Murder mysteries come in waves when autumn and winter hits! Visual proof as to why it is better to stay in when the evenings get darker, the likes of Luther, The Fall and Sherlock have been creating scares and thrills for years. Now joining them, as it comes out on DVD and digitally, is the new series, Dublin Murders.

Based on the best-selling books by Tana French, the new drama manages to take the first two books in her series and create a drama that is full of past and present scares. Delving into the darkness of Ireland’s past and the height of 2006, two detectives, Rob Reilly (Killian Scott) and Cassie (Sarah Greene), must try to solve the case of a child who has been tragically murdered in Knocknaree, Dublin.

Full of powerful performances, the show has a way of making you want to watch on. Starting off in a very odd manner, with lots of watching and details needed to hook the audience in, the show moves along its eight episodes in a way that causes it to click into place well once it does. Unlike The Fall, it shows a new Irish series that writer Sarah Phelps has placed in an interesting spotlight to hook us all in.

The world within the books has been adapted in a professional manner that feels right for this time of year. It feels like it should be on our screens and the cast reflects that. All put on in a fabulous manner throughout and know what to do to make sure audiences are not put off by the strange opening.

In fact, once you get over the opening, it is a series that makes you want to lock all your doors and never open them again. It is full of tragedy, depth and clever use of landscape and history. One of the best dramas to come from Ireland in recent years, this will make you please that you tuned in because everyone will be talking about it soon. Especially once the later episodes are played and the finale is revealed.

With a fantastic cast, strong script and clever storyline, Dublin Murders flows onto our winter screens well. It will leave you locking all your doors and windows well before you get to the end of the series due to the shocks and horrors witnessed. Something you know marks a good series.

4 Stars

Joey X