When Only Murders in the Building first premiered, we were skeptical it could maintain its quirky charm throughout an entire season. But somehow the depth of characters, with each protagonist struggling in their own way, combined with the obsession society has with true crime and podcasts to create a magical formula that maintained its enchantment for not just one season, but two. With the second season coming to a close, you might miss the darker-edged comedy. That’s why we found nine shows like Only Murders in the Building that you can watch right now.
Related: 9 Delightful Murder Mystery Books Like Only Murders in the Building
The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window
Anna (Kristen Bell) thinks she saw a murder. Grief-stricken after her eight-year-old daughter died, she’s been taking her medications with alcohol and suffering from frequent hallucinations. No one believes her, including the police, but Anna can’t let it go and won’t stop until she finds the truth. The show pokes fun at many literary devices in modern thrillers, giving it a tongue-in-cheek tone with deadpan delivery.
The Flight Attendant
When American flight attendant Cassie Bowden (Kaley Cuoco) wakes up after a night of partying in Bangkok, she wakes up next to one of her passengers with his throat slashed. The problem is, Cassie doesn’t really know what happened that night. With the FBI asking questions and memories flashing in and out, she tries to figure out who the killer really is.
In season two of Only Murders in the Building, Mabel (Selena Gomez) is a more direct suspect than Cassie ever is in The Flight Attendant, but they are both trying to piece together the events of a murder in order to clear their name.
Bored to Death
To break his debilitating writer’s block, struggling novelist Jonathan Ames (Jason Schwartzman) advertises himself as an unlicensed private investigator on Craigslist. To get out of myriad situations, he enlists the help of his friends Ray (Zach Galifianakis) and George (Ted Danson). Over the course of three seasons, the trio gets embroiled in plenty of mischief—mostly of their own doing.
Related: Why Mystery Lovers Need to Watch 'Bored to Death'
Charles (Steve Martin) and Oliver (Martin Short) are hilarious as the older guides to young Mabel in Only Murders in the Building, and George offers the same perspective to Jonathan in Bored to Death. But because their relationship is more established, it drives a deeper humor into their dynamic.
The Afterparty
High school reunions are painful for almost everybody. But when one of the most successful—and hated—alumni is found dead at his own afterparty, everyone is forced to remain in the house while police investigate. Every episode is from a different character’s perspective of the night, allowing for individual character growth in a way that gives the beloved murder mystery genre a fresh new spin.
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We don’t get a lot of the no-nonsense Detective Williams (Da'Vine Joy Randolph) in Only Murders, but we have a feeling she would be fast friends with the ambitious Detective Danner (Tiffany Haddish).
Kevin Can F**k Himself
Rather than trying to solve a murder, Allison McRoberts (Annie Murphy) is doing her best to commit one. And it’s not like anyone blames her. After her husband (Eric Peterson) drains their bank account, her life splits between imagined scenarios that play like a terrible sitcom and her depressing reality.
It’s not a murder mystery, showcasing the criminal activity in action with the detective circling closer with every failed incident, but the dark comedy and sharp performances are just as addictive.
Search Party
Dory Sief (Alia Shawkat) believes an old college acquaintance is in danger. She sets out on an investigation that her friends and boyfriend are reluctantly drawn into. Her involvement leads to a lot of complications that prove increasingly difficult for the group to deal with.
While the story is familiar—a group of individuals getting involved in a matter that has little to do with them—the dark humor and escalating consequences make it impossible to turn off. And with five seasons of Search Party available, there are plenty of hijinks that will have you hitting next episode on repeat.
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency
Sometimes obscure cases need a detective of a different caliber. That’s Dirk Gently’s (Samuel Barnett) specialty. He’s a holistic detective who investigates based on the interconnectivity of everything. But the CIA is trailing him and there’s a holistic assassin after him.
Just like the secrets of Mabel’s past influenced events in their investigation, Dirk’s haunt him in more direct ways. Unfortunately, the show was canceled after its second season, but there’s plenty of mystery to enjoy.
Murderville
Terry Seattle (Will Arnett) is a struggling detective. He’s going through a divorce and grieving the loss of his former partner. While this might seem like the recipe for a typical murder mystery serial, every week a new guest detective is brought in to work with Terry, only they’re not given a script.
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The improv gives unexpected moments of comedic genius, and it’s delightful watching the show fixtures play and react to each guest’s dynamic.
Queens of Mystery
When Matilda Stone (Olivia Vinall/Florence Hall) is assigned as a detective to the constabulary in her hometown, she’s reunited with her three older aunts—who happen to write mystery novels. With their expertise, they can’t help but offer Mattie advice and theories as she investigates various crimes. Whimsical narration with tongue-in-cheek humor makes this woman-driven show a delight to watch.
