If you’re searching for your next crime drama to devour in one sitting, this series appears to have slipped beneath many people’s notice, despite receiving rave reviews.
Drawing from an enormously successful series of books by Swedish author Viveca Sten, the television adaptation brings to screen the murder mystery novels Hidden in Snow and Hidden in the Shadows.
The compelling narratives belong to the specialist Nordic noir genre, which features crime fiction typically told from a police perspective, unfolding against a Scandinavian or Nordic backdrop.
Launched in 2025, The Åre Murders series transforms the much-loved stories into a visual format, tracking a range of fascinating characters.
As the pair of detectives plunge into the snow-covered Swedish town, their investigation exposes a chilling web of human trafficking operations and heartbreaking family revelations.
The extreme weather and settings add to the drama of the story(Image: Netflix)
At its core sits a detective called Hanna, who, following the collapse of her relationship, takes a period of leave and escapes to her sister’s holiday retreat in a Swedish ski resort called Åre.
Without warning, a girl vanishes, and with the local police force operating below capacity, she finds herself unable to resist getting involved in the case.
Officer Daniel grudgingly welcomes the assistance, cautiously making Hanna his new colleague, though as events unfold, both grapple with uncertainty over whether they can genuinely rely on each other.
A critic summed up the programme by saying: “Grisly murders, a suffocating tone, and a climate so harsh you can practically feel the painfully numb fingers of the cast. What’s not to love?”
Taking on the role of Hannah is renowned Swedish actress Carla Sehn, appearing alongside Kardo Razzazi as detective Daniel. The cast also includes Amalia Holm Bjelke, Charlie Gustafsson and Frida Argento in a Swedish production that can be viewed with English subtitles, as well as in dubbed formats.
Fans anticipate a second season(Image: Netflix)
Meanwhile, one delighted viewer wrote a review on Rotten Tomatoes, clamouring for additional content to get stuck into. They wrote: “Really great, watchable Swedish crime show. Relatable main characters with genuine warmth. Things played out in believable ways and the snowy setting was a fantastic element all on its own.”
According to WhatsonNetflix, The Åre Murders is poised to return with a second season, due to land at some stage in 2026, bringing two entirely fresh cases for the investigators to tackle. While no formal announcements have been issued regarding further development of the story, enthusiasts remain in eager anticipation.
Another viewer offered their perspective on the programme, writing: “There are two separate murder mysteries. They both have a slow build initially but once they pick up speed you are buckled in and barrelling down the highway.”
One person highlighted how the frigid Swedish scenery contributed an unsettling atmosphere to the narrative. They said: “Good Nordic noir with brooding, bleak landscapes and crisp dialog, murder mystery with police personnel drama as a running side story. “
All five episodes of The Åre Murders are currently available to stream on Netflix right now.
