Emilia di Girolamo’s mystery drama series “Three Pines” on Amazon Prime is based on Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache books. It focuses on compassionate and accomplished Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, who has a gift for deduction and notices details that others overlook. He is asked to assist in the investigation of a string of horrific and puzzling killings in the community of Three Pines.
Armand becomes entangled in the investigation as more and more bodies turn up, which enables him to unearth some dark and deeply buried secrets. To stay in the game in the interim, he must battle some of his own demons. Now, if you enjoyed watching “Three Pines,” here is a list of suggestions that may appeal to you. Most of these programs that resemble “Three Pines” are available to stream on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
The detectives Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller of the British crime drama series “Broadchurch” collaborate to solve the case of an 11-year-old boy’s murder in the show’s titular town. In the communities of Three Pines and Broadchurch, there are recurring themes of murder, violence, and sanity. To find the truth, the detectives must examine every small detail, which forces them to engage in difficult introspection.
DCI Banks (2010-2016)
The British crime drama series “DCI Banks” is set in Yorkshire and centers on detective Alan Banks as he attempts to investigate the horrific murders taking place in the town. They both have to face crime while battling their demons, and Detective Alan and Detective Armand have a lot in common. Both are burdened by their pasts. When truth sets in, what initially appeared to be a string of routine small-town murders reveals the town’s and its residents’ actual selves. The shows’ common themes—one great investigator plagued by his past, a small but dangerous community, and a string of murders—are also strikingly similar.
Mare of Easttown (2021)
The crime drama series “Mare of Easttown” centers on detective Marianne “Mare” Sheehan as she looks into the killing of a teenage mother in the show’s title town. Her investigative abilities are put to the test because she was unable to crack a comparable case. Similar to Mare, Armand doubts his abilities as he solves the killings’ mystery while facing his demons. Another similarity between the shows is the suspicious town that makes the detectives’ jobs rather challenging. No one is spared from the suspicious gaze of the seasoned detectives in this town.
Midsomer Murders (1997- )
A murder-mystery detective drama series set in England is called “Midsomer Murders.” It follows detectives Tom Barnaby and, subsequently, John Barnaby as they search far and wide for clues to the killings taking place in the dangerous and enigmatic Midsomer county. You would think that a charming town with lovely surroundings is secure and full of friendly visitors. But when the whole reality is revealed, a quaint-looking community might turn into a breeding ground for the dead. When Three Pines and Midsomer talk about being a “quaint town,” they both mention this.
An emotionally troubled reporter named Camille Preaker visits her hometown of Wind Gap in the psychological thriller series “Sharp Objects” to investigate the murders of two young girls. She is forced to confront her personal demons when she returns to her hometown and is scrutinized by her socialite mother. Similar to Camille, Armand in “Three Pines” faces moral conundrums as he looks into deaths in a tiny village. These conundrums cause him to doubt his beliefs in right and evil.
The Outsider (2020)
The Outsider, a Stephen King adaptation, centers on the murder of an 11-year-old boy in Cherokee City’s forests. Physical evidence and eyewitness testimony point to a nearby instructor in what appears to be an unsolved murder case. Detective Ralph Anderson must discover the truth behind this case. However, Terry, the neighborhood teacher and baseball coach, cannot be found guilty thanks to a solid and plausible alibi. If he did it at all, Detective Ralph will have to put his skills to the test in order to figure out how. As in the Amazon Prime series Three Pines, Cherokee City is full with mysteries that only a true detective can solve.
The Sinner (2017-2021)
In the crime anthology television show “The Sinner,” Detective Harry Ambrose pursues the motives behind the murderers’ crimes. Armand and Harry have several characteristics in common besides the apparent similarity of being excellent detectives. They differ from other investigators in that they use deduction to try to find the hidden truth that other detectives miss. Because Armand and Harry have already seen things that aren’t immediately apparent, they are better able to solve crimes.
Wallander (2008-2016)
In “Wallander,” an existential detective named Kurt Wallander attempts to investigate a string of crimes in the picturesque Swedish town of Ystad. As Wallander battles his demons, a string of horrifying crimes occur in an otherwise peaceful village. The investigators must fight their negative thoughts, as they did in “Three Pines,” in order to learn the truth about the desolate settlements.
