10 best BBC crime dramas based on top-selling books - five-stars to masterpiece

Sometimes, there's nothing better than getting lost in a great book - but it becomes even better when your favourite story is brought to life. The BBC has long been celebrated for its compelling crime dramas, but many viewers may not realise that some of the broadcaster's most acclaimed series have drawn their inspiration from bestselling books.

By discovering stories and characters that readers have already fallen in love with, the BBC has gone on to elevate them through screen adaptations, creating some of the best series out there. From Agatha Christie's timeless whodunits to the haunting modern mysteries of J.K. Rowling, we take a closer look at 10 of the best BBC crime dramas adapted from some of the most successful novels.

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Dublin Murders aired on BBC One in 2019. The eight-part series is available to stream on Disney and BBC iPlayer.

" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-portal-copyright="PA" data-licensor-name="PA" /> Hailed as one of the best, Strike follows a former war veteran turned private detective who leverages his specialised skills from the Special Investigation Branch to tackle complex cases that have stumped the police. The series stars Tom Burke as Cormoran Strike and Holliday Grainger as Robin Ellacott.

Since its debut in 2017, Strike has aired six seasons, with all 19 episodes available on BBC iPlayer. Each season adapts one of J.K. Rowling's bestselling Cormoran Strike novels, beginning with The Cuckoo's Calling (2013) and most recently The Hallmarked Man (2025). The series now includes eight books in total.

" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-portal-copyright="BBC" data-licensor-name="BBC" /> " data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-portal-copyright="BBC" data-licensor-name="BBC" /> is available to stream on Netflix. " data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-portal-copyright="BBC" data-licensor-name="BBC" /> this "masterpiece" is certainly a must-watch. " data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-portal-copyright="BBC" data-licensor-name="BBC" /> " data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-portal-copyright="BBC" data-licensor-name="BBC" /> Both series are available to stream on BBC iPlayer. " data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-portal-copyright="BBC" data-licensor-name="BBC" />