Community Post: Saluting Mrs. Peacock: The Most Memorable TV Mysteries

1. MONK

Monk is a private detective with obsessive-complusive disorder, a fear of germs and all in all 312 fears which include ladybugs, harmonicas and claustrophobia. However, it’s these phobias and especially the OCD that lead him to successfully solving cases. I’m afraid of nurses because they have needles, yet, Monk who is fearful of almost everything takes his nurse on as his assistant!

2. Veronica Mars

Most college age girls are still trying to figure out their proper bra size and what shade of foundation looks best on them. However, Veronica Mars moves from high school to college working as a private investigator and solving mysteries.

3. Dexter

Perhaps it is debatable if the series Dexter is actually a mystery. It’s Definitely suspenseful and a psychological thriller. In a very basic synopsis of the series, Dexter works as an analyst for the police department while he lives a secret life as a serial killer. Never before has a serial killer been so easy on the eyes!

4. Twin Peaks

“Who killed Laura Palmer?” This David Lynch series follows the investigation of the murder of a homecoming queen. The title of the show comes from the name of the fictitious Washington State town Twin Peaks is set in, not an ode to Dolly Parton.

5. Diagnosis: Murder

This show made the list because it would be Un-American to not include a show with Dick Van Dyke in it. Here Van Dyke plays Dr. Mark Sloan who is a renowned physician who also loves a good mystery and helps solve crimes for the LAPD with his detective son.

6. Murder She Wrote

Angela Lansbury played a mystery writer and amateur detective. To me, the show was painfully boring yet somehow always drew me in. Detective Fletcher was an upstanding citizen, which is why whenever I have a dilemma I ask: WWJD? What Would Jessica Fletcher do?

7. Father Dowling Mysteries

This show didn’t last for very many seasons, but I remember it because my grandmother insisted on watching it after Jeopardy! It centered around a Catholic priest who solves murders and high crimes with the help of his streetwise nun sidekick, Sister Steve. Father Dowling’s often heard catchphrase was “”Father Phil, could you take 10 o’clock Mass? I’ve got a murder to solve.”

House is another series that can be loosely classified as a mystery. Dr. House is a drug-addicted, unconventional medical genius who leads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey. Hey, finally something set in New Jersey that doesn’t involving The Mob or fist pumping.

9. Scooby Doo

They solve mysteries and have a talking dog named Scooby Doo. The only real mystery is that Velma has several crushes and relationships through the series and they are all with men. Really? Not with that look!

10. Whodunnit?

I saved this one for last. Do you remember at the start of this list when I said “for better or for worse?” Well this is the worst! A murder mystery reality competition where one of the 13 contestants is secretly the killer. Whodunnit has a cheesy vibe to it and the only thing that needs to be killed is this awful show!