Sean Bean stars in Netflix's must-watch crime drama alongside Shetland star

The gripping period crime drama Red Riding: 1974, starring Sean Bean, is arriving on Netflix in just over a week - and it deserves a spot on your essential viewing list.

This 2009 thriller, which also features Andrew Garfield (We Live in Time), Anthony Flanagan (Happy Valley), and Steven Robertson (Shetland), draws from David Peace's noir novel collection.

The three-part series presents dramatised versions of the hunt for the 'Yorkshire Ripper' serial murderer. Ahead of the trilogy's Netflix debut on July 18, here's your complete guide.

The opening instalment, Red Riding: 1974, centres on determined journalist Eddie Dunford (portrayed by Garfield), who exposes a "dark web of institutional corruption and deceit while investigating a string of child abductions in 1970s Yorkshire", as Netflix describes.

Throughout his probe, Eddie crosses paths with shady property magnate John Dawson (Bean), who has maintained ties with bent officials for years, after a young girl's body emerges on his property, reports Surrey Live.

The sequel, Red Riding: 1980, features Paddy Considine as Peter Hunter, a methodical, by-the-book detective who assumes control of the Yorkshire Ripper investigation.

In the concluding chapter, Red Riding: 1983, another schoolgirl vanishes during her journey home, a full decade following the 1974 killings, prompting investigators to doubt whether the previously detained suspect was genuinely responsible. The trilogy features a star-studded lineup, with Sean Bean, Andrew Garfield, Anthony Flanagan, and Steven Robertson leading the charge.

With co-stars such as Robert Sheehan of The Umbrella Academy fame, Downton Abbey's very own Jim Carter, Rebecca Hall from The Listeners, David Morrissey of Sherwood, Maxine Peake known for Silk, and Daniel Mays from Line of Duty, the series has garnered acclaim over the years, boasting an impressive 86 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Admirers have taken to social media to share their praise, with one fan hailing it as a "macabre masterpiece" and remarking: "It is truly a brilliant piece of storytelling, so grim, expertly acted by everyone involved. It solidified my belief that British drama is above and beyond when it comes to atmosphere and engagement with the story."

One enthusiast urged others to watch the series, saying: "If you are a fan of dark noir crime drama, you have to see the British #RedRiding 3 part TV series. It's excellent. Incredible cinematography."

Another viewer couldn't contain their excitement, exclaiming: "Just finished watching Red Riding 1974. Thrilling, absolutely brilliant movie. Great acting too. Highly recommended."

The Red Riding Trilogy will be available to stream on Netflix from July 18