20 Best Detective TV Shows, Ranked: ‘Law & Order,’ ‘Columbo,’ & More

Dan Clarendon

Detective work has been a small-screen draw for more than seven decades now — just ask anyone who turned on their television set and heard that four-note Dragnet intro back in 1951. TV viewers love watching steadfast sleuths putting together the pieces, whether the guilty party is shown at the start of the episode or only revealed at the end.

And over the years, some titles in the genre have produced truly arresting television. Below are our picks for the best detective TV shows — if not the best written (or, for that matter, the most responsible), then at least the most impactful.

20
Monk
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Monk

2002–2009

Tony Shalhoub’s ex-San Francisco detective has been making hand sanitizer cool since 2002. Even as he deals with hundreds of phobias — and other Monk-ey business — this police consultant always proves himself to be a formidable crime-solver.

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19
Miami Vice
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Miami Vice

1984–1989

Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas are detectives taking down baddies in the Florida heat. Pretty normal fare, right? But what really elevates Miami Vice is its style: its Art Deco color scheme, its New Wave soundtrack, and its designer fashion.

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18
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

2000–2015

What happens in Vegas… gets investigated by the city’s graveyard-shift forensic team in this ratings mega-hit. Though it’s the seediest and most sensationalized entry on this list, CSI’s mass popularity and pop culture impact can’t be denied.

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17
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
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Brooklyn Nine-Nine

2013–2021

Unlike in many other workplace comedies, the characters of this NYPD-set comedy are actually good at their jobs, solving cases in uproarious fashion. Plus, B99 is a rare cop comedy to delve into serious policing issues.

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16
Hawaii Five-O
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Hawaii Five-O

1968–1980

Book ’em, Danno! This Hawaii-set series (the original) surfed on the airwaves for 12 seasons — then a record for the genre — and traded the backlot cityscapes of typical police procedurals for colorful, sun-drenched Aloha State exteriors.

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15
Veronica Mars
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Veronica Mars

2004–2019

After going from popular girl to pariah, Veronica (Kristen Bell) follows in her father’s footsteps, becoming a private eye armed with a taser, a telephoto lens, a wry wit, and a dog named Backup. Criminals of Neptune, California, don’t stand a chance.

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14
Pushing Daisies
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Pushing Daisies

2007–2009

A noir, a musical, a comedy, a fantasy, and a romance all in one, this show follows a pie maker (Lee Pace) with a death-reversing touch, who brings murder victims back to life just long enough to learn about their demises. Dark and delightful!

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13
Murder, She Wrote
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Murder, She Wrote

1984–1996

We’ve seen umpteen fictional crime writers become fictional crime solvers. But for us (and for award show voters), none did it better than Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher, who often outsmarts the constabulary in the cozy town of Cabot Cove, Maine.

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12
Columbo
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Columbo

1971–1998

“Just one more thing,” this rumpled detective says, almost as an afterthought, before asking a question that blows his investigation wide open. The popularity of Peter Falk’s character — and the inverted “howcatchem” format — kept viewers hooked for 35 years.

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11
Law & Order
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Law & Order

1990–

For all its flaws, Dick Wolf’s Big Apple franchise is a TV institution, one in which countless New York-based actors have turned up on one side of the law or the other. The first half of each episode has detectives nabbing out the baddies. These are their stories.

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10
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

1999–

At 26 seasons and counting, the first L&O spinoff is now the longest-running entry in the franchise, and that’s a testament to Mariska Hargitay’s appeal — and Emmy-endorsed performance — as one of the cop show genre’s far-too-few female leads.

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9
Hill Street Blues
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Hill Street Blues

1981–1987

Even though its setting was never mentioned, this detective show lent realism to the genre — and innovation. Check out the handheld camera work, the intercut and serialized storylines, and the interplay between its characters’ lives on and off the clock.

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8
Mare of Easttown
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Mare of Easttown

2021

Whenever Kate Winslet comes to TV, we take notice. But this series, in which she plays a Pennsylvania detective working a murder case while struggling with her own trauma, was a defining showcase of her acting (and her aptitude for accents).

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7
The X-Files
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The X-Files

1993–2018

Never mind the alien invasions, government conspiracies, and monsters of the week — this shadowy sci-fi thriller is a detective show at heart. The truth is out there, and FBI Agents Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Mulder (David Duchovny) will find it.

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6
True Detective
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True Detective

2014–

Time is a flat circle, says Rustin Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) — does that mean we’ll eventually get to be first-time True Detective viewers again? If you haven’t already seen it, come for the action-packed first season, stay for the chilling fourth.

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5
Only Murders in the Building
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Only Murders in the Building

2021–

A former TV detective, a has-been Broadway director, and a sardonic Millennial team up to investigate murders in their Upper West Side building. Cross-generational hilarity ensues, thanks to the talent of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez.

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4
Fargo
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Fargo

2014–2024

In this anthology set all around the Great Plains and Midwest, Fargo is less a place than a feeling — specifically, one of everyday people desperate enough to do bad things and the detectives close on their heels. And it’s binge-worthy TV, donchaknow?

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3
Homicide: Life on the Street
Where to Stream Homicide: Life on the Street

Homicide: Life on the Street

1993–1999

There’s a reason fans were waiting for years for this show to stream. A precursor to The Wire (more on that below), Homicide and its stellar cast, led by Andre Braugher, shed the noble detective trope and dared to show the job’s rough edges.

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2
Twin Peaks
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Twin Peaks

1990–1991

With the unsettling vibes only David Lynch could provide, this seminal series follows an FBI agent (Kyle MacLachlan) as he investigates a murder in a town full of eccentric characters. A cult classic was born, one that inspired countless other creators.

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1
The Wire
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The Wire

2002–2008

Created by a former police reporter and produced by a former homicide detective, this crime show delves deep into the urban life of Baltimore, Maryland. And both cop and criminal are portrayed with humanity, as we’re all just products of the society and the systems that surround us. The Wire is less entertainment and more exposé, and it’s our top detective show.

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Conversation39 Comments

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  1. R

    RedBowtie

    Ha.... Missed the best one for many junk ones... NYPD Blue...

  2. R

    RedHat

    Only murders in the building above columbo? Columbo not even in top 3?? Absolutely brain dead take.

  3. P

    preciouskiki

    What about The Rockford Files (James Garner!) This list seems to have been written by someone too young to be familiar with the rich heritage of good detective shows. And yes, let’s not forget Dragnet, the granddaddy of them all. Kojak (Who loves ya, baby?). McMillan & Wife (Rock Hudson!) Streets of San Francisco (Karl Malden! Michael Douglas!)

  4. S

    Suzete

    Columbo should be #1

    1. G

      GoldBattery

      I totally agree, 1 to 3, Columbo one of the best shows. Hats off to Peter Falk and writers of the show. Columbo forever!!!!

    2. G

      GreenApple

      At least in the top 3

  5. R

    RedPlane

    Where is NYPD Blue? NCIS? While I might not agree with all your choices what you left out is unacceptable.

  6. P

    PurplePizza

    Columbo #1

  7. P

    PurpleGlasses

    This list is ridiculous half of these shows are laughable as being the best detective shows. Like Veronica Mars, Pushing Daisies.

  8. P

    PurpleCorn

    I do not agree!!! You need to rethink this or get different judges.

  9. O

    Olive8Ball

    The worst list. The Wire being #1 makes ZERO sense. Nobody remembers any detectives or officers from the Wire and its more about drug dealer life anyway than detective work. There are plenty of other shows where the detectives make the show. Columbo should be #1 or at least top 3. Murder She Wrote should be higher on the list same as Law and Order. Where is NYPD Blue with Sipowitz? Magnum PI with Tom Selleck? CSI with Grissom or CSI Miami with Horatio with his signature shades and side stance? Get Smart? Dragnet? Where's Pysch with Shawn and Gus?

    1. P

      PurpleGlasses

      The Wire will always have a die-hard fan base. It will always be one of HBO's best shows.

  10. G

    GoldBattery

    Columbo one of top three police detectives on TV, forever

  11. G

    GoldHammer

    You forgot castle and diagnosis murder😄 and csi miami and ny

    1. J

      Jena

      Yes, those are pretty laughable.

  12. R

    RedGoggles

    This list is laugha le trash

  13. P

    Phil Kramer

    Columbo is certainly #1! It would have been nice to see Banacek on the list, too.

  14. K

    Kaye

    I do not know who did this rating but have to think they do not watch much television. They better look at Chicago PD, the FBI trilogy, Blue Bloods, SWAT, Adam-12 and a few others. NCIS should not even be considered since it is a military theme show. I have to agree with preciouskiki; Kojak, Rockford Files and McMillan &Wife definitely belongs on the list way before Monk(?). I have to agree with Trevor about there being some brain dead in there. Cannot believe X-Files even made this list at all. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!

  15. C

    CyanBus

    Law and Order Criminal Intent - should be top 20. Better than Miami Vice. Kate Winslet is hot.

  16. R

    RedTurtle

    Chicago PD???

  17. G

    GoldBug

    This list is garbage,!!! Just like most others. Columbo and Hawaii 5-0 are way better than any of the top 7 they have here. This is not TV insider it's more like TV outsider

  18. P

    PurpleFlame

    I know these lists are just random clickbait put together by someone that just does a Google search for lists of things but still, i can't believe The Shield isn't on this list.

  19. G

    GoldAnchor

    Pffffttt ur kidding with Monk at 20 right? Eight emmys and it was on cable... Lame

  20. B

    BlueClover

    Obviously, detective TV shows from overseas were not considered-- so many of them are as good or better than these. Also, the emphasis here seems to be on network shows, not streamers on Prime, etc.

    1. O

      OliveDice

      Nah

  21. P

    Phil Kramer

    Ellery Queen was also really good!

  22. B

    BlueBoomerang

    you guys are nuts! Columbo, now and forever. It would have been nice to see Banacek on the list

  23. O

    OrangeBucket

    Sorry, no Bones! Rubbish.

  24. G

    GoldBlowdryer

    Dragnet? The one that started all procedural shows .

    1. J

      Jena

      It may have been an influential show, but I can't stand Jack Webb and the monotone, staccato dialogue.

  25. G

    GreenApple

    Murder she wrote should have been number 1

  26. G

    GreenTurtle

    As soon as I saw Homicide: LotS i knew this was the best list. Only show I would have added was Justified. Spectacular series.

  27. P

    PurpleMustache

    BARRETA!

  28. O

    OrangePin

    I was a big fan of The Rockford Files!!!

  29. C

    CyanGuitar

    No Blue Bloods? A teenage girl is a better detective than Danny.Reagan ?.I love Only Murders In The Building but no way are they better than COLUMBO !!!

  30. G

    GreenGoggles

    Sherlock?

  31. P

    PurpleBattery

    Hunter

    Dee Dee McCall was awesome.

  32. O

    OliveSword

    This list can't be accurate. There is a lot of good shows left off

  33. P

    PurpleBug

    Mariska is the best !!!