Kimihiko and Siesta’s back-and-forth wisecracking seems like it’s trying too hard to imitate another series: Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai. Sakuta, a troubled boy whose sister has become home bound after severe school bullying, tries to solve the supernatural anomalies caused by a mysterious disease called Puberty Syndrome. His witty dialogue with Mai and the other girls affected by Puberty Syndrome actually works because it’s rooted in his own jaded view on the world that these experiences gradually free him from. For a more grounded story with memorable characters and whip-smart writing, check this anime out!

Humans and youkai have held a shaky treaty for many years, but when something threatens that peace, “God of Wisdom” Kotoko teams up with a seemingly harmless college student to set things right. We’re not going to lie to you – In/Spectre isn’t a perfect anime. Its visual presentation could use some work and it’s so dialogue-heavy that anyone looking for exciting youkai fights might be a bit disappointed. But the voice acting from veteran seiyuu Akari Kitou and Mamoru Miyano is spot-on and their characters’ approach to solving mysteries is novel, so if you’re looking for a more robust detective plot than what The Detective is Already Dead has been serving so far, then this is a solid choice.

Before even Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, there was the original strange-girl-and-average-guy-solve-a-mystery story: Bakemonogatari. Koyomi is a bit more than “average” since he’s part vampire, but the general gist of the story is the same. He helps a series of troubled girls with their supernatural problems, getting to know their unique personalities along the way. Hitagi Senjougahara is still considered one of the best female characters in anime (and a top-tier waifu as well), there are plenty of sequels and spin-offs to gorge yourself on if the surreal story grabs you, and it’s a spectacular companion piece to The Detective is Already Dead.

How about a mystery anime where the underground detective agency is run entirely by a cute genius hacker girl and a bunch of NEETs? Wait... if they work as detectives, aren’t they no longer “Not in Education, Employment, or Training”? In any case, Heaven’s Memo Pad is a gorgeously animated series with great character writing and exciting action when the situation calls for it. It suffers somewhat from jumping on the Haruhi Suzumiya and Bakemonogatari bandwagon, but it’s still more of a cohesive and entertaining experience than The Detective is Already Dead.

A 45-year-old unsolved mystery surrounds the room that houses the Classics Club at Houtarou Oreki’s high school, and it’s up to the club members to investigate every small lead they can find to uncover the truth. Hyouka has some pretty impressive credentials behind it: director Yasuhiro Takemoto is known for his work on The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, and Kyoto Animation’s expert artists infuse every frame with stunning beauty. It gradually evolves from an episodic slice-of-life story into a serious character drama, which can be a bit jarring if you’re partial to The Detective is Already Dead’s more consistent tone. But if you’re on the lookout for a similarly character-driven mystery story, give Hyouka a try!

If you were thinking that the one thing The Detective is Already Dead could really benefit from is a Victorian Gothic aesthetic, then Gosick is here to please! Instead of the white-haired maiden Siesta, Gosick has Victorique de Blois – a girl who looks just like a gothic Lolita doll and has the mysterious ability to predict the future. The romance between main character Kazuya Kujou and Victorique is more central to this anime’s plot than the detective elements, so if you feel as though Kimihiko and Siesta’s relationship is a little stagnant, this might fill that hole in your heart. It’s not a perfect anime by any means, but there’s just no beating Gosick for pure style!