Lesley Manville’s returning BBC drama is a bold, time-hopping whodunnit

As a seasoned gamer of mystery novels and TV shows, I must say that BBC’s “Moonflower Murders” has left me both intrigued and bewildered – a perfect blend for a good murder-mystery! The setting changes, the characters’ double roles, and the layered plot twists make this show a true challenge for even the most dedicated sleuths.

In the second season of “Magpie Murders,” titled “Moonflower Murders,” the story unfolds at a wedding. Characteristic elements include a grand gazebo tent, unattractive bridesmaid dresses and headpieces, champagne flutes, wobbly event chairs, an abundance of flowers, and a beautiful summer’s day (how much we miss those times).

Later, a flustered maid from the adjacent hotel rushes in, causing a splotch of wet red ink to stain the bride’s white gown. It appears there has been a fatal incident!

Given the title “Moonflower Murders ” suggests multiple installments, we can expect more from this intricately crafted six-part series. The story then leaps ahead by eight years to a location reminiscent of a vibrant postcard rather than a backdrop for Bake Off. Here, Lesley Manville is depicted wandering through the wilderness, dressed in a manner evoking a woman on a self-discovery journey.

In this scenario, we meet Susan, who’s immersed in a “Mamma Mia”-like dream, managing a hotel on the beautiful island of Crete alongside her boyfriend Andreas (Alexandros Logothetis). Viewers who followed the initial season are already familiar with Susan’s background – she was once a publisher – and the current plotline: Susan abandoned publishing after discovering her boss was a murderer who eliminated their celebrated author. For those unfamiliar, they might need a brief moment to catch up.

The parents of the bride arrive at this peaceful location as their daughter Cecily, who was recently married, has disappeared following the reading of a mystery novel that Susan edited. The story, loosely based on an eight-year-old murder case, led Cecily to suspect the wrong person, a former convict maintenance worker, had been unjustly imprisoned.

As a gamer, I’ve had enough of the kitchen disasters at our B&B that feels more like a horror game than a bed and breakfast. I decide to lend a hand in finding Cecily. The flight back, surprisingly spacious and peaceful for an economy ticket, becomes my personal library as I dive into “Atticus Pünd Takes the Case,” the novel penned by Alan Conway following our shared details about the grisly hotel murder.

Instead of finding ourselves in a calm and peaceful setting, we’re suddenly thrust into the world of a ’50s-era novel. The visuals are stunning, with meticulous attention to period detail: an antique Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car, complete with vintage charm, is seen cruising along, driven by a retired Hollywood starlet in delicate driving gloves. This glamorous woman, our next victim in the murder mystery, runs a boutique hotel in Devonshire, only to be swindled by practically everyone around her.

After a gruesome death using a telephone cord, the investigation falls to Atticus Pünd, portrayed by Tim McMullan. He’s often seen in classic English attire and carries an air reminiscent of Hercule Poirot, making appearances vivid in Susan’s mind as she swiftly moves through the pages of the book.

Here’s what we have at the cash register: a modern-day mystery, a homicide from eight years past, and an imaginary crime that potentially connects the two events.

In order to provide maximum value, the contemporary murder mystery cast is reimagined with all characters set in the ’50s. This means that Daniel Mays assumes dual roles: one as the vape-smoking DCI searching for Cecily and the other as the inept DCI who fails to consider alibis during the same time period. Remarkably, he delivers a rather intriguing Suffolk accent for both parts.

In the bustling realm of murder mysteries, Moonflower Murders attempts to outshine its ordinary counterparts, showcasing intricate storytelling and a rich cast of characters. Adapted from Anthony Horowitz’s novel, this tale of a murder hidden within another is a remarkable demonstration of skillful plotting. However, be prepared for a rather mind-bending experience.

In a peculiar twist, the double casting in this production gives you a deja vu feeling when you spot an actor from one role, but later realize they’re playing a different character within the same show. Since these actors aren’t always exact replicas of their previous roles – for instance, the woman killed in the ’50s is actually Cecily’s living sister in present times – it can become quite perplexing.

Could it be that Tudor is feigning ignorance about Cecily’s husband? However, given that ’50s literature thrived on tales of swindlers and hit-and-run drivers, it seems likely that he fits the bill.

maybe it’s due to an abundance of explanatory information that might leave one puzzled, many dialogues are quite heavy with exposition. It’s worth noting that Manville delivers a remarkable performance; unfortunately, some of her less-skilled co-stars may struggle to keep up.

The novel “Moonflower Murders” is impressive with its intricate plot, yet challenging for me, as an ordinary reader, to decipher the complex web of characters and the sequence of events involving their deaths.

starting this coming Saturday, November 16th, you can stream Moonflower Murders on BBC iPlayer. The episodes will then air every week, beginning that same night, on BBC One.

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2024-11-16 13:19