Should You Try It: Moonflower Murders on PBS

We’re heading deeper into Fall and the flow of new shows is beginning to increase. Given all the options, it can be difficult to decide what is worth the investment of your time. That’s why this series exists—to give you the information needed to make an informed decision. Today, it’s a BBC Mystery that’s come to PBS.

Series: Moonflower Murders

Where to Find It: The pilot aired on Sunday on PBS with the rest of the six-episode series airing each week on Masterpiece Mystery!

What’s It About: This series is the second of Anthony Horowitz’s books in the Susan Ryeland series. The first—the Magpie Murders—was adapted into a series in 2022 with Leslie Manville in the lead role. The series aired on BBC One and BritBox and made its way to PBS for the Masterpiece Mystery! slot. Now, two years later, we get the follow up.

This new series is again adapted by Horowitz, and again features Manville in the lead role. This time the former book publisher is now living in Crete with her boyfriend Andreas and running a hotel. But things aren’t going well. The hotel has major problems, the duo are running out of money, and Susan misses some of the thrill of her former life.

A couple from England arrive and are looking for Susan’s help. Their daughter is missing, and they believe it has to do with a book written by author Alan Conway (Conleth Hill) based on a murder that happened at their family-run hotel eight years prior. Thanks to Susan’s work with Conway on his Atticus Pund (Tim McMullan) books, the couple believe that Susan can help find their daughter.

Though she’s reluctant, Susan becomes intrigued. After reading the book and carrying on a back-and-forth with a projection of Pund, she’s again drawn to help. She decides to head back to England and help the couple—while collecting a $10,000 pay day to replenish the couple’s funds.

You Should Try It If: You’re a fan of the book series, a fan of Manville, or a fan of a good mystery.

One Man’s Opinion of Moonflower Murders

The classic mystery has long been a fixture in British series and novels. The set up here works well, and the books upon which it is based have a good following. So, it makes sense that we’d continue to get these easily digestible series. This perfectly fits the PBS Sunday night mystery slot.

I enjoyed Manville in the lead role. She seems to be having fun with the part and brings that to the series. The episode moved at a good pace, and I think she makes for an engaging protagonist. I also liked the way the pilot set up the story and the mystery. If you’re a fan of mysteries and are a fan of these kind of series, Moonflower Murders will hit the spot. I think it will be a good six-week journey.