8 Scandinavian psychological thriller series on Netflix worth binge watching this winter

From a virus of unknown origin, snowed in roads, canceled flights, and unprecedented cold, several times since the beginning of the year I have thought that I live in Scandinavia rather than in the Balkans. For someone who struggles with ADHD, the very thought that I would have to stay shut inside my own four walls for days, if not weeks, awakened every kind of restlessness in me. So, instead of watching all my monsters run wild on my nerves and whisper mercilessly, I turned to other people’s dramas, criminal entanglements, and psychological whirlpools, in other words, Scandi noir. Far from it that I discovered this genre in 2007 with the cult series The Killing and its heroine Sarah Lund, but more recent Netflix series, such as Secrets We Keep, featuring Serbian actress Danica Ćurčić in one of the leading roles, have become my main material for passionate binge watching. Below, I single out eight Scandinavian psychological thriller series worth watching in one breath this winter.

Secrets We Keep

“I think the series confronts us with our own privileges, but also with the blind alleys each of us carries within. Even though the story takes place in an extremely wealthy environment, themes such as outsourcing the care of our own children to others, or the question of how far we are willing to go to preserve social status, are all very relevant today,” Danica said in an interview for Vogue Adria last summer. Secrets We Keep relies on the most seductive elements of the Scandinavian narrative: a small town, impeccably designed interiors, and the feeling that every neighbor knows far more than they say. If you enjoy character driven thrillers that slowly reveal themselves until a devastating epilogue, this is the series for you. You will be drawn in by the plot surrounding the disappearance of a nanny in a wealthy family, but you will remember it for its powerful message about parenthood, privilege, and toxic masculinity.

The Åre Murders

One of the most notable Netflix series of last year has all the hallmarks not only of Scandi noir, but of top tier crime drama in general. Set in the pristine winter resort of Åre, this adaptation of Viveca Sten’s bestseller follows a Stockholm detective, Hanna Ahlander, who retreats to a mountain cabin to recover from burnout and a breakup, only to soon be drawn into the investigation of a missing teenage girl. Amid complex family circumstances and a severely understaffed local police station, local officer Daniel Lindskog reluctantly accepts Hanna’s help. The key question is whether they can trust each other. The series has only five episodes, the first three following one case and the next two another several months later, which makes it ideal for a short but highly gripping binge.

Land of Sin

The newest entry on this list, Land of Sin, premiered at the beginning of January. This five episode series is set in the rural region of Skåne and follows the investigation into the death of a young teenager whose body is found on the Bjäre Peninsula. Investigator Dani and her new partner Malik soon uncover a violent family conflict, while at the same time facing pressure to solve the case before the family decides to take justice into its own hands. “This is not a typical crime series. The world we enter is darker and more fragile, a place where shame, love, and violence share the same pulse. We stepped outside established formulas and styles to portray people on the edge, their fears, loyalties, and survival instincts,” director Peter Grönlund explains.

The Glass Dome

Camilla Läckberg is today almost synonymous with the Scandinavian thriller, and her latest series once again reminds us why. The Glass Dome follows criminologist Lejla, who reluctantly returns to the small town where she was kidnapped as a child, after the daughter of her friend disappears under eerily similar circumstances. The series is steeped in unease, memories, claustrophobic spaces, and a disturbing sense that the past is not finished with us. For fans of layered thrillers with strong female characters, this is an essential watch that rightly carries high ratings from film critics.

The Breakthrough

Based on the second longest investigation in Swedish history, this is a fictionalized story of a double murder from 2004, in which a boy and a 50 year old woman were killed in the small town of Linköping. The case remained unsolved for almost twenty years, until a genealogist working with the police managed to find a DNA match. A persistent detective leads the investigation, with direction by Lisa Siwe, the director of the original Nordic crime series The Bridge. The series convincingly depicts the long lasting impact of a tragedy on a community, something we can very much relate to in this region.

Deliver Me

Focused on two teenagers who are drawn into a criminal gang, Deliver Me pushes the boundaries of the genre and shifts the focus to young people trapped between innocence and violence. This is a story about fractured systems, broken loyalties, and the way society fails the very communities it depends on. Expect a more contemporary and raw tone than in typical Scandinavian thrillers. This is a series you will endure more than enjoy. It is deeply unsettling, but carries an important message.

The Helicopter Heist

Inspired by true events, The Helicopter Heist follows two childhood friends who plan to rob the largest and most secure cash depot in Sweden. The series has all the prerequisites to become a modern Scandinavian classic: boldness, precision, and a large scale spectacle, with blockbuster energy that follows the heist from planning to execution, complete with details that almost make you root for the criminals.

La Palma

La Palma may be the most subtle title on this list, but it is no less tense. With idyllic landscapes and simmering tension, the series explores what happens when a Norwegian family’s vacation in the Canary Islands is threatened by a volcanic eruption and a devastating tsunami. The climate crisis as the main antagonist is a premise you probably did not expect. Still, this title became a major hit in 2024, earning a rare 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and quickly breaking into Netflix’s Top 10. Approach it without expectations of a classic Scandinavian thriller. There are no chic interiors or tireless detectives here.