True crime has held a macabre appeal for audiences across the globe, and Netflix has been at the forefront of providing some of the most compelling documentaries and series in this genre. As we look back at 2024, several shows have risen to the top based on critical acclaim, audience reviews, and sheer gripping storytelling. Here are the best true crime shows on Netflix that had viewers riveted this past year.

First on the list is “The Vanishing Act,” a chilling documentary series that delves into the disappearance of a flight over the Atlantic Ocean. With expert testimony and re-enactments, the show pieces together the last known movements of the aircraft and presents unsettling theories about what might have happened.

Next up is “Undercurrent: The Disappearance of a Tech Mogul.” This investigative series follows a journalist as she uncovers layers of corporate deceit, personal betrayal, and murky digital footprints behind the vanishing of a billionaire app developer. Featuring exclusive interviews and access to forensic evidence, “Undercurrent” keeps you guessing until the very end.

Another must-watch is “In Plain Sight: The City Hall Scandal,” which uncovers decades-long corruption within a small town’s government. Through archival footage, current interviews with key players, and tenacious reporting, this series reveals how deep-seated greed led to a dramatic fallout, affecting the lives of all its citizens.

“Echoes from the Alley,” a groundbreaking show that explores serial crimes in urban areas, also made waves this year. It sheds light on cold cases by utilizing new forensic technologies and community activism to unearth truths long buried in city shadows. Viewers found its approach not only riveting but deeply humane as it gave voice to forgotten victims.

Lastly, “Cults Uncovered: The Path of Shadows” offers an unprecedented look into some of the most secretive and dangerous cults existence. From psychological manipulation to harrowing tales of survival, each episode dives deep into one organization’s inner workings, featuring defectors’ testimonies that left audiences both horrified and fascinated.

From unsolved mysteries to chronicling criminal empires’ falls, Netflix’s offerings in 2024 have once again proved that real-life is often stranger and more compelling than fiction. These top true crime shows are perfect examples of storytelling that educates, enthralls and sometimes even empowers viewers to look closer at the world around them.