Want to solve a mystery this winter? Four new series will test your sleuthing skills

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It’s now 2026, and while school is ruled by bullies, people are still getting justice – often through televised murder investigations. As the new year starts, we’re immediately thrown into a series of puzzling mysteries.

Popular mystery author Harlan Coben is involved in two new projects, one a fictional story and the other a true-crime documentary. He also hosts the documentary, called “Harlan Coben’s Final Twist,” which premiered Wednesday on CBS and is available on Paramount+. Like his many novels—including his latest co-written with Reese Witherspoon—the documentary centers around a surprising final reveal. However, he notes he wouldn’t create such ordinary characters in his fiction. The first episode, “Billy & Billie Jean,” investigates a strange 2012 double homicide in Mountain City, Tennessee, complicated by a series of unexpected twists and turns. It’s a truly bizarre case, and I won’t spoil the details.

These kinds of shows are incredibly popular, and like a sugary treat, they can be both enjoyable and a bit of a guilty pleasure. While I’m not an expert in the genre, “Final Twist” seems very similar to shows like “Dateline” or “48 Hours” – you’ll likely know if it’s for you based on that comparison. What I appreciate most about these programs is hearing real detectives and lawyers discuss solved cases, and how different reality is from what you see in crime novels.

The new Netflix series, “Harlan Coben’s Run Away,” is based on Coben’s 2019 novel and is part of a five-year deal with the streaming service to adapt his books. The story centers on a father searching for his missing daughter – a familiar premise. Like other Coben adaptations on Netflix, such as “Missing You,” “Stay Close,” and “Fool Me Once,” this series moves the setting from the United States to northern England, which surprisingly feels more believable because it’s less commonly seen. Netflix has also produced Coben series in Spain, Poland, and France, all of which are available to stream.

The story follows three types of detectives: an ordinary citizen driven to investigate, a professional private investigator, and the police. Simon Greene (played by James Nesbitt) is the citizen detective. His daughter, Paige, became addicted to heroin after starting university, and when Paige’s suspected drug dealer is found murdered, Simon becomes a suspect – especially after a video surfaces showing him attacking the man. Simon, who works in finance and has money to spend, is determined to find his daughter, even if it means making questionable connections. He’s also quick to anger, which doesn’t help his situation.

The series also follows Elena Ravenscroft (Ruth Jones), a private investigator handling another missing child case, and detectives Isaac Fagbenle and Ruby Todd (Alfred Enoch and Amy Gledhill) who are investigating a murder alongside a series of seemingly unrelated killings. These crimes are being committed by Dee Dee and Ash (Maeve Courtier-Lilley and Jon Pointing), a pair of unsettling young people with motives beyond simple thrills. Elena, Isaac, and Ruby – along with Elena’s tech expert, Lou (Annette Badland) – are all connected, and their investigations will ultimately converge.

The cast also includes James’ wife, Ingrid (Minnie Driver), a doctor who will be in a coma for much of the series, and their children: Sam (Adrian Greensmith), who is away at school, and younger daughter Anya (Ellie Henry). James’ sister-in-law and business partner, Yvonne (Ingrid Oliver), appears as well. Lucian Msamati plays Cornelius, a friendly neighbor who acts as a guide and protector for Paige.

The character of Nesbitt, fueled by overheating, paranoia, and jealousy, can be exhausting to watch, much like he is to those around him. He repeatedly makes incorrect assumptions, which is typical for mystery shows, but this one takes it to an extreme. While the central idea is unique and loosely based on real events, it occasionally veers into silliness (it involves a cult). Any solutions you might guess along the way will likely be wrong by the time the show, packed with twists and turns, finally reveals the truth. The ending will undoubtedly surprise you, and it certainly shocks Simon.

The show features several strong performances, but I particularly enjoyed the work of Jones, who also co-created and stars alongside James Corden in “Gavin & Stacey.” Her tough, direct character felt like it could carry its own series. I also appreciated Gledhill, who played the only consistently cheerful character – a welcome bit of lightness throughout the show’s eight otherwise dark episodes.

In contrast, the new Netflix series “His & Hers,” based on a novel by British author Alice Feeney, is set in a small town near Atlanta. Feeney, who has quickly published eight novels since 2018, is being compared to Harlan Coben, who has even praised her work. Unlike the realistic and subdued “Run Away,” this series is a fast-paced and dramatic thriller, featuring some suggestive (but tastefully shown) intimate scenes, mostly of brief and casual encounters.

Jon Bernthal stars as Jack Harper, a detective who returns to his hometown after a difficult period in his career. He’s now a caregiver, looking after his niece and her mother, Zoe (played by Marin Ireland), who struggles with depression and relies on alcohol – as she bluntly puts it, “Vodka’s cheaper than Ambien.” Jack also supports his mother-in-law, Alice (Crystal Fox), who seems to be experiencing memory loss. His new partner, Priya (Sunita Mani), is sharp and capable, and Jack playfully calls her “Boston” – a common fictional trope of referring to people by their place of origin.

Tessa Thompson stars as Anna Andrews, a former news anchor in Atlanta hoping to get her job back after a year’s absence. Currently, another anchor, Lexy Jones, is filling her old position. Anna, who is Black, questions her boss about why Lexy was chosen to represent the station, especially in a city like Atlanta. When she can’t convince them to reinstate her, she’s assigned to cover a murder in her hometown, which also happens to be where her estranged husband, Detective Harper, lives. The two share a difficult past and a family tragedy.

She’s acquainted with the victim, just like Jack, and the victim is married to a wealthy, older man – a familiar trope in stories like this. Adding to the complications, her cameraman, Richard, is married to Lexy. It’s a lot of coincidences! She’s the type of reporter who prioritizes the story over people, but she’s well-informed, having worked for many years as a producer and journalist at the BBC.

The story opens with a quote emphasizing that everyone has a different perspective, and therefore, someone might not be telling the whole truth. While it’s true that people can simply be mistaken, not intentionally deceptive, the show tends to present a single, definitive version of events, despite multiple characters and conflicting accounts. The book the series is based on uses several narrators to explore different viewpoints, but the show doesn’t really delve into the idea that truth is relative. Ultimately, the characters lie frequently, but it doesn’t help them, much like the story of Pinocchio.

With each new murder, it’s becoming clear the killer is targeting people from Anna’s high school group, and everyone is on edge. Jack is being overly dismissive of Priya’s suggestions, almost as if he’s hiding something—it reminds me of a stern warning to calm down. A few hints throughout the show might point viewers towards the killer’s identity—though I haven’t figured it out yet—and the solution feels surprisingly similar to the one in “Run Away.” Interestingly, both shows conclude with scenes around a dinner table. Coincidences seem to be popping up everywhere.

I particularly enjoyed “Bookish,” a new British series starting Sunday on PBS. It’s created by and stars Mark Gatiss, a writer and actor known for his work in British comedy, science fiction, and mysteries—he co-created “Sherlock” with Steven Moffat and has written for “Doctor Who.” “Bookish” is a classic British period drama set after the war, featuring an unusual detective. Gatiss plays Gabriel Book, a bookseller who solves crimes as a hobby, putting him in the tradition of famous British detectives like Miss Marple, Lord Wimsey, Sherlock Holmes, and Father Brown.

He’s a gentle, thoughtful man who loves quoting literature, and he’s attracted a small group of people to help him. This includes his wife, Trottie (played by Polly Walker, who also helped write the story), who runs a wallpaper shop next to his bookstore on a charming London street. There’s also a dog simply called Dog, Nora, a local girl who often lends a hand, and Jack, a new assistant recently released from prison who doesn’t know why he was hired. Jack quickly proves to be a good fit. He enjoys a warm relationship with Scotland Yard inspector Bliss (Elliot Levey) and has a special permission – a letter supposedly from Churchill – that lets him investigate crime scenes, much to the annoyance of Sergeant Morris (Blake Harrison). There might be more to their conflict than meets the eye. The show feels realistic, but occasionally uses stylistic, almost dreamlike imagery when detailing crimes.

This show, like my other favorites, is both funny and heartwarming, with moments of genuine sadness. Throughout the season’s three storylines (each told over two episodes), we see the personal lives of the main characters develop. It’s good enough that a second season has already been greenlit!

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2026-01-08 14:33