I’m starting out with two of the best foreign crime dramas on Netflix this month. This is the powerful fictional telling of a true story, based on a novel by journalist Anna Bodin and the genealogist Peter Sjölund, of the double murder in Linköping, Sweden, back in 2004, which was finally solved after 16 years, by the doggedness of Sjolund, who made the breakthrough. For the first time in Europe, a murder could be solved through genealogical research. Peter Eggers stars as Detective Sundin who pursues this crime for most of his life, affecting his personal life and his relationship with his colleagues. He is joined by Mattias Mordkvist as Sjolund. An immensely detailed story, as it’s dealing with the precise research of DNA, this is an amazing series about a complicated cold case.

Turkish actress, Birce Akalay, has become one of my top women to watch, in this excellent crime series. Akalay stars as Captain Onem Ozulku, a formidable character who takes no nonsense from criminals or colleagues, no matter how high in command they are. Buried in “The Graveyard”, a dark basement is the base where Onem heads a special unit working to solve unsolved murders of women. Her investigators are an eclectic, troubled group, but her main enemy is the masculine prejudices that support male violence. As with many other countries, Turkey also has a high domestic violence crime rate. Will it ever come to an end in this patriarchal society in which women live? Not in my lifetime.

The vast majority of my memory of this tragic event is of the media hype which surrounded the whole investigation until the victims’ rights, in yet another case of ignored domestic violence, were totally obscured by a trial based on race and the bombastic bravado of Simpson’s legal team. This documentary series examining the infamous 1995 murder case, gives detailed insight into the trial that captivated the USA and indeed, the world at large. With new interviews and insights, it explores the chase, courtroom drama, and cultural impact, offering a fresh look at this pivotal moment in history. Unsettling, emotional viewing of what passes for justice in the eyes of those on all sides.

I must confess to not being a fan of this style of TV programming. If I saw Jerry Springer at all, it would have been at a friend’s home, and in passing. This intense documentary exposes it all as the farce that it was. A show that promoted misogyny and violence against women, even though Springer vowed this was not his personal view, which led to tragic consequences for one particular family. The overall consensus appears to be that all directives came from EP Richard Dominick. Is it a remarkable TV achievement in his career? That depends on who you talk to.

Although not received well by the critics, I found this to be watchable drama from Thailand. It’s an interesting tale of the wealthy and influential, and those who serve them, and are cruelly treated by them. There’s not one likeable character in this family. The story revolves around a diamond empire mogul’s death and the ensuing power struggle between his two sons to gain control, and the added problem of their father’s new wife, who was previously the housekeeper. A good story with a satisfactory conclusion where everyone gets what’s coming to them.

A tragic tale from Poland where successful writer Mikolaj returns to his hometown facing blackmail over a book about a past murder. The inhabitants are angry as they feel he portrayed them poorly in his story. His estranged activist father is involved in a group opposing local corruption and Mikolaj’s journalist wife investigates, uncovering dark secrets tied to the town’s tragic history. This is dark, very dark. There’s not much joy to be had in this town.

Novelist Harlan Coben appears to have taken up residence on Netflix. There are quite a number of adaptations on his writing in the schedule, and most are worth watching. This series centres on Detective Kat Donovan whose fiancé Josh, the love of her life, disappeared eleven years ago and she’s never heard from him since. Now, swiping profiles on a dating app, she suddenly sees his face and her world explodes all over again. Josh’s reappearance will force her to dive back into the mystery surrounding her father’s murder and uncover long-buried secrets from her past. So many long-buried secrets to be revealed all over the place. Stick with it.

Directed by Peter Berg from a script by The Revenant’s Mark L. Smith, this is a hard watch. There’s mud everywhere, everyone covered in it after traipsing around in it. There’s blood everywhere. People constantly getting killed in various ways by anyone and everyone, religious groups being the worst offenders. You’ll need a good scrub down after watching this one. It follows the gritty and adventurous exploration of the birth of the American West back in 1857, the violent collisions of cults, religion, and men and women fighting for control of the new world. Gritty? It’s certainly that. There’s a talented ensemble cast attached, especially Preston Mota as the heroine’s son.