Tell Me Your Streaming Picks
Tell Me Your Secrets is a twisty turny thriller with lots of twists, contrivances and a big, cliffhanger ending.
If you’ve finished this one and are looking for something similar, we’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 10 picks for alternate viewing.
To keep things simple for skim-readers we’ve added what similarities these have.
Of course for all the shows we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that series and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with.
So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet the appetite when you’ve finished streaming Tell Me Your Secrets.
The Sinner
Similarities – Mystery
From the onset, its obvious that there’s something unsettling lurking in the shadows of The Sinner. The first season starts just like a standard mystery thriller; a short build up leads to young mother Cora Tannetti stabbing a man on a beach for seemingly no reason.
With the crime already committed and shown in visceral detail, two key questions drives the show forward – why did she kill him and what drove her to commit this crime? The question hangs over the show like a black cloud and when Investigator Harry Ambrose begins digging deeper, a slowly opening puzzle box of clues sheds more light on the motive.
As truths surface and lies are uncovered, this methodically paced mystery keeps the suspense running right through to its climactic ending, playing as a why-dun-it rather than a who-dun-it.
As the seasons progress, Harry Ambrose is the glue that holds the seasons together as different crimes come to light. The first season is undoubtedly the strongest of the three though.
You can read our thoughts on The Sinner in our full season review here!
Quicksand
Similarities – Slow-Burn Thriller
Based on the Swedish novel ‘Störst av allt’ by Malin Persson Giolito, Quicksand is a surprisingly well written, absorbing series, one that does an excellent job adapting the novel into one of the best dramas of the year. With two timelines separated through Maja’s flashbacks and one school shooting anchoring everything into place, Quicksand is an easy show to binge and a tough one to put down.
Blood spattered across school tables and the ground set the tone for the series, opening with the aftermath of a shooting and the shell-shocked, 18 year old Maja sitting with the murder weapon by her side. As police grab her and take her into custody, across the 6 episodes we learn of the events leading up to that day involving Maja’s mentally unstable boyfriend Sebastian and all the drama that transpired between the victims inside the classroom. The slow build around all of this paves way for a really satisfying conclusion where Maja’s fate is revealed.
You can read our thoughts on Quicksand in our full season review here!
Dare Me
Similarities – Mystery & Complicated Relationships
Dare Me is an interesting cheerleading drama that takes elements of Gossip Girl and other melodramas of its kind and blends them up into a 10 episode series driven by some dark, central themes around murder, rape and jealousy. To be fair, this one may be a little dark for younger audiences but those kids aged 15 and over, should definitely be okay with this one.
Based on the best-selling 2004 novel of the same name, Dare Me is a tale that predominantly revolves around three females. Addy and Beth are best friends; inseparable teenage girls reveling in the heady world of alcohol, drugs and parties. When new cheer-leading coach Colette arrives to shake things up, what follows is a story that starts to drive a wedge in Beth and Addy’s friendship, while dark secrets blanket the trio.
While it may be a little darker than the material in The Hardy Boys, the “whodunit” mystery is pretty strong in this and it’s backed up by some good character development too.
You can read our thoughts on Dare Me in our full season review here!
Tabula Rasa
Similarities – Slow Burn Mystery
If you’re in the mood for slow burn thrillers, look no further than Belgium’s Tabula Rasa. With an intriguing premise, some solid characters and an itching mystery that compels you to see it through to its conclusion, this crime drama is certainly worth your time.
The psychological thriller revolves around an amnesia-stricken young woman called Mie, who’s locked up in a secure psychiatric hospital. When she receives a visit from Detective Wolkers, he claims to be the last person seen with Thomas Spectre, who has vanished.
As a witness and prime suspect in the case, Mie is forced to remember what happened that night before she can even think about being released. In order to fight for the truth, Mie is forced into reconstructing her lost memories. The more she remembers though, the more Mie starts to distrust those around her.
Moody, ambitious and really well written, Tabula Rasa is a solid series to check out.
Sharp Objects
Similarities – Mystery & Characters
Psychologically charged murder mystery Sharp Objects is as engaging as it is technically impressive. From the exquisite sound design to the perfect editing, every part of Sharp Objects has been finely tuned and crafted to create a compelling mystery.
The story follows troubled reporter Camille who begrudgingly finds herself assigned to reporting a violent murder case in her hometown Wind Gap. Haunted by a troubled past mired in violence and depression, Camille feels alienated from the adults, growing closer to the young girls whom the killer in town is targeting.
The show is as engaging as it is enthralling and definitely a must-watch if you’re looking for a compelling character-driven mystery.
You can read our thoughts on Sharp Objects in our full season review here!
Unbelievable
Similarities – Abuse Victims & Slow Burn Investigation
Shocking, methodically paced and really well written, Unbelievable is a poignant and important reminder that sexual assault has far broader psychological effects than the despicable act itself. Split across 8 episodes and shot between two timelines, Netflix’s latest crime mystery series manages to juggle both stories perfectly, slowly building up tension and pace toward the climactic finale that sees this story come to an end.
Inspired by real events, Unbelievable is, at its core, a rape case procedural. Young, distraught Marie reports a rape to the police in 2008 and after being forced to repeat her story numerous times to different officers, finds herself on the wrong end of the law, as her hazy memory and inconsistent story leads her into a false report that sees her facing arrest and possible jail time.
While at times the series is a little slow, especially early on, Unbelievable is worth sticking with to see the dramatic way this one closes out. Netflix’s police procedural is certainly one of the better offerings on the platform.
You can read our thoughts on Unbelievable in our full season review here!
Flower Of Evil
Similarities – Romance & Thriller Elements
Flower Of Evil is a incredibly well written slow-burn thriller. It’s a show that not only subverts expectations, it does so by seamlessly hopping across various genres without ever losing sight of its main premise.
The story itself plays out as a combination of both a procedural crime drama and a cat and mouse thriller. Baek Hee-Sung is a man with a very dark past. Hee-Sung is seemingly happy in his marriage to police detective Ji-Won, with a loving daughter Eun-Ha offering up a semblance of normality.
Only, a string of unexplained murders point to Hee-Sung being the culprit behind this. The truth however, is far more shocking and emotionally stirring than one may expect.
I won’t spoil much more but suffice to say, this one subverts expectations beautifully and delivers a solid story in the meantime, one that very nearly made the top spot of our top 40 TV shows of 2020.
You can read our thoughts on Flower Of Evil in our full season reviews here!
Absentia
Much like Tell Me Your Secrets, Absentia is one of those shows that is hampered a little by its plot twists and a bit of over-acting. Having said that, Absentia’s conclusive three-season run is helped by a really gripping story that ends on a suitable high note.
The story revolves around FBI agent Emily Bryne who is found alive six years after her disappearance. Hampered with amnesia, Emily is forced to try and piece together her past, with specific emphasis on her time while kept in captivity.
To give much more away would be a disservice to this one but there’s a lot to like with this thriller.
You
You has absolutely no right to be as compelling as it is. Based on Caroline Kepnes’ best-selling novel of the same name, You is a darkly modern love story, one that took the internet by storm when Netflix snapped up the rights to this one. It’s a show that quite simply asks, “What would you do for love?”
That question is stretched to the absolute limit by a chance encounter in a bookstore. When manager Joe crosses paths with an aspiring grad student writer called Beck, a deliciously dark thriller ensues.
Using the internet and social media as his tools to gather intimate details, Joe’s charming and awkward crush quickly becomes obsession as this manager strategically removes every obstacle in his way.
With two seasons out and a third already green-lit, You is one of those compelling thrillers that keeps you watching until the very end.
The Stranger
What would you do if a stranger told you your whole life was a lie? Harlan Coben’s new Netflix adaptation The Stranger answers this very question where it’s revealed that some secrets are far bigger and more dangerous than others.
The story itself revolves around family man Adam. During his son’s football match, a strange woman arrives and tells him his wife Corinne lied about her pregnancy and miscarriage.
Adam is rattled to his core and as secrets are exposed and Corinne goes missing, what follows is a quest for the truth that takes plenty of turns along the way. Only, the truth is far more shocking and ugly than first meets the eye.
With Richard Armitage and Paul Kaye both firing on all cylinders, the series is let down slightly by some incredulous character motivations.
Still, if you can get invested in the mystery, and excuse some of these shortfalls, this thriller delivers a compelling and binge-worthy journey worth taking.
You can read our thoughts on The Stranger in our full season review here!
So there we have it, our 10 TV show alternatives to watch when you’re finished with Tell Me Your Secrets on Amazon Prime.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!