What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedChicago P.D.
Dick Wolf · Series · 2014
If you loved Chicago P.D., start with Chicago Fire (Derek Haas, 2012) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Chicago P.D. across media.
If you loved Chicago P.D., you crave stories where the line between justice and corruption blurs under the weight of intense loyalty.
Start with the source
The source
Chicago Fire
Derek Haas · Series · 2012
Adaptation
Chicago Med
Dick Wolf · Series · 2015
Books on the same thread
Drama City
George P. Pelecanos · Book · 2005
Shares 3 threads with Chicago P.D.: Moral Ambiguity, Urban Crime, Police Procedural.
Like the officers in Chicago P.D., Lorenzo Brown navigates a world of urban crime where the struggle for redemption is constantly complicated by past choices and moral ambiguity.
The Late Show
Michael Connelly · Book · 2017
Shares 2 threads with Chicago P.D.: Corruption, Police Procedural.
Fans of Chicago P.D. will recognize the familiar intensity of a dedicated detective working within a complex police bureaucracy, forced to balance personal drive against systemic internal pressure.
Reacher: Persuader
Lee Child · Book
Explores: undercover operations, lone wolf protagonist, ruthless justice.
The ruthless justice displayed by Jack Reacher mirrors the high-stakes, action-oriented approach of the Intelligence Unit in Chicago P.D. as they dismantle organized crime syndicates from the inside.
The Red Book
James Patterson and David Ellis · Book
Shares 2 threads with Chicago P.D.: corruption, police procedural.
Set in the same city as Chicago P.D., this thriller dives deep into the internal corruption and past secrets that haunt those tasked with upholding the law.
Films on the same thread
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Aaron Sorkin · Film · 2020
Explores: Civil Disobedience, Government Overreach, Social Justice.
The visceral clash between protesters and police mirrors the tense, street-level confrontations found throughout Chicago P.D., highlighting the thin line between maintaining order and exercising government overreach.
The Departed
Martin Scorsese · Film · 2006
Shares a thread with Chicago P.D.: Moral Ambiguity.
This film captures the same dangerous moral ambiguity seen in Chicago P.D., where the blurring lines between undercover police work and criminal loyalty create constant, nail-biting tension.
Training Day
Antoine Fuqua · Film · 2001
Shares 3 threads with Chicago P.D.: Corruption, Moral Ambiguity, Police Procedural.
The mentorship gone wrong dynamic mirrors the complex power structures within Chicago P.D., illustrating the corruption that can fester when a veteran officer operates outside the law.
L.A. Confidential
Curtis Hanson · Film · 1997
Shares 2 threads with Chicago P.D.: Moral Ambiguity, Police Procedural.
These detectives navigate a corrupt police force with the same grit seen in Chicago P.D., proving that uncovering the truth often requires compromising one's own ethical standards.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Garda Podcast
Podcast
Explores: Irish law enforcement, criminal justice system, police interviews.
If the procedural elements of Chicago P.D. kept you hooked, this podcast offers a genuine behind-the-scenes look at the realities of law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
Law And Crime Investigations
Podcast
Explores: Criminal Trials, Police Investigations, Legal Commentary.
This network mirrors the investigative intensity of Chicago P.D. by providing a detailed look at the legal analysis and criminal trials that follow high-stakes police work.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Chicago P.D. connected to Chicago Fire and Chicago Med?
Yes, Chicago P.D. is part of a shared television universe created by Dick Wolf. It shares the same setting and narrative world as Chicago Fire, which premiered in 2012, and Chicago Med, which premiered in 2015.
What order should I watch Chicago P.D. in relation to the other shows?
Chicago Fire began in 2012, followed by Chicago P.D. in 2014, and Chicago Med in 2015. Watching them in their original broadcast order allows you to follow the chronological expansion of the shared universe and the development of the characters across the various departments.
How long has Chicago P.D. been on the air?
Chicago P.D. premiered in 2014. It is a police drama focused on the officers of District 21, including both the uniformed patrol officers who handle street crimes and the Intelligence Unit that investigates major offenses like organized crime and drug trafficking.
Should I watch Chicago Fire before starting Chicago P.D.?
You can watch Chicago P.D. as a standalone police drama, but viewing Chicago Fire first provides context for the shared universe. Both shows were created by Dick Wolf and depict the interconnected lives and professional duties of emergency responders and law enforcement personnel in Chicago.