Top 5 Cozy and Suspenseful TV Series to Get You Through Autumn’s Dreary Days

Rain, foliage, herbal tea in hand, sad playlist in the background...are you ready for the most beautiful season of the year? If alas, you're not really a fan of autumn as I am, I might have a remedy to help you make the time pass more quickly. These TV series are perfect for the fall season and especially for those who appreciate a little mystery and tension on the small screen. Somewhere between cozy and suspenseful, here are my personal recommendations—as well as some of my all-time favorite TV series—to help you get through the dreary days ahead.

Only Murders In The Building: Cozy Mystery in a New York Setting

Three tenants of a New York building, extremely different from each other but united by a curiosity for true crime podcasts and murders, start to get closer when a crime is committed right inside their residence and they begin their own personal investigations. The perfect mix of cozy vibes and mystery crime, set in the evocative background of a New York autumn, Only Murders In The Building combines the classic closed-door murder mystery genre, in which everything takes place inside a single building, with a few touches of comedy and a warm, comfortable setting. It is the perfect watch-and-snuggle show, to enjoy wrapped up in your blanket with a cup of hot tea in hand.

Sherlock: Classic Detective Mystery with a Modern Twist

With Benedict Cumberbatch as the main character. Do I need to add more? This classic of mystery from the prolific pen of Arthur Conan Doyle transports the detective with the infallible nose and his faithful sidekick from late 19th-century to modern-day London. The TV adaptation of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson is packed into four seasons of episodes of about an hour and a half each, but I assure you that you won't even notice it because of how engrossed you will feel in the story. The sharp deductions of an eccentric Sherlock and the chain of twists and turns combined with a brilliant and off-kilter intelligence will keep you glued to the screen to follow the adventures of the two inseparable companions. Smart is sexy, and with a British accent.

Big Little Lies: Thriller of Secrets Behind California's Facade

From a cold, foggy London to the wealthy suburbs of a small community in sunny California, where the protagonists' lives seem to be perfect. Rich, beautiful and model moms willing to do anything to keep up appearances. But all that glitters is not gold. A death that occurred under mysterious circumstances is gradually revealed to us by dint of forays into the secrets and private lives of the characters. Stellar female cast for a show that deals with important themes partly overlapping with those of Eugenides' The Virgin Suicides, exposing the facade of perfection and indifference of America's well-to-do suburbs.

Chernobyl: Intense Historical Drama

Chernobyl is for lovers of history and power intrigues that always lie behind political interests. Cool colors in shades of gray, white and blue, and gloomy, dreary atmospheres of a 1980s Ukraine provide the backdrop for the staging of the true story behind the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, between the subterfuge of Communist politics and those who through investigation, courage and expertise tried to fight for the truth at great cost. The perfect blend of hot topics, drama and quality set design and screenplay. A very successful cultural product.

Dark: A Twisted Tale of Time Travel and Mystery

Dark is the quintessential TV series for Christopher Nolan’s lovers. A series of mysterious disappearances begin to disturb the quiet of a small German town that is home to a major nuclear power plant. If you like speculation about time travel, parallel dimensions and can't help but wonder about the meaning and origin of it all every other day, you will find in here the perfect combo of existential questions, eerie setting with suspense and twists, period drama—several historical eras are crossed along the series—and complicated character intrigue. Be careful indeed to keep track of all the connections and details, there are quite a few and it’s easy to get lost in the tangled skein of a plot with multiple references, but I assure you that although seemingly disconnected, it all makes sense in the end. 100% recommended for a spooky season with flair!

Whether you’re here for suspense, a cozy mystery, or historical drama, these fall TV series picks are designed to pull you in and keep you hooked. Happy watching!