The Marlow Murder Club

Having waded through too many sub-standard and lacklustre murder mystery dramas in recent times I was not optimistic that this would mount to much. How pleasantly surprised my wife and I were. Beautifully presented and shot along the River Thames and the small town of Marlow, this is well acted (on the whole), likeable and enjoyable. Don't expect this to be Morse or Lewis standard, it isn't as predictable as Death in Paradise and the acting, script and production is better than Sister Boniface, Madame Blanc and numerous other low key murder mystery farces. And don't get me started on the dreadful Johnny Vegas Murder series.....

I haven't read the original books but decided to watch the show anyway, especially when I saw Samantha Bond as the main lead - I find her to be a wonderful actress.

At first I struggled a bit to find interest in the plot line as it was quite stagnant and there were constant dead ends that began to put me off of watching it altogether. Majority of the acting was well done though which turned me away from turning off the show! It was all very natural and most of the actors did a wonderful job bringing their characters to life. There were however certain parts where I slightly disliked both the dialogue and mannerisms of a couple of the actors but in the end, it didn't bother me too much.

By the second part of the story I became a lot more interested by the sudden plot twists and the pace that the story was now going. It definitely picked up near the end of the show, as the plot was finally coming together which made the ending very satisfying.

I don't watch modern murder mysteries often (between 2020 and present time) as I find that they can sometimes be very lost in translation from the original books that they're originally based on, so I didn't have high expectations but was pleasantly surprised with The Marlow Murder Club! It's a very good show for both casual murder mystery watchers (like myself) and crime fanatics that like a gripping, intricate storyline.

I like Jo Martin and Samantha Bond so was excited to see this.

This is not a deep story, and the murder aside, you could have substituted almost any other crime in there - who stole the cookies for the bake sale - and it could have worked. Three people end up helping the police, of course using some life experience and knowledge coming from their individual jobs.

This reminded me of Murder, She Wrote when I used to watch it with my grandmother. Everything was just a happy fun time solving a mystery. None of the deeper darkness you'd get with Vera. Even Death in Paradise, as light as it can be, feels like more is at stake.

The acting can be hit or miss from character to character, or even scene to scene, but there are some good performances, even if not always believable. There are some very archetypical characters, and there are a couple deeper stories with the vicars wife and the SIA that I would love to see fleshed out more than the main character story.

If nothing else, it does a great job of showing off a bit of the UK I would have never heard of, painting that idyllic mythical calmer, gentler English country atmosphere.

If nothing else,

I love murder mysteries. Always have. And the ones I love, I love because they don´t take themselves too seriously. If you get my meaning.

There are mysteries, crime series, where everything is deadly serious (no pun intended), and where one watches with a feeling of great uneasiness.

Not so with this.

Nothing will in my opinion ever compare to or live up to the standards of Midsomer Murders. That series has set the bar forever and so far nobody has beat it. However. In time this one may at least come close. The first episode did not impress me that much, in fact I found it kid of confusing. But by the second I was hooked and I know I will follow this series as I hope it continues. It is well made, it has all the necessary ingredients and it is just enjoyable! You find it all here. All from the nosy amateurs to the slimy suspects to the full-of-himself police officer.

This series takes four episodes to answer "whodunnit" and it works very well. It never feels as if the story is dragged along endlessly. It needs this amount of time and it feels very natural.

Keep on the lookout for this and more, it is well worth the time!

A new British TV series premiered in March 2024. It follows a group of older women who form a club to investigate a series of murders in the picturesque town of Marlow, Buckinghamshire. While the premise is intriguing and the cast is talented, the show ultimately falls short of its potential.

The series stars Judith Potts, a retired archaeologist who becomes convinced that a murder has taken place in her neighbour's garden. When the police dismiss her claims, Judith enlists the help of local dog walker Suzie (Jo Martin), vicar's wife Becks (Cara Horgan), and DS Tanika Malik (Natalie Dew) to investigate the crime.

One of the show's strengths is its charming setting. Marlow, a real town along the River Thames, provides a picturesque backdrop for the mystery. The series was filmed on location, showcasing the town's historic streets, boutique shops, and lovely stretches of the river.

The cast delivers mixed performances, with bad the dog walker Suzie and somewhat DS Tanika Malik.

The show's writing and pacing leave something to be desired. The plot, while engaging at first, becomes convoluted and relies heavily on coincidence, especially in boring episode two. The reveal of the killer feels rushed and somewhat unsatisfying. Additionally, the characters, while likeable, lack depth and development throughout the series.

The show also struggles to find its tone, oscillating between cosy mystery and dark crime drama without fully committing to either. The attempts at humour sometimes fall flat, and the darker elements feel out of place in the otherwise lighthearted series.

Despite these shortcomings, The Marlow Murder Club has potential; with some refinement in the writing and a clearer sense of tone, the series could develop into a more compelling and cohesive mystery.

In conclusion, The Marlow Murder Club is a mildly entertaining, cosy mystery series that benefits from its picturesque setting. However, the show's writing and pacing issues prevent it from fully capitalising on its potential. While it may appeal to fans of lighthearted mysteries, it fails to stand out in a crowded genre. With some improvements, the series could become a more engaging and satisfying watch, but for now, it earns a respectable but unremarkable.

Rating: 6.25 out of 10 IMDb stars.