is a favourite amongst crime drama fans, drawing in millions of viewers per season. 

Watch on ITVX.

This critically-acclaimed cold case drama, based on author Val McDermid’s A Darker Domain, stars Lauren Lyle as the eponymous DI Karen Pirie. In season one, Karen joins the historical murders unit and reopens an unsolved case from 1996 after it becomes the subject of a popular true-crime podcast.

The drama, which returned with a second season last year, has won two BAFTA Scotland awards for Best Actress and the Audience Award for Favourite Scot on Screen for Lauren Lyle.

Watch on ITVX.

This drama, starring Nicola Walker, follows the sharp and witty Detective Inspector Annika Strandhed, the head of Glasgow’s Marine Homicide Unit, as she investigates brutal murders that wash up in the waterways of Scotland.

The two-season drama, which has been hailed as excellent by viewers, blends moody crime drama with dark humour. Like Shetland, Annika also has a Nordic-noir feel and is set against Scotland’s sweeping coastal landscapes.

Watch on NOW TV.