16 Awesome British Mysteries You Can Stream Right Now

Helen Mirren as Jane Tennison in the original “Prime Suspect” series. (Photo: Granada Productions/ITV)

Prime Suspect

Prime Suspect, in short, is one of the greatest British series of all time. It stars the always amazing Helen Mirren as the dedicated but deeply flawed Detective Jane Tennison. We follow Tennison, one of the first female Detective Chief Inspectors in London’s Metropolitan Police, as she attempts to not only solve murders, but prove herself as a woman trying to succeed in a man’s world.

The first Prime Suspect aired in 1991, and the show continued making episodes off and on until 2006. But back when it first started – Prime Suspect and its lead character were trailblazers. Jane Tennison wasn’t just one of the first women inspectors on the show. She changed the way female detectives were portrayed on television. (Seriously!)

There are mysteries in Prime Suspect too, and they are, for the most part, fairly dark and gritty stories. But there’s just as much focus on Tennison’s personal life and on the inter-office politics of her workplace as there is on any of the crimes she investigates. And fair warning: Many of her cases do not necessarily end happily or even really get solved by the end, either.

Mirren is fantastic in this, by the way. If you’ve loved her in virtually anything else’s ever done but have somehow never seen Prime Suspect? Do yourself a favor and watch it. Her performance is incredible, and Tennison is an unforgettable character.

Number of Seasons: 7 (Though a season is only usually about 2 episodes)

Where to Watch: Hulu or Acorn TV

Next: 14 Hilarious British Comedies You Can Binge Right Now

This list barely scratches the surface of the many different kinds of British mystery series that are available for to watch online. Trust me – if this turns out to be a genre you enjoy – you’ll have enough viewing material for your next dozen binges, easy.

So settle in and start watching.