Fans of BBC's Beyond Paradise are sure to enjoy these four underrated ITV crime dramas, which offer gripping mysteries and compelling characters. From adaptations of beloved novels to gritty serial killer thrillers, there's something for every detective drama enthusiast.
The Long Call
Set in North Devon, this ITV whodunit is adapted from Ann Cleeves' novel of the same name. The four-episode series follows Detective Inspector Matthew Venn (Ben Aldridge), who returns to his hometown after two decades for his religious father's funeral. When a man is found dead on the beach, Venn must unravel a case full of concealed secrets and disturbing revelations.
An official synopsis reads: "Matthew is forced to re-engage with the community he left, including the most painful and challenging relationship with his mother Dorothy (Juliet Stevenson)." One IMDb reviewer commented: "This was a great first season. A slow burn but had some unexpected twists and turns as well as a gripping tale of a young man's identity and love. Had me in tears. Excellent acting. I am hopeful for a second season!"
The Dark
Released earlier this year, The Dark is set in the Scottish Highlands and centres on Detective Monica Kennedy (Laura Donnelly), who has a dark past involving a cult. When a young man is murdered, she teams up with Detective Constable Connor Crawford (Mark Rowley) to investigate, soon realising they are dealing with a serial killer.
One viewer praised the show: "So good! The Dark is the best British suspense thriller in years. Dark, gripping, and brilliantly written, it keeps you guessing until the very end. Outstanding performances, relentless tension, and shocking twists make every episode impossible to stop watching. Must-see TV!"
Collision
Shetland fans will recognise Douglas Henshall, who played DI Jimmy Perez, in this 2009 ITV drama. Henshall stars as DI John Tolin, who investigates a horrific road accident and must untangle a web of secrets and lies to determine what happened.
The series has received high praise, with one viewer commenting: "One of the better series. I don't know how I missed this until now. This is by far one of the best series I have seen in a while. The acting, the script, the direction, the story in general." Another added: "Brilliant. Missed this the first time around and only watched it in 2022. But very well written and loved how all the different stories came together. Just a shame there weren't more series. A brilliant idea from Anthony Horowitz."
Inspector Lewis
This spin-off of Inspector Morse first aired in 2006 and ran for nine series until 2015. It follows Detective Inspector Robert Lewis (Kevin Whately) and his younger partner DS James Hathaway (Laurence Fox) as they solve complex murders in Oxford, facing decades-old secrets and dark acts of revenge.
One fan wrote: "Oh wow, how great is this series! I've been enamoured with British mysteries since I was in college (aeons ago), and of course, I've seen Inspector Morse and then Endeavour. I didn't find these until later in life and was absolutely taken by them." Another added: "10/10 Even better than Inspector Morse. This is a review of Series One to Seven of LEWIS (also known as INSPECTOR LEWIS). I never imagined that a sequel series could surpass the original (INSPECTOR MORSE), but this is what has happened."
All four dramas are available to stream on ITVX.
