Hot chocolate, roaring fireplaces, and binge-watching British mystery series are just a few of the wintertime pleasures. In addition, British detective dramas frequently feature dreary city streets, rain-soaked landscapes, after-work pub gatherings, and pay-as-you-go burner phones.
The fact that all of the female investigators in these binge-worthy British detective series are women distinguishes them from one another. There are all different types of people here: married, single, enjoying being single, terrible daters, overly focused on their jobs, retirees, single mothers, taking care of their parents while neglecting their own needs. Make a date with one (or more) of these female Sherlock Holmeses if you want a detective show sans some of the tired male detective clichés.
Ashes to Ashes
Ashes to Ashes is a sequel to the excellent Life on Mars, in which John Sims played Sam Tyler, a Manchester police officer from the 2000s who is struck by a car and transported to the 1970s, where he must contend with racism, sexism, and generally relaxed attitudes toward drinking, smoking, and police work while attempting to return to his present. In Ashes to Ashes, Keeley Hawes plays Alex Drake, a London police detective who researched the intriguing case of Sam Tyler. After Tyler was shot, Drake was shocked to discover that she was working with the same officers Tyler had, only in 1980s London. Although Ashes to Ashes lagged behind Life on Mars in terms of popularity, it was wonderful to see a Drake pick up where Tyler left off, so to speak, and see the whole thing through to a conclusion and, more importantly, an explanation of just what the hell was going on the entire time. Both series are notable for their attention to period detail, fashion, and excellent soundtracks.
Broadchurch
Even while this isn’t exactly what you’d call “female-led,” Olivia Colman as Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller is the show’s heartbeat. Initially, David Tennant as Detective Inspector Alex Hardy was its most well-known performer. By the time the third season concluded in 2017, Colman had achieved true stardom not just in her own England, where she was well-known for her humorous performances, but also on a global scale. The first season’s narrative is dark and more relatable than anyone realises. A seaside hamlet in Dorset is rocked by the murder of a young child, and Miller in particular, whose son was best friends with the victim, is affected. At first, Hardy treats her rudely, treating her more like an assistant than a true partner. The real star of this show is Colman’s nuanced performance, and the cohesive ensemble cast is ideal in this cliffside criminal drama.
Happy Valley
Run, don’t walk, to Happy Valley, a misnomer if there ever was one, if you like your television dramas harsh. This West Yorkshire-based drama stars Sarah Lancashire as police sergeant Catherine Cawood, who is also raising her grandson after her daughter committed suicide shortly after giving birth to him as a result of sexual assault. When Cawood learns that her daughter’s rapist, the father of her grandchild (James Norton playing against type), is about to be released from prison on unrelated charges, she already has a sister with substance abuse issues (played superbly by Siobhan Finneran), and a disinterested ex-husband on her plate. A young girl is abducted, making already awful circumstances much worse. The first two seasons have received widespread praise, and the third season, which is currently showing in the UK, has the US hanging its breath.
Karen Pirie
As there has only been one season of filming thus far, this one will be a mini-binge, but the first one surely calls for a follow-up. A well-known character who appears in six crime novels by Scottish author Val McDermid is played by Lauren Lyle as Karen Pirie. Due to demands from the top brass to assign a woman to lead a murder investigation, Pirie is given her first significant case. Pirie gives it her all, although she frequently questions her abilities and lack of experience. Although she occasionally makes mistakes, she is endearing and disarming, and we would love to see her solve a few more cases.
Line of Duty
Again, not exclusively female-led, but without Vicky McClure as Detective Constable, the six-season show would suffer greatly. Investigations into corrupt police officers are conducted by Kate Flemming and Martin Compston, who play Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott and Internal Affairs, respectively, on Law & Order’s Anti-Corruption Unit 12. And boy, are they numerous. While each season focuses on a different officer or department, a broader plot thread involving a senior officer in a position of authority who is deeply entrenched in organised crime continues throughout. Flemming is a tough cookie who frequently goes undercover in a workplace that is predominately male, which is difficult for her personal life but the job always comes first. In an intriguing twist, the potentially corrupt police officers are frequently women, with Thandiwe Newton, Kelly Macdonald, and Keeley Hawes all making important appearances. Make some time; once you start watching this fast-paced show, it’s difficult to quit.
Marcella
The creator of the Scandinavian smash The Bridge wrote, produced, and directed Marcella, which is described as British “Nordic noir,” but that doesn’t really explain why this is one of the silliest detective shows you’ll ever watch. At first glance, Anna Friel’s titular character appears to be a detective looking into the potential resurgence of a serial killer. Her husband’s announcement that he is divorcing her and their children has caused chaos in her home life. She therefore has a lot going on, and to make matters worse, she is experiencing more and more frequent inexplicable blackouts that are having an effect on every part of her life. By the end of season two, it was clear that a significant event from her past was the root of her current problems. There have been some crazy narrative twists by the third season. Just be prepared for a crazy ride that might not always make sense. Friel is captivating as Marcella.
Miss Marple
We will discuss the BBC adaptation, which aired from 1984 to 1992 and starred Joan Hickson as Agatha Christie’s vivacious senior detective and covered all 12 of Christie’s Miss Marple books. Christie had previously told Hickson that she hoped to get the part even though she was notoriously dissatisfied with adaptations of her writings. Hickson was age-appropriate and primarily in her 80s during filming, unlike several Miss Marple versions. Claire Bloom, Donald Pleasence, Jean Simmons, and Trudie Styler were just a few of the well-known guest stars who graced Christie companion series Poirot as well as Miss Marple. It was also a favourite among critics and belongs squarely in the category of cosy mysteries. Graze away!
Prime Suspect
Prime Suspect, the pioneer of female-led detective series, stars the outstanding Helen Mirren as Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison. With seven seasons beginning in 1991 and a script by Lynda La Plante, Jane is a misogynistic underling who leads a rowdy gang in solving horrible crimes in London. She battles sexism both inside and outside of the police department, always vigilant against the boys’ club seeking to bring her down as well as suspects and victims who don’t like having a woman in charge. She engages in excessive drinking, smoking, workaholism, and inappropriate sex. She is ambitious, self-centered, but yet immensely kind and committed. With the help of a great group of coworkers (including Mark Strong and Tom Bell) and guest stars (including Ralph Fiennes, Peter Capaldi, David Thewliss, Zo Wanamaker, Ciarán Hinds, Kelly Reilly, and many others), we witness her battle her way through the ranks over the course of the seasons. Given that this is the origin of British crime drama, it is not an exaggeration to suggest that it is required viewing for all fans of the genre.
Rosemary & Thyme
If the title didn’t give it away, this is a cosy mystery. Former policewoman Laura Thyme and horticulturist Rosemary Boxer meet by chance at the start of the series and begin working together to investigate horticultural-related crimes. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the adventures the two friends have as they travel to beautiful gardens in the UK and beyond, solving a surprising number of murders over the course of the three seasons. You might wonder how many horticultural-based crimes can occur, but you might as well ask why anyone would attend a dinner party with Jessica Fletcher in attendance.
Scott & Bailey
What could be better than having a single female investigator in charge? Lesley Sharp, a detective constable, was one of the three. Janet Scott and Detective Constable Suranne Jones For all but the fifth and final season, Rachel Bailey and Amelia Bullmore played Detective Chief Inspector Gill Murray on Manchester’s Major Incident Team. Scott and Bailey work together and are great friends; Scott has a wife and two girls, but Bailey enjoys drinking, partying, and sleeping with pretty much all the wrong guys. They support one another through challenging legal situations, moral crises, possible pregnancies, divorces, and deaths. And, like Tennison in Prime Suspect, they encounter more sexism than they should, particularly Murray, the department’s head, who (almost) never loses her icy manner. They make some terrible errors, argue, reconcile, and hold covert meetings in the restroom of the train station. Over the course of the five seasons, you grow to love the characters and the dialogue’s caustic humour.
The Bay
Detective Sergeant LIsa Armstrong, a single mother in Lancashire, is portrayed by Scottish actress Morven Christie. The show has a rocky beginning, but if you can stay with it, the first two seasons are really good. In the first season, Armstrong races to find out what happened to a set of adolescent twins, and in the second season, he investigates the murder of a well-known lawyer. Although Marsha Thomason is excellent as Detective Sergeant Jenn Townsend, Christie sadly left the show after the second season, and at that time, the show appeared to have lost some of its direction. However, season four is supposedly in the works, so keep an eye on this place.
The Bletchley Circle
The four female protagonists of this mystery historical drama are codebreakers who collaborated at Bletchley Park during World War II, not police investigators. The series starts several years later, when the women are once again normal people and discover a string of deaths in London that seem to be escaping the notice or comprehension of the authorities. When strange patterns start to appear, the four friends realise that more lives are at danger unless they act independently while pretending to be a ladies’ reading club. The criminal plan and the women’s personal lives intertwine to create a highly captivating spectacle. The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco, a spin-off series of the original that was regrettably ended after two seasons, was successful.
The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries
Diana Rigg’s Mrs. Bradley, who is chauffeured around in a Rolls-Royce and drips in art deco attire, is the classiest female investigator you will ever meet. Mrs. Bradley may not have the best credentials for a detective in the 1920s, but she looks fantastic while she solves crimes. The one-season programme is based on Gladys Mitchell’s 66 mystery novels, 66 of which feature Mrs. Bradley. It’s a bad that there were only five episodes produced (plus a pilot), but if you can’t get enough Diana Rigg, you must see this endearing historical drama.
Unforgotten
There are some faces that, when you see them, you know promise a great crime drama, and Nicola Walker is one of them. Each season begins with the introduction of new, seemingly unrelated characters who later turn out to be be connected to the case at hand. Detective Chief Inspector Cassie Stuart and Detective Inspector Sunny Khan lead a squad that only focuses on cold cases. The programme also focuses on Stuart’s life at home, where she lives with her father as a single parent and has a son who is in his late teens. The detectives treat the historical victims and all those involved with the utmost care and compassion, and the show is really thoughtful, well-produced, and brilliantly performed, in large part due to Walker’s Stuart portrayal.
Vera
Vera, which has had 12 seasons of filming, is based on a series of novels written by British mystery author Ann Cleeves, like the popular crime drama Shetland. Vera Stanhope, a rumpled, frequently frazzled lead detective working in Northern England, is portrayed by award-winning actress Brenda Blethyn. She wears a hat that makes her resemble Snufkin from the Moomins. She puts so much effort into her work that she is really bad at taking care of herself. She also irritates her workers to the point of distraction (sometimes on purpose), but they are also willing to do anything for her. She frequently asks that one final inquiry just before she’s ready to leave the room, giving off the tiniest Peter Falk in Columbo vibe. Despite her persistent irascibility, she always stands up for the underdog, and despite her claims to the contrary, she has a special affinity for the youngest crime victims. Although it’s too gloomy to qualify as a cosy mystery, you can’t help but smile when you see Vera driving her Range Rover while wearing her bucket hat.
