Read it, then stream it: The best book-to-screen adaptations we’re excited for in 2025

If you haven’t met The Thursday Murder Club yet, now’s the perfect time. Richard Osman’s charming and witty novel follows a group of four sharp-witted retirees who meet weekly to solve cold cases, but when a real murder happens nearby, they jump headfirst into the investigation. It’s a clever mix of humour, mystery and heart that’s captured the imagination of readers worldwide.

Out of all of the books being adapted into movies, this one boasts an impressive cast led by Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie, bringing a delightful team to life with plenty of laughs and suspense, making it a must-watch for fans of cosy crime with a twist. What really sets The Thursday Murder Club apart is its perfect balance of warmth and intrigue. These seniors aren’t just solving crimes - they’re proving that it’s never too late to shake things up and have a little fun. Whether you’re a fan of classic whodunits or just love a good ensemble cast with plenty of personality, this adaptation promises to be a joyful ride. So, get ready to join the club, you might just become obsessed!

You know Lizzy. You know Jane. You might even remember Lydia’s scandal. But what about Mary? In The Other Bennet Sister, the quiet, bookish middle sibling finally gets her moment in the spotlight. Based on Janice Hadlow’s acclaimed novel, this warm and witty adaptation reimagines the Pride and Prejudice universe through Mary’s eyes as she moves from the background of her sisters’ drama to find her own voice, and maybe even her own happy ending.

More than just a spin-off, The Other Bennet Sister is a thoughtful, emotionally rich story about what it means to grow up in the shadow of charm, beauty and societal expectations. With period elegance, dry humour, and a quietly magnetic heroine - brought to life by a Call the Midwife favourite and a Gavin & Stacey star - this is Austen with a fresh perspective: nuanced, deeply human, and unexpectedly moving.

Think you know what goes on in sleepy suburbs? Think again. Down Cemetery Road pulls back the curtain on the hidden tensions lurking beneath the calm surface, where a house explosion sparks a mystery no one saw coming. With Ruth Wilson and Emma Thompson leading the charge as a determined woman on a mission and a razor-sharp private investigator, this is one thriller you’ll want to binge on a rainy afternoon.

From the gritty streets of London to the eerily quiet lanes of Oxford, Down Cemetery Road brings the same blend of sharp wit, flawed heroes and tangled conspiracies that made Mick Herron’s Slow Horses series a cult hit. Adapted from his debut Zoë Boehm novel, this suspenseful new series pairs domestic unease with political paranoia.

Don’t be fooled by the flapper dresses and grand country estate; The Seven Dials Mystery hides a deliciously dark core. When a seemingly harmless prank at a country manor ends in murder, sharp-witted socialite Bundle Brent finds herself drawn into a web of secrets, coded warnings, and a shadowy society far beyond the drawing room. Mia McKenna‑Bruce brings a fresh spark to the role, joined by Helena Bonham Carter and Martin Freeman in a mystery full of misdirection, menace, and one very suspicious missing alarm clock.

From glittering banquets to backroom conspiracies, this isn’t your grandmother’s Agatha Christie. With sleek direction from Liar’s Chris Sweeney and a razor-sharp script from Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall, Netflix’s adaptation fuses the glamour of the 1920s with the tension of a contemporary thriller.

Nothing says national security like a crew of burned-out spies who’d rather be anywhere else. In Slow Horses season 5 (based on London Rules, the fifth book in the Slough House series), the stakes are bigger, the secrets are darker, and the office kettle is still broken. When bodies start dropping and old skeletons rattle in MI5’s closet, the team is dragged back into the field, kicking, screaming, and occasionally competent.

With Gary Oldman still stealing every scene (and sandwich), this season delivers more sardonic wit, top-tier acting and the kind of bleak brilliance only Slow Horses can pull off. Who needs James Bond when you've got Jackson Lamb?

Think a hostage situation sounds straightforward? Think again. Anxious People turns a botched robbery into a wildly unpredictable, strangely heart-warming mystery, where everyone’s got something to hide and nothing is quite what it seems. With Aimee Lou Wood as a nervy would-be thief and Angelina Jolie as a seemingly cold investment banker who's trying to hold it all together, this is a whip-smart, emotional rollercoaster that blends farce, feeling, and mystery in all the best ways.

Based on Fredrik Backman’s best-selling novel, Anxious People (which is already a Netflix series) is a genre-defying story that jumps between timelines, unravels a locked-room puzzle, and somehow finds humour and hope in the most unexpected places. It’s about the messiness of being human and what happens when a group of total strangers are forced to stop pretending everything’s fine.

From a bestselling psychological thriller to a must-watch screen drama, The Housemaid is set to become your next TV obsession. Based on Freida McFadden’s wildly popular novel, the series follows Millie, a young woman with a complicated past who takes a live-in job at a wealthy family’s mansion, only to discover the job (and the house) may not be what it seems. What starts as a dream opportunity quickly spirals into a chilling, claustrophobic nightmare.

Packed with jaw-dropping twists, shifting power dynamics, and a heroine who refuses to be underestimated, The Housemaid is a dark, addictive ride that fans of You and The Handmaid’s Tale will devour. If you love your thrillers with a domestic edge and characters who keep you guessing, this is one adaptation you won’t want to miss.

If psychological thrillers are your thing, Baby Doll by Hollie Overton is one to watch. The gripping story follows Lily, a young woman who escapes captivity after being held prisoner for eight years. But the real shock comes when she returns home and realises that freedom isn’t as simple as walking away. As secrets unravel and family bonds are tested, Lily must rebuild her life in a world that’s moved on without her.

The upcoming book adaptation is heading to Paramount+ promises to bring all the emotional tension and twists of the novel to the screen, exploring trauma, survival and justice through a deeply personal lens.

With Anna Friel in the lead, The Girl Who Died promises a tense, slow-burning thriller where silence is every bit as ominous as a scream. Set against the stark, haunting beauty of Iceland’s remote landscapes, it blends psychological suspense with the slow, creeping dread that fans of Nordic noir will love. Based on Ragnar Jónasson’s bestselling novel, the story follows a young teacher who takes a job in a tiny, isolated village with just ten residents. But as she settles in, it becomes clear the villagers are hiding something and the past is far from buried.

The icy setting, unsettling secrets, and ever-building tension make The Girl Who Died one to watch. Expect eerie visuals, simmering paranoia, and a mystery that twists tighter with every scene.

Fans of the grizzled duo, rejoice as Strike is officially heading into its seventh case. Based on Robert Galbraith’s (aka J.K. Rowling’s) novel The Running Grave, this next chapter sees Robin Ellacott go undercover in a chilling cult known as the Universal Humanitarian Church after a desperate father’s plea for help.

As secrets unravel and personal histories resurface, Cormoran Strike is dragged back into a past he’s spent a lifetime trying to forget—all while trying to protect the woman who risked everything to save a stranger.