Fancy yourself as a top-tier armchair sleuth? Do you often think ‘I knew it’ when the denouement eventually unfolds? Well, we have some new material to put you to the test. We've worked our way through the current TV schedules and streaming services to bring the best selection of murder mysteries.
From A Midsomer Murders rival, to a Sherlock Holmes saga (with a twist) and two classic Agatha Christie adaptations, we have your next case sorted. So, get those notebooks ready, here are the 7 superb whodunnit series to watch now on ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more.
Blue Murder Motel
In need of some sun-soaked escapism? Look no further than this Midsomer Murders rival. There's the same kind accidents, disappearances and freak accidents - just on the other side of the world. This mystery takes us all the way to New Zealand where we meet two ‘retired’ detectives, Vinny (Michala Banas) and Cole (Brett Tucker). They're hoping to live out their dream and open a charming hotel in Mōwai Bay. But it seems they can’t escape their sleuthing past when a body is found on the property. The pair dust off their notebooks and help the local police get to the bottom of it – but that’s just the beginning of their new caseload. Blue Murder Motel is available to watch now on ITVX.
The Final Problem
It’s Sherlock Holmes with a Spanish twist. This murder mystery takes us back to 1959 and follows Basil (Jose Coronado), a fading actor best known for playing the British detective. His trip to Mallorca turns disastrous when a storm hits, stranding holidaymakers in a hotel. But things escalate when a British tourist is killed and he’s forced to reprise his role as the lead investigator in a real-life whodunnit – with each of the holidaymakers becoming a prime suspect. Available to watch now on Netflix.
Agatha Christie’s Marple
Now, for an absolute classic. Enter Jane Marple, Christie’s most famous female sleuth. The elderly spinster of St Mary Mead outwits everyone as she tackles a whole string of murder mysteries that often take her beyond the village and into grand country homes and seaside resorts. Geraldine McEwan brought Marple to life in series 1-3, while Julia McKenzie took over from series 4-6. Embedded in the charming mysteries are a whole range of famous faces, including Joan Collins and Joanna Lumley. Available to watch now on ITVX.
My Life Is Murder
Fancy another international sleuthing trip? This series follows private investigator Alexa Crowe (Lucy Lawless), who cracks cases that leave everyone else slumped. But what’s her secret? She bakes bread to help her process and untangle all the clues. The first series kicks off in Melbourne, but in the second series, the sleuth returns to her native New Zealand. The latest series sees her in Auckland as she faces a rather personal dilemma and some dangerous new villains. Available to watch now on Prime Video.
This Is Not A Murder Mystery
It’s the flamboyant 1930s, and a group of rising surrealist artists head to a grand estate for a private exhibition, which turns into a wild night - to say the least. René Magritte (Pierre Gervais) wakes up to find a young woman dead next to him, and he has no idea what happened. The horror doesn’t stop there, more killings happen. But, can Magritte clear his name and work out who among the guests is the culprit? Available to watch now on U.
Summer '36
Four women, one murder, and a fancy hotel. This brilliant Netflix series takes us to the French Riviera hotel in (quelle surprise) 1936, and four very different women become suspects for the murder of prosecutor, Adrien Jacquard (Arnaud Binard). Amongst them are a working class mother, a police assistant, and a wealthy heiress. They all have a motive - but who was responsible? It’s glamorous, intriguing and great fun. Available to watch now on Netflix.
Murder Is Easy
Now, for another Agatha Christie classic. The two-part adaptation takes us aboard a train in 1954 England, where Luke Fitzwilliam (David Jonsson) meets Miss Pinkerton (Penelope Wilton). She tells him a killer is on the loose in her quiet village of Wychwood under Ashe. Miss Pinkerton is travelling to Scotland Yard to report the murderer, but before she gets there, she is killed. Luke takes it upon himself to track down the culprit before they can strike again. Available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.