Missing Miss Marple? This cosy crime drama could be your next favourite mystery

If you miss the gentle villages, eccentric suspects and cleverly constructed murders of Agatha Christie, The Marlow Murder Club is well worth adding to your watchlist.

Created by Robert Thorogood, the writer behind Death in Paradise, the mystery series has become a favourite with cosy-crime viewers. Its third season premiered in the US on September 6, 2026, on MASTERPIECE Mystery on PBS, bringing Samantha Bond’s amateur sleuth Judith Potts and her crime-solving friends back for another run of unusual cases.

Set in the picturesque Buckinghamshire town of Marlow, the series centres on Judith, a retired archaeologist with a talent for solving puzzles. She teams up with Becks Starling (Cara Horgan), a vicar’s wife and pillar of the local community, and Suzie Harris (Jo Martin), a straight-talking dog walker.

Together, the three women have developed an unlikely reputation for getting involved in murder investigations and uncovering details that others overlook.

A modern-day Miss Marple

There is little mystery about one of the show’s biggest inspirations.

Thorogood has previously described The Marlow Murder Club as his own take on Miss Marple, reflecting his long-standing admiration for Agatha Christie. Speaking to RadioTimes.com in 2024, he explained that after creating Death in Paradise, which drew more from the Hercule Poirot tradition, he wanted to create the kind of story that would give him his own Miss Marple.

That influence is easy to see. The series combines murder mysteries with a close-knit community, an ever-growing list of suspects and the pleasure of trying to work out the culprit alongside the characters.

The peaceful setting of Marlow also provides a fitting contrast to the crimes taking place there.

And despite the murders, the tone remains firmly in cosy-crime territory, making the show an appealing choice for viewers who enjoy mysteries without an excessively grim atmosphere.

What happens in season 3?

By the third season, Judith, Becks and Suzie are no longer simply interfering amateurs. They have become established civilian advisers to the newly promoted DI Tanika Malik (Natalie Dew) and her investigative team.

Their latest cases take them into some very different corners of Marlow.

The season begins with the sudden death of the town’s beloved mayor during a town council meeting. With the killer potentially among those trapped in the room, the three women begin examining the suspects and looking for the details that everyone else has missed.

The mysteries then become increasingly complicated.

One case involves a celebrity chef who dies during the launch of his cookbook, with much of the town present. The trio are also called to an unsettling university reunion held at an eerie manor house, where Becks unexpectedly finds herself among the suspects.

That development raises an uncomfortable question: could the latest investigation put the women’s position as civilian advisers at risk?

The third season also brings several familiar faces into the world of Marlow. Peter Davison, known for The Gold and Gentleman Jack, Tony Gardner from The Larkins and Last Tango in Halifax, and comedy star Harry Enfield are among the guest performers.

The official season three preview promises more high-profile murders, secretive suspects and the trio’s unconventional approach to solving them.

Season 4 is already on the way

Fans won’t have to say goodbye to Judith, Becks and Suzie after the current season.

In June 2026, UKTV confirmed that The Marlow Murder Club had been renewed for a fourth season, with six new episodes scheduled for 2027.

The new season will include an adaptation of Robert Thorogood’s Sunday Times bestseller Murder on the Marlow Belle, alongside brand-new original mysteries.

The opening case begins with the discovery of a body in the river. The investigation soon connects the death to the Marlow Amateur Dramatics Society and a homegrown Hollywood star.

Another mystery centres on a man’s sudden death at his mother’s wake. His death initially appears to have been caused by an allergic reaction, but the circumstances suggest there may be something more sinister behind it.

Then comes perhaps the strangest case of all: the co-owner of a vineyard is found dead, apparently drowned in his own wine.

As always, Judith, Becks and Suzie will have to navigate family scandals, personal betrayals and the secrets hidden within their close-knit community as they try to identify the killers.

Why Agatha Christie fans should give it a chance

For viewers drawn to the classic Christie formula, The Marlow Murder Club offers many of the ingredients that make traditional British mysteries so enjoyable: a picturesque setting, an ensemble of suspicious characters, carefully concealed secrets and amateur investigators who refuse to leave a mystery alone.

At the centre of it all is Samantha Bond’s Judith Potts, whose intelligence and curiosity make her a natural successor to the tradition of the seemingly unassuming amateur detective.

The show’s continuing success has also allowed it to attract an impressive selection of guest actors, while the familiar Marlow setting gives the mysteries a distinctive sense of place.

Season 3 is now airing in the US on MASTERPIECE on PBS, while the series is available to stream on U in the UK.

For anyone looking for a new cosy crime series with an unmistakably Christie-inspired spirit, The Marlow Murder Club is an easy one to try.