Murder Most Puzzling is the latest Channel 5 series to appeal to fans of cosy crime, and it stars BAFTA-winner Phyllis Logan as the central sleuth – here’s everything you need to know, including plot, start date, and location.

If you’re a fan of The Madame Blanc Mysteries, and The Good Ship Murder, then this new series is right up your street. And if you’re a Downton Abbay fan, you’ll be doubly delighted…

The brand-new crime drama stars BAFTA-winner Phyllis Logan as Cora Felton, the sharp-witted Puzzle Lady who “has a remarkable talent for solving murders”.

Here’s everything you need to know about Murder Most Puzzling on Channel 5, including recently announced start date, number of episodes, and what it’s about…

What’s the plot of Murder Most Puzzling on Channel 5?

Murder Most Puzzling is a brand new crime drama introducing Cora Felton, the eponymous Puzzle Lady.

When a cryptic killing shocks the quiet town of Bakerbury, Cora uses her unconventional methods to show that she has a remarkable talent for solving murders.

A synopsis tells us: “After the body of a teenage girl is found in the local cemetery with an enigmatic clue in her pocket, Bakerbury Detective DCI Hooper seeks help from the town’s newest, and most famous resident – Puzzle Lady Cora Felton.

“Cora’s ‘shoot first, ask questions never’ approach proves a perfect way to outwit the murderers, conmen and corrupt officials that stand in her way. They also show that, despite hiding a secret which would ruin her and those around her, she has a remarkable talent for solving murders. And, as it turns out, Bakerbury isn’t as sleepy as it looks…

As Cora throws herself into the murder case that has the town’s residents baffled, she starts to gather allies and enemies in equal measure… These include tenacious journalist Anton Grant, and amoral lawyer Becky Baidwan who might “throw them all under the bus”.

What is Cora’s secret?

Viewers will quickly discover that Cora is also hiding a secret which “would ruin her and those around her”. The eccentric Cora isn’t who she claims to be.

And while she digs into a cold case she thinks may be connected, she uncovers a dark truth behind another young woman’s death. Cora puts herself in the killer’s sights. Which is a dangerous place to be…

Of course we’re not about to reveal what her secret is here, that would be a huge spoiler. But it IS revealed in episode one. Those of you who have read the books (see below) will already know.

Talking about this, actress Phyllis Logan said: “Cora is so refreshing! She is her own woman and that’s what makes her intriguing. If she wants a Bloody Mary for breakfast, she has one, why not?! Her niece despairs of her, and it’s true that Cora does some things I shouldn’t really laugh about – she’s not PC at all. But she’s a character that I absolutely believe. Of course, she has a big secret too, which will be quite dangerous if it comes out…”

‘Murder She Wrote meets Miss Marple on steroids’

Talking about the TV show, Phyllis Logan described it like this: “The programme is a bit like Murder She Wrote meets Miss Marple on steroids! It is a police procedural, but not as we know it and it’s full of great characters that add so much to it. Like DCI Hooper, played by Adam Best, who is just so funny, he made me laugh all the time.

“Our writer, Dominique Maloney wrote such a clever, funny script and that’s what I focused on for the whole shoot. Because, if you play the episodes as they are written, you just can’t go wrong.”

Who is in the cast?

Phyllis Logan stars as Cora Felton in the cast of Channel 5 cosy crime drama Murder Most Puzzling. Of course, the BAFTA award-winning actress is best known for playing Mrs Hughes in the award-winning Downton Abbey. She is currently playing Moira Shearer in The Bombing of Pan Am 103, and recently portrayed Mrs Austen in Miss Austen.

Charlotte Hope portrays Cora’s long-suffering niece Sherry Carter. The actress is famous for her roles in The Spanish Princess, Catch Me a Killer, The English Game, and Bancroft. Game of Thrones fans will know her as Myranda, a role she played between 2013 and 2016.

Alistair Brammer stars as Anton Grant. He’s known for playing DS Daniel Tarrant in Dalgliesh, and Jack Diamond in Casualty.

Meanwhile, Blue Lights actor Adam Best stars as DCI Hooper, Innocent’s Nick Danan plays DS Sam Brody, The Hardacres‘ Jack Weise portrays PC Danny Finley, and Kin’s Yasmin Seky is Becky Baidwan.

The main cast list is completed by Funboys’ Richard Croxford as Mayor Firth, Ellis‘ Conor Sánchez as Jimmi Potter, and newcomer Amber Mendez-Martin as Katy Hooper.

How many episodes is it? How can I watch it?

Murder Most Puzzling will be three feature-length episodes of two hours, rather than the six shorter one-hour episodes as originally announced.

Each episode will air weekly, and then made available on 5 streaming after it’s had its linear TX.

Where was it filmed?

Bakerbury is not a real location. The new three-part series was actually filmed in Ireland, specifically Belfast. Talking about filming, Charlotte Hope said: “I really loved filming in Belfast. The crews there are famously excellent craic and I had really great time with them.”

Meanwhile, Alistair Brammer added: “It was great for me because I actually live in Belfast. My family moved here during the pandemic. It’s been great for me because there are so many dramas shooting here and I don’t like being away from home, so it’s always a dream to work in Belfast. It meant that when I wasn’t filming, I could be at home with my two kids so that my wife could go to work.”

When is the start date of Murder Most Puzzling on Channel 5?

Murder Most Puzzling starts on Channel 5 at 8pm on Thursday, June 19, 2025.

It will air weekly for three weeks, and then be available to stream on Channel5.com.

Is Murder Most Puzzling based on a book?

Cosy crime series Murder Most Puzzling is based on Parnell Hall’s best-selling books The Puzzle Lady Mysteries. There are 18 books in total. The first being A Clue for the Puzzle Lady, which was published in 1999.

The books in order are:

A Clue for the Puzzle Lady 1999.

Last Puzzle & Testament 2000.

Puzzled to Death 2001.

A Puzzle in a Pear Tree 2002.

With This Puzzle, I Thee Kill 2003.

And a Puzzle to Die On 2004.

Stalking the Puzzle Lady 2005.

You Have the Right to Remain Puzzled 2006.

The Sudoku Puzzle Murders 2007.

Dead Man’s Puzzle: A Puzzle Lady Mystery 2009.

The Puzzle Lady Vs. The Sudoku Lady 2010.

$10,000 in Small, Unmarked Puzzles 2012.

NYPD Puzzle 2014.

Puzzled Indemnity 2015.

Presumed Puzzled 2016.

A Puzzle to Be Named Later 2017.

The Purloined Puzzle 2018.

Lights! Camera! Puzzles! 2019.

Read more: Channel 5 and Acorn TV confirm return of first black solo female-led detective series Ellis

Murder Most Puzzling starts on Channel 5 at 8pm on Thursday, June 19, 2025.