What happens when the quaint charm of small-town mysteries collides with razor-sharp wit, deeply unsettling crimes, and a detective duo you’ll never forget? You get The Brokenwood Mysteries — the long-running New Zealand hit that’s as addictive as it is unsettling.
In the deceptively peaceful town of Brokenwood, DI Mike Shepherd arrives with his love for country music, a vintage car, and a haunted past he can’t quite shake. Partnered with by-the-book Detective Kristin Sims, the two unravel rural crimes that twist into something far stranger — and far darker — than they first appear.
With ten seasons of binge-worthy cases, sharp humor, and storytelling that rivals Department Q at its peak, this is cozy crime gone rogue: warmer than Nordic noir, yet just as chilling. Press play… and don’t expect to sleep any time soon.
Calling all Midsomer Murders fans — your next true obsession has just hit its peak. With ten binge-ready seasons and a devoted global fanbase, The Brokenwood Mysteries has quietly exploded from “hidden gem” to full-blown phenomenon — and now it’s being hailed as the small-town detective series that dethroned Department Q.
Described by critics as “quirky, unsettling, and completely addictive,” this darkly charming crime drama is everything Midsomer fans love — and then some. But be warned: once you enter Brokenwood, you might never escape.
hat’s The Brokenwood Mysteries About?
Dubbed by fans as “the New Zealand Midsomer Murders”, this long-running series follows a crime-solving duo who are anything but ordinary. At the heart of the show is DI Mike Shepherd — a man with a classic car, a country music obsession, and a trail of ex-wives — who arrives in the seemingly idyllic town of Brokenwood expecting peace and quiet.
What he finds is a slow-burning nightmare.
Shepherd’s by-the-book partner, Detective Kristin Sims, is 15 years younger than his vintage Holden — and just as stubborn. Together, they face an ever-deepening “web of deception, greed, and dark secrets,” where murders range from ritualistic to supernatural, and nothing is ever what it seems.
Set against a deceptively calm backdrop of rolling hills and quiet farms, Brokenwood is anything but peaceful. It’s twisted, darkly funny, and brimming with secrets. And the crimes? They’re weirder — and deadlier — than anything in Midsomer.
Who Stars in This Cult Crime Hit?
The show stars Neill Rea (Go Girls, Auckward Love) as the emotionally layered DI Mike Shepherd, and Fern Sutherland (The Almighty Johnsons) as the sharp and relentless Detective Sims. Their dynamic — awkward, tense, and occasionally hilarious — is at the show’s beating heart.
They’re joined by Cristina Serban Ionda as the delightfully eccentric pathologist Dr. Gina Kadinsky, Jarod Rawiri as newcomer DC Daniel Chalmers, and Nic Sampson as fan-favorite Sam Breen.
It’s not just the leads that shine. Even the side characters — from pub owners to suspects — are fully fleshed out and unforgettable.
Why Fans Can’t Get Enough
With an 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a passionate social media following, The Brokenwood Mysteries is no longer a quiet sleeper hit — it’s a must-watch cultural phenomenon.
One fan called it “the best thing I’ve watched in years.” Another wrote: “An absolutely BRILLIANT detective mystery. Quirky, well-acted, great stories — I’m addicted.”
And that’s the word we keep hearing: addicted. This isn’t just a show you watch. It’s a show you inhale. Ten seasons later, and viewers are still discovering cold cases, twisted motives, and shocks they never saw coming.
Why It’s Being Compared to — and Beating — Midsomer & Dept. Q
Midsomer Murders walked so Brokenwood could run — and Department Q showed us the emotional damage crime dramas can deliver. Brokenwood combines both into something darker, funnier, and more bingeable than either.
Think Broadchurch with rural charm. Think Shetland with sharper teeth. Or think Midsomer, if Midsomer’s crimes actually kept you up at night.
How to Watch
All ten seasons of The Brokenwood Mysteries are currently available to binge on streaming platform U, with season 11 arriving on August 18 exclusively on U and U&Drama. That gives you just over two weeks to catch up — and trust us, once you start, the hours will vanish.
Bottom line?
If you’re craving intelligent mysteries, offbeat humor, unforgettable characters, and deaths that feel way too close to home — this is your next fix. Just don’t press play after 10PM. You’ve been warned.
