Like “Magpie Murders,” its sequel “Moonflower Murders” on PBS MASTERPIECE is a period drama when the novel around which the narrative centers comes to life, and is contemporary-set when the novel’s editor, Susan Ryeland, turns sleuth. Sometimes, those worlds collide.
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In “Moonflower Murders,” to solve the disappearance of a hotel owner’s daughter Cecily, Susan investigates the truth behind a real-life murder detailed in her client Alan Conway’s novel. Can Susan uncover the secret hidden in the book and find Cecily before it’s too late?
Perhaps, but Susan (Lesley Manville, The Crown) will need help from the novel’s Poirot-like 1950s era Detective Atticus Pünd, played by Tim McMullan.
Read on for a few more details about this cozy bookish murder mystery, premiere date, episode descriptions and airtimes, and to watch the trailer.
“Moonflower Murders” (2024) is AVAILABLE to STREAM
“Moonflower Murders” airs in six spellbinding episodes, Sunday, September 15 – October 20, 2024 at 9:00 p.m. ET on PBS MASTERPIECE. After broadcast, the full-length PBS programs will be available here for a limited time. You’ll still be able to stream them here, after that.
Need to catch up? Read about “Magpie Murders” here. “Magpie Murders” (2022) is AVAILABLE to STREAM
What is Moonflower Murders About?
In this sequel to “Magpie Murders” based on the bestselling novel by Anthony Horowitz, Susan Ryeland has left publishing and is living with her longtime boyfriend Andreas in idyllic Crete. But her idyll is disturbed by the shadow of a murder committed at a British country hotel eight years ago. Alan Conway visited the hotel and wrote a novel based on what happened there. Cecily Treherne, the young woman who helps run the hotel, read the book and believed the wrong man had been arrested… and now she has disappeared.
Moonflower Murders is the second novel in Horowitz’s Susan Ryeland series, and once again uses the story within a story format. Published in 2020, it was lauded as “a richly plotted, head-spinning novel” by the New York Times and picks up where Magpie Murders left off.
Moonflower Murders Episode Descriptions & Airtimes
Moonflower Murders: Episode One
Premieres Sunday, September 15, 2024 at 9/8c on PBS
Former book editor Susan Ryeland (Lesley Manville, The Crown) is in Crete, running a struggling hotel with her partner Andreas when a couple arrive and ask Susan for help finding their missing daughter. They believe her disappearance is connected to a murder which happened at their own hotel in England as well as the Alan Conway novel that was inspired by the case. In the Conway novel “Atticus Pünd Takes The Case”, we meet the characters surrounding Melissa James, an ex-actress, many of whom she has altercations with before she is found strangled in her bedroom.
Moonflower Murders: Episode Two
Premieres Sunday, September 22, 2024 at 9/8c on PBS
Susan checks into the Treherne’s hotel and meets Lisa, Cecily’s sister and Aiden, Cecily’s husband. As she investigates she learns more from the hotel night manage and spa manager, both of whom indicate that former employee Stefan was correctly found guilty in the murder of Frank Parris. In “Atticus Pünd Takes The Case”, Pünd and his assistant Madeline Cain journey to Melissa James’ home to investigate her murder. There they meet Detective Inspector Chubb and learn about possible suspects, including Melissa’s doctor and husband.
Moonflower Murders: Episode Three
Premieres Sunday, September 29, 2024 at 9/8c on PBS
Susan decides to go to London to investigate what Alan Conway knew about the Frank Parris murder. DS Locke catches up with Susan and warns her to stay away from the case. In ‘Atticus Pünd Takes The Case’, spying, a Ponzi scheme and an affair all exposed as possible motives in the murder of Melissa James.
Moonflower Murders: Episode Four
Premieres Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 9/8c on PBS
Susan meets with Alan’s ex-partner, who tells her that Alan knew Frank quite well. He also tells Susan that Frank had a relationship with a sex worker named Leo which could be a clue. In ‘Atticus Pünd Takes The Case’, Algernon discovers that Leonard and Samantha have received a large sum of money and have been concealing it from him. He threatens Leonard to share the money with him.
Moonflower Murders: Episode Five
Premieres Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 9/8c on PBS
The Endicotts reveal that Martin Webster had a motive to kill Cecily. Liam Corby tells Susan that that he knows a secret of Lisa’s. Susan’s sister reminds Susan how much Andreas loves her, and what a good pair they make. In ‘Atticus Pünd Takes The Case’, Pünd reveals several conclusions he’s drawn about the murder of Melissa James.
Moonflower Murders: Episode Six
Premieres Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 9/8c on PBS
Susan and Andreas visit Stefan in prison. With help from Pünd, Susan puts the pieces together to solve the cases of both Frank Parris and Cecily Treherne. In ‘Atticus Pünd Takes The Case’, Pünd reveals the identities of the killers with a shocking twist.
Moonflowers Murders Cast & Showrunner Details
British actress Lesley Manville (Susan Ryeland) has shined in multiple period dramas, like “World on Fire,” “The Crown,” “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris.” Her performance in “Phantom Thread” was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Period drama fans will recognize Tim McMullan (Detective Atticus Pünd) for his roles in “The Crown,” “Patrick Melrose,” and “Witness for the Prosecution.” He is also well known for his long-standing role in the beloved British period drama “Foyle’s War.” Big screen credits include the second installment of “Enola Holmes,” “The Woman in Black,” “The Queen” and “Shakespeare in Love.”
In addition to Manville and McMullan, returning members of the “Magpie Murders” cast include Alexandros Logothetis as Andreas, Daniel Mays as Locke/Chubb, Claire Rushbrook as Kate, Conleth Hill as Alan Conway, Matthew Beard as James, and Sanjeev Kohli as Sajid Khan.
New cast members include Mark Gatiss (Sherlock, Nolly) as Parris/Berlin, Rosalie Craig (Anatomy of A Scandal, The Queen’s Gambit) as Lisa/Melissa, Pippa Bennett-Warner (A Bit of Light, Gangs of London) as Madeline and Adrian Rawlins (Slow Horses, Living) as Lawrence/Lance.
“Moonflower Murders” is a co-Production of Eleventh Hour Films for MASTERPIECE and BBC in association with Salt Films. Jill Green Executive Producer and Founder of Eleventh Hour Films has executive produced “Foyle’s War.” Filming on Moonflower Murders took place in Dublin and Crete.
Anthony Horowitz “Moonflower Murders” Creator/Writer & Executive Producer is one of the most prolific and successful writers working in the UK. Anthony has written over 50 books including the bestselling teen spy series Alex Rider, and is also an acclaimed writer for adults and was commissioned to write two new Sherlock Holmes novels The House of Silk and Moriarty. Anthony’s award-winning novel Magpie Murders was published in October 2016 to critical acclaim. Anthony is responsible for creating and writing some of the UK’s most beloved and successful television series including “Midsomer Murders” and he is the writer and creator of award-winning drama series “Foyle’s War.”
Moonflowers Murders Trailer
If you enjoyed this post, wander over to The Period Films List for suggestions of other period dramas to watch. 
