Every month I put together a list of the new mystery adaptations to watch, but sometimes I want to tell you about things that aren’t an actual adaptation but are in your wheelhouse nonetheless—like crime shows that are bookish. These recent series use a lot of popular mystery tropes, fall into the “bookish show” category, and some even have authors as writers/creators.
The Downlow (Hulu)
courtesy of Hulu/FX
Down the River Unto the Sea (King Oliver #1) by Walter Mosley
FX’s new crime show, The Downlow, has a lot of great tropes, starting with Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke) being a “journalist” who wrote an unfavorable article about a powerful family, which has put him in danger. And the level of danger only increases when he ups his digging into the family after a family member’s supposed suicide. The series was created by Sterlin Harjo—who you hopefully know from Reservation Dogs—and it is one of this year’s best shows, from its dark humor to its annoyingly lovable lead. And the episode with Peter Dinklage is *chef’s kiss*.
But how bookish is the show? Lee not only owns a bookstore, he lives in the tiny apartment above it, references and quotes books, and a large collection of books from an estate sale plays a pivotal plot role. Also, Walter Mosley and Lou Berney are credited with each writing an episode, and there are production ties to indie bookstores.
All eight episodes are now streaming on Hulu. And if you want to see the trailer, here you go.
All access members continue below for more new bookish mystery shows to wath
The Beast In Me (Netflix)
Courtesy of NetfliThe tropes of this show are the most bookish: Aggie Wiggs is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who has become reclusive and angry since her son died four years ago. She’s divorced and two years behind deadline on the biography she’s writing about Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Then Nile Jarvis moves in next door and disrupts Aggie’s life on two fronts: he’s a douche canoe of a human being who immediately tries to force her to sign permission for him to build running paths in the woods around the properties; he was the main suspect in his previous wife’s disappearance. Now Aggie is caught in a cat-and-mouse game as he wants her to write her book about him…
The series stars Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys, Brittany Snow, and Natalie Morales.
All eight episodes are now streaming on Netflix. And you can check out the trailer here.
Get Millie Black (HBO Max)
Courtesty of HBO
And Still I Rise: A Book of Poems by Maya Angelou
For procedural fans, you get the returning home detective trope. Millie-Jean Black was a detective for Scotland Yard in London but after her mother’s death she’s back in her home country of Jamaica. Now Millie’s trying to convince her sister to get off the streets and move into their childhood home with her, while also working on a case of a missing 16-year-old girl, which puts her in grave danger.
The bookish tie-in? This series is written by Marlon James, acclaimed author of A Brief History of Seven Killings and the trilogy starter Black Leopard, Red Wolf.
Also, literary dialogue:
“And still I rise.”
“Cardi B?”
“Maya Angelou, girl.”
The five-episode first season streamed on HBO Max in the US at the end of 2024, and in 2025 it, played on Channel 4 in the UK.
Browse the books recommended in Unusual Suspects’ previous newsletters on this shelf, and see 2025 and 2026 releases! Until next time, come talk books with me on Bluesky, Goodreads, Litsy, and Multitudes Contained.
If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you or you read it on bookriot.com and you’d like to get it right in your inbox, you can sign up here.
Get access to exclusive content and features with an All Access subscription on Book Riot.Join All Access to read this article
English (US) · 