Happy New Year! Now that 2026 has arrived, we are at the cozy time of the year. Thankfully, there are some gems like My Life Is Murder Season 5, which premiered on Acorn TV earlier this week with a rousing new episode. Furthermore, on BritBox Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators Season 5 is wrapping up this month.
However, it this is a good time to check out some of the best of the 2025 new Mystery and Romance series that you may have missed. Here are some of my favorites.
‘Mistletoe Murders’ Is The Best Hallmark Mystery Series Ever
Firstly, this tops the list because a lot of mystery fans who do not normally watch Hallmark have missed this exceptional series. In addition, although Mistletoe Murders, starring Sarah Drew, Peter Mooney, and Sierra Marilyn Riley, technically premiered in 2024 on Hallmark+, the 2025 premieres of Seasons 1 and 2 were some of the best of 2025 Countdown To Christmas.
Welcome to Fletcher’s Grove, the cozy town where Emily Lane (Sarah Drew), the mysterious owner of the 365-day Christmas shoppe, Under The Mistletoe, lives. She sells a tasty holiday cookie, has an incredible singing voice, and can take down a murderer like a superhero. This mystery series is a lot like Veronica Mars, but encased in Hallmark’s soft and cozy Christmas.
There is a mystery in a mystery in each episode, as Sleuthers learn more about the shop owner/sleuth. Emily Lane has a dangerous and mysterious past. She is a lone wolf and is content with her lot. That is, until she meets gorgeous Detective Sam Milner (Peter Mooney). Then, Emily shows a softer side that she rarely lets out.
Mistletoe Murders is based on the Audible Original, created by Ken Cuperus. He is a super talented writer and producer known for Stargate Atlantis and co-creating and writing for Hudson & Rex. The Audible series stars Cobie Smulders, Raymond Ablack, and Anna Cathcart.
In addition, although the leads are different between the Audible and Hallmark series, and HGTV’s Crew Scott is not portraying Famous Ray, many of the supporting actors like Kylee Evans and Jean Yoon, are in the Hallmark series. Lastly, David Hewitt portrays the mysterious and wacky furniture shop owner. Stargate Atlantis fans will want to check out Mistletoe Murders for that reason alone!
- Each season is 6 episodes, each 42 minutes, with two episodes per mystery
- Cozy-Fletcher’s Grove (Yes, Murder She Wrote fans, this is an homage!)
- Romance-Sarah Drew & Peter Mooney have amazing chemistry!
- G to PG rated violence (While there is death, there are no autopsies or blood)
- Good storytelling (Ken Cuperus can weave a great story and multi-layered lead)
- Still waiting for Mistletoe Murders Season 3 renewal news
- Audible Original Mistletoe Murders will not spoil the Hallmark Series-highly recommended!
- Currently streaming on Hallmark Plus
Brilliant & Funny ‘Ludwig’ Is Unexpected Comedy & Mystery Gem
I discovered this brilliant BritBox detective comedy series when a fellow Sleuther friend recommended Ludwig and I was instantly hooked. This is the story of brilliant puzzle creator, John “Ludwig” Taylor (David Mitchell), who is tasked by his persistent sister-in-law, Lucy Betts-Taylor (Anna Maxwell Martin), to impersonate his twin brother James.
Firstly, James, a DCI on Cambridge’s major crimes squad, has gone missing. Lucy insists that James is in trouble, and John can do some sleuthing without anyone noticing. However, real murders happen, and unbeknownst to to his brother’s investigative team, John continues this charade, using his puzzle knowledge to solve each crime. Meanwhile, he tries to solve the bigger puzzle-why his brother and others in his department-have suddenly scattered.
- There are six episode, and each episode is about 60 minutes long
- Fans Of Death Comes To Pemberley will recognize Anna Maxwell Martin who portrayed Elizabeth Darcy
- G to PG Violence. This series is a comedy
- Production on Season 2 started in September 2025
- Ludwig Season 2 should drop in the Fall 2026
- Available to steam on BritBox
Acorn TV’s ‘Art Detectives’ Stars Stephen Moyer & Nina Singh
DI Mick Palmer (Stephen Moyer) and DS Shazia Malik (Nina Singh) work for the Met’s smallest department, Heritage Crime. They investigate everything from art crimes to art-related murder. This is a quirky, nerdy, and entertaining series that is unlike anything on any network.
There is big money in art crime, and a cornucopia of secrets and motivations in these six episodes. The scenarios include a Viking archeological dig, a music producer’s home studio, wine tasting, an art historian with a dark family secret, and a millionaire who wants to donate a collection of Titanic memorabilia.
Add that Palmer’s father, Ron, is a master forger, and DS Malik is new to the department, there is a lot of intrigue in this satisfying and unique series.
- There is six episodes in Season 1, with each episode about 45 minutes long
- Art Detectives set a new record for Acorn TV, eclipsing Jane Seymour’s series, Harry Wild
- G-PG Violence. There are murders, but nothing graphic
- Catch Stephen Moyer in The Forsytes Season 1, in the Spring, on PBS Masterpiece, with Season 2 already started filming in 2025
- Acorn TV has not announced Art Detectives Season 2
- Available to stream on Acorn TV
Hallmark’s ‘Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas’ Is Funny & Cozy Holiday Series
Christmas 2025 may be over, but it doesn’t mean that the Christmas series need to end. Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas has enough laughs, quirkiness, and sparkle to work any time of year.
This series stars Mae Whitman as Kate. An only child, this quirky Savile Row pattern designer has been mostly homebound. She has been a caregiver to her beloved father Mac (Inspector Lynley star Nathaniel Parker) who broke his hip riding his motorcycle in the early days of his retirement. They are so close that he lives right next door.
However, Kate’s world begins to open up when her best friend Laura (Lucy Eaton) gifts her with The Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas dating service Kate is tasked to go on 12 dates with 12 different dates. The dates run the gamut of Regency era ball, to escape room.
Now that Kate has been branching out, Mac suddenly finds himself spending more time with Evelyn (Jane Seymour). She teaches Latin aerobics and is determined to get the very dapper Mac out into the world.
Meanwhile, Kate’s free-spirited mom Delilah (Mary McDonnell) shows up to throw a wrench in everyone’s lives. Add a very charming date named Richard (double gold medal winner Tony Sandeman) and her best friend Callum’s (Julian Morris) input, this is a quirky, fun, and cozy series that should not be missed!
- Six 42-minute episodes
- Based on the Jenny Bayliss novel, The Twelve Dates Of Christmas
- More like a Netflix series but still Hallmark cozy
- G–PG rated, with perhaps the first time a character has ever been described as “sexy” in any Hallmark production
- Available to stream on Hallmark Plus
‘Return To Paradise’ Is ‘Death In Paradise’ Spinoff
The long-running BritBox series Death In Paradise series has long been a favorite. The fictional island of Saint Marie is especially delightful during the dark of winter, as are the complex, often locked-room murders, with the eclectic revolving door of British inspectors who move to the very French-influenced paradise.
Now, there is a fantastic spinoff called Return To Paradise. This stars Anna Sampson as DI McKenzie Clarke, who has fled her London job to return to her hometown of Dolphin Cove, Australia. She abruptly left home, and now she is back and she has a lot of pieces to pick up and apologies to make. Furthermore, when she left her job, it was under a cloud of suspicion.
Like the OG, there is plenty of comedy, impossible murders to solve, and a stunning location. Lloyd Griffin portrays Detective SC Colin Cartwright, and Tai Hara as Glenn Strong, her ex-fiancé.
- Six episodes per season, with each episode about 55 minutes long
- Season 1 available to stream on BritBox, Season 2 will be available to stream soon
- Death In Paradise star Ardal O’Hanlon makes a few guest appearances
- PG rated violence
- No need to watch Death In Paradise first
BritBox Series ‘Lynley’ Is Based On Elizabeth George’s Series
In 2025, BritBox released Lynley, the remake of theInspector Lynley series based on the Elizabeth George novels. Leo Sutter portrays the high-brow Earl detective, while Sofia Barclay portrays Barbara Havers, the often mercurial DS who relies on her gut instinct. The original series starred Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Smalls.
This new series has a fresher and grittier feel than the darker classic OG series from 25 years ago. Leo Sutter’s Thomas Lynley is less formal, exuding a sort of clean elegance of modern aristocracy. Sofia Barclay plays hardworking Barbara Havers. She comes from humble beginnings and is a woman trying to make her mark in a career that she loves. What happens when two people from totally different backgrounds are forced to work together?
Together, they fight injustice, although they start out fighting each other.
- Four 90-minute episodes
- Waiting for news on Season 2 renewal
- Be sure to check out the original Inspector Lynlely on Britbox-the stories are slightly different, so there will not be any spoilers
- In a fun twist, Sofia Barclay plays a character from the lower classes despite being the granddaughter of one of the founds of Barclays Banks
- Currently streaming on BritBox
‘Providence Falls’ Is Intoxicating Romance & Mystery
One of the best series in the history of Hallmark is one that is more like a Netflix series. It is the three-movie extravaganza Providence Falls. Due to unfortunate programming, the network chose to premiere this during August, when most people are on vacation, as opposed to the bustling Fall.
This series masterfully mashes up romance, fantasy, and mystery into one of the most intoxicating series ever made by any network.
Hallmark’s limited series Providence Falls is based on the Jude Deveraux and Tara Sheets books. These movies are about Liam (Lachlan Quarmby), whose job is to fix past-life mistakes from 1844 Ireland. He is to help Cora (Katie Stevens) fall in love with Finn (Evan Roderick), her intended.
Here are the three Providence Falls movies:
- Chance Of A Lifetime: “Cora, a newbie police detective, is partnered with visiting detective Liam on her first case. Little does she know, Liam is her reincarnated love, here to change her fate.”
- An Impossible Promise: “Detectives Cora and Liam must solve a murder. Meanwhile, despite Liam’s hidden love for Cora, he pushes her toward DA Finn Walsh, her fated match, in order to change their destinies.”
- Thief Of Fate: “Detectives Cora and Liam close in on solving their murder case and rebel against the angels, choosing to take fate into their own hands.”
In addition to Katie Stevens, Lachlan Quarmby, and Evan Roderick, Jessica Sipos, Niall Matter, Felicia Simone, Stargate Atlantis star Paul McGillon, and Matty Finochio star. Lastly, this is Charles Cavill’s first role. Yes, he is Henry Cavill’s youngest brother!
- Three 82-minute movies
- Available to stream on Hallmark+
- Going analog? Buy the DVDs
Do you have any favorite series from 2025 that you think may have been overlooked? Do you think new series like Irish Blood or Murder Before Evensong been overlooked? Share your favorite in the comments below.
