Detective's Greatest Years, Ranked

When was the golden age of Detective? We ranked every year by the accumulated weighted rating of its best Detective titles — a year rises when it delivered many strongly-rated entries, not just a lone classic. Data from 3eyedraven's catalog.

  1. #1 2020 25 great titles Best: Defending Jacob
  2. #2 2019 25 great titles Best: Unbelievable
  3. #3 2021 25 great titles Best: Mare of Easttown
  4. #4 2011 25 great titles Best: Grimm
  5. #5 2022 25 great titles Best: Black Bird
  6. #6 2024 25 great titles Best: Dead Boy Detectives
  7. #7 2014 25 great titles Best: True Detective
  8. #8 2017 25 great titles Best: Dark
  9. #9 2018 25 great titles Best: Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey
  10. #10 2015 25 great titles Best: The Jinx
  11. #11 2025 24 great titles Best: Dept. Q
  12. #12 2023 22 great titles Best: The Apothecary Diaries
  13. #13 2010 20 great titles Best: Sherlock
  14. #14 2016 20 great titles Best: ERASED
  15. #15 2012 19 great titles Best: Hyouka
  16. #16 2013 18 great titles Best: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
  17. #17 2009 17 great titles Best: Southland
  18. #18 2007 16 great titles Best: Death Note Relight 1: Visions of a God
  19. #19 2004 16 great titles Best: Veronica Mars
  20. #20 2001 14 great titles Best: Mulholland Drive
  21. #21 2008 13 great titles Best: Black Butler
  22. #22 1987 12 great titles Best: Inspector Morse
  23. #23 2006 12 great titles Best: Death Note
  24. #24 1999 12 great titles Best: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
  25. #25 2002 12 great titles Best: What's New, Scooby-Doo?
  26. #26 1998 12 great titles Best: Case Closed: The Fourteenth Target
  27. #27 1984 11 great titles Best: Sherlock Holmes
  28. #28 1992 11 great titles Best: Batman: The Animated Series
  29. #29 2005 12 great titles Best: Hell Girl
  30. #30 1995 10 great titles Best: Se7en
  31. #31 1986 10 great titles Best: Blue Velvet
  32. #32 1997 9 great titles Best: The New Batman Adventures
  33. #33 2000 9 great titles Best: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
  34. #34 1989 9 great titles Best: Agatha Christie's Poirot
  35. #35 1994 9 great titles Best: Furuhata Ninzaburo
  36. #36 1968 9 great titles Best: Stolen Kisses
  37. #37 1996 9 great titles Best: Detective Conan
  38. #38 1975 8 great titles Best: Ellery Queen
  39. #39 1982 8 great titles Best: Evil Under the Sun
  40. #40 1985 7 great titles Best: Moonlighting