Partners in crime: The women detective buddies we’re cheering for

What’s better than a woman detective? A team of two. New shows and films are making the most of the partnership, giving crime drama and comedy an edge

One welcome side-effect of this burst of crime-fiction on screen? Stories are finally shedding law-enforcement cliches. There’s no good-cop-bad-cop dynamic. It’s a gritty world out there – everyone’s gotta be a good cop, dammit! There’s no casual brutality – even hick-town sheriffs and security guards now brood over a forceful arrest, a bungled-up cold case.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s women detectives Rosa and Amy solve their best cases without the men butting in.

BBC’s Shetland (2013 —) gave up its solo male lead character for a two-woman team last year.

The two women detectives in Unbelievable crack a rape case because they view it with sensitivity.