Best new BBC detective drama this year! Daniel Mays’ brilliant police procedural to binge tonight

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Lynley, a fresh take on a beloved crime series that debuted on the BBC earlier this year, is quickly becoming one of the best new detective shows of 2026. Viewers have been especially enthusiastic, calling it “brilliant.”

The new series features Leo Suter (known from Vikings: Valhalla and Sanditon) as Inspector Lynley, the central detective. He’s partnered with DS Barbara Havers, played by Sofia Barclay (Ted Lasso, Prime Target), and like many crime-solving duos, they have very different approaches that immediately cause friction.

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Nies, played by Daniel Mays, is in charge of the team, but he seems immediately distrustful of the newly assigned Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley.

The crime drama begins with a classic opening scene, immediately presenting a mystery that viewers will likely try to solve. With just four episodes available, Lynley is a show you might find yourself watching all at once – it’s short enough to finish in a single night.

When Lynley first aired on the BBC, Digital Spy praised the show for giving both Lynley and Havers well-developed personalities and compelling storylines. They specifically noted that the actors Suter and Barclay brought these characters to life with strong performances and believable chemistry.

Our review found that Lynley isn’t a revolutionary show, but it’s a reliably good, self-contained mystery that both fans of the books and general cozy crime lovers will likely enjoy.

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Who is in Lynley on the BBC?

The cast of Lynley includes:

The cast includes Leo Suter as DI Tommy Lynley, Sofia Barclay as DS Barbara Havers, and Daniel Mays as DCI Brian Nies. Other notable actors are Michael Workéyè as DC Tony Bekele, Niamh Walsh as Helen Clyde, Joshua Sher as Simon St James, Rosalyn Wright as Maia Saunders, Oliver Wellington as Leo Hodgson, Sophie Harkness as Gemma Swift, Helene Maksoud as Susan Myerson, Eloise Thomas as Cynthia, Nadia Parkes as Sofia, Jack Archer as Frazer, and Tom Forbes as Gareth.

What’s been said about Lynley?

The detective show currently sits with an impressive 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Guardian gave the show three stars, calling it delightfully easy to watch, and the Wall Street Journal praised its visuals, adding that it grows more and more captivating as it goes on.

I’m really enjoying Lynley! Collider said it’s a great continuation of The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, and the perfect thing to watch after some of the other darker crime shows BritBox has been putting out. They also thought it was a really fresh and modern take on a classic British mystery series from the 2000s, and I have to agree!

Lynley is available on BBC iPlayer now.

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2026-05-19 09:19