Detectives have been a staple of television throughout its history, with “Columbo,” “True Detective,” and “Sherlock” being among the most influential shows in the medium. In recent years, crime television and its many sub-genres have become a female-dominated market, both in terms of the audience watching at home and the characters on camera leading them.
Some of the best detective TV shows ever made feature female detectives not only getting to the heart of the crimes they investigate, but also navigating hostile work environments and a society in which women are victims of crimes on a daily basis. Still, like the best detective fiction, what makes these 10 characters great is not just the fact that they’re women, but that their complexities and flaws make their dedication to moral justice all the more admirable.
From some of TV’s most popular icons to one-and-done miniseries roles, these 10 female detectives share a lot in common. They’re not just fearless champions of the falsely accused and underrepresented people, but intelligent crime-solvers and fascinating anti-heroes all at the same time. Whether you’ve seen their shows or not, nobody can deny that these female detectives make for some of the most invigorating crime TV we’ve ever seen.
10. Veronica Mars (Veronica Mars)
Though the concept of a “kid detective” is a trope that’s been rather hard to justify in the real world, “Veronica Mars” somehow pulls it off. The CW series, which premiered in 2004, stars Kristen Bell as the titular high schooler in California who lives a double life as a private investigator uncovering the mysterious murder of her best friend, Lilly (Amanda Seyfried). As the case unfolds throughout the 1st season, it has disastrous consequences not just for Veronica but also for her father, the town’s sheriff (Enrico Colantoni).
In addition to becoming a hit with audiences both young and old, “Veronica Mars” always subverted the “kid detective” tropes by having Bell’s character be whip-smart for her age, good at solving crimes, and rough around the edges in a way that resembles the most iconic male TV detectives. As the series goes on, Veronica’s independent sleuthing skills rival those of police detectives, making her growth feel like a proper coming of age.
It’s easy to see how through a fortuitous sequence of events, “Veronica Mars” evolved from a book idea to a cult TV show, as it remains one of the defining teen dramas of the 2000s. It’s a shame that the revival season on Hulu ended on such a heartbreaking cliffhanger for fans, as the promise of future “Veronica Mars” episodes could have possibly tracked her continued growth as a gumshoe into her late adulthood.
9. Jessica Jones (Jessica Jones)
Although it exists in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Netflix‘s “Jessica Jones” has a lot more in common with the detective TV shows on this list than the likes of “WandaVision” or “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.” Originating in the comics, Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) is a private investigator who has abandoned the superhero life in favor of solving crimes the old-fashioned way, which nevertheless puts her in the crosshairs of the evil psychic manipulator Kilgrave (David Tennant), as well as vigilantes like Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and Hellcat (Rachael Taylor).
Though her powers of super strength and flight make her a real threat to any criminal she investigates, Jessica Jones’ primary character quality is her resistance to using her abilities. Compared to most optimistic superheroes, especially in Marvel, her view of the world is much more cynical and nihilistic. Still, Jessica’s sense of justice and determination to do the right thing always prevail, even when she’s ticked off and looking for a fight.
As a strong Marvel series for Netflix, “Jessica Jones” invokes the typical aesthetic and characterization of many noir detective stories. Though there may be aspects of Jessica that trend toward the anti-hero archetype, she’s just heroic enough to eschew criticisms of being a bad detective. She may not always play nice, but she’d die before she lets a job go unfinished.
8. Angela Abar (Watchmen)
“Watchmen” has a storied, albeit divisive, history of adaptation. It began as a graphic novel series by Alan Moore, and, against the author’s wishes, spawned a franchise spanning several forms of media. In 2019, HBO’s “Watchmen” series became arguably the most ambitious of these adaptations, reframing the world of the comics in the modern day, when America’s racial tensions are exacerbated by masked vigilantes, corrupt police forces, and whitewashed history. Series protagonist Angela Abar (Regina King) is a police detective who masks herself with the identity of Sister Night and is thrust into a global conspiracy after the murder of her chief, Judd Crawford (Don Johnson).
Throughout one of the best HBO miniseries, Angela’s life is turned upside down with a co-worker brutally murdered, family secrets revealed, and an unknown romantic involvement with a certain member of the Watchmen team from the original comic. Especially for a show in which the police are corrupt and harbor white supremacist allegiances, Angela’s loyalty to moral justice is all the more commendable, proving that sometimes, detectives aren’t just supposed to solve the mystery, but be part of rebuilding a world affected by it.
Though allusions to thekeaway that audiences will have is how rich and textured the character of Angela Abar is among the entire comic book oeuvre. Particularly on a rewatch, there’s so much subtext to King’s performance that goes unnoticed by many viewers
7. Charlie Cale (Poker Face)
It’s a match made in heaven casting Natasha Lyonne as a smarmy TV detective, and thankfully, the show “Poker Face” got to explore that casting for two whole seasons. Created by Rian Johnson, “Poker Face” follows case-of-the-week mysteries being solved by Charlie Cale (Lyonne), a nomadic private investigator with the ability to tell when people are lying. Obviously, this makes her supernaturally adept at solving homicide cases, but every episode of “Poker Face” still finds ways to keep things feeling fresh and subversive.
Although many female TV detectives are buttoned-up rule-followers, Charlie defies the genre by being laid-back, sarcastic, and witty, often sizing up suspects before they even know who she is. In some of the best “Poker Face” episodes, Lyonne’s portrayal of Charlie outshines home-run castings including Adrien Brody as a corrupt casino manager, Chloë Sevigny as a heavy metal vocalist, and Giancarlo Esposito as a funeral home owner.
Sadly, Natasha Lyonne’s time on “Poker Face” concluded following its 2nd season, putting a premature end to the adventures of Charlie Cale. It’s a shame we won’t get to see more of her, especially since so much was left on the table with the show’s premise. If Charlie had even half the run of other female TV detectives on this list, she’d easily be a top five contender.
6. Ellie Miller (Broadchurch)
Though Oliinning actress, she was doing some of her career-best work years before that on the BBC’s “Broadchurch.” The crime drama follows a pair of detectives, Ellie Miller (Colman) and Alec Hardy (David Tennant), investigating the homicide of an 11-year-old boy in the fictional town of Broadchurch across its first two seasons. Season 3 focuses on a sexual assault case that spirals into a serial rape investigation
For a series that deals with such heavy subject matter, it’s commendable to have a lead character who’s easier to root for than some other TV detectives on this list. Through her portrayal of Detective Miller, Colman paints the character as an innately trusting and kind-hearted person, as opposed to the more skeptical and cynical Detective Hardy. However, this only further complicates the case at the heart of “Broadchurch,” as Miller’s belief in the people close to her is betrayed and shatters her glass-half-full worldview.
As one of the best detective TV shows without a bad season, “Broadchurch” offers a different look at the genre, less about a flawed protagonist seeking justice in a morally unjust world. Instead, Ellie makes “Broadchurch” a show about a genuinely good-hearted person maintaining their values even as the world turns against them.
5. Amy Santiago (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” features an eclectic cast of detectives who run the gamut from bad at their jobs (looking at you, Hitchcock and Scully) to borderline geniuses (Andy Samberg’s Jake Peralta). However, there’s a reason why Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) begins to climb the ranks of the NYPD’s 99th precinct throughout the series. Of all the cops on the show, she has the clearest moral center and strongest determination to help her community.
As the show’s female lead and Peralta’s primary love interest, there’s a lot of focus on Amy’s growth throughout the eight seasons of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” Namely, her primary goal is reforming the police, which especially becomes a priority as later seasons grapple with police brutality, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the complexities of being a person of color working for the NYPD. Amy’s no exception, always approaching these heavy responsibilities with empathy and charm, as opposed to co-workers like Rosa Diaz, who often expresses her emotions through rebellion and frustration.
While the other female detectives on this list may be more grounded and based in the realities of criminology, shows like “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” present a more idyllic version of what that world is like. Few characters embody that idealism more than Santiago, who, despite all the flaws of her job, still approaches justice with the same enthusiasm — and it’s sometimes a little too much enthusiasm.
4. Jessica Fletcher (Murder, She Wrote)
When it comes to procedural TV dramas, few are more iconic than “Murder, She Wrote.” For 12 seasons on CBS, Angela Lansbury played Jessica Fletcher, a mystery novel writer who moonlights as a private investigator, helping solve crimes that the police are too inept to solve. Over more than 200 episodes, dozens of novels, TV movies, and video games, there’s little that Fletcher has proven she can’t do… short of driving a car, of course.
Especially during an era of TV where caricatures were big, Lansbury’s portrayal of Jessica Fletcher is astoundingly grounded and realistic. Not only is she an empowering woman whose intelligence speaks for itself, but the best episodes of “Murder, She Wrote” showcase her sense of moral superiority, often sticking by her own gut instincts to exonerate the innocent and bring justice to the guilty. She does all that without even being a legitimate career detective.
She’s clearly a predecessor to “cozy mystery” heroes like Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc, but Lansbury’s work on “Murder, She Wrote” has aged brilliantly, even though it’s been decades since she last played Jessica Fletcher. Whether it’s in her hometown of Cabot Cove, Maine, or around the world, Jessica is a folk hero whose record of solving crimes is on par with any of her TV peers.
3. Mare Sheehan (Mare of Easttown)
Kate Winslet might as well have a defining role for every genre, and TV detectives are no exception thanks to HBO’s “Mare of Easttown.” The series stars Winslet as Mare Sheehan, a troubled Pennsylvanian detective haunted by her failure to solve a year-long missing persons case. She becomes embroiled in the homicide of a local teenager (Cailee Spaeny), whose family drama coincidentally parallels Mare’s own problems.
Though Mare is technically defined as a character by her shortcomings as a detective, Winslet’s performance feels so seamlessly realistic that it’s hard to believe she’s even acting. She spends most of the series trying relentlessly to make up for her mistakes, giving her a genuine desire to do right not just by unfortunate murder victims but also her family, which includes an estranged daughter (Angourie Rice), an argumentative mother (Jean Smart), and an ex-husband (David Denman).
Through her attempts to balance a messy personal life with solving crimes, Mare was quickly etched into TV history as one of the most well-rounded crime drama protagonists the medium’s ever had. She might not be a certifiable genius with a photographic memory, like other women on this list, but her seniority and resilience make her a force of justice to be reckoned with.
2. Vera Stanhope (Vera)
Though Americans may not be too familiar with Vera Stanhope, audiences in the United Kingdom know her as a stalwart fixture of British television for over a decade. In 2011, Brenda Blethyn began starring in “Vera,” the ITV series adapting Ann Cleeves’ novels about a detective chief inspector with a genius-level intellect and above-average attention to detail. The show ran for 14 seasons before ending, and in that time, Vera Stanhope proved herself to be a remarkably prolific crime-solver.
Compared to some of the other detective shows on this list, “Vera” is way more of an old-fashioned murder mystery. Vera’s investigations often lead her down confusing paths, but her brilliance always stays ahead of the audience’s own guesses as to who the case’s true culprit is. Her attitude, while sometimes curmudgeonly and obsessive, also feels defiant of feminine norms.
Above all else, what audiences love most about “Vera” is that its lead detective doesn’t feel like a larger-than-life sleuth from an Agatha Christie novel. She’s a down-to-earth, realistic person whose crime solving, albeit impressive, does not rely on any supernatural abilities or suspensions of disbelief.
1. Oli
Of all the female detectives on television, there isn’t anyone who’s faced more hardship than Oli, the long-time protagonist of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” Since the series began in 1999, Benson has risen through the ranks of the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit, investigating the most serious of crimes in New York City with poise, commitment, and above all else, empathy for victims of sexual assault
Though her emotional connection to victims is often exploited by the criminals she chases, Benson has never become jaded. That’s all a credit to Hargitay, who has held down the fort as the longest-running character in live-action American drama series. The best episodes of “Law & Order: SVU” are ones that showcase not only Benson’s remarkable ability to connect with victims, but also deliver them the justice they deserve as best she can.
Even though so much of Hargitay’s time on “Law & Order” is defined by her supporting cast, including Christopher Meloni’s Elliot Stabler and Ice-T’s Fin Tutuola, the show wouldn’t be what it is without Olio no wonder we have a lot of curmudgeons and anti-heroes on this list. It’s hard to stand out when Oli has set the bar for detectives so high
