Return to Paradise series 1 recap: Why Mackenzie left London and if she got back together with Glenn
Dolphin Cove might look idyllic, but it was jam-packed with murder and mayhem...
Return to Paradise is heading back to our screens with a second series, which means now is the perfect time to remind ourselves what happened to DI Mackenzie Clarke and the gang with a Return to Paradise series 1 recap.
Where did Mackenzie and Glenn’s romance end up? Did Mackenzie leave Dolphin Cove? And what happened to Frankie the dog? Don’t worry, we have got you covered.
Return to Paradise is the second spin-off to be made in the Death in Paradise universe after Beyond Paradise..
But while Beyond Paradise sees Kris Marshall play DI Humphrey Goodman in Devon, Return to Paradise is set in the much sunnier climes of Australia.
The first series followed Mackenzie Clarke as she returned to her hometown of Dolphin Cove. But she hadn’t been back long before her secrets were revealed. What happened in the first series, and where could Return to Paradise series 2 take us? Here is everything you need to know in our Return to Paradise series 1 recap…
***Warning: spoilers for Return to Paradise series 1 ahead***
Return to Paradise series 1 recap: What happened?
The first series of Return to Paradise saw DI Mackenzie Clarke returning home to Australia under a cloud of suspicion.
Mackenzie had left her job with the Metropolitan Police after being accused of tampering with evidence. But Mackenzie’s homecoming was far from friendly.
Viewers discovered that Mackenzie had fled Dolphin Cove six years previously after dumping her ex-fiancé, Glenn, at the altar and leaving the close-knit town fuming. However, with no other job prospects, Mackenzie had no option but to return to the town she loathed.
She soon found herself working for the Dolphin Cove Police and solving murders. A huge task considering the small town had more than its fair share of suspicious deaths!
Despite being unwelcome in the town, no one could deny that Mackenzie had a unique talent for solving tricky crimes. Slightly awkwardly, she also ended up working with her ex, Glenn, as he was the town’s resident forensic pathologist.
Mackenzie was quickly solving the murders of a local hairdresser and an activist. Next, there was an estate agent who wound up dead on the beach, and then a killer struck during a local bowling match. Talk about a high crime rate for an idyllic beach town!
The final episode of Return to Paradise series 1 saw Mackenzie and her team trying to work out who killed Vince Ogden. He was the owner of a disused mine who appeared to have taken his own life.
Of course, things are never as they seem, and the killer turned out to be his second wife and his son, who were having an affair.
What happened at the end of the first series?
Aside from solving murders, Mackenzie’s own life was pretty dramatic by the end of the first series.
Mackenzie got a call from her former boss in London, DI Jack Mooney, who fans of the series will recognise as the former lead in Death in Paradise, played by Ardal O’Hanlon.
DI Mooney delivered the shock news that the authorities had cleared Mack’s name. So, no longer facing allegations of tampering with evidence, Mack planned her return to the UK. But Mackenzie realised her feelings for Glenn had returned, even though he was now engaged to his new love interest, Daisy.
Ready to leave Dolphin Cove at the end of Return to Paradise series 1, Mackenzie said her awkward goodbyes with everyone at work. Everyone was sad to see her go, even her boss, Senior Sargent Philomena Strong, who also happened to be Glenn Strong’s mum and Mackenzie’s almost-mother-in-law.
All packed, Mackenzie headed to Glenn and Daisy’s engagement party. She put on a brave face as everyone celebrated the happy couple. However, Mackenzie was secretly hiding her reignited feelings for her ex, and the pair shared a reluctant goodbye.
However, it wasn’t until Glenn’s dog Frankie jumped into Mackenzie’s taxi at the end of the final episode that things changed. Knowing that she should take Frankie back to the party, Mackenzie asked the taxi to wait for her. But Frankie ran ahead and found Glenn, who told his canine friend he was still in love with Mackenzie.
Of course, Mackenzie overheard the whole thing. However, Glenn was oblivious to the fact she was standing right next to him. He returned to his engagement party, leaving Mackenzie standing there, speechless.
Did Mackenzie leave Dolphin Cove?
With her warrant badge back, Mackenzie was ready to return to the UK at the end of Return to Paradise series 1. But did she get on the flight after hearing Glenn admit he still loved her? Of course she didn’t!
With Anna Samson, who plays socially awkward Mackenzie, reprising her role, it looks like she is staying put in Australia. The official BBC synopsis for the new series reveals more…
“Still trapped in her hometown of Dolphin Cove, Detective Sergeant Mackenzie Clarke is solving more perplexing cases. Meanwhile, she is also grappling with the end-of-series-one bombshell that her ex-fiancé, Glenn, still has feelings for her.”
More questions we need answering in Return to Paradise series 2
As Return to Paradise series 2 arrives, we also need to know what will happen between Glenn and Daisy now that we know Glenn’s heart lies with someone else.
It sounds like the wedding is still on, according to information released by the BBC. Senior Constable Colin Cartwright will be in charge of organising the stag party, and as Colin is Mackenzie’s colleague as well as her housemate, there’s no way she’s escaping this wedding!
But while Glenn and Mackenzie try to ignore the spark between them as they work together, will Mackenzie admit what she overheard in the series 1 finale? With Glenn and Daisy’s wedding day looming, Mackenzie is going to have to act fast.
Read more: Beyond Paradise series 4: everything we know so far about upcoming 2026 episodes
