Moonflower Murders

I don't agree with the couple of negative reviews here. I found the story and writing very good (Anthony Horowitz adapting his own novel). The plot was twisty and engaging, and the 'story in a story' keeps you on your toes.

If you liked Magpie Murders, you'll very probably like Moonflower Murders. It's once again a well-written recreation of the 'golden age' whodunnit.

The interaction between Susan and Pünd is always enjoyable. Susan's personal drama does not get too much in the way of the murder mystery, and the mingling of the two feels relevant.

I hear the third Susan Ryeland novel is coming out in March 2025 and I'm hoping it will also be adapted to TV. This is very competent and enjoyable television and a treat for murder mystery fans.

A pleasant, albeit complicated, murder mystery that juggles three timelines, three murders, and unnecessary personal drama of the protagonist, "Moonflower Murders" is a show that lays the plot(s) on thick, to the detriment of developing characters that are fleshed out, dimensional, or likeable. The plot drags halfway through the season, and I found myself forgetting what the characters' motivations were (and, frankly, who everybody was) thanks to excessive time jumping and the sheer amount of characters we're supposed to keep track of. Susan's personal drama was annoying this time around. And I found the Atticus Pund storyline much more interesting than the present day one. Wish they had time to develop that world a bit more. Great acting, but I expect nothing less from the Brits (and why I enjoy consuming so much British television even though I'm American). I hear Horowitz is releasing a third Ryland/Pund novel this spring, so we'll surely get another one of these seasons in due course. Let's just hope it's less overwrought than this one.

I agree with other reviewers. This series was good but the Magpie Murders was top notch. It just seemed to flow a little better than this series.

I found myself getting really confused with the characters. Like the actresses' husband looked just like her doctor (not sure of the names). It was just not as smooth and easy to follow as Magpie series.

The string of possible suspects was endless. Everyone was so unlikeable in their own way. This made for an interesting whodoneit.

Atticus was wonderful as usual. A great detective. I'm not sure if I really like Susan but perhaps she is not meant to be that likeable. Even her own sister did not want to confide in her. It was also nice to see Mr. Beard. I really enjoyed his character from the Magpie series as Allen's boy toy. He ended up being a great contributor.

One case had a big twist but the other case was rather obvious, really.

I do hope the series, or ones similar continues.

I really enjoyed this, but I'm glad I watched it on BBC iPlayer, as it meant I could stop, start and go back a bit to check things I might have missed. You really need your wits about you with the different timelines and actors playing two roles. That was a fun aspect of the series. What wasn't so much fun was Susan's private life and her completely irrelevant sister and nephew. Crete provided some pretty pictures and it meant they got some funding from the Greek government, but it was also unnecessary. This should really have been a four-part serial. There was no need for six episodes. Horowitz is a clever man and the plot - while not totally convincing (others have spotted holes) is full of interesting touches. On a more mundane level, there are some anachronisms, such as "gotten" in the mouth of an 1950s' character. Also the fact that Ireland was used to stand in for England shows through at times - most crassly in the form of a bright yellow "road narrows" sign (Ireland has American-style road signs). The fact that it was Ireland was probably the reason that Susan was mostly seen driving down unmarked single-track roads. Other roads would have had markings and street furniture that gave away the true location.

This sequel to the 'Magpie Murders' opens at a country hotel where a wedding is taking place. Events are disturbed when the body of a guest is discovered in his room. A member of staff, an ex-offender, is quickly arrested and it appears that the case is closed. Eight years later the bride at that wedding has disappeared shortly after claiming the police got the wrong man... she believed the real killer is identified in an 'Atticus Pünd' novel which was inspired by the original murder. Her parents approach the late author's editor, Susan Ryeland, hoping she will be able to find their missing daughter. As with the 'Magpie Murders' the action is divided between Susan's investigation and a dramatization of the fifties-set novel.

Having really enjoyed the 'Magpie Murders' I was keen to see this... while I don't think this was quite as good it was still a lot of fun. I liked how many cast members appear in dual roles; playing a person in the present mystery and the character they inspired in the novel. The cast does a fine job bringing the various characters to life. Mystery fans should be satisfied by the variety of suspects and motives that should keep people guessing for most of the series. The ending was solid although I preferred the resolution of the Pünd case more than the real world one. The series contains little that might offend; even the original hammer-murder isn't gory or disturbing; a sex scene, that is crucial to the plot, is tame and I didn't recall any overly strong language. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to anybody who liked the 'Magpie Murders' or classic murder mysteries.