You’ll have no doubt seen the news that Netflix has found its Harry Hole. The popular fictional detective, from the mind of acclaimed author Jo Nesbø, will be played by Tobias Santelmann (Exit, The Fortress, The Last Kingdom). The series itself will simply be called Detective Hole.
What we know, so far, is that the series will cover the course of events of The Devil’s Star, the fifth book in the Harry Hole series. The book centres around the Nemesis investigation, during which Hole uncovers his colleague, Tom Waaler, as a criminal arms dealer. Will he be believed? Suicide Squad and The Killing star Joel Kinnaman has been cast as Waaler whilst Santelmann’s The Fortress co-star, Pia Tjelta will appear as Rakel Fauke.
But, if you can’t wait for Detective Hole to finally hit screens in 2026, Nordic Watchlist has you covered.
Here are six grisly detective thrillers currently streaming on Netflix to keep you occupied in the meantime.
The Chestnut Man | Netflix
Writer Søren Sveistrup gave the world Sarah Lund in The Killing. His novel, The Chestnut Man, was adapted for Netflix back in 2021. The six part series stars David Dencik and Danica Curcic and is set in and around Copenhagen. It kicks off with a figure made from chestnuts being left at a bloody murder scene and, from there, draws you in with political subterfuge and interwoven narratives. It’s incredibly binge-worthy and benefits from really strong central performances (not to also forget there is a second season being worked on too)!
The Valhalla Murders | Netflix
This eight-part series was created by Thordur Palsson, who also directed the 2024 film The Damned. Arnar (Björn Thors) is a police profiler living in Oslo. He is called back to his native Iceland to investigate what could be the country’s first serial killer. There’s plenty of rain and snow, dark nights and gruesome murders. It is genuinely unsettling at times, as Arnar starts to recall elements of his own past that may or may not be tied to the case.
Bordertown | Netflix
There are currently three series of Bordertown on Netflix and a further spin-off show (Bordertown: Mural Murders) so there is plenty there to fuel a really good binge watch. This Finnish series stars Ville Virtanen as Detective Kari Sorjonen, a police veteran who gives up his high-profile job to relocate to a remote town on the Russian-Finnish border so that his wife can recuperate from her cancer battle. However, there is no change of pace as Kari is drawn into a number of horrific cases, which he solves in his own, Sherlock-esque style.
Deadwind | Netflix
Oh how we love a female-led Scandi series. Especially one with a messy personal life. Pihla Viitala stars as Sofia Karppi, a police officer who has discovered the body of a young girl on a construction site. Partnered with the efficient, well-dressed Sakari Numi (Lauri Tilkanen), can she solve the case before her personal life threatens to pull her under? There are lots of gorgeous scenic shots and just the right amount of bloody close-ups to keep you hooked. And knitwear, there’s plenty of knitwear.
Young Wallander | Netflix
If you enjoyed the Swedish or English language versions of Wallander that have graced the BBC in previous years, perhaps you’ll enjoy this “origin story” prequel. There are two series of the show on Netflix, with Adam Pålsson in the titular role. Wallander has just graduated but is thrown into the deep end with his first-ever case – a hate crime. There are smugglers, dodgy billionaires and fascinating character development. Fingers crossed we get season three soon.
Entrapped | Netflix
Seasons one and two of Trapped live over on Amazon Prime, but Netflix picked up the sequel, Entrapped. The fabulous Ólafur Darri Ólafsson and Ilmur Kristjánsdóttir return as detectives Andri and Hinrika, amongst a cast that includes the likes of Thomas Bo Larsen. This time, the pair investigate a land dispute between a biker gang and a mysterious cult in the remote north of Iceland. The stunning snowy vistas and complicated personal relationships that made Trapped such a hit continue in this follow-up.
There are plenty of hours of viewing listed here – perhaps not quite enough to keep you going until 2026 – but certainly enough to give you a flavour of what makes a great Scandi detective story.