What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Little Things
Film · 2021
If you loved The Little Things, start with The Sinner (Derek Simonds, 2017) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Little Things across media.
If The Little Things hooked you, it is because you are fascinated by investigators whose personal obsessions blur professional boundaries.
Books on the same thread
The Devil Is in the Details
LaKeisha LaKay · Book · 2021
Shares a thread with The Little Things: Police Procedural.
Like The Little Things, this story explores how detectives attempt to manage their own grief and past trauma while navigating the high-stakes pressure of a new criminal investigation.
Desert Star
Michael Connelly · Book
Shares a thread with The Little Things: police procedural.
Fans of the professional tension in The Little Things will appreciate this narrative, which centers on two detectives forced to reconcile their complicated history to solve cold cases.
Pieces of Her
Karin Slaughter · Book
Shares a thread with The Little Things: psychological thriller.
Much like the unsettling revelations in The Little Things, this thriller centers on the discovery of a hidden past that forces characters to confront dangerous, long-buried secrets.
The Narrows
Michael Connelly · Book · 2005
Shares 2 threads with The Little Things: Obsession, Police Procedural.
The intense obsession found in The Little Things is mirrored here as investigators are haunted by their past failures while hunting a serial killer in Los Angeles.
Series on the same thread
The Sinner
Derek Simonds · Series · 2017
Shares 2 threads with The Little Things: moral ambiguity, Psychological Thriller.
This series captures the same moral ambiguity seen in The Little Things, focusing on a detective who struggles with his own demons while investigating complex, haunting crimes.
Luther
Neil Cross · Series · 2010
Shares 3 threads with The Little Things: Moral Ambiguity, Obsession, Psychological Thriller.
If you enjoyed the self-destructive behavior in The Little Things, you will find a similar character study in this drama about an investigator who mirrors his targets.
MINDHUNTER
Joe Penhall · Series · 2017
Shares 3 threads with The Little Things: Moral Ambiguity, Psychological Thriller, Police Procedural.
This show dives into the same psychological toll seen in The Little Things, illustrating how the obsession with profiling serial killers can erode a detective's personal life.
True Detective
Nic Pizzolatto · Series · 2014
Shares 3 threads with The Little Things: Moral Ambiguity, Neo-Noir, Psychological Thriller.
Like The Little Things, this series uses multiple timelines to show how an investigation can irrevocably unearth the personal trauma and secrets of those caught in the law.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
While this podcast offers a different tone, it shares the preoccupation with the tragic, dark details of criminal cases that makes The Little Things so deeply unsettling.
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with The Little Things: moral ambiguity.
This show explores the same moral ambiguity found in The Little Things, focusing on the complex human stories of those who have done wrong or been wronged.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Little Things a movie about a serial killer investigation?
Yes, The Little Things follows Deputy Sheriff Joe Deacon and Sergeant Jim Baxter as they collaborate to track a serial killer who is terrorizing Los Angeles. The narrative focuses on their joint investigation and the personal toll it takes on the detectives involved.
What is the central conflict in The Little Things?
The central conflict in The Little Things involves the search for a serial killer in Los Angeles. As the investigation progresses, the case begins to dredge up disturbing secrets from Joe Deacon's past, which creates complications that threaten both the case and the detectives.
Who are the main characters in The Little Things?
The main characters in The Little Things are Deputy Sheriff Joe Deacon and Sergeant Jim Baxter. These two officers join forces to hunt a serial killer, leading to an intense investigation that uncovers hidden secrets and challenges their professional partnership.
Does The Little Things focus on the past of the main characters?
Yes, The Little Things explores the past of Deputy Sheriff Joe Deacon. As he and Sergeant Jim Baxter search for a serial killer, the investigation brings up echoes of Deacon's history, revealing disturbing secrets that have the potential to impact the outcome of their case.