Top 10 Police Procedural Series (TV and Books)

Every once in a while, a top ten list can be fun.  I thought I’d throw one together for something I know a little about — police procedural series! These include both books and TV shows that fall into this genre AND feature an ensemble cast. See if your list is similar!

Caveat the First: I chose this topic because my flagship series, River City, is a police procedural series with an ensemble cast, and since I recently released a new book in the series (The Worst Kind of Truth, #11). I thought it’d be nice to explore other “if you like this, then you’ll like that” entries in TV and books.

Caveat the Second: These are my favorites. As always, your mileage may vary. But the truth in the first caveat holds true—if you like any of these, you’ll probably like most of the others on the list… and River City, too.

Here we go:

10. 509 Crime Stories (Colin Conway)

Had to start things off with a nod to my co-author of the Charlie-316 series (which you can count as an honorable mention!). His gritty but accessible 509 series features an ensemble cast of detectives, with the role of lead protagonist rotating. The beauty of this is that the reader gets various takes on different characters through the eyes of their co-workers. Plus, the mysteries the men and women of SPD face are well-crafted, and this is now officially a long-running series, so there’s plenty for the reader to sink their teeth into.

9. Harry Bosch/Bosch TV series (Michael Connelly)

You already know this one, I’m betting. On quality alone, this series of novels and the show starring Titus Welliver deserve to rank higher. The reason I put it here is that Bosch isn’t an ensemble—it’s Bosch. It’s very good, but the focus is mostly on one main character instead of the team. Still, the detail on investigative technique is excellent, and secondary characters do get their moments to shine.

8. NYPD Blue

Speaking of ensemble, this show gets closer to the feel of River City. Although there are definite leads in this show centered on an NYPD detective squad (first David Caruso’s John Kelly and then Dennis Franz’s Andy Sipowicz), the secondary characters get a lot of screen time, too, and most are well developed (there were a couple of notable disasters but this show ran for twelve seasons, so…). Additionally, the variety of cases that come through the squad are interesting, as are the methods the detectives employ to solve those cases.

7. Badge of Honor (W.E.B. Griffin)

There’s plenty of action in this series, but the truly great thing to me is how Griffin tells the stories vertically. The reader experiences the action on the street with the patrol officer, is the detective for follow-up, and sees the leadership within the department as it reacts. Th reader even gets a peek at what happens in the mayor’s office. These books inspired me to do the same at times in both River City and Charlie-316.

6. Hill Street Blues

Although dated now, many people recall this as the quintessential ensemble police drama that has a patrol focus. And until Southland, I’d say it was the best.

5. 87th Precinct (Ed McBain)

Early in my career, this was the series that many pointed to as a comparison for River City. Like Conway’s 509, the lead protagonist role floats.

4. Southland

If people wonder what the most realistic police show is, I say Barney Miller. But police drama? This one. It may stretch belief that all of the things that happen involve such a small cast of players, but everything that occurs is realistic, and is handled that way. Real issues are explored, and the cops are depicted as real people with problems. The only downside is the cliffhanger series finale.

Source: All The Madness In My Soul