The Residence is a fun Knives Out-inspired murder mystery on Netflix that features a gender-swapped version of Benoit Blanc, played in the movies by Daniel Craig, called Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba). Like Blanc, she’s investigating a murder. But rather a murder that occurs in a lavish mansion with the family and staff as suspects, it’s in the White House during a state dinner with members from the Australian government present as well.
A classic whodunnit, all episodes of The Residence are available to stream, making the show perfect for binging. Once done, what to watch next? There are plenty of other similar shows that anyone who likes The Residence will also enjoy.
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‘Based on a True Story’ (2023–)
Ava Bartlett (Kaley Cuoco) is obsessed with true crime, spending all her free time listening to podcasts and trying to figure out the culprits. When a real-life serial killer is in her midst and turns out to be someone she knows, however, the situation gets murky. Rather than turn him in, Ava and her husband Nathan (Chris Messina) decide to do the unthinkable: offer him a deal. They won’t call the authorities if he agrees to do an anonymous true-crime podcast with them about his actions and motivations, and stop the killing. He agrees, but Ava and Nathan will soon realize that negotiating with a serial killer isn’t the brightest idea.
Based on a True Story has murder mystery elements to it, though early in the first season, viewers discover they know who the killer is. In the second, however, there are several murders to investigate, reinvigorating Ava’s passion for true crime and the adrenaline rush it brings her. Both shows have a knack for making otherwise dramatic moments funny as well.
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‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ (2024–)
Image via Netflix
Based on the Holly Jackson novel of the same name, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder could be viewed as a potential prequel to The Residence. The lead character Pip Fitz-Amobi (Emma Myers) is just as determined and obsessed with solving crimes as Cupp is, and was when she was younger, based on the flashback episode. So much so, in fact, that Pip sets out to solve the murder of a local school girl, and turns it into a school project.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, one of the best teen shows on Netflix right now, features a younger cast with a high school setting. But it’s a whodunit as well, with a more serious tone as a mystery thriller for those who want something a bit more intense.
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‘A Murder at the End of the World’ (2023)
A Murder at the End of the World is far darker and more cerebral. But the psychological mystery thriller miniseries is yet another murder mystery that centers around a group of wealthy and elite people stuck in a remote estate when one of them is murdered. It’s up to Darby Hart (Emma Corrin), a talented young hacker and amateur detective with a similar outsider personality to Cupp, to try and figure out who killed her former flame.
The series takes viewers through the same misdirects as Darby looks into the events that led up to Bill’s (Harris Dickinson) untimely death. She deals with much darker, more sinister characters, all played by high-profile actors as well, including Brit Marling, Clive Owen, and Alice Braga. But for those who want a show where they can investigate and guess along with the lead, A Murder at the End of the World is a good next choice.
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‘Murder, She Wrote’ (1984–1996)
Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) might not be an actual detective. But like Cupp, her work is invaluable to the police force. As a successful mystery writer, her work and creative mind have given her a special intuition into the minds of killers and how to look at cases differently. Thus, when the police gravitate towards the most likely suspect, Jessica recognizes that there might be other aspects at play that lead to the real culprit.
She’s as talented as Cupp, both able to view situations in a unique way, and catch small details that others miss. With a dozen seasons of this multi-award-winning series to watch, it’s a great one to check out while waiting for the next new murder mystery show or movie.
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‘The Perfect Couple’ (2024)
Just like The Residence, The Perfect Couple centers around a group of wealthy individuals attending a lavish event. When one person winds up murdered, an investigation begins, and no one is able to leave. The initial premise is similar to The Residence. Just like in that show, each person is interviewed separately to recall their version of events on the day and night leading up to the tragic murder. Each person is also wearing a figurative mask, hiding true details about themselves.
Similarly, everyone becomes a suspect throughout every episode of The Perfect Couple because each person seems to have had a different motive to kill the person in question. There’s no singular perceptive detective in this series. But a pair of detectives, Nikki (Donna Lynne Champlin) and Dan (Michael Beach), do the hard work, grow suspicious of each person at every turn, and finally solve the case by the end. Fans will love that in watching back, just like with The Residence, there were little clues throughout.
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‘The Afterparty’ (2022–2023)
For those who want something even lighter and more fun than The Residence, The Afterparty is a good watch. Tiffany Haddish plays Detective Danner, an ambitious detective investigating the death of a man at a high school reunion afterparty. Like in The Residence, no one is permitted to leave as she questions them one by one. As each person recalls their version of events and gives their alibis, viewers see reenactments in the same way they do in The Residence. But these are presented as different genres of storytelling, from a rom-com to a psychological thriller to an action movie. The second season follows the same theme with the setting of a lavish wedding and a murdered groom.
Danner has many similarities to Cupp, both with quirky personalities and who ask seemingly odd questions or use unconventional methods. But both have a keen sense of observation and pick up on small details. The Afterparty is a refreshing option to watch after The Residence.
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‘Father Brown’ (2013–)
A loose adaptation of G.K. Chesterton’s short stories of the same name, Father Brown follows the mystery-solving exploits of the titular protagonist in a 1950s English village. A seemingly plain-looking Roman Catholic priest, Father Brown is recognized for his shapeless attire, carrying a huge umbrella, but an uncanny insight into people and their behavior, which comes in handy when solving numerous crimes in his community. But in his endeavors to bring justice to the people, the man of faith often forgets his parish duties, making things very chaotic.
Father Brown is noted for Mark Williams’s portrayal of a priest solving wicked crimes, fooling people with his seemingly naïve appearance, and surprising them with his sharp-as-a-tack intelligence and unexpected observation skills, like Cordelia Cupp. With quirky characters, cozy setting, and intelligent storytelling, Father Brown brings back the authentic vibe of a classic British mystery series that would delight fans of The Residence. —Maddie P
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‘Elsbeth’ (2024–)
A spin-off of The Good Wife, Elsbeth follows the exciting exploits of the titular Chicago lawyer, who leaves her long-time legal career and moves to New York City to help the NYPD solve crimes, while experiencing her new life in the big city. Carrie Preston reprises her role as Elsbeth Tascioni, an eccentric legal maverick with loud fashion choices and a lack of social skills. But if her odd antics annoy everyone around her, her brilliant, though off-kilter, investigative techniques, unflinching enthusiasm, and razor-sharp observation skills help close cases in no time.
Elsbeth revives the era of the good old police procedurals of the 2000s, tweaked with contemporary narrative, clever plot lines, and affable characters, making it a colorful and thrilling crime caper. The show thrives in its inverted detective story format, which focuses on the howcatchem set-up of mysteries rather than the traditional whodunnits, adding an edge to the conventional mystery-of-the-week storytelling. —Maddie P
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‘Wednesday’ (2022–)
Based on The Addams Family characters created by Charles Addams, Wednesday follows the macabre adventures of the titular teenager, a vacant-eyed, woeful child, who joins Nevermore Academy, a school for gifted children. While learning to hone her psychic powers, Wednesday gets involved in various mysterious and inexplicable murders involving the students and staff at the school.
Wednesday is a dark comedy supernatural mystery with hints of classic gothic literature, and motifs from Edgar Allen Poe’s work, elevated by Tim Burton’s fantastical production. Jenna Ortega makes a lasting impression as Wednesday Addams, exuding ultimate talent as the melancholic misfit in every sense, who attracts trouble wherever she goes. Her mystery-solving methods are unique and unconventional, just like The Residence’s Cordelia Cupp, but often border on dark and eerie. Staying true to the original Addams Family vibe, Wednesday is a perfectly kooky, creepy, and spooky murder mystery that genre fans would love. —Maddie P
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‘Ludwig’ (2024–)
A BBC-original mystery dramedy, Ludwig follows John Taylor (David Mitchell), a reclusive puzzle-maker, pen-named Ludwig, who gets pulled into a crime-solving quest when his identical twin brother and Detective Chief Inspector in Cambridge, James, goes missing and his wife enlists his help. Impersonating James, John infiltrates the police department and uses his puzzle-solving skills to investigate his brother’s disappearance, while inadvertently solving murder cases for the police.
Packed with cryptic clues, logical problems, and hidden patterns, Ludwig is very similar to The Residence, both featuring eccentric, socially awkward, and cerebral detectives. The brilliantly made British detective show is more like a brain-teaser, prompting the audience to solve the twisty plots along with the investigators. It is fun, clever, and methodical, which can be deeply satisfying and engaging for puzzle-solvers and fans of riddles. Ludwig combines dry wit, dark humor, twisted mystery, and character-driven drama to deliver an intelligent crime thriller. —Maddie P
