From 'Lupin' to 'The Returned,' the 10 Best French Mystery Shows, Ranked

Nous aimons tous les bonnes spectacle mystère. OK, we're not going to write this piece in French, but you get the gist of what this story will be about. We’ve often talked about great mystery shows (spectacle mystère in French) from other countries, but we really haven't shown a lot of love for French mystery shows, in which its tropes have greatly influenced American-style mystery series.

Before the rise of streaming services, watching a good French mystery series was quite hard for TV lovers in North America. But now, these shows are basically at our fingertips, and streaming services such as Netflix have also produced their own great French mysteries. So, let's take a trip across the pond and bring you the best French mystery shows you should watch. OK, let's dive in.

10 'Anthracite' (2024)

It was a pretty bold move by creators Fanny Robert and Maxime Berthemy to create a mystery series based on the Order of the Solar Temple, but they did just that in Anthracite, and it was a pretty solid affair. For those who may not have heard of this infamous cult (and we’re sure a lot of you haven't), the Order of the Solar Temple is a group that was tied to some pretty gruesome mass suicides.

While Anthracite doesn't deal with that, the cult that was presented to us in this mystery series was just as creepy. We follow Ida Heilman (Noèmie Schmidt), the daughter of a French journalist who disappeared in a small town in the French Alps. While there, she meets an ex-convict, Jaro Gatsi (Hatik), who team up to investigate the disappearance of her dad, but find secrets that are linked to a cult that was previously active in the town. While some critics found some fault with the storytelling, you can easily look at this with the sheer scenic beauty of the setting and a story that is intriguing enough to keep you interested throughout.

9 'The Forest' (2017)

Looking for a missing person in the Ardennes is not for the faint of heart. It can be a taxing, grueling exercise within the lush, green forest. But that’s exactly what Gaspard Decker (Samuel Labarthe) and Virginie Musso (Suzanne Clèment) are trying to do in the 2017 miniseries The Forest (La Forêt).

Created by Delinda Jacobs and directed by Julius Berg, The Forest follows the two detectives as they search for a missing teen that has disappeared in the Ardennes. To help with their investigation, the two are assisted by Ève Mendel (Alexia Barlier), an eccentric teacher who has some bad history within this same forest. The mystery of The Forest is quite compelling, and you'll get a sense of dread while watching the mystery unfold. How the miniseries ends will truly shock you, but we're not going to spoil it for you. You'll have to check it out yourself to see why many were high on The Forest.

8 'The Art of Crime' (2017–Present)

So, some people may not see a mystery series tied to classic paintings as an interesting watch, but you have yet to see how the French do it, which will change your mind drastically. The Art of Crime (L'Art du crime) premiering in 2017, is a mystery show that is based on an "odd couple" pairing that has to work together to solve high-profile crimes involving art.

There are two components here that make The Art of Crime work like a charm. First, the mystery element is top-notch, as we watch our cozy odd couple find clues to return highly expensive art to where they belong. But while you're participating in trying to find the clues, the show also has educational value. Surprisingly, you'll learn a lot about some of the world's most famous artists, from Monet to Van Gogh. So you get the mystery and the education, making you into a working art savant while watching this sweet, engaging mystery series.

7 'The Break' (2016–2018)

When you see someone walking down a desolate road with blood on their shirt, there is a 100 percent chance that what happened wasn’t anything good. That’s the image the promotional photo of the Netflix French mystery series The Break (La Trêve) portrays, and you are, without a doubt, going to be in for a wild ride full of mystery and thrilling action.

Here, we follow Yoann Peeters (Yoann Blanc), a police detective who moves back to his hometown. But after the death of a young soccer player turns out to be foul play, Peeters goes to work to investigate the crime, and discovers that there is corruption afoot within the town. Running for two seasons, The Break is a compelling mystery that will have you glued to the TV, playing a detective right alongside Peeters in trying to figure out who was behind the murder.

6 'Astrid: Murder in Paris' (2019–Present)

Sometimes, the best detective is the person who you'd least expect, and in the case of Astrid Nielsen (Sara Mortensen), no one would have expected that she would be the key to solving cases. But that’s exactly what she is in Astrid: Murder in Paris (Astrid et Raphaëlle), created by Alexandre de Seguins and Laurent Burtin, who brings a sense of French flair to the typical police procedural.

Astrid is a gifted person, an autistic woman who knows every case she has ever handled; and she’s handled a lot of cases by being an archivist for the local police. Teaming up with Raphaëlle Coste (Lola Dewaere), Astrid uses her gift of methodology to help the police commander solve cases. It's another one of those "odd couple" police mystery shows that will keep you on your toes throughout each episode. If you haven't checked it out yet, find a streaming service that has this show on its service, you'll thank us later.

5 'The Returned' (2012–2015)

So, we're going to discuss another show quickly, but we promise it all makes sense. In 2004, the USA Network premiered The 4400, which told the story of 4,400 people who mysteriously went missing in 1946 and returned in 2004. We bring up The 4400 because a similar fate befell on the people of a small French town in The Returned (Les Revenants), created by Fabrice Gobert in 2012.

While the people in The 4400 were most alive, the people who re-appeared in The Returned were dead. Somehow, their regeneration allowed them to come back alive and normal; but, we all know that things won't come back to normal, and strange things begin to happen in the town. So, yes, this is a supernatural mystery that feels like it's on the same wavelength as the USA Network show, but The Returned adds a supernatural element that heightens the tension of this series.

4 'Capitaine Marleau' (2014–Present)

Some viewers see Capitaine Marleau (Corinne Masiero) as the French version of Columbo with her coat acting as her trademark and quirky style of investigating that's unlike any other detective we've profiled in this piece. Directed by Josee Dayan, Capitaine Marleau follows the title character as she uses her eccentric personality and unconventional methods to investigate cases.

One aspect that sets Capitaine Marleau apart from its contemporaries is the use of dark humor throughout the series. Some may find the dark humor a bit off-putting, but it lightens the mood, and brings a different perfective to the typical mystery show, which is often serious in nature. If you're not into serious shows, Capitaine Marleau will definitely be up your alley.

3 'Murders in…' (2013–Present)

If you're reading this in North America, chances are you haven't heard of one of the best mystery anthology series of the 2010s. That show is Murders in…, which looks at a different case, each episode in a different location, hence why the show is titled the way it is. When you watch Murders in…, you'll see that it will have some similarities to True Detective, in that this series has a new investigative pair for each episode, ensuring that you're going to get something different every time.

Each episode has a different atmosphere to it, and that's the best aspect of Murders in… Just like True Detective, you don't know what you'll be thrust into. Whether it's a murder in Saint-Malo or trying to solve a murder in Dunkirk, you'll come away with the thinking that France sure does have a high murder rate (which it doesn’t, we're only kidding here). This is a roundabout way to say that, if murder mysteries are your cup of tea, Murders in… in the sugar that makes it sweet.

2 'Balthazar' (2018–2023)

So, imagine you work with a forensic pathologist, and one day at work, while you're doing your forensic thing, you see your partner talking to the dead. You don't know why he's doing that. Maybe he just likes to talk to dead people. But, unbeknownst to you, there's a method to his madness. He can make the dead speak back to him.

This is the reality for Raphael Balthazar (Tomer Sisley) in the series Balthazar. He uses his gift to ask the dead how they died, which in turn, helps the authorities solve the mystery around their deaths. Balthazar is a thrilling mystery show that adds a dab of the supernatural into the mix. This gift, no doubt, helps the French police bring murder cases into the black, and the fast-paced nature keeps things entertaining throughout.

1 'Lupin' (2021–Present)

We've mentioned a lot of great French mystery shows here, and most of them were definitely not on your radar until now. However, we've reached the show that everyone should know and have watched by now. That show is Lupin, created by George Kay and François Uzan for Netflix, which is simply top-notch in both its mystery and its thrills.

Starring Omar Sy in a tremendous performance as Assane Diop, Lupin follows Diop, an immigrant who has come to France to see a better life for himself and his kid. But after his dad is framed for the theft of a diamond necklace by his employer, Diop sets out to clear his father's name and get revenge on his employer. This is a revenge mystery on speed, and every minute of Lupin is enjoyable. If you have yet to watch Lupin, what are you waiting for?