10 Best Crime Dramas Like ‘Secrets We Keep’ on Netflix

Netflix‘s new Danish hit miniseries, Secrets We Keep, has joined the ranks among the streaming giant’s crime TV shows that boast a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The story is set in an affluent, isolated neighborhood north of Copenhagen, where Cecile (Marie Bach Hansen) lives with her husband Mike (Simon Sears) and son Viggo (Lukas Zuperka). Their friends Katarina (Danica Ćurčić) and Rasmus (Lars Ranthe) live next door with their son Oscar (Frode Bilde Rønsholt).

The women and children frequently gather together with their Filipino au pairs, Angel (Excel Busano) and Ruby (Donna Levkovski), who they claim to view as part of the family. After dinner one night, Ruby (Donna Levkovski) begs Cecile for help, saying she needs to get out of Katarina’s house. Cecile refuses to get involved. The next day, Ruby disappears without a trace, having left her belongings and passport behind. Cecile attempts to solve the mystery, becoming convinced that those around her are not who they portray themselves to be.

Secrets We Keep engages its audience not just with its twisty mystery, but with its themes, delving into class, race, and misogyny. If, after its chilling open ending, you’re craving more TV shows in the same vein, this list has you covered.

Here are 10 great crime dramas that are an absolute must-watch if you enjoyed Netflix’s Secrets We Keep.

10

‘Quicksand’ (2019)

Quicksand

Release Date

April 5, 2019

• 

  Hanna Ardéhn

  Maja Norberg

• 

  Felix Sandman

  Sebastian Fagerman

• 

• 

  Rebecka Hemse

  Jeanette Nilsson

Quicksand is an adaptation of Malin Persson’s popular novel of the same name. The Swedish crime drama revolves around a shooting that happens inside a classroom at a Stockholm prep school. Survivor Maja (Hanna Ardéhn) is arrested as a suspect, while her best friend, Amanda (Ella Rappich), and boyfriend, Sebastian (Felix Sandman), are dead at the scene. Unfolding in a series of flashbacks and present-day moments, the show details the events that led to the shooting, starting with the whirlwind romance between Maja and Sebastian.

Will Grip You Like Quicksand

Like Secrets We Keep, this miniseries explores class, how the privileged view others, and the wealthy’s lack of touch with reality. Its most important themes, however, are domestic abuse, gun violence, and mental health. Quicksand doesn’t shy away from delving into these uncomfortable realities. It’s a heavy watch, but an absolutely engrossing one.

9

‘Defending Jacob’ (2020)

This Apple TV+ murder mystery and legal drama is also based on a novel. Chris Evans stars as Andy Barber, a district attorney and father whose 14-year-old son, Jacob (Jaeden Martell), is accused of stabbing a classmate to death in the woods. With a steadfast belief in his son’s innocence, he begins his own investigation. Even as evidence stacks up against him, Andy works hard to exonerate his son, putting a strain on his marriage with his wife Laurie (Michelle Dockery).

A Compelling Watch With an Unsettling Ending

While the premise of a parent suspecting their child of being a violent sociopath is one that has been done numerous times, Defending Jacob makes it feel fresh. The show is an intriguing blend of family drama and a courtroom thriller. Like Secrets We Keep, it’s strongly driven by its characters, bringing to life an intimate portrayal of a family that will never be the same. Similar to the hit Danish miniseries, it also shows how far some parents are willing to go to protect their child, even when that child may be beyond redemption.

8

‘The Chestnut Man’ (2021 – Present)

This thriller miniseries is the Netflix screen adaptation of Søren Sveistrup’s eponymous 2019 novel. The author is the mastermind behind the Danish hit series The Killing, which later got an American remake. The Chestnut Man follows a decades-spanning mystery that begins in 1987, when a family is found gruesomely murdered on their remote farm. In the present-day, several women are found killed under eerily similar circumstances, with mysterious figurines made of chestnuts found at the crime scenes.

A Gripping, Twisted Scandinavian Crime Thriller

Danica Ćurčić, who plays Katarina in Secrets We Keep, stars as Naia Thulin, the detective assigned to the case. The six-episode Nordic noir is one of the most celebrated in the genre. Hooking viewers in from the very first scene, the dark crime drama makes for a worthy binge session. Although it was only intended as a limited series, a second season is in the works, reported to function as a standalone entry.

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7

‘Alba’ (2021)

Alba

Release Date

2021 – 2020

Network

Atresplayer

Directors

Pablo Guerrero, Carlota Martínez-Pereda, Humberto Miró

• 

  Elena Rivera

  Iván Entrerríos

• 

  Eric Masip

  Mariano Entrerríos

• 

• 

  Adriana Ozores

  Jacobo Entrerríos

• 

Based on a Turkish show, this limited series from Spain is among the streaming giant’s most difficult watches (strong TW for SA). The titular protagonist, Alba, played by Elena Rivera, is a university student who wakes up alone on the beach with no recollection of the night before, having been drugged and sexually assaulted. Her rapists are none other than her boyfriend Bruno’s (Eric Masip) best friends, who are among Madrid’s wealthiest and most powerful.

Portrays the Struggles of Real-Life Victims

Mirroring Secrets We Keep, Alba depicts how the rich are nearly always untouchable, while delving into dark, misogynistic mindsets. Alba’s fight against the heinous crimes committed against her pushes the audience to empathize with rape victims, emphasizing the difficulties and prejudices they encounter from both society and the legal system when they demand justice. Although it’s incredibly devastating and even stomach-churning at times, this story is an important deep character portrayal that will resonate with and inspire many.

6

‘Two Summers’ (2022)

Two Summers is a five-episode Belgian miniseries that flashes back and forth between 1992 and 2022. The story begins with the blackmail of a rich politician through texts, in which he’s sent a video of a crime he and his male buddies committed 30 years prior, when they sexually assaulted one of the female members of their group of friends. Moments after the bombshell, those same friends arrive at his private island for a lavish weekend celebrating his 50th birthday.

A Suspenseful Drama With Much to Say

The thriller drama delves into the group’s complicated histories with each other, making for an enticing watch. Later in the show, another mystery is revealed, further intriguing the audience. Like some of the aforementioned series on this list, Two Summers explores important issues surrounding sexual assault. Here, it gives a scathing critique of the “boys will be boys” mentality, while shooting down other justifications for sexual violence and emphasizing how rapists are hardly ever held accountable. It makes for a gripping summer watch when you’re looking for something more serious during the season.

5

‘A Nearly Normal Family’ (2023)

Also adapted from a book, this limited series follows the Sandells, a seemingly normal, happy family living in an idyllic Swedish suburb. Mom Ulkira (Lo Kauppi) is a lawyer, and dad Adam (Björn Bengtsson) is a minister. A few years back, their daughter Stella (Alexandra Karlsson Tyrefors) experienced a traumatic event, but she seems to be healing and trying to move on with her life. Their world shatters again when the 19-year-old teen is arrested for the murder of her 32-year-old boyfriend, Chris Olsen (Christian Fandango Sundgren).

An Explosive Crime Drama About Family Dynamics

The show alternates perspectives and timelines to tell the story and build suspense. With a total runtime of less than five hours and an enthralling narrative, A Nearly Normal Family makes as thrilling of a binge as Secrets We Keep. It also depicts how far parents are willing to go to protect their children, exploring the darker meaning of what it means to be family.

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4

‘Black Snow’ (2021 – Present)

Black Snow

Release Date

January 1, 2023

Network

Stan

Directors

Sian Davies

• 

• 

  Jemmason Power

  Hazel Baker

• 

  Talijah Blackman-Corowa

  Isabel Baker

• 

  Alexander England

  Anton Bianchi

Black Snow is an Australian crime drama centered around James Cormack (Travis Fimmel), a cold case detective dedicated to his work and haunted by the disappearance of his brother decades earlier. Season 1 sees the 1994 murder of 17-year-old Isabelle Baker (Talijah Blackman-Corowa) reopened when a clue is discovered inside a time capsule, delving deep into North Queensland’s South Sea Islander community. The second season moves to a small town outside of Brisbane, focusing on the 2003 disappearance of Zoe Jacobs (Jana McKinnon) from her 21st birthday party, as Cormack continues his search for his brother.

A Mystery Driven By Important Sociopolitical Topics

Part of what makes Black Snow so captivating is its use of dual timelines to slowly unravel each mystery. Fimmel delivers a powerful performance that makes his character a standout among other TV detectives. Like Secrets We Keep, it’s the social, political, and cultural themes that drive the story. The debut season examines the ongoing impact of Australia’s dark history of blackbirding, colonialism, and the exploitation and dehumanization of immigrants. Season 2 explores the impact of residential developments on underprivileged communities.

3

‘Adolescence’ (2025)

When it premiered on Netflix, Adolescence topped the streaming platform’s charts in multiple countries, receiving praise from audiences and critics alike. Co-created by the brilliant Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, the four-part miniseries stars Owen Cooper in his breakout role as Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old boy arrested for the brutal fatal stabbing of his classmate, Katie Leonard (Emilia Holliday). His father, played by Graham, is initially convinced of his innocence, but the evidence presented soon tells a different story.

A Portrayal of How Toxic Masculinity Shapes Young Minds

The buzzy show delves into the motive behind the crime, while also examining the devastating impact it has on his family. Shot in one continuous take, it’s a deeply immersive and unnerving experience. Among the themes explored are incel culture, toxic masculinity, the rising normalization of cultural misogyny, and the dangers of online presences in the “manosphere.”

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2

‘The Åre Murders’ (2025)

The Åre Murders

Release Date

February 6, 2025

Network

Netflix

Directors

Alain Darborg

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  Carla Sehn

  Hanna Ahlander

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  Kardo Razzazi

  Daniel Lindskog

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  Charlie Gustafsson

  Anton Lundin

• 

  Amalia Holm Bjelke

  Uncredited

• 

This Scandi-noir is based on Viveca Sten’s murder mystery novels Hidden in Snow and Hidden in the Shadows. Set in a small, remote ski town in Northern Sweden, it’s centered around the disappearance of a teenage girl. When Stockholm detective Hanna Ahlandar (Carla Sehn) arrives in town to get her head straight after a breakup and a suspension, she can’t resist getting involved in the case, partnering up with local investigator Daniel Lindskog (Kardo Razzazi).

One of the Best Crime Shows on Netflix

The show’s wintery, snowy setting will transport you to a winter wonderland with dark secrets lurking beneath the surface. From the very first episode, the story keeps you guessing and glued to your seat. In classic Nordic noir fashion, Hanna harbors her own personal demons, making for an intriguing character. With only five episodes, it’s a great option for a quick afternoon or evening binge.

1

‘The Glass Dome’ (2025)

Lejla (Léonie Vincent) was abducted as a child, waking up in a glass box mirrored on the inside, with no idea who abducted her. After being found alive, Valter (Johan Hedenberg), the police chief, took her in as his own daughter. Two decades later, she’s a behavioral scientist and criminologist living in the U.S. When her adoptive father calls with news of his wife’s death, she returns to Granås, her small hometown in Sweden. Soon after, her childhood friend’s daughter is abducted. Lejla joins the search and is forced to confront her own past. Characters and audiences are both left wondering if history is repeating itself.

A Dark, Gripping Watch

Famous Swedish crime author Camilla Läckberg is this series’ creator and executive producer, so trust that it’s a riveting story full of shocking twists and turns. The six-episode series ticks off all the boxes of Nordic noir — a protagonist with demons, a heavy atmosphere, intertwined small-town relationships, and a dark mystery.