Top 15 'Storm-Proof' Detective Series to start this winter - Goh Ling Yong
The wind is howling, a relentless rain patters against the glass, and the sky has been a stubborn shade of grey for days. Winter is settling in, wrapping the world in its chilly embrace. It’s the season of thick blankets, steaming mugs of tea, and the universal desire to stay tucked safely indoors. But what to do with these long, dark evenings?
This is the perfect time to get lost in a world of intrigue, shadow, and suspense. We're talking about 'storm-proof' entertainment—a detective series so immersive it makes you forget the tempest outside. A great mystery is more than just a puzzle; it's a commitment. It’s a world filled with flawed heroes, cunning villains, and atmospheric settings that become as familiar as your own living room. These are the stories that reward your attention, pulling you deeper with every clue and character revelation.
Here at the Goh Ling Yong blog, we believe that a well-chosen series can be the ultimate winter companion. Whether you prefer the quaint charm of a village mystery, the rain-slicked streets of a noir thriller, or the high-stakes tension of a police procedural, we’ve curated the ultimate list for you. So, stoke the fire, settle into your favourite armchair, and prepare to meet 15 of the best detectives to keep you company until the spring thaw.
1. Sherlock Holmes (Books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle & Various TV Adaptations)
It’s impossible to start a list of great detectives without bowing to the original master of deduction. Sherlock Holmes isn't just a character; he's an archetype. Residing at 221B Baker Street in a fog-shrouded Victorian London, the brilliant, eccentric consulting detective and his loyal friend Dr. John Watson tackle cases that baffle Scotland Yard, using logic and observation as their sharpest weapons.
The books are the perfect starting point, with short stories ideal for a single evening and novels for a weekend. The atmosphere Conan Doyle creates—gaslit streets, hansom cabs, and shadowy alleyways—is the very definition of cozy winter reading. For a visual feast, the definitive portrayal for many is Jeremy Brett in the 1980s Granada Television series, which masterfully captures the spirit of the original tales.
Where to Start: For the authentic experience, pick up the first novel, A Study in Scarlet. If you want a brilliant, high-octane modern twist, dive headfirst into the first episode of BBC's Sherlock, "A Study in Pink."
2. Hercule Poirot (Books by Agatha Christie & TV’s Poirot)
If Holmes is the master of science, Hercule Poirot is the master of psychology. Agatha Christie’s fussy, brilliant Belgian detective relies on his "little grey cells" to understand human nature and, in doing so, unmask the killer. From opulent country manors to exotic cruises on the Nile, Poirot’s cases are masterpieces of misdirection and intricate plotting, culminating in his famous drawing-room reveals.
The David Suchet-led television series, Agatha Christie's Poirot, is a stunning achievement. It ran for 24 years, adapting every single Poirot story with incredible attention to detail, gorgeous Art Deco styling, and a pitch-perfect performance from Suchet. It's the visual equivalent of a warm, comforting blanket—albeit one where a murder is about to happen.
Pro Tip: Start with the classic locked-room mystery novel, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, to see Christie at her most clever. For the TV series, the feature-length "Death on the Nile" is a lavish and compelling entry point.
3. True Detective (TV Series)
For those who prefer their mysteries dark, philosophical, and drenched in Gothic atmosphere, Season 1 of True Detective is essential viewing. Set against the haunting, humid landscape of rural Louisiana, it follows two detectives, Rust Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) and Marty Hart (Woody Harrelson), across a 17-year hunt for a ritualistic serial killer.
This isn't a simple "whodunnit." It’s a slow-burn character study, exploring themes of masculinity, morality, and the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of society. The dialogue is dense, the performances are career-defining, and the oppressive atmosphere will seep into your bones. It’s a challenging, heady series that is perfect for a winter binge when you’re in a contemplative mood.
Fair Warning: Season 1 is a self-contained masterpiece. While other seasons exist, they feature different stories and characters. You can watch the first season as a complete, standalone story and be perfectly satisfied.
4. The Cormoran Strike Series (Books by Robert Galbraith & TV’s Strike)
From the mind of J.K. Rowling (writing as Robert Galbraith) comes a modern detective duo for the ages. Cormoran Strike is a gruff, down-on-his-luck war veteran turned private investigator, and Robin Ellacott is his whip-smart, ambitious assistant-turned-partner. Together, they tackle gritty cases from their shabby office in London’s Denmark Street.
What makes this series so addictive is the incredible character development. The mysteries are clever and contemporary, but the real hook is the slow-burn professional and personal relationship between Strike and Robin. Rowling’s world-building is, as expected, phenomenal, creating a London that feels both real and full of secrets.
Where to Start: Begin with the first book, The Cuckoo’s Calling. The TV adaptation is also excellent and follows the books faithfully, so you can’t go wrong either way.
5. Bosch (Books by Michael Connelly & TV Series)
LAPD Homicide Detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch is a modern icon of the hard-boiled genre. He’s a relentless, jazz-loving loner who lives by a simple code: "Everybody counts or nobody counts." Michael Connelly’s long-running book series is meticulously researched, offering an authentic, unglamorous look at police work in the sprawling, sun-bleached darkness of Los Angeles.
The Amazon Prime series, Bosch, starring Titus Welliver, is a triumph of adaptation. It perfectly captures the character’s quiet intensity and the city's gritty soul. Over seven seasons (and a spin-off, Bosch: Legacy), the show weaves together plots from multiple books, creating a rich, serialized narrative that feels like one epic novel. It’s the kind of long-form storytelling that’s perfect for settling into for the long haul.
Insider Tip: While you can jump right into the show, reading the first book, The Black Echo, will give you a deep appreciation for Harry’s backstory and motivations.
6. Broadchurch (TV Series)
When the body of an 11-year-old boy is found on a beach in a small, tight-knit Dorset town, the community is shattered. This is the setup for Broadchurch, a British crime drama that is less about the "how" and more about the "why"—and the devastating emotional fallout that a single crime can cause.
Led by two phenomenal performances from David Tennant as the gruff outsider DI Alec Hardy and Olivia Colman as the compassionate local DS Ellie Miller, the series is a masterclass in tension and grief. The stunning coastal scenery provides a beautiful but melancholic backdrop to a story that will keep you guessing until the very end. The first season is a perfect, self-contained mystery.
How to Watch: Go in completely blind. The power of Broadchurch is in its shocking reveals and the emotional journey of its characters. Avoid spoilers at all costs.
7. Inspector Gamache (Books by Louise Penny)
Looking for something cozier? Welcome to Three Pines, a magical, idyllic village in Quebec that, statistically speaking, is the most dangerous place on Earth. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec is the heart of this series. He is a man of immense integrity, kindness, and intellect, who solves murders by understanding the nuances of the human heart.
Louise Penny's books are a balm for the soul. They are filled with wonderful characters, delicious food, and profound meditations on life, love, and loss. The murders are often intricate and clever, but the real mystery is always a psychological one. These books are the literary equivalent of a warm fireplace and a glass of fine wine.
Where to Start: You must start with the first book, Still Life. The power of this series is in watching the characters and the village of Three Pines grow and evolve over time.
8. The Bridge (TV Series, Bron/Broen)
This is the show that helped define the "Scandinavian Noir" genre. When a body is found precisely on the midpoint of the Øresund Bridge, which connects Copenhagen, Denmark, and Malmö, Sweden, a joint investigation is launched. This forces two wildly different detectives to work together: the warm, laid-back Danish cop Martin Rohde and the brilliant, brutally honest, and socially awkward Swedish detective Saga Norén.
The central mystery is fantastic, but the dynamic between the two leads is what makes the show unforgettable. The Bridge is moody, stylish, and intelligent, with a pervasive sense of Nordic melancholy that’s perfect for a gloomy winter’s night.
Pro Tip: Watch the original Swedish/Danish version with subtitles. The language and cultural nuances are a huge part of its unique charm and authenticity.
9. Vera (Books by Ann Cleeves & TV Series)
If you like your detectives unglamorous, sharp-witted, and a bit cantankerous, you’ll love DCI Vera Stanhope. Patrolling the vast, beautiful, and often desolate landscapes of Northumberland, Vera solves grim murders with her trademark rumpled mac and sharp intellect. She may be gruff and unconventional, but she has a deep well of empathy for the victims she champions.
The TV series, starring the magnificent Brenda Blethyn, is a Sunday night staple in the UK for a reason. Each feature-length episode is a satisfying, self-contained mystery set against breathtaking scenery. It's a character-driven police procedural that feels both timeless and deeply human. A while back, I was discussing my favorite crime dramas with Goh Ling Yong, and we agreed that the best ones, like Vera, create a world you can truly get lost in.
Where to Start: You can jump in on any episode of the TV show, as they are mostly standalone. For the books, start with The Crow Trap to get Ann Cleeves' original vision of the character.
10. Line of Duty (TV Series)
"Who polices the police?" This is the central question of Line of Duty, a nerve-shreddingly tense British thriller about AC-12, a controversial anti-corruption unit. The series follows their investigations into "bent coppers," with each season focusing on a new, potentially corrupt officer.
This show is famous for its long, jargon-filled interrogation scenes that are more gripping than any car chase. The overarching plot, involving a mysterious figure known only as "H," builds over six seasons into one of the most complex and rewarding serialized stories in modern television. It’s an addictive, intelligent show that will have you taking notes and shouting at the screen.
Insider Tip: Pay close attention from the very beginning. Small details, names, and events from early seasons have major payoffs later on. This is the ultimate binge-watch.
11. Luther (TV Series)
DCI John Luther is a brilliant, tormented detective haunted by the darkness of the crimes he investigates. He’s a force of nature—a man willing to bend (and sometimes break) the law to catch the monstrous criminals who prey on London. Idris Elba’s powerhouse performance is the magnetic core of this intense, stylish, and often terrifying series.
What sets Luther apart is its cat-and-mouse relationship between Luther and Alice Morgan, a narcissistic, psychopathic genius whom he can’t prove committed a crime in the very first episode. Their twisted bond forms the backbone of the show, providing a fascinating psychological duel alongside the weekly cases.
Where to Start: The first episode of Season 1 is a perfect introduction to Luther, Alice, and the show's dark, cinematic tone. Be prepared—it’s intense from the get-go.
12. Foyle’s War (TV Series)
For a change of pace, this historical mystery series offers something truly special. Set in the coastal town of Hastings, England, during World War II, Foyle's War follows Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle as he investigates crime on the home front. While bombs fall and soldiers fight overseas, Foyle tackles cases involving black marketeers, spies, and everyday crimes exacerbated by the chaos of war.
The show is meticulously researched, brilliantly written, and provides a fascinating, nuanced look at British society during one of its most challenging periods. Foyle himself is a wonderful creation—a quiet, methodical, and deeply moral man navigating a world where right and wrong have become blurred.
Why It’s Great for Winter: It's a thoughtful, intelligent, and deeply comforting show. The mysteries are engaging, but the real pleasure is immersing yourself in the historical setting and the quiet integrity of its hero.
13. Only Murders in the Building (TV Series)
Need a break from all the grit and gloom? This delightful, witty series is the perfect palate cleanser. It follows three unlikely neighbors in a posh New York City apartment building—an aging actor (Steve Martin), a struggling Broadway director (Martin Short), and a mysterious young woman (Selena Gomez)—who bond over their love of true crime podcasts and decide to start their own when a murder occurs in their building.
Only Murders is a charming, funny, and surprisingly clever mystery. It cleverly sends up our modern obsession with true crime while still delivering a genuinely compelling puzzle. It's a cozy mystery for the modern age, filled with fantastic chemistry between the leads and a ton of heart.
Perfect For: A lighthearted binge-watch. It proves that a great detective series doesn't have to be dark to be completely engaging.
14. The Millennium Series (Books by Stieg Larsson)
This one is not for the faint of heart. Stieg Larsson's trilogy, beginning with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, is a dark, violent, and utterly gripping dive into the corrupt underbelly of Sweden. The series pairs disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist with one of modern fiction’s most unforgettable characters: Lisbeth Salander, a brilliant, anti-social computer hacker with a traumatic past and a fierce sense of justice.
These books are dense, complex, and rewarding. They weave together financial corruption, family secrets, and brutal crimes into an explosive narrative. Salander is a truly unique heroine, and her story will stay with you long after you've finished the books.
How to Approach It: The books provide the most depth. If you prefer film, the original Swedish trilogy starring Noomi Rapace is a raw and faithful adaptation that is highly recommended.
15. Spiral (Engrenages) (TV Series)
If you want a truly realistic, complex, and morally ambiguous look at the justice system, look no further than this acclaimed French series. Spiral follows the intersecting lives of police officers, lawyers, and judges in Paris as they navigate a sprawling, often brutal criminal underworld.
There are no easy answers here. The police cut corners, the lawyers make questionable deals, and the judges face immense pressure. Each season focuses on a single, complex case that spirals outwards, revealing the systemic flaws and human frailties within the system. It’s a challenging, immersive, and brilliant series that rewards patient viewers.
Heads Up: This is a long-term commitment with eight seasons. It's a gritty, sprawling epic—the crime genre’s equivalent of The Wire. Watch it in French with subtitles for the full, authentic experience.
And there you have it—a case file of 15 incredible detective series to get you through the darkest and coldest nights of the year. Each one offers a unique world to explore, a brilliant mind to follow, and a puzzle that will keep you captivated until the very last page or final credit roll.
Now, I want to hear from you. What are your go-to 'storm-proof' detective series? Which books or shows have kept you company through a long winter? Drop your top recommendations in the comments below—I’m always looking to add another great mystery to my list
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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