International Crime TV Shows: Hispanic and Latin American
Looking for something dark and suspenseful? Here are a few recommendations that’ll bring you down serpentine paths with characters determined to find answers. This is in no way an extensive list of Hispanic and Latin Crime TV shows but may be a good starting point if you’re not familiar with the genre. From teens going to an elite high school to a heartbroken woman rising the ranks in the narcotics world, there’s a show for everyone.
Elite
In this teen drama, we follow three working class students enrolled in an elite high school. Tensions arise between the students, climaxing when someone gets murdered. Not everyone is who they say they are. As the school year progresses, a clash between lifestyles, resentments, and sexual attraction will force their lives to intertwine. There are currently six seasons. Look out for a new season coming out on October 20.
La Reina del Sur
Teresa Mendoza begins her adventure as a young woman in love with a pilot who is employed by the Mexican cartels. After he’s executed, Teresa flees, hoping to start a new life. But she finds herself once again in the world of narcotics trafficking and suffers the death of a beloved man for the second time. Teresa decides to take matters into her own hands and becomes the head of her own organization. Her success comes at a great price, testing her happiness and heart. There are currently three seasons out now. This telenovela is based on a novel of the same name by Arturo Pérez-Reverte.
Burning Body
Inspired by true events, this miniseries starts when a police officer is murdered and set on fire. His horrific death points all eyes on two other agents—his girlfriend and her lover. The story will explore the tangle of toxic relationships, cheating, and violence revolving around these three characters and will be released on Netflix on September 8.
Muted
Six years ago, Sergio Ciscar murdered his parents. Since then, he hasn’t spoken and has been inside a detention center. Now, a psychiatrist is part of a twisted investigation to uncover what really happened that night.
The Snow Girl
In Málaga, a little girl goes missing during a parade. A young newspaper journalist, Miren, becomes determined to help Amaya Martin’s parents find her and teams up with a veteran journalist, Eduardo.
Money Heist
Told in the perspective of one of the robbers, the series traces two long-prepared heists led by the Professor, one on the Royal Mint of Spain and one on the Bank of Spain. Told through a series of flashbacks, time-jumps, and hidden character motivations, the boundary between reality and deceit is never as fine a line as we think. This five part series was well-received and got awards including the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series.
The Innocent
Based on the novel by Harlan Coben, Mateo Vidal is trying to have a fresh start with his wife Olivia Costa. Nine years ago, he got involved in a quarrel and accidentally killed a man. As the couple tries to start over, surprising new developments occur that will threaten to tear their lives apart again.
By clicking 'Sign Up,' I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Hachette Book Group’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
What to Read Next
Emily Hoang is a writer and editor, who is obsessed with haunted houses, ghosts, and dreams. More info can be found on her website.