BBC crime drama fans looking for their next fix need look no further. While shows like Death in Paradise and its spin-off Beyond Paradise are on hiatus, BBC iPlayer currently offers several alternative programmes brimming with intrigue and big twists.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Returns for Second Series
Adapted from Holly Jackson's novel, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder returned for its second series earlier this year following its 2024 debut. The show brings back Pip (Emma Myers), whose life has been utterly changed after cracking the Andie Bell case. She has no desire to pursue another investigation and simply wishes to address the consequences of previous events.
"But as Max Hastings' trial approaches, Connor's brother Jamie suddenly disappears, and Pip finds herself in a race against time to find him," explained a synopsis. "This new mystery takes Pip to unexpected places as she struggles with the idea of justice, straying even further from the 'good girl' she once was."
The series has proved very popular, with one fan commenting on review platform Rotten Tomatoes: "Gripping, emotional, and hard to stop watching."
The Cage: High-Stakes Crime in a Liverpool Casino
Featuring Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha, The Cage is a "high-stakes, high energy crime story" set against the backdrop of a Liverpool casino. Smith portrays Leanne, who is robbing from the safe in the inner city casino where she works. It emerges that a fellow employee, Matty, portrayed by Michael, is also skimming from the casino's profits, meaning "their lives are set on a collision course; with each other, the local gangster they're stealing from, and the police".
Viewers took to X to declare they were "obsessed" with the show upon broadcast, describing it as "incredible" and "phenomenal". "Sheridan Smith is as excellent as ever," added another user on the platform, formerly known as Twitter.
Death Valley: Welsh Crime Mystery Returns
The second series of crime mystery Death Valley is also available to stream. The Wales-based drama follows eccentric retired actor John Chapel (Timothy Spall) and Detective Sergeant Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth) as the unlikely pairing tackle criminal cases together.
The new series sees John returning to his acting career, while Janie navigates a promotion and a falling-out with John, until a murder reunites the duo. A synopsis teased: "Will this foray into his old thespian passion ignite something once forgotten in John? One thing is certain, whether investigating a murder in a coastal fishing village, a sustainable commune or the competitive world of rugby, John and Janie will continue to bring justice to the mid-Wales region."
The series has proved a resounding success with audiences, with numerous viewers taking to social media to describe it as "brilliant", "excellent" and "wonderful". "It's been the best series I have seen in a while," one viewer wrote on X, as another called it a "must watch".
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, The Cage and Death Valley are available on BBC iPlayer.
