As you might be aware, the beloved Hulu app will be merged with Disney+ (hello, higher fees!). Whether it’s corporate mergers, streaming wars, or the wrath of the algorithm gods, the streaming platform that gave us some of the most deliciously dark book-to-screen adaptations is teetering on the edge. And while some people are panicking about where they’ll watch The Bear, we, the bookish, the twisted, the narratively needy, are here for one last hurrah.
This list isn’t your average “ten shows you’ve already seen and forgot about”. These are the crime, mystery, and thriller gems that were born from books and raised by screenwriters who knew how to keep the tension taut and the characters morally compromised. If you like your stories with a side of psychological damage and a sprinkle of literary pedigree, buckle up.
The streaming platform may be merging, but we’re going out with style with this selection of the best Hulu shows based on books to watch before the app shuts down.
1. Will Trent by Karin Slaughter
Will Trent is the kind of character who walks into a crime scene and immediately knows who’s lying, who’s guilty, and who’s just bad at hiding their secrets. But don’t mistake him for a Sherlock clone: he’s more broken, more Southern, and far more emotionally constipated.
Raised in the foster system and now working for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Trent is a walking contradiction: brilliant but bruised, methodical but impulsive, and somehow still likable despite being allergic to small talk.
The show doesn’t just give us murder; it gives us layers. Each case is a puzzle, yes, but the real mystery is always Trent himself. His relationships are messy, his past is a minefield, and his moral compass is constantly recalibrating.
If you’re tired of crime dramas that treat trauma like a plot device, Will Trent offers something more nuanced. And if you’re the kind of viewer who likes to scream “THERAPY!” at the screen, you’ll feel right at home.
Why we recommend it: If you like your detectives emotionally damaged but functionally brilliant, Will Trent is basically therapy in a trench coat. Recommended for fans of crime fiction who enjoy watching men solve murders while avoiding their feelings like it’s an Olympic sport.
2. Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
Let’s be clear: Say Nothing is not your average murder mystery. It’s a deep dive into the Troubles in Northern Ireland, centered around the disappearance of Jean McConville, a mother of ten who vanished in 1972.
The show, like the book, doesn’t just ask “Whodunit?” It asks “Why did everyone stay silent?” and “How do you live with the ghosts of your own ideology?”.
This adaptation is slow-burning and cerebral, with a tone that’s more elegy than exposé. It doesn’t spoon-feed you answers, and it certainly doesn’t offer closure. Instead, it forces you to sit with the discomfort of history, the ambiguity of justice, and the terrifying realization that sometimes, the truth is buried not by accident, but by design.
If you’re into true crime that respects your intelligence and doesn’t glamorize the gore, Say Nothing is your next obsession. Just don’t expect to sleep well after.
Why we recommend it: This one’s for the history nerds who like their truth bloody, political, and morally ambiguous. It’s not just a show, it’s a slow-motion car crash of ideology and silence, and we’re rubbernecking with purpose.
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3. Under the Bridge by Rebecca Godfrey
Before Under the Bridge was a show, it was a book that made readers clutch their pearls and reevaluate their faith in humanity. The series adaptation takes that same energy and turns it into a haunting portrait of a community unraveling after the murder of 14-year-old Reena Virk.
But this isn’t just about the crime, it’s about the culture that allowed it to happen, the kids who committed it, and the adults who failed to stop it.
The show is atmospheric and emotionally raw, with performances that feel less like acting and more like confession. It doesn’t offer easy villains or tidy resolutions. Instead, it asks you to look at the ugliness beneath the surface and sit with it. If you’re into true crime that’s more introspective than sensational, Under the Bridge will wreck you, in the best way possible.
Why we recommend it: Recommended for anyone who’s ever looked at a group of teenagers and thought, “They scare me”.
4. Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin
Saint X begins with a classic setup: a family vacation in the Caribbean, a beautiful young woman, and a mysterious death. But this isn’t a beach read, it’s a psychological thriller that spirals into something far more unsettling. Years after her sister Alison’s death, Claire becomes consumed by the need to understand what really happened. And let’s just say: the truth is not a postcard.
The show is lush and eerie, with visuals that lull you into a false sense of security before yanking the rug out from under you. Claire’s descent into obsession is portrayed with unnerving precision, and the narrative dances between timelines, perspectives, and emotional states. If you like your mysteries with a side of existential dread and a protagonist who’s one bad decision away from a breakdown, Saint X is your kind of chaos.
Why we recommend it: For viewers who enjoy unraveling trauma like a ball of cursed yarn, Saint X delivers obsession, grief, and tropical dread in equal measure. It’s like a vacation gone wrong, but make it existential.
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5. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
Pretty Little Liars is the guilty pleasure that refuses to feel guilty. Based on Sara Shepard’s book series, the show follows four teenage girls whose lives are turned upside down when their queen bee friend disappears and a mysterious figure named “A” starts blackmailing them with their darkest secrets. It’s campy, chaotic, and completely addictive.
But beneath the glossy surface and dramatic texting lies a surprisingly sharp commentary on identity, surveillance, and the cost of keeping up appearances. The characters are messy in the best way, and the plot twists are so frequent you’ll need a spreadsheet to keep track.
If you’re looking for a mystery that’s equal parts soap opera and psychological thriller, Pretty Little Liars delivers. And yes, the books are even more unhinged.
Why we recommend it: If you love secrets, sabotage, and texting that could ruin lives, this show is your chaotic soulmate. Recommended for drama queens, mystery lovers, and anyone who thinks high school was a psychological thriller.
6. Raylan Givens Series by Elmore Leonard
Justified is what happens when you take Elmore Leonard’s razor-sharp prose and inject it with bourbon, bullets, and a whole lot of attitude. U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens is the kind of lawman who shoots first, asks questions later, and somehow makes it look cool. But don’t let the swagger fool you, this show is as much about ethics as it is about action.
Set in Kentucky, the series explores the tangled web of crime, family, and loyalty in a place where justice is personal and grudges last for generations. Raylan is a walking contradiction: charming but dangerous, principled but reckless.
If you like your thrillers with philosophical undertones and characters who could talk their way out of a hostage situation (or into one), Justified is a must-watch. And the books? Pure Leonard: sharp, witty, and morally murky.
Why we recommend it: This one’s for the morally flexible and the dialogue snobs. If you like your justice served with bourbon and a side of existential crisis, Raylan Givens is your problematic fave.
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Subscribe to our weekly newsletter7. The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright
The Looming Tower is not here to comfort you. Based on Lawrence Wright’s Pulitzer-winning book, the series chronicles the lead-up to 9/11 through the lens of inter-agency rivalry, political blindness, and ideological fervor. It’s dense, devastating, and absolutely essential viewing.
The show doesn’t just recount history, it interrogates it. The characters, drawn from real-life figures, are portrayed with complexity and nuance, and the narrative refuses to simplify the events for dramatic effect.
If you’re into political thrillers that treat you like an adult and demand your full attention, The Looming Tower will reward you with insight, outrage, and a renewed appreciation for competent governance (or the lack thereof).
Why we recommend it: Recommended for viewers who want their political thrillers with actual stakes and zero sugarcoating. It’s dense, devastating, and perfect for people who yell at the news and read nonfiction for fun.
8. Dopesick by Beth Macy
Dopesick is the kind of show that makes you want to throw your remote at the wall, then pick it up to keep watching. Based on Beth Macy’s investigative book, the series traces the rise of OxyContin and the devastation it unleashed across America. It’s not just a story, it’s an indictment.
The show moves between boardrooms, clinics, and courtrooms, showing how greed, denial, and manipulation created a crisis that still hasn’t ended. The performances are gut-wrenching, and the storytelling is unflinching. If you want a thriller that’s grounded in reality and fueled by righteous anger, Dopesick is your catharsis. And the book? A masterclass in journalism with a heart.
Why we recommend it: For anyone who’s ever screamed “HOW IS THIS LEGAL?” at a pharmaceutical ad, Dopesick is your righteous rage in serialized form. It’s empathy meets indictment, and it doesn’t flinch.
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9. Castle Rock by Stephen King (multiple works)
Castle Rock is what happens when you let Stephen King’s imagination run wild in one creepy little town and then hand the reins to showrunners who know how to bottle dread and pour it slowly.
This isn’t a direct adaptation of one book; it’s a mosaic of King’s most iconic themes, characters, and settings, stitched together with the kind of narrative ambition that makes horror fans salivate. Think of it as a literary haunted house: every room is a reference, every shadow a callback, and every scream a love letter to the master of suspense.
The show doesn’t just rely on jump scares or gore; it’s psychological, atmospheric, and deeply unsettling. Whether you’re watching a character unravel under the weight of supernatural forces or catching glimpses of familiar King lore (hello, Shawshank), Castle Rock rewards viewers who pay attention.
It’s a slow burn, yes, but the payoff is rich and layered. If you’ve ever wanted to live inside a Stephen King novel, minus the dying part, this is your chance. And if you haven’t read the books yet, consider this your gateway drug.
Why we recommend it: This one’s for the horror fans who like their nightmares literary and their Easter eggs plentiful. If you’ve ever wanted to live inside a Stephen King fever dream, welcome home.
10. Killing Eve by Luke Jennings
Forget everything you think you know about spy thrillers. Killing Eve is here to seduce, stab, and sass its way into your psyche. Based on Luke Jennings’ novellas, the show follows MI6 agent Eve Polastri as she becomes dangerously obsessed with Villanelle, a globe-trotting assassin who kills with the precision of a surgeon and the flair of a runway model. It’s a cat-and-mouse game, except the cat is wearing Gucci and the mouse is emotionally unstable.
What makes Killing Eve so addictive is its refusal to play by the rules. The tone shifts from dark comedy to psychological horror in the blink of an eye, and the chemistry between the leads is so electric it could power a small country.
Villanelle isn’t just a villain, she’s a mood, a lifestyle, a chaotic icon. And Eve? She’s the kind of protagonist who makes you scream “No!” and “Yes!” in the same breath. If you like your thrillers with a side of existential crisis and a wardrobe worth stealing, this one’s for you. And the books? Just as sharp, just as twisted, and arguably even more unhinged.
Why we recommend it: Recommended for viewers who like their thrillers with couture, chaos, and a touch of homoerotic tension. It’s espionage, but make it fashion, and slightly feral.
Watch Now, Read Later, Regret Nothing
So here we are: ten shows, ten books, and one streaming platform gasping its last breath. But instead of mourning Hulu’s demise, let’s celebrate what it gave us: stories that dared to be dark, characters who refused to be simple, and adaptations that actually respected the source material. These aren’t just shows to binge, they’re invitations to read deeper, think harder, and maybe spiral a little (in a good way).
Whether you’re a crime junkie, a mystery addict, or just someone who likes their fiction with a pulse and a plot twist, this list is your final feast. Watch them while you can, read them when you’re ready, and remember: good stories never die. Streaming platforms might, but the books? They’re eternal.
