11 of the best true crime series available to watch now

One of the greatest mysteries of the 20th century, the identity of D.B. Cooper – a man who hijacked a 1971 flight and demanded $200,000 in ransom before parachuting into the unknown – has been a topic of debate for decades but this Netflix docuseries dives deep into the titular question: D.B. Cooper, where are you?

The four-part series analyses the long list of suspects and looks at the numerous theories around how Cooper – the name on the hijacker's plane ticket – could have survived the fall and stayed undetected with that huge amount of cash. An informative watch, D.B. Cooper: Where Are You? will pique the interests of all the amateur sleuths out there.

If you happen to be in the small minority of Netflix subscribers who have never seen Tiger King, then now is the time to binge all seven episodes of the wild 2020 series about a feud between two exotic animal owners that ends in one of them being sent to prison.

The docuseries, which is one of Netflix's most successful titles to date, looks at the big cat industry in the US and the rivalry between conservationist Carole Baskin and zoo owner Joe Exotic, their murky pasts and the legal battle that ensued between them.

A fascinating watch, Tiger King is mandatory viewing for true-crime fans.

While most of us have had to deal with messy flatmates in our time, the subjects in Netflix docuseries Worst Roommate Ever will make you think twice the next time you want to complain about your living situation.

The five-part documentary looks at four criminal cases that happened in shared living accommodation, from the killer pensioner Dorothea Puente to marathon-running fraudster Youssef Khater, who was convicted of attempted murder.

Amazon Prime Video gave us the fascinating pyramid scheme documentary LuLaRich at the end of last year, looking into LuLaRoe and allegations that the clothing empire is actually a multi-level marketing company.

The four-part series follows the unravelling of the women's clothing brand, which became infamous for selling products through social media and for the class-action lawsuits filed against it, accusing the company of being a pyramid scheme – claims which the company strongly denies.

Featuring interviews with former employees, journalists and multi-level marketing experts, LuLaRich is a revealing exploration of this notorious business.

Netflix looks at catfishing on a whole other level in The Tinder Swindler – the true crime documentary about Simon Leviev, a fraudster who emotionally manipulated his Tinder dates into giving him money.

The film interviews women who say they were tricked by Leviev into sending him large amounts of cash that were never repaid, with the con artist taking them on private jets and lavish dinner dates before saying that he needed their money to hide from his enemies.

One of the most-talked about documentaries of the year so far, The Tinder Swindler is a timely cautionary tale that captivates with its unbelievable story.

Available to stream on BBC iPlayer, The Nilsen Files is a three-part documentary looking into one of the UK's most notorious serial killers – Dennis Nilsen.

The series looks at how the police went about catching Nilsen, who killed at least 15 men between 1978 and 1983 in London, and why the criminal managed to commit atrocities without attracting attention for so long.

An interesting but upsetting dive into Nilsen's crimes, this BBC Two docuseries makes for an informative watch – especially if you were fascinated by ITV's drama Des, starring David Tennant as Nilsen.

Jean-Xavier de Lestrade's docuseries The Staircase may have been originally released in 2004, but since it arrived on Netflix in 2018 with brand new episodes, it's picked up another generation of viewers – so much so that Colin Firth is starring in HBO Max's dramatisation later this year.

The 13-part series looks at the death of Kathleen Peterson, whose husband – novelist Michael Peterson – was convicted of her murder.

An intriguing look at a complicated case, The Staircase is a must-watch for true-crime fans.

Sky launched its documentaries channel back in 2020 in the best possible way – with HBO's true-crime series McMillions.

The six-part series investigates the McDonald's Monopoly promotion between 1989 and 2001, looking at how Jerry Jacobson, the head of security for the agency running the promotion, defrauded the company and recruited a wide range of accomplices.

Produced by Mark Wahlberg, McMillions expertly examines the chaos around this massive controversy that saw fraudsters take home $24 million worth over several years.

One of the most talked-about documentaries of 2015, The Jinx was a terrifying look at Robert Durst, a real estate agent who was convicted of murdering his friend Susan Berman in 2000 after the series aired.

Directed by Andrew Jarecki, the series looks at the unsolved disappearance of Durst's wife Kathie, the killing of Berman and the murder of Durst's neighbour Morris Black – with Durst suspected of committing the first two murders and confessing to the third.

An Emmy-nominated series, The Jinx is a jaw-dropping piece of television that is even more chilling when you consider the show's aftermath.

Netflix looks at one of the biggest scandals of 2017 in Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened – a documentary about conman Billy McFarland and his failed attempt to put on Fyre Festival, a disastrous luxury event in the Bahamas.

The film follows McFarland and his team as they advertise Fyre Festival as a music event for the rich and wealthy, only for the debacle to turn into a headline-making holiday from hell that resulted in McFarland being sentenced to six years in federal prison.

An Emmy-nominated documentary that packs a punch, Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened makes for tense yet entertaining viewing.