If you’ve already devoured Lesley Manville’s latest series, Marble Hall Murders, now’s the perfect opportunity to discover (or catch up with) the previous chapters of her delightful mystery series. BBC’s dream cosy crime drama Moonflower Murders is the perfect watch to curl up with this week now the nights are drawing in. And, we’d go as far as saying it’s even better than five-stars – in fact, we’re giving it six.
The series, which first aired in 2024, is the second adaptation of Anthony Horowitz's novel series. It follows the terrifically perceptive literary editor-turned-sleuth, Susan Ryeland (played by Lesley), who moves to Crete, Greece, for a life in the sun with her boyfriend. But when a historic murder resurfaces and a woman disappears, she’s drawn back to England. Here, the fictional world of the Atticus Pünd detective novels she edits collides with a real-life murder investigation.
Interested? Here’s everything you need to know about Moonflower Murders, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Moonflower Murders about?
The second instalment of Anthony Horowitz's bestselling novel series, Moonflower Murders, follows Susan Ryeland (Lesley Manville), a book-editor-turned-full-time-sleuth as she relocates to Crete with her boyfriend, Andreas (Alexandros Logothetis). For those who don’t know, the first part, Magpie Murders, introduces us to Susan, who’s given a new unfinished draft to an Atticus Pünd mystery by Alan Conway (Conleth Hill). But when Alan is found dead, Susan investigates his murder and discovers clues to unmasking the killer are hidden inside his book.
The second part picks up where Magpie Murders left off. Susan has left publishing to move to Crete with her boyfriend, Andreas (Alexandros Logothetis). But her new sun-soaked life is rocked when a nearly decade-old murder that took place in a British country hotel resurfaces. Alan Conway wrote a novel based on what unfolded, and hotel employee Cecily (Amy Griffiths) reads it. She believes the wrong man has been arrested for Frank Parris’s death – but her accusation brings a big consequence.
Cecily’s parents arrive in Crete, desperate – their daughter has vanished and they need Susan’s help. She returns to England to investigate an ever-growing list of suspects. Her lines of enquiry cross over with the fictional investigation in Conway’s novel Atticus Pünd Takes The Case, in which detective Pünd (Timothy McMullan) investigates the fatal strangling of former actress Melissa James. The question remains: can Susan uncover the secret hidden in the book and find Cecily before it’s too late?
Lesley Manville previously opened up about taking on the role of Susan for the second time. ‘I had an incredible time returning to the role of the smart and feisty Susan Ryeland,’ she told the BBC. ‘Anthony Horowitz has written another ingenious adaptation and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.’
Who’s in the cast of Moonflower Murders?
The cast of Moonflower Murders includes:
- Lesley Manville (The Crown, Phantom Thread, Mum) as Susan Ryeland
- Timothy McMullan (Patrick Melrose, The Crown) as Atticus Pünd
- Alexandros Logothetis (The Island, Exelixi) as Andreas
- Daniel Mays (Des, The Long Shadow) as Locke/Chubb
- Claire Rushbrook (Sherwood, Wilderness) as Kate
- Conleth Hill (The Power Of Parker, Game Of Thrones) as Alan Conway
- Matthew Beard (Vienna Blood, Dracula) as James
- Sanjeev Kohli (River City, Dog Squad) as Sajid Khan
- Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Bookish) as Parris/Berlin
- Rosalie Craig (Anatomy Of A Scandal, The Queen’s Gambit) as Lisa/Melissa
- Pippa Bennett-Warner (A Bit Of Light, Gangs Of London) as Madeline
- Adrian Rawlins (Slow Horses, Living) as Lawrence/Lance
Is Moonflower Murders any good?
Yes – Moonflower Murders is an exceptionally good British crime saga where two murder mysteries overlap in the most gloriously gripping way. Not only is Lesley Manville’s performance as Susan Ryeland nothing short of exceptional, the collision of fantasy and reality sets this series apart from other cosy crime capers, making for a refreshing and unpredictable watch.
Is there a trailer for Moonflower Murders?
You can watch the trailer for Moonflower Murders below:
How can I watch Moonflower Murders?
You can watch Moonflower Murders now on BBC iPlayer.
What other cosy crime dramas can I watch now?
For another brilliant female-led sleuthing series, we’d suggest Elsbeth. The Good Wife spin-off takes us to the streets of New York City, where the larger-than-life, pink-clad attorney-turned-detective, Elsbeth, works alongside the NYPD to solve a slew of mystifying cases. Elsbeth is available to watch now on NOW. For another dream cosy crime saga, try Agatha Raisin. The drama follows PR hotshot turned private detective Agatha (Shetland’s Ashley Jensen) as she tackles crimes in the fictional Cotswold village of Carsely. It’s brilliantly fun and charming! Agatha Raisin is available to stream now on Acorn TV via Prime Video.
