A remote wilderness, five unexplained disappearances and a detective determined to uncover the truth. High Country brings together the atmospheric tension of Maigret and the jaw-dropping twists of Unforgotten – and the result is a crime thriller worth adding to your watchlist.

First broadcast in Australia in 2024, the eight-part detective drama follows Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford, played by Leah Purcell, as she leaves city life behind for a posting in Victoria’s isolated High Country.

But her new surroundings offer little peace. Five people have disappeared into the wilderness, and what initially appears to be a missing-person investigation soon develops into something far more sinister.

Now available to stream in full on BBC iPlayer, High Country combines a compelling central mystery, complicated characters and an unsettling landscape that keeps viewers guessing.

A New Detective, Five Missing People and a Disturbing Mystery

At the centre of High Country is Andie Whitford (Leah Purcell), a city detective transferred to the remote Victorian High Country.

Her arrival coincides with a baffling case involving five people who have vanished without explanation. As she begins investigating, she finds herself confronting a disturbing network of murder, deception and revenge.

However, solving the case is only part of her challenge.

Andie must also establish herself among colleagues who are suspicious of the newcomer. Away from work, tensions are growing at home, too. Her daughter, Kirra (Pez Warner), is struggling to adjust to their new life, adding another layer of pressure to an already difficult transition.

The series wastes little time setting an unsettling tone.

In its opening sequence, Andie drives along a winding road and comes across an abandoned Mercedes-Benz belonging to Dr Haber. Its doors have been left open, with his personal belongings still inside.

The circumstances quickly take a horrifying turn. Andie learns that Haber has recently murdered his wife and children before discovering him naked. Moments later, he takes his own life – but not before delivering an eerie warning to the detective.

It is a deeply unsettling introduction to the world Andie has entered.

A Cast of Suspicious Characters and Twists That Keep Coming

As Andie digs deeper, she encounters several unusual figures in the town, including Damien Starc (Henry Nixon), a man who claims to possess psychic abilities and experience visions.

Not everyone believes his claims.

Sergeant Sam Dyson (Ian McElhinney), Andie’s gruff predecessor, is convinced that Starc is responsible for the murder of a female hiker who has gone missing.

Andie, however, suspects the truth is considerably more complicated.

Across eight episodes, the investigation develops into a chilling conspiracy packed with misleading clues, unexpected revelations and cliffhangers.

At the same time, Andie is forced to confront trauma from her own past, making the investigation as personal as it is dangerous.

There is also more to come. Filming for the second series is currently underway, with its next instalment expected to arrive later this year.

Who Stars in High Country?

The Australian crime drama brings together a cast of familiar television faces, led by Leah Purcell.

The principal cast includes:

• Leah Purcell (Wentworth) as Sergeant Andrea “Andie” Whitford.
• Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones, Derry Girls) as retired Sergeant Sam Dyson.
• Sara Wiseman (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, A Place to Call Home) as Helen Hartley.
• Aaron Pedersen (Mystery Road, Jack Irish) as Owen Cooper.
• Pez Warner (Strife) as Kirra Hartley.

Purcell anchors the series as a determined detective navigating both a complicated investigation and the personal difficulties surrounding her new life.

Is High Country Worth Watching?

If Unforgotten and Maigret are already among your favourite detective dramas, High Country deserves a place on your watchlist.

One of its biggest strengths is its central character. Much like Nicola Walker’s DCI Cassie Stuart in Unforgotten, Purcell’s Andie is a strong-willed female investigator whose determination to uncover the truth never wavers.

Both detectives also have complicated family lives, giving their professional investigations an added emotional dimension.

Then there is the setting.

Rather than relying on familiar city streets and conventional police stations, High Country takes viewers into the vast, atmospheric Victorian bushlands. The remote landscape gives the mystery an unsettling quality, making the disappearances feel even more disturbing.

Combined with the series’ carefully constructed twists and episode-ending cliffhangers, it is the kind of detective drama that makes watching just one instalment particularly difficult.

Where Can You Watch High Country?

All eight episodes of High Country are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

You can watch the complete first series here:

Two More Detective Dramas to Add to Your Watchlist

If you finish High Country and are still looking for another gripping mystery, there are two more series worth exploring.

1. Case Histories

Starring Jason Isaacs, Case Histories follows Jackson Brodie, a former soldier and policeman who takes on a series of unconventional investigations.

With its intriguing cases and compelling central character, it offers another absorbing option for fans of detective fiction.

The series is available to watch on U.

2. The Bletchley Circle

For something with a different atmosphere, The Bletchley Circle offers a fascinating combination of historical drama and murder mystery.

Set in post-war Britain in 1952, the series follows four former Second World War codebreakers who put their extraordinary analytical skills to work solving murders.

Anna Maxwell Martin leads the drama with a brilliant performance, bringing together four women whose wartime experiences give them a unique advantage in their investigations.

You can watch The Bletchley Circle on Channel 4.