10 Best Mystery TV Shows With Women Leads

A handful of engaging mystery shows are led by women working as smart and intuitive detectives. Classic mystery shows like Cagney & Lacey paved the way for women to be leading figures in TV roles that had previously been dominated by male actors. Women in these roles typically break down an assortment of barriers as they prove to be successful despite doubts surrounding them because of their trauma or age. While it's not necessary for women-led mystery shows to do so, most feature complex leading ladies who are dealing with a difficult personal life.

The traumatic experiences impacting Sharp Objects' Camille or Jessica Jones' titular character, for example, are presented as the characters are trying to help those around them. Women-led mystery shows open the door for more varied and elaborate leading characters in the genre. These characters weren't common on TV before shows like Murder, She Wrote, but have become increasingly more common, as seen in recent series such as Poker Face.

10 The Killing (2011-2014)

Led by Mireille Enos

Based on the Danish series of the same name, The Killing is a dark, slow-burn crime drama that is sure to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The Killing is led by homicide detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) and her partner Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman). The series opens up with an investigation of a young girl's murder, which quickly unveils secrets and conspiracies about those involved with the case. The Killing is not a mystery series in which audiences should expect answers right away.

There is plenty of breathing room in The Killing, which allows for a deep dive into the series' main characters and the dark, unsettling aspects of the crime that they hope to solve. Enos delivers a phenomenal performance in the show, successfully portraying the weight her character's job has on her as the series continues. Positive remarks about The Killing dwindled as later seasons felt a bit repetitive, but Enos remained a fan-favorite part of the series, earning continuous praise from critics as well.

9 Jessica Jones (2015-2019)

Led by Krysten Ritter

Of all the women-led mystery shows listed, Jessica Jones' eponymous character is placed in the most physical confrontations. The series is based on the Marvel character and sees Jessica (Krysten Ritter) move on from life as a superhero and become a skilled private investigator with her own agency. There is plenty of mystery to be solved throughout Jessica Jones' three seasons, with the biggest involving infamous Marvel villains, including Kilgrave. Jessica Jones is pretty standard for a superhero show in terms of its storyline and action.

However, what sets the show apart from others is the characterization of its heroic lead. Many superheroes come to be who they are after experiencing a great amount of trauma, but Jessica Jones is one of the best shows to accurately portray mental health conditions. Jessica is an extremely complex character, with an assortment of traumas that remain part of her throughout the show but don't stop her from protecting herself and others.

8 Damages (2007-2012)

Led by Glenn Close & Rose Byrne

Premiering on FX in 2007, Damages features an impressive cast made up of actors like Ted Danson, Timothy Olyphant, and Marcia Gay Harden, but is led by Glenn Close and Rose Byrne. The relationship of Close and Byrne's characters are as a cunning lawyer and her protégée, respectively. During its run, Damages earned high levels of praise for its ability to follow a single case for an entire season without losing the attention of audiences.

To accomplish this, Damages showed the perspective of both the main law firm and their opponents and also implemented the use of a non-linear structure and effective plot twists. However, the most compelling part of Damages is the relationship between Close and Byrne's characters. As the two were working out their professional cases, their personal relationship was evolving as well. Combined with the series' admirable writing, the actors' performances made it easy for audiences to be invested in their ever-changing relationship.

7 The Fall (2013-2016)

Led by Gillian Anderson

Best known for her role as FBI Agent Dana Scully in The X-Files, Gillian Anderson is the woman leading The Fall, a thrilling crime drama set in Northern Ireland. One of Anderson's best TV roles is The Fall's Stella Gibson, an investigating officer tasked with looking into a series of murders that take place in the local area. Series creator Allan Cubitt said he was inspired by a book about a real-life serial killer. The book details the killer's actions at the start of the book.

Similarly, The Fall is set up where audiences are told who the killer is at the beginning of the series. Taking away the mystery of who the perpetrator is, all that's left is unpacking what events led him to kill. Though The Fall earned fewer rave reviews as it progressed, Anderson remained a highlight of the show. Not only are audiences treated with witnessing Stella's professional triumphs, but they are also made aware of a more complicated side as the character moves through her internal struggles.

6 Sharp Objects (2018)

Led by Amy Adams

Based on Gillian Flynn's Southern Gothic novel of the same name, Sharp Objects is a mystery series that is absorbing and difficult to predict. Amy Adams leads the series as Camille, a crime reporter who comes home to investigate the murders of two girls. As crucial as Sharp Objects' central crime is, Camille's relationship with her mother and sister is also a large part of the series. Camille's relationship with the former, in particular, has a great effect on her and leads her to tackle her personal issues.

Despite being a slow-burn mystery, Sharp Objects never loses its power. The show has an eerie atmosphere that is equally unsettling as it is captivating. Sharp Objects' clever writing throughout its eight episodes inspires an engaged viewing experience where audiences are sure to be as surprised by the series' final plot twist as much as Camille is. For her performance, Adams was presented with several award nominations, winning a Satellite and Critics' Choice Award.

5 Poker Face (2023-Present)

Led by Natasha Lyonne

Deemed one of Peacock's best original series, Poker Face is a unique and humorous mystery series led by Natasha Lyonne. In the show, Lyonne plays Charlie Cale, a casino worker traveling across the United States. What makes Charlie such an engaging and unlikely character is her ability to detect when others are lying. During her travels, Charlie uses this skill to solve a string of murders. Poker Face echoes Columbo, the beloved detective series, by eliminating the mystery of who did the crime and instead exploring how they'll be caught.

Considering the series' format, it's possible Poker Face could continue for multiple seasons, so long as critical and viewer interest remains strong, as many were hooked on the show after its first season. The laughs in Poker Face come from Lyonne's masterful performance, as well as the variety of eccentric characters Charlie bumps into along her journey. Despite the fun who's who of guest stars that pop up in each episode, Lyonne remains the best part of the show.

4 Cagney & Lacey (1982-1988)

Led by Tyne Daly & Sharon Gless

Getting Cagney & Lacey made wasn't smooth sailing for executive producer Barney Rosenzweig. At the time, Rosenzweig realized there hadn't been a big buddy film led by women, but he struggled to get any studios to agree to make the film. It was only after he trimmed down his pitch and took it to TV networks that the series was made into the beloved Cagney & Lacey audiences are aware of today. The show follows the professional and personal lives of police detectives Christine Cagney (Sharon Gless) and Mary Beth Lacey (Tyne Daly).

Cagney & Lacey was a groundbreaking series, appreciated by all audiences, but especially those who saw bits of themselves in the clever and capable women leads. During the series' run, Daly and Gless picked up multiple Emmy Award nominations and wins, and are most remembered for their '80s roles to this day.

3 Mare Of Easttown (2021)

Led by Kate Winslet

Easily the best of all of Kate Winslet's HBO miniseries is Mare of Easttown. In the series, Winslet plays Mare Sheehan, a police detective struggling with her personal life while investigating the recent murder of a young mom. Mare is feeling an immense amount of stress and pressure, which makes for a fascinating companion to her work life. Mare of Easttown wonderfully highlights a range of complex, imperfect women throughout the series, making it stand apart from other mystery shows beyond being led by a woman.

The honest lens through which women are shown is just one of the many aspects praised in Mare of Easttown. The storytelling, performances, and accurate Philadelphia dialect were also given positive feedback. Rounding out the main cast are actors Evan Peters, Jean Smart, and Julianne Nicholson — each delivering memorable performances. Winslet, too, gave one of the best performances throughout her career, earning several awards, including an Emmy and a Golden Globe.

2 Veronica Mars (2004-2019)

Led by Kristen Bell

Set in a fictional Californian town, Veronica Mars is centered around the titular high schooler (Kristen Bell) (later a college student) working as a private detective. The series was able to stay fresh with its case-of-the-week formula, which complemented the more complex cases that stretched over the course of a season. Veronica Mars began to feel repetitive during the end of its run and though the show never obtained stellar ratings, the series did quickly develop a passionate fanbase made possible by its smart, charming, and engaging narrative.

Veronica Mars' writing has been extensively complimented by famous writers over the years, and the performances of the show's entire cast were enjoyed by fans of the show. However, it was Bell's leading performance that truly impressed. As the witty, resourceful, and intuitive Veronica, Bell's charismatic screen presence got the chance to shine, leaving a years-long impression. Fans couldn't get enough, and since its finale, Veronica Mars has been revived as a film and a fourth season.

1 Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996)

Led by Angela Lansbury

During her career, Angela Lansbury showed off her talents on the stage, in films, and TV shows. One of the more well-known examples of the latter is Murder, She Wrote, where Lansbury plays mystery writer Jessica Fletcher, whose background allows her to be quite an impressive amateur detective. Much like she would when writing a novel, when Jessica's solving homicide cases, she pays close attention to the details and is sure to ask the right questions to lead her to the culprit. Jessica is one of the more relatable mystery show leads.

Because of her lack of credentials when entering the job, Jessica is frequently doubted by law enforcement officials, who refuse to budge until Jessica's suspicions are too plausible to ignore. Before Murder, She Wrote, Lansbury already had a notable presence in stage musicals and films, but the show helped her achieve a larger sense of fame. Lansbury took on the role of executive producer during the series' last few seasons, and Murder, She Wrote became one of the longest-running detective shows.