Nestled along the banks of the Thames in the county of Buckinghamshire sits the English town of Marlow. And it is where the creator of the family of British cozy mystery television series Death in Paradise, Beyond Paradise and Return to Paradise calls home – Robert Thorogood. It is also where the namesake of the screenwriter and show creator’s book series is set – The Marlow Murder Club.

First published in 2021, The Marlow Murder Club introduced readers to Judith Potts (played by Samantha Bond in the tv series), a retired archeologist turned crossword creator for The Times newspaper who begins each morning with a swim in the Thames which runs just alongside her inherited home from her aunt. And she enjoys the swim au naturel. Sounds refreshing to me, and is completely rational to Judith Potts – convenient and no clothes to dry! As the first book in this mystery series of five novel so far unfolds, Potts teams up with Suzie (Jo Martin), the owner of a local dog walking business and single mom to a daughter soon heading off to college as well as Becks (Cara Horgan), the wife of the town’s vicar and mother of two teenagers as they begin to solve a murder that happens in their neighborhood involving Judith’s neighbor.

The trio’s tenacity and curiosity lead the local police to realize these women would be quite the asset, even if they are reluctant to acknowledge it initially. Gradually however, Detective Sergeant Tanika Malik (Natalie Dew) welcomes their efforts, even giving them official police consultant badges to legitimize their questioning of local citizens.

As many TSLL readers know, this book series has been adapted into a television series, and currently the second season is airing on PBS Masterpiece, having first aired in the UK this past spring (the first season aired in fall 2024). Robert Thorogood also wrote the adaptation for the screenplay for season one and the first two episodes of the six episodes of season two. Which brings me to my next inside scoop: If you are caught up on the first three mysteries written by Thorogood, you will discover that only the first season (all four episodes centered around the first novel), and the first two episodes of the second season (centered around the second novel) are adapted from the books. Episodes 3-6 in season two are completely new mysteries, written by Lucia Hanes (ep. 3-4) and Julia Gilbert co-wrote episodes 5-6 with Robert Thorogood and are completely new mysteries, neither of which were adapted from book #3, #4 or #5.

This is wonderful news to my ear because it means that readers will have to put their sleuthing hats on while watching the latter episodes and not draw from their memories having read the books. In further good news, it has been confirmed that a third tv season is currently in production with the cast. As to whether or not the books will be the direct inspiration or new mysteries will be written, it hasn’t been shared, but at least we know these women will be back.

Perhaps you, like me, have been a fan of this series since it began, and already preordered Book #4 – Murder on the Marlow Belle, which was just released earlier this week on Tuesday September 16th, and the release of the fifth book is scheduled to be released just around the corner on January 15th in 2026 – The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts.

Have a look at the trailer below of Season 1, and explore the series in all its forms:

• Explore all five of the books here
• Watch Season 1 and 2 on PBS Masterpiece

---

~Explore all of TSLL’s British-Inspired Petits Plaisirs

~Explore all of TSLL’s Petits Plaisirs here.