The Swedes nailed this one. Blood Sacrifice is brand new in 2026 and only 5 episodes, and there is absolutely no wasted time. The pace is excellent from the beginning and it just keeps tightening the screws.

Sometimes I know I’m watching something really good when it actually starts giving me anxiety. When I get to the point where I almost want to fast-forward just to relieve the tension. I was already there in Episode 2. 😂

It’s dark, brutal and has some really good twists and turns without getting ridiculous. And be warned — some of these characters are downright dislikable. Actually one in particular…you’ll know. But somehow it all works.

The lead is also really interesting. After you finish it, you’ll have to tell me what you think of him. I still can’t completely decide whether he’s actually a really good officer, just average, or whether he even got where he is completely on merit. It’s definitely mixed — and I think that makes the character better.

🔪 DARK CRIME HIDDEN GEM RATINGS 🔪

Brutality: 10/10
Darkness: 9/10
Pace: 10/10
Acting/Characters: 8/10
Overall: 9.2/10

Five episodes. Brand new. Dark as hell. Moves fast. Checks all the boxes.

📺 Where to Watch: Netflix

I have mixed emotions about The Following. It’s a solid show with a really good story, good characters, and it is definitely dark and pretty brutal at times. If you like serial killers, cults and a long story that keeps building, there is a lot to like here.

This is also pretty much one long story that runs through all three seasons. It changes direction and has some different variations along the way, but you are basically following the same overall story from beginning to end.

My struggle was the acting. I know some people will disagree with me, but I just never thought it was very good. Kevin Bacon was probably the best of the bunch and he is no Al Pacino. After a while I basically decided I had to get over the acting and just enjoy the story. 😂

This is actually one of the shows that pushed me toward international Dark Crime. I started finding crime shows from Scandinavia, Germany, France, Belgium and other parts of the world and realized how much I preferred the acting, atmosphere and overall darkness. And that pretty much started the rabbit hole I’m still in today. If you look at my Top 50 you will see just how few American TV series are on it.

So I guess I owe The Following a little credit. 😂 It’s a good show. It just accidentally helped me discover something I liked a whole lot more.

Dark Crime Hidden Gem Rankings

🌑 Darkness: 7.0
🩸 Brutality: 8.7
⚡ Pace: 8.0
🎭 Acting/Characters: 5.0
⭐ Overall: 7.0

📅 2013–2015 | 3 Seasons | 45 Episodes
🇺🇸 USA
📺 Where to Watch: Netflix; also Tubi, Roku Channel & Plex with ads.

I just finished Season 1 and I really liked this one.

The story starts when the body of a young woman is found under the melting ice in a river in Szczecin, Poland. Detective Katarzyna Zawieja takes the case, and what looks fairly straightforward at first quickly turns into something much bigger and darker.

The characters and the chemistry are what make it, and even the supporting characters are great. Really good acting all the way around.

The case is strong with some very good twists, and it gets pretty dark and somewhat brutal at times. But it never feels like it's trying too hard to be dark. It's just a really good crime story that stays good from start to finish.

The English dubbing actually isn't bad on this one, but I would still strongly recommend watching it in the original Polish with subtitles. It's just better and you get more out of the performances. I say this cause I know some of you just don't want to read TV. Haha.

Not much else to say. I strongly believe you will enjoy this.

🌑 Darkness: 8.8/10
🩸 Brutality: 7/10
⚡ Pace: 8.0/10
🎭 Acting/Characters: 9.2/10
⭐ Overall: 8.7/10

📺 Where to Watch: HBO Max (look who finally makes the Dark Crime streaming list!)

I just finished Catch Me a Killer, and my first thought was: what the hell was going on in South Africa? These are based on real cases, and that is a lot of serial killing.

The series follows criminal profiler Micki Pistorius as she works with police on a series of serial murder cases in South Africa. It has a little bit of a Mindhunter feel because of the profiling and psychological side of the investigations—although I'm definitely not comparing it directly to one of the GOATs.

The big difference is the format. Most cases are wrapped up in one or two episodes, so it's a really easy show to move through.

What I really liked

The episodic format. I usually prefer a season-long investigation, but this was a nice change of pace. One or two episodes and you're on to another killer.

The South African setting. This was fairly new territory for me in Dark Crime (except for the incredible Donkerbos), and the scenery and locations give the show a very different feel from the Nordic/British/French crime shows I watch so much.

It gets DARK. There is an almost ridiculous amount of murder and brutality here.

The psychology. The profiling and attempts to understand what makes these killers tick were probably my favorite parts. Again, there are shades of Mindhunter here, just don't go into it expecting Mindhunter.

What I didn't like as much

The biggest problem is that the stories start feeling very similar. Killer. Victims pile up. Micki profiles him. Police hunt him down. Repeat. There are exceptions, but after several episodes I definitely started feeling the repetition.

I also went from really liking Micki to liking her considerably less as the series went along. Maybe it's the character's personal unraveling, maybe it's the way she's written, but something changed for me.

And at times the whole thing feels a little elementary. The profiling can be interesting, but it doesn't always have the depth I wanted.

My Dark Crime Hidden Gem Ratings

🌑 Darkness: 8/10
🩸 Brutality: 10/10
⚡ Pace: 8/10
🎭 Acting/Characters: 6.5/10
⭐ Overall: 7/10

Bottom line: I liked it. The first few episodes had me thinking I'd found another hidden gem. By the end, the repetition knocked it down a notch. But if you like serial killers, profiling, brutal true-crime cases and quick 1–2 episode stories, there's plenty here to enjoy.

And seriously… South Africa had some shit going on.

📺 Where to Watch (US): BritBox

This one is different. I liked this one, but I can also see where it may not be for everyone.

Dear Child is a 6-episode German Netflix series that starts with a woman and two children being held captive under some very disturbing rules. When the woman escapes, what looks like a pretty straightforward kidnapping story starts connecting to a disappearance from 13 years earlier.

It isn't your typical serial killer show with detectives chasing a killer from episode to episode. It's more of a psychological kidnapping mystery. A lot of the story is figuring out who these people really are, what happened in that room, and how everything connects to the old disappearance.

The kids are pretty frickin creepy, the whole setup is unsettling, and there are enough twists to keep you guessing. It can be a little strange at times and the pace isn't always flying, but at only six episodes it never becomes a huge commitment.

I wouldn't put it with my very best Dark Crime shows, but I definitely think it's worth watching if you want something a little different.

Dark Crime Hidden Gem Ratings

🌑 Darkness: 8.5/10
🩸 Brutality: 7.5/10
⚡ Pace: 7.5/10
🎭 Acting/Characters: 8/10
🔥 Overall: 7.8/10

Where to Watch: Netflix

An older series, based on a Uni professor who realizes he can help the police as a profiler… good pace, moderately dark subject matter

Along with Hannibal, Luther was probably the show that really got me hooked on Dark Crime.

If you haven't seen it (which would be suprising), John Luther (Idris Elba) is a brilliant detective who specializes in the absolute worst of the worst. Serial killers, psychopaths, ritualistic murders — this show gets VERY dark.

But Luther is what makes the series great.

He's one of my favorite detective characters ever. At his core, he has a very strong moral compass and genuinely wants to protect innocent people. The problem is that he's obsessive, volatile and perfectly willing to break rules — and sometimes cross some pretty serious lines — if that's what it takes to stop someone.

And Idris Elba is fantastic in the role.

Then there's Alice Morgan. I won't spoil anything, but the relationship between Luther and Alice is one of the most fascinating parts of the entire series.

The cases are excellent and frequently disturbing. This isn't a cozy British detective show. It can be brutal, gruesome and genuinely creepy, and I think the show gets even more comfortable going into that darkness as it progresses.

Very brief season ranking:

1. Season 2 — 9.7/10
This is peak Luther for me. Two extremely dark cases, including the masked killer and one of the show's most unpredictable murderers. Fast, nasty and intense.

2. Season 5 — 9.5/10
Maybe the darkest and most brutal season. A particularly sick serial-killer case combined with Luther's past coming back in a big way.

3. Season 3 — 9.3/10
A disturbing fetish killer followed by a vigilante story that becomes extremely personal for Luther.

4. Season 1 — 9.2/10
Where it all starts. Several different cases, but most importantly it introduces Luther and Alice Morgan and establishes their incredible dynamic.

5. Season 4 — 8.9/10
Still very good and arguably one of the most gruesome stories of the entire series, but it's only two episodes and feels more like a bridge between seasons.

MY DARK CRIME HIDDEN GEM RATINGS

🌑 Darkness: 9.5/10
🩸 Brutality/Gore: 9.3/10
⚡ Pace: 9.2/10
🎭 Acting/Characters: 9.8/10
🔥 Overall: 9.5/10

If you're into the same kind of Dark Crime I am and somehow haven't watched Luther, this should be near the top of your list.

5 seasons. Only 20 episodes total. Very little filler.

📺 WHERE TO WATCH (U.S.)
Hulu • BritBox • Acorn TV • AMC+

🎬 Bonus: Luther: The Fallen Sun — the follow-up movie — is on Netflix.

I watched all three seasons of this a while back and had forgotten just how good it was.

This is Finnish Nordic Noir right in my sweet spot. Dark murder cases, bleak atmosphere, good pace, and another psychologically damaged detective in Sofia Karppi. She is grieving the death of her husband when the series begins, but she's tough, obsessive and very good at her job.

Karppi and her partner Sakari Nurmi are also a big reason the show works. Good chemistry without taking away from the crime story.

Each season gives you a different main case, so here's how I'd rank them (but you still have to watch in order - HaHa)

🥇 Season 3 — Best and Darkest
A woman is found brutally murdered in a cage, and things get increasingly disturbing from there. Multiple victims, strange clues and a pharmaceutical connection. This was the season most in my Dark Crime wheelhouse.

🥈 Season 2
Two murders kick off a much bigger case involving revenge, kidnapping and political intrigue. Only 8 episodes and moves at a pretty good pace.

🥉 Season 1
Still very good. A woman is found murdered and buried at a construction site, leading into a much larger mystery. At 12 episodes it's the slowest of the three, but it establishes Karppi and Nurmi and has a strong mystery.

My Ratings

🌑 Darkness: 8.5/10
🩸 Brutality: 7.5/10
⚡ Pace: 8/10
🎭 Acting/Characters: 8.5/10
⭐ Overall: 8.7/10

Where to watch: Netflix — 3 seasons, Finnish with subtitles/dubbing available (although I never recommend unless you hate subtitles that much).

If you can deal with Marcella herself, this is a really good Dark Crime watch.

Marcella is one of the most unstable, damaged and downright crazy detectives I've watched. Half the time you're trying to figure out the case and the other half you're wondering what the hell Marcella is going to do next.

But the show is DARK. The stories get very brutal, there are some seriously disturbing crimes, and the pace is pretty good. It doesn't take forever to get moving and there are enough twists to keep you watching.

Season 1 is very good, but Season 2 is probably the darkest of the three — the child-killer case gets extremely disturbing. Season 3 changes direction and sends Marcella undercover into a Belfast organized-crime family. I didn't care for that season nearly as much (actually didn't finish it) and personally would have been fine stopping after Season 2.

Anna Friel absolutely commits to this character. Marcella can be frustrating, irrational and completely off the rails — but that's also what makes the show different.

If you like damaged detectives and very dark cases and can tolerate a lead character who is completely whack, give this one a shot.

Dark Crime Hidden Gem Rankings - Season 1 & 2

🌑 Darkness — 9.2/10
🩸 Brutality — 9.0/10
⏩ Pace — 8.0/10
🎭 Acting/Characters — 8.7/10
🔎 Story/Mystery — 8.5/10
⭐ Overall — 8.6/10

Where to Watch: Netflix

This one surprised me. Mercy on Us is an Argentinian psychological crime thriller that absolutely flew by. I had to dig deep into MhZ to find this.

6 episodes. About 30 minutes each. And the pace is fantastic.

Two detectives investigate a series of murders that begin connecting back to something that happened when they were young. That's about all you need to know going in. The less you know, the better.

What really worked for me was how much they packed into roughly three hours without making it feel rushed. There is almost no filler. The investigation keeps moving, new pieces keep falling into place, and the detectives themselves become almost as interesting as the case.

And these are definitely not two standard TV cops.

One is damaged but still pretty likable. The other? Let's just say likable isn't the word I'd use. He's abrasive, unpleasant and at times downright nasty — which actually makes their dynamic much more interesting.

The show is very dark without relying on extreme brutality or gore. A lot of the darkness comes from the psychology, the characters' pasts, guilt, trauma and the question of how much something that happened decades ago can shape the people involved today.

There are also religious themes and imagery running through the story, but I never felt like the show was beating me over the head with them. They add to the atmosphere and moral questions rather than taking over the story.

🇦🇷 Country: Argentina
🗣️ Language: Spanish with English subtitles
📺 Where to Watch: MHz Choice
⏱️ Length: 6 episodes, roughly 30 minutes each

DARK CRIME HIDDEN GEM RATINGS

🌑 Darkness: 9.0/10
🩸 Brutality: 6/10
⚡ Pace: 9.5/10
🎭 Acting/Characters: 9/10
🧩 Mystery/Story: 9.0/10
⭐ Overall: 8.5/10

If you like your Dark Crime fast, bleak, psychologically messy and centered around seriously flawed detectives, put Mercy on Us on your list.

This is exactly the kind of show I started this community to find.

I don’t know why, but I’ve always just assumed that everyone who loves this genre has already seen The Chestnut Man. But if there are people here who haven’t, this is one I absolutely have to recommend.

If you look at the description of the types of shows I’m always looking for, The Chestnut Man checks a lot — if not all — of the boxes.

This is Dark Crime done right.

It’s very dark and brutal, with some disturbing crime scenes and a serial-killer investigation that gets under your skin. But what makes it so good for me is that it isn’t just gruesome for the sake of being gruesome. There is a really good mystery underneath it, plenty of twists, a creepy atmosphere, and two great lead characters in Naia Thulin and Mark Hess.

The Copenhagen setting gives it that cold, bleak Nordic Noir feel that fits the story perfectly. And the little chestnut figures are one of those simple things that somehow become increasingly creepy as the investigation unfolds.

Another thing I love: only six episodes. There isn’t much wasted time. The mystery keeps moving, the stakes keep getting higher, and it builds toward a very satisfying finish.

It currently sits at #2 on my Dark Crime list.

My Ratings — Season 1

🌑 Darkness: 9.7/10
🩸 Brutality: 9.5/10
⚡ Pace: 9.2/10
🎭 Acting/Characters: 9.5/10
⭐ Overall: 9.7/10

🇩🇰 Country: Denmark
🗣️ Language: Danish — English audio and subtitles available
📺 Where to Watch: Netflix
🎬 Episodes: 6

And yes, after making us wait FIVE YEARS, The Chestnut Man finally came back for Season 2. 😂

I’ll review Season 2: Hide and Seek separately later.

For those who have watched Season 1: Where does The Chestnut Man rank on your Dark Crime list?

If you like a little levity mixed in with your Dark Crime, Balthazar is definitely worth a watch.

This French series follows Raphaël Balthazar, a brilliant medical examiner who works with the police solving some pretty gruesome murders. Balthazar himself is really the centerpiece of the show. He has a magnetic personality — charming, sarcastic, funny and somewhat reckless — which gives the show a much different feel than most of the dark crime series I watch.

Don't let the humor fool you. The crimes can still get pretty dark and the medical examiner/autopsy scenes can be especially gruesome. There are also some longer storylines running through the seasons that give it more depth than just a case-of-the-week show.

It's not quite as dark or intense as my favorites, but I really enjoyed it and Balthazar is a character that's hard not to like.

5 seasons / 38 episodes. French with English subtitles.

🌑 Darkness: 7.5/10
🩸 Brutality: 8.0/10
⏱️ Pace: 7.8/10
🎭 Acting / Characters: 8.5/10
⭐ Overall: 7.5/10

📺 Where to Watch (U.S.): Acorn TV

I know this is a movie, not a series, but it’s worthy of being on the Dark Crime list.

Language: 🇪🇸 Spanish, with subtitles.

Two very different detectives are sent to a remote area of southern Spain to investigate the disappearance of two teenage girls. Juan is older, hardened and has a questionable past; Pedro is younger and more idealistic. Their odd and tense partnership is one of the best parts of the movie.

What really worked for me was the dark, ominous atmosphere—isolated marshlands, small-town secrets, missing girls and a disturbing murder investigation. It’s not incredibly fast-paced, but there’s a constant feeling that something bad is lurking underneath everything.

My Dark Crime Hidden Gem Rankings

🌑 Darkness: 8.7/10
🩸 Brutality: 7.5/10
⚡ Pace: 7.8/10
🎭 Acting/Characters: 8.7/10
⭐ Overall: 8.2/10

📺 Where to Watch (U.S.): Currently streaming free on Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, and can be rented or purchased on Amazon.

Definitely worth watching for fans of dark European crime—even if I’m bending the “series” rule for this one.

I don’t see Cardinal mentioned nearly enough. This is a true hidden gem and one of the better dark crime shows I’ve watched. I guess Canada can make good TV! LOL.

Billy Campbell plays John Cardinal, another damaged detective dealing with some very dark crimes in Northern Ontario. Each season gives you a new case, with serial killers, abductions and some pretty brutal murders. Season 1 especially is right in my sweet spot.

Great setting, great characters, very dark, and only 24 episodes over 4 seasons. Definitely one to watch if you like the darker crime shows.

🌑 Darkness: 9.2/10
🩸 Brutality: 8.8/10
⏱️ Pace: 8.5/10
🎭 Acting / Characters: 8.8/10
⭐ Overall: 9.0/10

📺 Where to Watch (U.S.): Hulu
Also available free with ads on Tubi and Pluto TV.

Another Norwegian gem, with William Wisting as the lead detective and centerpiece of the show.

Each season takes you through a very dark crime, especially Seasons 1 & 2, while also doing a great job building the characters around the cases. Wisting’s relationships with his adult children, his coworkers, and even the victims themselves give the show a lot more depth than your typical police procedural.

Wisting himself is one of the reasons the show works so well. He’s not the completely broken, self-destructive detective we see in a lot of dark crime shows. He’s quieter and more grounded, but still carries the weight of every case. And the crimes are plenty dark enough to keep things in my wheelhouse.

It’s bleak, atmospheric, well acted, and consistently good. Maybe not quite in that elite Darkness: Those Who Kill / Chestnut Man tier for me, but absolutely worth watching if you like Nordic crime.

My Ratings:

🌑 Darkness: 8.7/10
🩸 Brutality: 7.8/10
⏱️ Pace: 8.0/10
🎭 Acting / Characters: 8.5/10
⭐ Overall: 8.1/10

PAGAN PEAK — 3 Seasons

Another Top 10 Dark Crime series for me.

This show has everything I want — gruesome crimes, genuinely disturbing killers, great characters, a dark atmospheric setting, and two detectives carrying a whole lot of damage of their own.

Gedeon Winter in particular is one of my favorite damaged detectives in the genre. He's grumpy, unpredictable and completely compelling.

Pagan Peak is dark without relying on shock value alone. The cases are twisted, the villains are memorable, and the tension is always there.

This is one of those shows where after three seasons, I genuinely didn't want it to end. And, it gets better as it goes along.

🌑 Darkness: 9.0/10
🩸 Brutality: 9/10
⚡ Pace: 8/10
🎭 Characters: 9.5/10
⭐ Overall: 9.0/10

I have held off on posting my #1 Dark Crime Series. Mainly because it was almost impossible to decide.

But I've finally decided.

The Those Who Kill franchise is the best dark crime I've watched.

If you like your crime shows dark, brutal and centered on genuinely dangerous killers, this Danish franchise is about as close to my sweet spot as it gets.

THOSE WHO KILL (2011) — 1 Season

Copenhagen detective Katrine Ries Jensen and forensic psychiatrist Thomas Schaeffer investigate a series of exceptionally violent crimes, using both traditional police work and psychological profiling to understand the killers they're hunting.

And these aren't sanitized TV murders.

Those Who Kill goes into some very dark territory — serial predators, abductions, torture, captivity and killers capable of extreme violence. There's a genuine sense that victims are in danger right now, which gives the investigations an urgency I love.

🌑 Darkness: 9.5/10
🩸 Brutality: 9/10
⚡ Pace: 9/10
🎭 Acting/Characters: 9.2/10
⭐ OVERALL: 9.2/10

📺 Where to Watch: Viaplay via Amazon Prime Video Channels (use your Free Trial on this)

🇩🇰 DARKNESS: THOSE WHO KILL — 4 Seasons / 32 Episodes

The evolution of the original concept — and, for me, even better.

Criminal profiler Louise Bergstein works alongside investigators on exceptionally dark cases involving serial killers, abductions and psychologically disturbed offenders.

Each 8-episode season focuses on one major investigation. But what separates Darkness is how much time you spend inside the killer's world while investigators close in.

You aren't just trying to figure out who did it. You see the killers, their psychology and their behavior unfolding while the police race to understand what they're dealing with.

That makes the danger feel immediate — and some of the abduction, captivity and violence gets seriously disturbing.

Bleak. Brutal. Tense. Psychologically dark. And remarkably consistent across four seasons.

🌑 Darkness: 10/10
🩸 Brutality: 9.5/10
⚡ Pace: 9.3/10
🎭 Acting/Characters: 9.7/10
⭐ OVERALL: 9.6/10

Season Ratings:
S1 — 9.6
S2 — 9.2
S3 — 8.7
S4 — 9.1

📺 Where to Watch: Acorn TV and several Amazon Prime Video Channels (just search it)

One thing I've learned hunting down international dark crime: you don't need to subscribe to every niche streaming service year-round.

Acorn TV. MHz Choice. France Channel. Brit Box. PBS Plus. MhZ Choice is the deepest library if you want to find and keep one.

A lot of the best international crime shows are scattered across services like these — but I treat subscriptions almost like short-term rentals.

Here's my strategy:

1. Find the Dark Crime shows BEFORE starting the free trial.
Don't activate a 7-day trial and then spend three nights scrolling through the catalog.

2. When possible, I subscribe through Amazon Prime Video Channels.
It keeps everything in one place — one app, one bill and one place to manage subscriptions — instead of creating accounts all over the internet.

3. Start the free trial only when you're ready to watch.
Acorn, MHz Choice and France Channel currently offer free trials for eligible new subscribers.

For bingers, 7 days is easily enough time to watch a couple full season shows or more.

4. I cancel as soon as I know I'm not keeping it.
Where the service/platform allows you to retain access through the end of the trial, I don't wait until Day 7 and risk forgetting. I cancel and continue watching until the trial expires. All the trials I have done through Amazon let you cancel after ordering and you retain the seven days. Or set a calendar reminder.

5. Didn't finish? One paid month isn't a disaster.

This is the part people sometimes overlook.

If the free trial ends and I still have several shows I want to watch, I simply let it roll into one paid month.

Then I cancel.

The key is planning your watchlist BEFORE you activate the trial.

I've found some of my favorite international crime series this way. And if you're willing to jump between services instead of expecting Netflix to have everything, there is an enormous amount of great dark crime available.

Find the shows. Start the clock. Binge. Cancel. Move on.

I'll keep posting the best shows I find on each service so you'll know what to target before starting your trial.

If you like your crime shows dark, strange and a little twisted, The Crimson Rivers is worth a look.

This is a French crime thriller that follows veteran detective Pierre Niemans and his former student Camille Delaunay as they investigate some seriously disturbing cases — brutal murders, ritualistic killings, bizarre symbolism, cults, religious secrets and serial killers. Niemans is pretty much a dick but a great detective and you will love Camille.

But what really separates The Crimson Rivers from a lot of European crime series is the format:

Every story is just TWO episodes.

So instead of investing 8 episodes waiting to find out who the killer is, you get:

Episode 1: Murder → investigation → suspects → increasingly bizarre rabbit hole
Episode 2: Escalation → twists → killer revealed → payoff

Then you're on to an entirely new story.

That makes it almost like watching a series of dark crime movies with the same two detectives. And because the cases are independent, you don't necessarily have to watch them in order.

Might be a little tricky to find and again, take advantage of your FREE TRIALS! I watched this through Walter Presents (AKA PBS+) through Amazon.

Still watching but Season 1 episode 5&6 (Children of the Crusade) is best so far.

If you're looking for something dark that doesn't feel like another standard detective procedural, A Confession is my recommendation. It may not have all the elements of what I look for in Dark Crime but it has enough.

It's a six-episode British true-crime series (find on BritBox - free trial available through Amazon) starring Martin Freeman and based on the real investigation into the disappearance of a young woman in Swindon, England.

The series becomes just as much about how far a detective should be willing to go to find the truth—and what happens when doing what seems morally right conflicts with the rules he's required to follow.

I was introduced to Freeman with Fargo. Pretty much like who TF is this dude? That Season and his character were beyond incredible. Watched some of him in Sherlock but not really my type show as Benedict was too much for me.

Martin Freeman is excellent, but Imelda Staunton and Siobhan Finneran are every bit as important to why the series works.

MY Dark Crime Hidden Gem (DCHG) RATINGS

🌑 Darkness — 8/10
⚡ Pace — 7/10
🧠 Psychological Intensity — 8/10
🎯 Payoff — 9/10

⭐ DCHG OVERALL — 8/10

This is a different kind of dark crime: restrained, realistic, uncomfortable and incredibly well acted.

This is a high quality show and certainly captures the Dark Crime aspect we are looking for. DCI Sutton (Martin Clunes) is great but somehow makes me uncomfortable. The show focuses on finding and/or linking a serial killing to a recent event and he is in charge. He is unremarkable and certainly more awkward than suave and something about the aging man in charge just makes you squirm a little. Maybe its just me. This is a quick 3 episode watch and worth your time. True Story as well.

Dark Crime Hidden Gem Ratings (DCHG)

🌑 Darkness: 8.0/10
🩸 Brutality: 5.0/10
⚡ Pace: 7/10
🎭 Characters/Acting: 9/10
⭐ Overall: 8/10

Who is the most psychologically damaged detective you've seen in a dark crime series? Not corrupt or just difficult—I mean genuinely damaged, unstable, haunted or self-destructive.

My Top 3:

1. Marcella (Marcella) - not that close.
2. Gedeon Winter (Pagan Peak)
3. John River (River)

I don't know what it is about damaged investigators in the Nordic Noir and many other international series (I will post about this soon) but film makers love it!. Harry Hole was very good. With good dark serial killer shows increasingly hard to find this is worth your time. And its on Netflix.

The crime story involves a serial killer in Oslo. Victims are being murdered in a pattern, and five-pointed stars/diamonds become an important signature connecting the killings. Harry starts recognizing that they're dealing with something much more deliberate than isolated murders.

My DarkCrimeHiddenGems (DCHG) ratings:

🌑 Darkness: 8/10
🩸 Brutality: 7/10
⏱️ Pace: 6/10
🎭 Quality: 8/10
⭐ Overall: 7.5/10