Shows like Lie to Me
15 picks with a similar feel
What defines Lie to Me, going by its Boxlist taste profile: Heavy and layered: a small-scale crime series. Best if you like depth over escapism. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of mysteries that are not what they seem, plus tags such as criminal consultant, police procedural and criminal investigation.
Here are 15 shows with a similar feel, ranked by how closely they match that profile. Treat them as picks to try, not a definitive list.
Based on Lie to Me (2009).
- 1
The Mentalist (2008)
TV8.4
Why it's like Lie to Me: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: criminal consultant, police procedural, criminal investigation.
- 2
Dexter: Resurrection (2025)
TV8.5
Why it's like Lie to Me: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 3
Home Before Dark (2020)
TV7.6
Why it's like Lie to Me: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 4
Castle (2009)
TV8.0Lighter option
Why it's like Lie to Me: Also intimate. Common ground: criminal consultant, police procedural, criminal investigation.
- 5
The Killing (2011)
TV7.9
Why it's like Lie to Me: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 6
Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021)
TV8.1
Why it's like Lie to Me: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 7
The Blacklist (2013)
TV7.5
Why it's like Lie to Me: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: criminal consultant.
- 8
Prodigal Son (2019)
TV8.4
Why it's like Lie to Me: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: criminal consultant.
- 9
Bosch (2015)
TV8.0
Why it's like Lie to Me: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 10
TV7.2
Why it's like Lie to Me: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 11
The Chestnut Man (2021)
TV7.7
Why it's like Lie to Me: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 12
Bates Motel (2013)
TV8.1
Why it's like Lie to Me: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 13
The Stranger (2020)
TV7.6Easier to follow
Why it's like Lie to Me: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 14
The Innocent (2021)
TV7.7
Why it's like Lie to Me: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 15
The Act (2019)
TV7.5
Why it's like Lie to Me: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
Boxlist compares Lie to Me with every show in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 7.2 or more from at least 150 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point. Ratings are TMDB audience scores out of 10.
Which of these suit you?
Take the taste test and every pick shows how well it matches you.
Take the taste testQuestions
- What should I watch if I like Lie to Me?
- Picks with a similar feel include The Mentalist, Dexter: Resurrection, Home Before Dark and Castle. Each shares part of Lie to Me's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 15 shows.
- How are these shows like Lie to Me chosen?
- Boxlist compares Lie to Me with every show in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 7.2 or more from at least 150 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point.
- Is there a lighter show like Lie to Me?
- Castle has a similar feel but scores lighter on Boxlist's weightiness scale.