The British-Irish police drama Dublin Murders has received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, with many hailing it as superior to Line of Duty. The psychological thriller, starring Killian Scott and Sarah Greene as Detectives Rob Reilly and Cassie Maddox, is available to stream free on BBC iPlayer and on Netflix.
What Makes Dublin Murders Stand Out?
Crafted by Sarah Phelps, Dublin Murders is adapted from two novels by Tana French: In the Woods (2007) and The Likeness (2008), both part of her Dublin Murder Squad series. The eight-episode crime drama was commissioned by the BBC for BBC One and Starz, with Irish broadcaster RTÉ later joining as co-producer.
The official synopsis states: '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 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.'
Critical and Audience Acclaim
One reviewer 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 critic 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 reviewer expressed: 'Dublin Murders is gripping, wonderfully atmospheric stuff that throws up mysteries galore.' While one reviewer believed the police drama surpassed many comparable productions: 'Murders are bad everywhere. Dublin Murders, though, the new BBC crime drama by Sarah Phelps? Very good. In fact, better than many crime dramas.'
Viewer Reactions
Audiences were equally impressed. One viewer said: 'I really dug the absolute hell out of this, def a beautifully brutal mini series, and the actors we're perfect.' An IMDB reviewer wrote: '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.'
Another IMDB reviewer said: 'Dublin Murders is very clever writing indeed, in fact, I haven't seen anything quite like it.' One viewer added: 'Absolutely brilliant. This gets you hooked from the first episode.' Another said: 'One of the best shows on tv in a long time. Brilliant cast. Hope there's more than one season.'
A Rotten Tomatoes audience review added: '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 streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
