The Marlow Murder Club is a British-American cosy mystery comedy-drama television series based on Robert Thorogood's series of novels set in the English town of Marlow, Buckinghamshire. The show is co-commissioned by UKTV and Masterpiece, airing in the UK on U&Drama and in the US on PBS, and streaming on U and PBS Passport, respectively.
The first series of The Marlow Murder Club, consisting of a single story in four episodes, was adapted by Thorogood from his original novel of the same name. The second series, which began airing in the UK on 19 March 2025, consists of three two-episodes stories: the first adapted by Thorogood from his sequel novel, Death Comes to Marlow, and the second and third original stories by other writers.
In May 2025, the show was renewed for a third series, following the same three-story format as the second and including an adaptation of Thorogood's third Marlow novel, The Queen of Poisons, which screened on 18 March 2026; The second and third stories are titled Murder in the Dark and An Appetite for Murder, screening on 25 March and 1 April respectively.
In 2026, the show was renewed for a fourth series, again following the same three-story format as the second and third series, including an adaptation of Thorogood's fourth Marlow novel, Murder on the Marlow Belle.
Contents
Premise
Following the murder of two people in the Buckinghamshire town of Marlow, three residents form a loose club to investigate. Judith Potts, a retired archaeologist, sets crosswords for the local newspaper. Suzie Harris is a professional dog walker, while Becks Starling, a former music industry executive, is struggling to adapt to her new life as the vicar's wife. Detective Sergeant Tanika Malik, who leads the Buckinghamshire Police's response while DI Gareth Hoskins is on leave, is initially sceptical of the trio, but when they prove themselves apt, she hires them as official civilian advisors.
The women's family lives often provide subplots for the series. Judith inherited her riverside mansion from her late Aunt Jess and was briefly married to a fellow archaeologist decades earlier. Suzie has an 18-year-old daughter by her Jamaican ex-husband, and Becks and her husband, Colin, have a teenage son and daughter. Tanika and her husband, Shamil, have a young daughter, Shanti, and Tanika struggles with feelings of inadequacy as she balances her career with her home life.
Cast
Samantha Bond as Judith Potts, a retired archaeologist
Jo Martin as Suzie Harris, a professional dog walker
Cara Horgan as Rebecca "Becks" Starling, the wife of the town's new vicar
Natalie Dew as DS Tanika Malik, in charge of the police investigation
Rita Tushingham as Mrs Eddingham (regular, series 1; recurring, series 2), a busybody who annoys Becks
Ian Barritt as Mr Eddingham (regular, series 1; guest, series 2)
Phill Langhorne as DS Brendan Perry, who tries to undermine Tanika
Holli Dempsey as DC Alice Hackett
Tijan Sarr as DC Jason Kennedy
Ella Kenion as DCI Vicky Greenly, Tanika's supportive supervisor
Niall Costigan as Rev. Colin Starling, Becks' husband
Sophia Ally as Chloe Starling (regular, series 1; guest, series 2), Becks and Colin's teenage daughter
Ethan Quinn as Sam Starling (regular, series 1; guest, series 2), Becks and Colin's teenage son
Series 1
Rufus Wright as Stefan Dunwoody, the first murder victim
Umit Ulgen as Iqbal Kassam, the second victim
Daniel Lapaine as Elliot Howard, an antiques dealer and Stefan's nemesis
Juliet Howland as Daisy Howard, Elliot's wife
Rishi Nair as Shamil Malik, Tanika's husband
Phillipa Peak as Liz Curtis, a rowing instructor
Mark Frost as Danny Curtis, Liz's husband
Mark Fleischmann as Giles Bishop, a solicitor
Molly Hanson as young Judith, as seen in flashbacks
Yiannis Vassilakis as Philippos Kyriakos, Judith's ex-husband seen in flashbacks
Recurring
Teagan-Imani as Zeta, Suzie's teenage daughter
Amelia Valentina Pankhania as Shanti Malik, Tanika and Shamil's young daughter
Episodes
Series 1 (2024)
Series 1 was released as two 90-minute episodes in the UK, but as four 45-minute episodes in the US. It consists of a single serialised story.
Series 2 (2025)
Series 2 consists of three stories, each split into two 45-minute episodes in both the UK and the US.
Series 3 (2026)
Series 3 consists of three stories, each split into two 45-minute episodes in both the UK and the US.
Series 4 (2027)
Series 4 consists of three stories, each split into two episodes.
Case 1 : Murder on the Marlow Belle - writer Robert Thorogood. A body found in the river connects to the Marlow Amateur Dramatics Society and a local Hollywood star.
Case 2: - writer Amy Reith. A man dies suddenly at his mother's wake from an apparent allergic reaction, hiding a deeper truth.
Case 3: - co-writers Thorogood & Reith. A vineyard co-owner is found drowned in his own wine, prompting an investigation into family scandals and personal betrayals.