Some shows entertain, while others activate our itch for justice, for mystery, and for a lone figure who can walk through chaos unscathed and somehow make sense of it. That’s the magic of action-crime procedurals, a genre that has been fascinating viewers for decades. From missing persons to cryptic clues, these shows hook you from the pilot and never let go. They’re built on suspense and the thrill of the chase, and when done right, they’re worth bingeing.
Tracker is one of those shows. Since its debut on CBS, it’s gathered a loyal fanbase with its storytelling and lead. Now three seasons in, it follows Colter Shaw, a survivalist and reward seeker who travels the country helping solve cases that the authorities have given up on. Played by Justin Hartley, Colter isn’t a cop or a PI, he is a tracker who relies on instinct and experience. Each episode presents a mystery, but the show also builds a slow-burning lore around Colter’s past and the people he has left behind.
And if you’re among the millions tuning into Season 3 of Tracker and can’t wait to feel the same adrenaline rush each week, here are 10 shows that scratch the same itch.
‘Poker Face’ (2023 – Present)
Charlie Cale isn’t a cop, or a detective, or even remotely qualified to solve crimes. But she’s got this uncanny gift of always being able to tell when someone is lying. After a run-in with a shady casino boss, Charlie hits the road in her beat-up Barracuda, drifts from town to town, and stumbles into mysterious murders she cannot help but unravel.
Offbeat and Unpredictable Crime Story
Each episode of Poker Face is a self-contained whodunit, with Charlie piecing together clues in diners, dive bars, and desert motels. The structure flips the usual mystery format by giving us the crime upfront and letting the thrill come from watching Charlie figure out how to expose them. Natasha Lyonne’s Charlie is scrappy, sharp, and fun to watch. Her investigations are messy, intuitive, and hilarious, with guest stars like Adrien Brody and Hong Chau adding flavor. Like Tracker, it thrives on mystery and mobility.
‘Joe Pickett’ (2021 – 2023)
Set in the rugged wilderness of Wyoming, Joe Pickett follows a newly appointed game warden who finds himself tangled in a web of corruption, murder, and political tension. Joe isn’t your typical action hero. He’s principled and committed to protecting the land and its people. But when a body turns up on his property, he’s drawn into a conspiracy that stretches beyond poaching and park violations.
Conspiracies in the Wild
Joe Pickett is a slow-burn thriller with a neo-Western edge, and that’s exactly what makes it intriguing. Michael Dorman leads with a grounded intensity as Joe, making every decision worth understanding. The overall pacing is deliberate, and by season two, stakes rise and enemies get more dangerous. It flew under the radar, but it’s got strong reviews for its atmosphere and authenticity, and an impressive 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.
‘The Hunting Party’ (2025)
Created by JJ Bailey, The Hunting Party is a crime procedural series that scratches the same itch as Tracker. In it, a top-secret containment facility has failed, and now, a team of elite investigators must track down the fugitives who escaped. Rebecca Henderson, a profiler with a haunted past, leads a task force through dangerous manhunts across the country, all while the team is facing the constant threat of being outmatched by their targets.
An Overall Engaging Watch
This gripping show thrives on momentum alone. It doesn’t waste any time setting up the premise. It opens with a jailbreak and never lets up. Melissa Roxburgh anchors the series with the kind of grit that’s necessary to elevate the procedural beats, and the supporting cast adds texture to the team dynamics. The Hunting Party is a newer entry, but it’s already becoming a fan-favorite in the crime-thriller genre. It’s a team-based counterpoint, but thrilling nonetheless.
‘Walker’ (2021 – 2024)
Supernatural’s Jared Padalecki stars in Walker as Cordell Walker, who returns to Austin after a year undercover and finds that the real work begins at home. A widowed father of two, he’s trying to reconnect with his kids, navigate a strained relationship with his conservative family, and adjust to a new partner on the force. But the mystery surrounding his wife’s death refuses to stay put, and Cordell is pulled into a deeper investigation.
A Reboot That Stands on Its Own
Spanning four seasons, Walker balances personal drama with incredibly engaging cases, like cartel entanglements and political corruption. And it’s all set against the backdrop of Texas with its small-town secrets. But it’s not just about chasing bad guys, it’s about a man trying to rebuild his life while the past catches up to him. Season 3 dives into the Grey Flag conspiracy, while Season 4 leans into fallout, giving the show a darker, more serialized edge.
‘Found’ (2023 – 2025)
NBC’s procedural drama, Found, centers on Gabi Mosely, who isn’t law enforcement, but she’s the one people call when the system fails. A former kidnapping victim herself, Gabi runs a crisis management team that specializes in finding mission persons. But the twist is, she’s secretly keeping her own kidnapper locked in her basement, using his twisted insight to help solve cases.
Missing People and Dark Secrets
Found is about solving cases, but at the same time, it’s about who gets forgotten and why. Shanola Hampton delivers a powerhouse performance, weighing Gabi’s fierce determination and simmering rage equally. The show’s two-season run is packed with tension, especially with the overarching story about Gabi’s trauma and her moral compromises. Like Tracker, it’s as much about the hunt as it is about the emotional and psychological toll of always being the one who searches.
‘Justified’ (2010 – 2015)
U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens is an old-school lawman with a fast draw and a strict moral code. After a controversial shooting in Miami, he is reassigned to his hometown of Harlan County, Kentucky, where family feuds and criminal empires run deep. Raylan’s uneasy return and his clashes with childhood friend–turned–drug kingpin Boyd Crowder are explored across six seasons of Justified.
Gripping Small-Town Intrigue
A genuine triumph of character-driven storytelling on television, Justified is led by the charming Timothy Olyphant and the compelling Walter Goggins. The former brings tension while the latter delivers one of TV’s most intriguing antiheroes in Boyd. The show’s procedural bones are strong too, with each season building on the last and offering standout arcs like the Bennett clan and the Detroit mob entanglements. Author Elmore Leonard ranked Justified as one of the best adaptations of his work, which includes classics like Jackie Brown and 3:10 to Yuma.
‘Without a Trace’ (2002 – 2009)
Set in New York City, Without a Trace follows the FBI’s Missing Persons Unit, a specialized team that investigates disappearances by reconstructing the last known moments of the victims’ lives. Led by Jack Malone, the team uses psychological profiling, forensic clues, and gut instinct to track down people who have vanished. It could be a runaway teen, a kidnapped executive, or simply someone who walked out of their life.
A Ratings Hit on CBS
Procedurals were all the rage back in the 2000s, and across seven seasons, Without a Trace built a reputation for its depth and storytelling. The cases are tight, the pacing is brisk, and the stakes always feel intimate. Anthony LaPaglia plays Malone and his leadership is always tested, especially when his own life bleeds into the work. The show digs into trauma, addiction, and moral dilemmas, and it shares Tracker’s obsession with the hunt.
‘Reacher’ (2022 – Present)
The ultimate addition to any “dad-TV” list and a great companion to Tracker, this one finds Jack Reacher stepping off a bus in Margrave, Georgia, looking for nothing more than peace and anonymity. What he finds is a murder investigation that quickly implicates him and a town hiding more secrets than it lets on. Based on Lee Child’s bestselling novels, Reacher follows the former military police investigator as he uses his strength and mind to dismantle criminal empires.
Ideal for Binge-Watching
Season 1 adapts Killing Floor, while Season 2 dives into Bad Luck and Trouble, infusing Reacher’s old unit for a revenge-fueled mission. Each one is a standalone arc packed with action, mystery, and dry wit. Alan Ritchson’s Reacher is stoic, sharp, and charismatic, and he’s the reason the show’s thriller elements are so thrilling. What makes Reacher a natural fit for the list is that it doesn’t waste words and time and is Prime Video’s breakout hit.
‘Will Trent’ (2023 – Present)
Created by Liz Heldens & Daniel Thomsen, Will Trent revolves around Special Agent Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. He has a photographic memory, a troubled past, and a knack for noticing details others miss. Raised in the foster system and dyslexic, Will brings a unique perspective to any crime he solves, and it’s apparent from the first one, which is about a brutal murder and a missing child.
Southern Noir With a Modern Twist
Will Trent, based on the best-selling novels by Karin Slaughter, offers a richly layered crime drama that will resonate with fans of Tracker because it’s about solving crimes and understanding the people behind them. Ramón Rodríguez anchors the cast as Will, with the rest of them providing incredible support. It’s got a case-of-the-week structure, but the later seasons deepen the mythology by exploring Will’s childhood and the GBI’s internal politics.
‘Burn Notice’ (2007 – 2013)
In Burn Notice, Jeffrey Donovan plays Michael Westen, a spy who has been “burned” – blacklisted by the U.S. government with no explanation. Stranded in Miami, he uses his skills to help everyday people while trying to uncover the truth behind his unexpected dismissal. With help from his ex-girlfriend, best friend, and meddling mother, Michael takes on everything from corrupt landlords to international arms dealers.
Makes Spy Work Look Scrappy and Stylish
A delightfully entertaining blend of spy thriller, character-driven drama, and sharp-witted humor, Burn Notice is fun and inventive. Donovan’s Michael is cool under pressure, captivating audiences from the very first episode. His narration explaining how to build a bug out of a cellphone or how to escape a kidnapping with duct tape brings levity. Like Tracker, it is about a lone operative using unconventional methods to solve problems and stay out of danger.
- Release Date
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February 11, 2024
- Network
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CBS
- Showrunner
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Elwood Reid
- Writers
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Ben H. Winters, Hilary Weisman Graham
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Justin Hartley
Colter Shaw
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