Murder Before Evensong, the new cosy crime drama from 5, has drawn comparisons to Grantchester in its first reviews – here's everything you need to know ahead of its debut on TV tonight.
The six-part series, which is based on Richard Coles's 2022 novel of the same name, follows Canon Daniel Clement (Matthew Lewis) and DS Neil Vanloo (Amit Shah) as they investigate a murder spree in his local community.
Featuring Amanda Redman and Tamzin Outhwaite in supporting roles, the murder mystery premieres tonight at 9pm on 5, and it looks to have struck a chord with critics in their first impressions.
Though Rotten Tomatoes is yet to publish an official approval rating, all four reviews that are listed on the site are designated as "fresh", meaning the series could land a good rating when it hits the required number of reviews.
Below is a selection of reviews:
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What to Read Next
RadioTimes
"Sure to resonate with fans of ITV's Grantchester, as well as Agatha Christie stans... Murder Before Evensong succeeds as a gripping whodunnit, with every one of Champton's residents treated as a potential suspect."
Decider
"Murder Before Evensong is an engaging mystery that builds a world around Canon Daniel Clement... There's a lot of atmosphere in this series that makes it very British in tone but also warmer than a typical mystery series."
The Arts Desk
"While the denouement is the obligatory riddle wrapped inside an enigma, much of the show’s entertainment value stems from its very watchable cast and knowing sense of its own heritage."
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Paste Magazine
"Lewis makes for a warm and charming lead, full of a sort of everyman energy that makes it easy to understand why so many in the town listen to him. His chemistry with Amanda Redman, who plays Daniel’s mother, Audrey, is top-notch."
What She Said
"The appeal of the cosy murder series is the attention to character, relationships and motives that drive murder in what is almost always a pretty English village... But Murder Before Evensong breaks the mould – its dark. Unusually dark."
Murder Before Evensong airs and streams on 5.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
