Before Scarpetta, Prime Video’s 2-Part Crime Thriller Was Its Best CSI-Like Show To Binge

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Look, everyone’s been wondering what could fill the void left by CSI, and while Scarpetta seems like a logical choice, Prime Video actually nailed that replacement with a previous show. CSI was revolutionary when it premiered back in 2000. Most cop shows at the time were all about the chase, but CSI flipped the script, diving deep into the gritty details of forensic science – it was a game changer!

Similar to how the show Mindhunter later delved into the psychology of criminals, CSI was groundbreaking for its detailed and graphic depictions of crime scenes on network television. While innovative for its time, this approach of focusing on the physical details of victims had already been featured in two popular book series.

Nicole Kidman will star as the complex and talented forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta in a new TV series based on Patricia Cornwell’s novels, set to premiere in 2026. But before that, Prime Video adapted James Patterson’s Cross, featuring Aldis Hodge as another well-known forensic expert.

Prime Video’s Cross Is The Best CSI Replacement In Years

Detective Alex Cross is a brilliant forensic psychologist with a serious anger problem, made even worse by the recent murder of his wife. Despite his volatile temper, he’s the best in his field, and his bosses reluctantly depend on him to catch killers, solve crimes, and expose corruption within the police department.

Although Morgan Freeman famously portrayed Alex Cross in the films Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, Jay Hodge’s depiction of the character in the new series stays closer to the original novels. Similar to the Prime Video series Reacher, this version of Cross is a more accurate adaptation of the popular book series than the earlier movies.

When James Patterson’s Cross series started in the 1990s, it felt fresh and groundbreaking, much like Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpetta novels, because it featured a forensic psychologist instead of a typical detective. However, with the popularity of CSI and its related shows, which adopted a similar concept, both Cross and Scarpetta now feel like natural extensions of that popular crime procedural format.

Prime Video’s Cross Has Another 30 Novels To Adapt

As a big fan of crime dramas, I’m really hoping Cross has a long run – even longer than CSI! James Patterson has written so many books in the Alex Cross series – 34 already, and still going! That gives the show a ton of material to work with. They could potentially adapt another 30 books, which is amazing for fans like me who want the series to keep going and going.

Because the Scarpetta series received poorer reviews than Cross, the Cross books have a better chance of continuing for a longer time than the Scarpetta adaptation. Even if Scarpetta doesn’t become the next CSI, Cross is an excellent replacement for fans of procedural dramas.

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2026-04-13 20:28