Viewers are hailing the BBC crime drama Dublin Murders as a mind-twisting psychological thriller that is "better than many crime dramas," including Line of Duty. The eight-part series, based on Tana French's novels, is available to stream free on BBC iPlayer and via Netflix.
An underrated gem in a crowded genre
The crime drama genre has become increasingly saturated, making it ever more challenging to uncover a programme that truly sets itself apart from the crowd. It's all the more exciting, then, when viewers stumble across hidden gems that surpass every expectation — and this underrated British-Irish police procedural does exactly that.
Created by Sarah Phelps, Dublin Murders is a detective drama based on two novels — In the Woods (2007) and The Likeness (2008) — by author Tana French, both forming part of her Dublin Murder Squad literary series.
Cast and plot
Fans of British crime dramas such as Line of Duty and Broadchurch will find plenty to love here, with the show's narrative twists and jaw-dropping revelations delivering thoroughly gripping viewing. Led by Killian Scott and Sarah Greene as Detectives Rob Reilly and Cassie Maddox, the two leads are backed by an impressive ensemble cast including Michael D'Arcy, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Eugene O'Hare, Moe Dunford, Ellie O'Halloran, Niall Jordan, and Ian Kenny.
The programme's official synopsis reads: "Detectives Rob Reilly and Cassie Maddox find themselves dispatched to investigate the murder of a young girl on the outskirts of Dublin, Ireland. Based on the books 'In the Woods' and 'The Likeness' by American-Irish writer Tana French, this psychological thriller features a cast of mostly Irish actors, including Killian Scott and Sarah Greene as the leads. The series follows the detectives, who put their friendship to the test, as they are pulled deeper into the intrigue and darkness that surrounds the case."
Critical and audience acclaim
The eight-part crime drama was originally commissioned by the BBC for BBC One and Starz, with Irish national broadcaster RTÉ later coming on board as a production partner. Available to stream free on BBC iPlayer and via a Netflix subscription, the series has earned widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences alike.
One critic said: "Some crime series captivate because the mystery itself is so maddeningly mysterious, while the lure of others is largely the frisson between the leading detectives. This Irish drama of tragedy and intrigue has both in spades." Another added: "Don't let the dull title fool you; this is an excellent, unique crime story; a treat whether you're a fan of the source material or not." A third critic wrote: "Dublin Murders is gripping, wonderfully atmospheric stuff that throws up mysteries galore." While one reviewer felt the police drama outshone several comparable offerings: "Murders are bad everywhere. Dublin Murders, though, the new BBC crime drama by Sarah Phelps? Very good. In fact, better than many crime dramas."
Viewers were equally impressed, with one saying: "I really dug the absolute hell out of this, def a beautifully brutal mini series, and the actors we're perfect, the young actress who played Adalyn was completely convincing and scary af, you ever see a movie with little demon kids that weird you the F out well if you haven't watch this,i loved it." One IMDB reviewer said: "A MIND TWISTING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER. I just finished binge watching this.It starts off slow as the story unravels its characters. It seems like a pretty simple whodunnit, but its not. The characters are flawed and have dark pasts which interweave beautifully with the main plot and just when you think you have it all worked out.... another bread crumb appears and like Hansel and Gretel you cant help yourself... You follow.I wont give anything away, but i hope they do a season 2... Special appearance by one of my favourite Game of Thrones characters and the acting is superb".
Meanwhile, another IMDB reviewer noted: "Dublin Murders is very clever writing indeed, in fact, I haven't seen anything quite like it." One audience member added: "Absolutely brilliant. This gets you hooked from the first episode. I just wish it was released as a whole as I hate waiting for each episode." Another viewer said: "One of the best shows on tv in a long time. Brilliant cast. Killian Scott has been in a few shows I've seen and he is fantastic in this as well. Hope there's more than one season."
A Rotten Tomatoes audience review wrote: "I think this is an excellent show! I'm so tired of American shows! The casting is marvelous; this is not the same old thing. Very true to the novels, and very good! I am reading every Tana French novel I can get my hands on.Love it!"
Dublin Murders is available to stream on both BBC iPlayer and Netflix right now.
