Dublin Murders, a British-Irish police procedural based on Tana French's novels, has emerged as a hidden gem in the crime drama genre, with viewers and critics alike praising it as superior to acclaimed series such as Line of Duty and Happy Valley.
The eight-part series, written by Sarah Phelps and adapted from French's books In the Woods (2007) and The Likeness (2008), stars Killian Scott and Sarah Greene as Detectives Rob Reilly and Cassie Maddox. The ensemble cast also includes Michael D'Arcy, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Eugene O'Hare, Moe Dunford, Ellie O'Halloran, Niall Jordan, and Ian Kenny.
Plot and Production
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. Based on the books by American-Irish writer Tana French, this psychological thriller features a cast of mostly Irish actors. 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.'
Originally commissioned by the BBC for BBC One and Starz, Irish broadcaster RTÉ later joined the production. The series is available for streaming on BBC iPlayer and Netflix.
Critical and Audience Reception
Critics have lauded the show's atmosphere and narrative complexity. One reviewer noted: '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 stated: 'Dublin Murders is gripping, wonderfully atmospheric stuff that throws up mysteries galore.' One reviewer went further, saying: '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 have expressed similar enthusiasm. One IMDB reviewer described it as '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 user wrote: 'Dublin Murders is very clever writing indeed, in fact, I haven't seen anything quite like it.' A Rotten Tomatoes audience review praised the show's authenticity: '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!'
Comparisons to Other Crime Dramas
Admirers of British crime shows such as Line of Duty and Broadchurch have particularly appreciated Dublin Murders for its narrative twists and startling revelations. One viewer commented: '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 added: '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.'
Dublin Murders is streaming on BBC iPlayer now.
