The Sinner is brilliant in its simplicity -- which other crime dramas should learn from

The Washington Post

Season 2 of the USA psychological crime anthology series, which now stars Carrie Coon, "deserves more than a passing glance, if for no other reason than to admire its balance," says Hank Stuever. "The core mystery is complicated but not overly so; the ambiguities are presented in terms of human flaws rather than philosophy tracts; the gore is politely measured out in necessary doses; the twists are plausible enough to pass muster; and, above all else, The Sinner’s pace and writing lure you in and resist the urge to drift, promising a conclusive wrap-up. Characters tend to say only what is needed, rarely more. These qualities, which seem easy enough, are in fact difficult for many crime series to achieve."

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• The Sinner's addictive properties make it highly conducive to binge-watching, even though it's a weekly series
• It’s the summer-TV equivalent of an artfully constructed novel that's also a dishy beach read
• The Sinner works in Season 2 if you've never watched Season 1
• Showrunner Derek Simonds on creating a new mystery after moving past Petra Hammesfahr’s novel