A highly acclaimed mystery drama starring Lesley Manville and Tim McMullan is set to return one final time. The BBC has acquired Marble Hall Murders, an adaptation of the third and final instalment in best-selling novelist Anthony Horowitz's Susan Ryeland series. Marble Hall Murders serves as a follow-up from the acclaimed Moonflower Murders and Magpie Murders, with their TV adaptations averaging 4.9m viewers across the series.
Anthony Horowitz's stories follow book editor Susan Ryeland (Lesley Manville) who often finds herself involved in baffling murders. She often enlists the fictitious detective advisor, Atticus Pünd (Tim McMullan) to help unpack the cases. The new drama sees Lesley Manville return to England and is reluctantly drawn into a new Atticus Pünd mystery, this time written by a new, young writer. “Pünd’s Last Case” is a story set in 1955, in an exotic villa in Corfu – but the identity of a real killer is hidden in the text, and once again Susan is going to find herself in grave danger.
Detective Atticus Pünd steps out of the books to help Susan unravel the real-life mystery of who killed Miriam Crace, the most famous children’s author in the world. Marble Hall Murders will film in March in Dublin, Corfu, and London, and will see Lesley Manville and Tim McMullan reprise their roles. Rebecca Gatward will return as director, and Suzanne McAuley as producer. Anthony Horowitz says: “I’m so happy to bring the team back – stars, director, producers, and crew – for a third instalment of what has been a fantastically successful TV series. I have a feeling this could be the best yet.”.
Jill Green says: “Anthony has once again brought his unique and original perspective to the world of murder mystery. Marble Hall Murders completes the trilogy, and the scripts and lead actors are once again at the top of their game.”. Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, says: "We are so delighted that there is going to be another adaptation of the intricately plotted and brilliantly entertaining Susan Ryeland murder mystery series for BBC viewers to enjoy”.
