The British-Irish police drama Dublin Murders has been lauded by critics and viewers alike as a standout in the saturated crime genre, with one reviewer calling it "beautifully brutal" and another claiming it is "better than many crime dramas."
Based on Tana French's novels
Developed by Sarah Phelps, the eight-part series is adapted from two novels by author Tana French: In the Woods (2007) and The Likeness (2008), both part of her Dublin Murder Squad literary series. The show follows Detectives Rob Reilly and Cassie Maddox, played by Killian Scott and Sarah Greene, as they investigate the murder of a young girl on the outskirts of Dublin.
The 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. 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."
Cast and availability
The ensemble cast includes Michael D'Arcy, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Eugene O'Hare, Moe Dunford, Ellie O'Halloran, Niall Jordan, and Ian Kenny. The series was originally commissioned by the BBC for BBC One and Starz, with Irish broadcaster RTÉ later joining as a production partner.
Available to stream free on BBC iPlayer and through a Netflix subscription, the show has drawn praise for its narrative twists and atmospheric storytelling.
Critical and audience reception
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." One reviewer believed it surpassed 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 shared similar enthusiasm. One said: "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." An IMDb reviewer described it as "A MIND TWISTING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER" and praised the acting, while another 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 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!"
Dublin Murders is available now on BBC iPlayer and Netflix.
