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Brokaw: ‘The Marlow Murder Club’ on PBS Masterpiece is to die for

By Francine Brokaw - Special to the Daily Herald | Oct 30, 2024

Courtesy UKTV

"The Marlow Murder Club" stars Jo Martin, Samantha Bond and Cara Horgan.

“The Marlow Murder Club” is an enchanting new drama that takes place in the sleepy town of Marlow in the U.K. Hardly anything ever happens here. But things change when retired archaeologist Judith Potts (Samantha Bond) hears a gunshot across the river and knows her neighbor has been murdered.

The new detective sergeant, Tankika Malik (Natalie Dew), is reluctant to believe Judith’s story when the police do not find any body or evidence of a murder. But Judith unwittingly discovers the body in the river, along with a German World War II shell casing. Of course, she informs the police, who take over the investigation. At least, they think they are heading the investigation. Judith continues to dig deeper, knowing something big is happening.

Then, when another man is murdered the same way, Judith insists on continuing her own investigation. She interviews several of the town’s people and along the way ends up getting two other women involved in her little investigation. Suzie Harris (Jo Martin), the local dog walker, is eager to help, along with the vicar’s wife, Becks Starling (Cara Horgan). This trio manages to dig up evidence before the police, to the chagrin of Detective Sgt. Malik, who is always telling them to stay out of police business.

The three women are convinced there will be one more murder in this case, as they locate several clues. Although unsettling, they charge on. Nothing is going to stop these women from getting to the truth.

The three novice sleuths are a formidable team, and they are fun to watch as they meander through the town digging up clues. This investigation adds greatly to their somewhat mundane lives, but could it put their lives in danger? The detective sergeant thinks so, but that does not deter the steadfast women in their desire to catch the serial murderer.

Halfway through the season, the attitude between the police and the trio takes a major turn. They have a fun new dynamic that adds to the entertainment value of the series.

The lives of the three women could not be more different. Judith spends her time creating crossword puzzles for the local paper. Suzie is an empty nester whose time is spent caring for and walking dogs. And Becks feels unfulfilled as a wife and mother who hardly ever gets some time for herself between her family, the church and the choir. The similarities with all three women is their intelligence, their desire to find something to add to their fulfillment, and their adoration for each other. Together, they are a great team and so much fun to watch as they do their darnedest to help each other and find the murderer.

The finale pulls together all their clues that have stumped them and the police. But Judith is wise enough to figure out this crazy puzzle. After all, as a retired archaeologist and a puzzle-maker, she can easily dig up information and put things together to get a clearer picture of the situation. And with the love and help of her cohorts, everything turns out alright.

“The Marlow Murder Club” is a fun show to binge. There are four episodes in this season. The episodes began airing Sunday and continue through Nov. 17 and can be streamed on the PBS app and the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel.