Death in Paradise meets Shetland: Blue Murder Motel is the “superb” detective drama coming to ITV this autumn

It’s a fact that the best TV shows always arrive on our screens in autumn and ITV’s latest acquisition proves it. The broadcaster has snapped up a superb new detective drama in the form of Blue Murder Motel, which will take us to the glorious New Zealand coast where two "former" detectives are juggling running a motel with, you guessed it, solving local murders and crimes. Think Death in Paradise meets Shetland.

What should be the start of a wonderful new life finding their feet in the hospitality business is far from it as Vinny (Michala Banas) and Cole (Brett Tucker) are confronted with a constant stream of crimes associated with their new motel. Think missing people, poisonings and freak accidents. It’s safe to say life at the Blue Murder Hotel is never straightforward.

With the series due to arrive on our screens this autumn, here’s everything you need to know about Blue Murder Motel, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.

What is Blue Murder Motel about?

The eight-part series introduces us to married Australian police detectives Vinny (Michala Banas) and Cole (Brett Tucker) who have decided to leave their careers behind and begin a retirement of sorts. Their plan? To run a charming 13-room motel in Mōwai Bay, a sunny beachside town in New Zealand. It sounds – and it looks – glorious.

But mere weeks into their new life, things take an unexpected turn when a dead body is discovered. The pair soon find themselves tapping back into their sleuthing skills as they help local constable Jamie (Jayden Daniels) to investigate the case, as well as a brand-new case each week.

Over the course of the series, the pair deal with everything from a boy who vanishes with his jet ski to a raucous 30^th birthday weekend that turns deadly. And that’s not to mention the challenges that come with running a motel – think plumbing problems, tricky guest relations and everything in between.

Who’s in the cast of Blue Murder Motel?

The main cast of Blue Murder Motel includes:

• Brett Tucker (Neighbours) as Cole
• Michala Banas (Always Greener)as Vinny
• Jayden Daniels (Head High) as Jamie
• Jaime McDermott (Head High) as Saffron
• Stephanie Tauevihi (Shortland Street) as Maxine

Is Blue Murder Motel any good?

Yes – the series is already a huge hit in both New Zealand and Australia in much the same way Death in Paradise and Shetland are over here. The setting is glorious (expect plenty of sunshine), the murder mysteries are quirky yet entertaining and the characters are genuinely likeable. If you’re looking for an escapist series that you won’t tire of easily, Blue Murder Motel is a very good choice.

How can I watch Blue Murder Motel?

Blue Murder Motel will air on ITV3 and be available to stream on ITVX this October. As soon as we have an exact date, we’ll update you here.

What other detective dramas can I watch now?

If you’re fan of Nicola Walker, her performance in Annika is, in our opinion, one of her best. The series revolves around DI Annika Strandhed (played by Nicola), who heads up the specialist Marine Homicide Unit (MHU) in Scotland, which requires her to investigate the mind-boggling murders that wash up in the waterways. You can watch Annika now on BBC iPlayer. For Shetland fans, we’d suggest Irvine Welsh’s Crime. Adapted from Irvine Welsh’s 2008 novel, the drama takes us to Edinburgh where Detective Ray Lennox (Dougray Scott) is investigating the abduction and murder of a young girl. Irvine Welsh’s Crime is available to watch on ITVX.