The Marlow Murder Club

Judith Potts is a retired archaeologist living alone in a worn mansion on the edge of Marlow, spending her quieter days setting crosswords for the local paper and taking habitual cold swims in the Thames. One morning during a routine dip she hears a gunshot from a neighbor's garden and becomes convinced a violent crime has taken place. Rather than shrugging it off, Judith starts asking questions, following small inconsistencies and clues that others overlook. Her curiosity upends the town's surface calm and pulls her into contact with local residents and investigators. The series focuses on how ordinary routines and long-held resentments are disturbed when someone decides to pry at the town's secrets.

Released in 2024, the series was created by Robert Thorogood and features Samantha Bond as Judith Potts, with Jo Martin, Cara Horgan and Natalie Dew among the principal cast, filmed in and around evocative English village settings.

Viewer and early critical response has been mixed, reflected in an average score near 6.3/10 from early votes. Many viewers respond to the leads and the show's warm, puzzle-oriented approach, while some critics note a leisurely pace compared with more hard-edged crime dramas. Prominent themes include aging, friendship, secrecy, social class and the mental work of piecing together clues.

The show taps into the British cozy mystery tradition, putting an older, sharp-minded woman at the center rather than a young, lone detective. Its riverside locations, small-town rhythms and emphasis on community gossip may appeal to fans of gentler whodunits and to viewers who like character-driven mysteries that reward attention to detail.

As of its initial release it has not been singled out by major award bodies. That said, it seems poised to attract a steady audience among people who enjoy genteel mysteries, strong ensemble casts and stories that trade on atmosphere and interpersonal tension rather than graphic violence.