30 Shows Like The Mentalist You Need To See

One of the most consistently popular shows of its era, "The Mentalist" ran on CBS from 2008 to 2015. The series follows Patrick Jane (Simon Baker), a former "psychic" working for the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to help solve murders. Though admittedly not an actual psychic, he possesses keen observational skills and a deep understanding of human psychology, which allows him to successfully profile witnesses and suspects.

As it turns out, the real reason he started working for the CBI was so he could catch a serial killer known as Red John, who killed Jane's wife and daughter after he taunted the man live on television. Joining Jane is his boss Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney) and her colleagues Kimball Cho (Tim Kang), Wayne Rigsby (Owain Yeoman), and Grace Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti). Like in any good law enforcement procedural, Jane and Lisbon have a sometimes antagonistic relationship with clear romantic undertones.

If you miss "The Mentalist," don't fret; the notion of a specialist helping solve crimes was around long before Patrick Jane, and the success of his show only enabled more greenlights in its wake. Below is a list of shows you'd likely love if "The Mentalist" is still on your mind.

Another USA series, "Monk" follows Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub), a former detective in the San Francisco Police Department. When Monk's wife is murdered and the crime goes unsolved, he develops obsessive-compulsive disorder, which causes him to lose his job. After neglecting to leave his house for several years, Monk eventually begins working as a private detective with the help of his assistant and nurse Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram). His former colleagues, Captain Leland Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) and Lieutenant Randy Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) also call on Monk for assistance with their most difficult cases.

Like the lead characters in "The Mentalist" and "Psych," Monk possesses sharp observational skills that allow him to see things others don't. He's a compelling character, and Shalhoub is brilliant in the role. "For those who like to mix their comedy with murder-of-the-week cop dramas, Tony Shalhoub's performance as a detective with obsessive-compulsive disorder in this USA Network comedy is a true classic," said USA Today in a review. A critically and commercially acclaimed series, "Monk" won eight Emmy Awards and broke a basic cable ratings record during its final season.

In many ways, Patrick Jane is a modern take on Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic detective Sherlock Holmes. Both figures can spot things that even highly skilled investigators are incapable of noticing, and both are loners who can manipulate others into doing what they want. Other points of similarity include inflated egos, an uncanny ability to read people, and the fact that they both work as consultants for the police. This means that any fan of "The Mentalist" is bound to enjoy "Sherlock."

Created by regular collaborators Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, "Sherlock" is a 2010 crime drama that was first broadcast on the BBC. Running for four seasons in total, it sees Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman portray modern versions of Holmes and Dr. John Watson in 21st-century London. Each episode in the series follows Sherlock as he solves complicated and mysterious crimes, although there is often an overarching narrative.

Although the critical reception dipped near the end, earlier episodes won widespread acclaim and the show was nominated for numerous awards during its run. And, like all the best British shows, it's short and sweet — with just 12 episodes and a special that aired in 2016, "Sherlock" is a fairly easy series to binge. And, like "The Mentalist," it has its fair share of lighthearted moments to balance out the more serious parts.

Another show that illustrates how psychology can be used to solve crimes, "Lie To Me" is a short-lived (it ran for three seasons on Fox between 2009 and 2011) but brilliant show anchored by an in-form Tim Roth. He plays Dr. Cal Lightman, owner of the Lightman Group, a company that assists various law enforcement agencies using applied psychology. Roth's Dr. Cal is an expert in the field of body language and microexpressions, giving him the unique ability to discover if someone is lying or not. Lightman works with Dr. Gillian Foster (Kelli Williams), a brilliant psychologist, and Ria Torres (Monica Raymund), Lightman's protégé who he deems a "natural" at reading people.

The problem with Lightman's immense skill in this arena, however, is that he is also very good at deceiving others, which means he's not always trustworthy himself. This contradiction makes for good television — so if mind games are your thing, you can trust in this late '00s TV drama. Viewers at the time certainly did — in 2011, "Lie To Me" won the People's Choice Award for favorite TV crime drama, and Roth also scooped a People's Choice Award that year, named as the public's favorite TV crime fighter.

Your parents and grade school teachers always told you math would come in handy one day, but could it be used to solve crime? Nerds reign supreme in the addictive procedural "Numbers," which follows FBI agent Don Eppes (Rob Morrow), who hires his younger brother Charlie (David Krumholtz) to help solve his most difficult cases. Charlie is a math genius and a college professor, and while Don's colleagues at the FBI are skeptical of his involvement, Charlie's skills are essential in helping solve these crimes.

The charm of "Numbers" (which ran for six seasons on CBS between 2005 and 2010) is that it combines two worlds: The fast-paced, regimented world of the FBI and the quirky, bookish world of the fictional California Institute of Science (CalSci), where Charlie works. Also along for the ride is Don and Charlie's eccentric father, Alan Eppes (Judd Hirsch), a former city planner. There's something uniquely satisfying about watching geniuses solve mysteries with only the power of their minds, and this show is a testament to that. Even if math isn't your thing, "Numbers" might just give you the mental jolt you need.

TNT's "Leverage," which ran between 2008 and 2012, has a lot in common with classic investigative procedurals — the big difference here is that the main characters are the ones perpetrating the crimes, rather than solving them. Like "The Mentalist," "Leverage" depicts a formerly successful man who switches careers following the tragic loss of his family. The series follows Nate Ford (Timothy Hutton), a former insurance investigator who now leads a team of thieves that carry out Robin Hood-like heists to steal from greedy, corrupt institutions.

Nate became a thief following the death of his son, who became terminally ill and died after the insurance company he worked for refused to cover his life-saving treatment. Now Nate works as the leader of a gang of thieves, which includes The Grifter (Gina Bellman), The Hacker (Aldis Hodge), The Hitter (Christian Kane), and The Thief (Beth Riesgraf). Nate and his team follow a set of rules, which is that they only steal from the rich and powerful in the service of working people who have no other choice. The show was rebooted as  "Leverage: Redemption" in 2021 with most of the main cast (minus Hutton) returning.

You really are spoiled for choice when it comes to shows that follow a brilliant but tormented investigator trying to reckon with the dark side of human behavior, yet "Luther" is a cut above the rest. This BBC series follows John Luther (Idris Elba), an emotionally troubled but brilliant detective working in London. Luther is obsessive, impulsive, and frequently self-destructive, having paid a heavy toll for his dedication to the job.

The first season follows his pursuit of Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson), an ingenious psychopath and murderer who it seems he is unable to catch. Alice becomes increasingly infatuated with Luther, and he, in turn, is fascinated by her. Their relationship is incredibly compelling, as both characters are brilliant yet inscrutable people. Like many investigate procedurals, psychology is important to "Luther," especially as it concerns the beguiling psyche of Alice. Is she a psychopath through and through? Does she have the capacity for feelings? That's for the viewer to decide. There are five seasons in total, as well as the film "Luther: The Fallen Sun," which dropped on Netflix in 2023.

"Criminal Minds" took viewers into the heart of the Behavioral Analysis Unit long before "Mindhunter" came to Netflix. Each episode focuses on a new killer or criminal that the team must profile and catch. The unit flies around the country on their private jet, quickly getting the lay of the land in every town they visit so they can accurately assess the situation. While the cast of the show has changed numerous times over its fifteen seasons, the core cast is what many fans show up to see. There's Hotch (Thomas Gibson), the team's stoic leader, Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), a brilliant wunderkind, JJ (A.J. Cook), an empathetic badass, and Penelope (Kirsten Vangsness), a former hacker and the team's tech specialist — to name only a few.

The show originally ran for fifteen seasons on CBS and was a regular big-hitter for the network, often drawing huge numbers of viewers. Fans remained invested primarily because of the aforementioned characters, who are more like a family than they are co-workers. As such, they were devastated when the show came to an end in February 2020, though it didn't stay gone for long. The hit series was renewed by Paramount+ and Season 16 came to the streamer under the title "Criminal Minds: Evolution" in 2022. It scored rave reviews and there's no doubt that fans of "The Mentalist" will love this updated take on the classic series, as well as the original.

One of several shows where the police consultant is a former criminal, "The Blacklist" follows a man called Raymond "Red" Reddington (James Spader), a former Navy officer who became a criminal and then evaded the authorities for decades. For unknown reasons, Red voluntarily gives himself up and agrees to collaborate with the FBI under one condition: That he work with a profiler named Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone), a woman with whom he has no apparent connection.

The link between Red and Liz is slowly revealed over the course of several seasons, as each individual episode focuses on the unlikely pair and the rest of the team working to apprehend international criminals that Red has on his lengthy "Blacklist." The series features many twists and turns and only gets more complicated as it moves along, leading audiences on a wild ride. The show came to an end in 2023 after a decade of thrills, and it's the perfect binge for fans of "The Mentalist" looking for something weighty to get their teeth stuck into.

One of the most interesting things about "The Mentalist" is how it presents audiences with questions about psychology and the nature of the human mind. While "Person of Interest" (which ran on CBS between 2011 and 2016) isn't necessarily a show about psychology, it does ask some similarly fascinating questions about the way we behave as a species.

The series follows Harold Finch (Michael Emerson), a brilliant billionaire computer genius who has created a program intended to stop acts of terrorism before they happen. Predicting the exploitation of his creation, known as "The Machine," Finch programs it to only provide tiny pieces of information about potential victims or perpetrators, which means The Machine is unable to act on this information on its own. 

Working in secret — the government considers any information not related to terrorism "irrelevant" — Finch and former CIA operative Reese (Jim Caviezel) work to stop crimes before they happen. The team operating The Machine eventually grows (Taraji P. Henson, Sarah Shahi, and Amy Acker are also cast members) as Finch grapples with profound questions about the nature of humanity and the intentions of his beloved creation. It's a thrilling, provocative series that will keep your mind turning even after the screen goes black.

One of the central themes of "The Mentalist" is redemption. Feeling responsible for the death of his wife and daughter, Patrick Jane begins working with law enforcement primarily as a means to catch the man responsible for their death. Another show that set the idea of redemption in a law enforcement environment was "Saving Grace," which aired from 2007 to 2010 on TNT.

The series follows Grace Hanadarko (Holly Hunter), an Oklahoma City police detective who is a heavy drinker and has terrible taste in men. Driving home one evening after a night of drinking, Grace hits a pedestrian with her car. Grace desperately calls out for help, and her call is answered by Earl (Leon Rippy), a tobacco-chewing man who calls himself her "last chance angel."

When Earl disappears, the man she hit with her car is gone with him, and Grace has to figure out what has just happened to her. Earl continues to visit Grace throughout the series, urging her to put an end to her self-destructive behaviors and give herself over to God. It's a great role for the always-brilliant Hunter, and her character feels like a true original. Just don't let her drive you home in her Porsche.

Technically, NBC's "Hannibal" (which ran between 2013 and 2015) is a police consultant show like many others we've discussed, but it's a slightly different take on the formula. Based on the novel series by Thomas Harris, the show follows FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy), who has the gift (or curse) of being able to empathize with anyone, even psychopaths. When Will's boss Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) becomes worried about Will's state of mind, he sends him to Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), a forensic psychologist.

Unbeknownst to Jack and Will, Hannibal is actually a prolific serial killer and a cannibal who enjoys feeding his victims to his houseguests in elaborately prepared dishes (if you have a weak stomach, don't watch this show). Hannibal begins to manipulate Will, trying to get him to give in to his darker instincts. All the while, Will and his team at the FBI are trying to solve grisly murders, some of which are the handiwork of Hannibal himself. Certainly one of the darkest and most gruesome shows on this list, "Hannibal" combines elements of horror with a focus on psychology, a lethal combination.

Yes, we know we've referenced Mulder and Scully from "The X-Files" on this list already, but they really were the blueprint for so many procedural pairings, from the main duo of "The Mentalist" to the protagonists of the Fox series "Fringe," which aired from 2008 to 2013. "Fringe" follows FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), who is assigned to the Fringe Division. She investigates unusual and inexplicable events. Olivia is joined by Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble), a scatterbrained scientist, his son, Peter (Joshua Jackson), a former con man, and dedicated Junior Agent Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole).

What begins as a simple mystery morphs into something much bigger, as the team discovers secrets such as time travel and parallel universes, unlocking the secrets of their own pasts (and futures). It's a mind-bending show, but it never loses sight of what's important: the characters. Olivia and Peter's complicated and at times heart-wrenching relationship is central to the story, and it's one of the most epic, time-bending relationships to ever grace our television screens. Peter and Walter's relationship is also of paramount importance, and, like in any good sci-fi show, the heart comes before the science. The talented cast of "Fringe" do a tremendous job of breathing life into their characters.

If you like the witty banter of "The Mentalist" but you're looking for something a bit more fantastical, we suggest checking out the genre-bending series "Lucifer," which began life as a Fox show before getting picked up by Netflix post-cancelation. Based on the character created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg that was originally introduced in a DC Comics series, the show follows Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis), also known as The Devil. Bored of Hell, Lucifer ventures to Los Angeles and opens a nightclub called Lux, where he lives a hedonistic lifestyle filled with women, alcohol, and music.

Lucifer has the power to manipulate humans by seeing their deepest desires. One day, he meets LAPD detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German), who changes everything. Chloe seems to be a thoroughly good person, and Lucifer is unable to manipulate her like he is everyone else. Together, they begin an unlikely partnership as Lucifer uses his abilities to help solve crimes, all while Chloe remains unaware of who Lucifer really is — the actual Devil. A star-crossed romance for the ages, "Lucifer" is sure to appeal to fans of "The Mentalist." There are six seasons in total, with the sixth and final one airing in 2021.

Nic Pizzolatto's HBO crime drama "True Detective" might have struggled to hit the heights of its inaugural season in recent years, but that doesn't take away from the fact that Season 1 is a genuine masterpiece. In the show, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson star as two detectives tasked with tracking down the person responsible for a collection of gruesome ritualistic murders in Louisiana. Exploring a wide range of mature themes, the first season of "True Detective" is unlike any other crime drama on television and a must-watch for fans of the genre.

Where the show really stands out — and what makes it a good fit for fans of "The Mentalist," despite its harrowing narrative — is McConaughey's character Rust Cohle. Like Patrick Jane, he is a man who is somewhat ostracized by his co-workers and often shares a combative relationship with even his closest friends and partners. Rust is also a tortured soul, deeply affected by the death of his young daughter (something that also afflicts Jane in "The Mentalist") and he employs methods that are irregular but highly effective. If you watch "The Mentalist" for its memorable main character, you'll love watching McConaughey do his thing here.

A progenitor of the crime genre, "Murder, She Wrote" dominated ratings and ran for an impressive 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996, in the process becoming one of the most beloved shows in the history of American television. Starring the great Angela Lansbury — who, incidentally was also nominated for 12 Emmys for the series — "Murder, She Wrote" follows Jessica Fletcher, a retired schoolteacher who becomes a successful mystery novelist following the death of her husband. A long-time resident of the idyllic Cabot Cove, Maine, Jessica seems to attract murder wherever she goes, whether it be in her not-so-sleepy hometown or out on the road doing press for her books.

Along with being a talented writer, Jessica also proves herself to be an excellent detective, often solving the case before the police have any idea what's going on. Along with a charming cast of supporting characters — her best friend and the town doctor, Seth (William Windom), the bumbling Sheriff Amos Tupper (Tom Bosley), and her nephew, Grady (Michael Horton) — Jessica somehow finds the time to solve murders while also banging out mystery novels on her typewriter. If you like the cozy side of "The Mentalist," this show will tick a lot of boxes for you.