Beloved BBC murder mystery drama returning to screens for a new series after ratings boom - but with a brand new name
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A beloved BBC murder mystery drama will return to screens for a new series after viewer ratings boomed.
A third season of Anthony Horowitz's Susan Ryeland book series has been confirmed and will debut with a brand new name - Marble Hall Murders.
Anthony's books follow the central character, Susan, and her fictitious detective advisor, Atticus Pünd.
So far the whodunnit series has seen Susan torn away from the pages of her fictional crimes and confronted with an real murder when her star writer turns up dead.
After uncovering the death, Susan made a new life for herself with her partner in Crete, but was soon pulled back into the world of murder and deceit.
Now the BBC has confirmed that the third and final season has been given the green light.
A beloved BBC murder mystery drama will return to screens for a new series after viewer ratings boomed
A third season of Anthony Horowitz's Susan Ryeland book series has been confirmed and will debut a brand new name - Marble Hall Murders
Lesley Manville will reprise her role as Susan and Tim McMullan will return as her creatively-minded mentor Atticus.
The show was originally aired on BritBox but was later bought by the BBC and became a big enough success for a second season.
This season will see Susan follow the story of 'Pünd's Last Case' which is set in 1955 in Corfu.
The BBC no doubt be hoping that series three will follow in the Moonflower Murders footsteps, as the previous case drew in an average of 4.9 million viewers.
Show creator Anthony Horowitz said: 'I'm so happy to bring the team back – stars, director, producers, and crew – for a third installment of what has been a fantastically successful TV series. I have a feeling this could be the best yet.'
Moonflower Murders was directed by Rebecca Gatward (Bad Sisters) and is a sequel to the acclaimed Magpie Murders.
Returning in the lead roles they originated in Magpie Murders are Academy Award-nominee Lesley Manville (The Crown, Phantom Thread, Mum) as book editor turned sleuth Susan Ryeland and Timothy McMullan (Patrick Melrose, The Crown) as famous literary detective Atticus Pund.
A synopsis for the drama reads: 'Susan has left publishing and is living in Crete with her long-time boyfriend, Andreas.
Anthony's books follow the central character, Susan and her fictitious detective advisor, Atticus Pünd
So far the who-done-it series has seen Susan find herself torn away from the pages of her fictional crimes and confronted with an actual real murder when her star writer turns up dead
After uncovering the death of her star Susan made a new life for herself with her partner in Crete but was soon pulled back into the world of murder and deceit
Now the BBC has confirmed that the third and final season has been given the green light
Moonflower Murders is a sequel to the acclaimed Magpie Murders and was written by Horowitz and directed by Rebecca Gatward (Bad Sisters)
'But her idyll is disturbed by the shadow of a murder committed at a British country hotel eight years ago.'
Moonflower Murders is the second novel in Horowitz's Susan Ryeland series.
Published in 2020, it was dubbed 'a richly plotted, head-spinning novel' by the New York Times.
Moonflower Murders averaged 4.9m viewers across the series, making it one of the BBC's most watched acquired scripted series in 2024
Jill Green said: 'Anthony has once again brought his unique and original perspective to the world of murder mystery.
'Marble Hall Murders completes the trilogy, and the scripts and lead actors are once again at the top of their game.'
Both Magpie and Moonflower Murders are available to stream on the BBC iPlayer now.
