, there have been over seven or eight.){kind=link}
Books and TV shows have had a special relationship for over a century now. There have been countless TV adaptations of popular books, and even if we count this year (which isn’t over), there have been over seven or eight. While there have been many brilliant books that were adapted through the years, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the TV shows are also good, and that’s why we decided to compile a list of the absolute best TV shows that were based on books. As a side note, we also decided not to include Game of Thrones and Dexter, mainly because of how they ended.
True Blood (Hulu, HBO Max, & Rent on Prime Video)
True Blood is a fantasy horror drama series created by Alan Ball. Based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries by author Charlaine Harris, the HBO series is set in a universe where the existence of vampires is common knowledge and they feed on synthetic blood instead of human blood to survive. It follows Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic barmaid in a small town who falls for a vampire. True Blood stars Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skarsgård, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley, Chris Bauer, Nelsan Ellis, Jim Parrack, Carrie Preston, Michael Raymond-James, William Sanderson, and Lynn Collins.
Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
Slow Horses is a British spy thriller, dark comedy-drama series created by Will Smith. Based on the Slough House novels by Mick Herron, the Apple TV+ series is set in London and it revolves around a group of MI5 rejects assigned to serve out the rest of their service where spies’ careers go to die, Slough House. Slow Horses stars Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sophie Okonedo, Jonathan Pryce, and Hugo Weaving.
Sherlock (Hulu, PBS, & Britbox)
Sherlock is a British mystery crime comedy-drama series co-created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat. Based on the Sherlock Holmes novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the BBC series is set in modern London and it follows the genius detective Sherlock Holmes with extraordinary observational skills who works with his best friend and partner, Dr. John Watson, to consult with Scotland Yard to solve complex criminal cases. Sherlock stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Mark Gatiss, Lara Pulver, Amanda Abbington, Andrew Scott, Rupert Graves, and Louise Brealey.
Hannibal (Prime Video)
Hannibal is a psychological crime horror thriller series created by Bryan Fuller. Based on the Hannibal novels by author Thomas Harris, the NBC series revolves around FBI Special Investigative Agent Will Graham and Dr. Hannibal Lecter as they get in a twisted game of cat-and-mouse chase. Hannibal stars Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, Hettienne Park, Laurence Fishburne, Scott Thompson, Aaron Abrams, and Gillian Anderson.
Interview with the Vampire (Netflix, AMC+, Philo, & The Roku Channel)
Interview with the Vampire is a gothic horror vampire drama series created by Rolin Jones. Based on The Vampire Chronicles novels by Anne Rice, the AMC series follows Louis de Pointe du Lac, a vampire who invites journalist Daniel Molloy to tell him his life story, including his troubled relationship with the sinister vampire Lestat de Lioncourt. Interview with the Vampire stars Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Eric Bogosian, Bailey Bass, Assad Zaman, Delainey Hayles, and Ben Daniels.
Shōgun (Hulu)
Shōgun is a historical drama series co-created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks. Based on the 1975 novel of the same name by James Clavell, the FX series is set at the end of the Sengoku Period in Japan, and it revolves around two ambitious men as they become reluctant allies in the face of certain death. Shōgun stars Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Tadanobu Asano, Takehiro Hira, Tommy Bastow, and Fumi Nikaido.
M*A*S*H (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video)
M*A*S*H is a war medical comedy-drama series created by Larry Gelbart. Based on the 1968 novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by author Richard Hooker and its 1970 film adaptation by Ring Lardner Jr., the CBS series is set during the Korean War and it revolves around a group of doctors working at the titular 4077th MASH unit as they rely on humor and hijinks to deal with the brutality of war. MASH stars Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Loretta Swit, Larry Linville, Gary Burghoff, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, and Jamie Farr.
The Leftovers (HBO Max)
The Leftovers is a supernatural mystery drama series co-created by Damon Lindelöf and Tom Perrotta. Based on Perrotta’s 2011 novel of the same name, the HBO series is set after a global event known as the “Sudden Departure,” which resulted in the sudden and mysterious disappearance of 2% of the world’s population. The story of The Leftovers takes place in the town of Mapleton in New York, and it revolves around its residents as they struggle to deal with their grief after the sudden departure. The Leftovers stars Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman, Christopher Eccleston, Liv Tyler, Chris Zylka, Margaret Qualley, Carrie Coon, Emily Meade, Amanda Warren, Ann Dowd, Michael Gaston, Max Carver, and Charlie Carver.
Smiley’s People (Buy DVD on Amazon)
Smiley’s People is a British spy thriller drama series created by John Hopkins. Based on the 1979 spy novel of the same name by John le Carré, the BBC series follows George Smiley, a retired spook who is called out of retirement to finally finish his long-running battle with his Russian counterpart. Smiley’s People stars Alec Guinness, Michael Byrne, Anthony Bate, and Bernard Hepton.
The Last Kingdom (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video)
The Last Kingdom is a British historical drama series created by Stephen Butchard. Based on the Saxton Stories novel series by Bernard Cornwell, the BBC Two and later on Netflix series is set during the 9th and 10th centuries, and it follows Uthred, the son of a nobleman who was kidnapped by Danes. When he grows, he finds himself conflicted between protecting the people and land he grew up with and the people he came from. The Last Kingdom stars Alexander Dreymon, Emily Cox, Timothy Innes, Millie Brady, Adrian Schiller, Jeppe Beck Laursen, Eliza Butterworth, and Arnas Fedaravicius.