Because not everything has to be gory
Not another murder!
It’s probably fair to say that, as a nation, we are obsessed with big, violent crime dramas like Gangs Of London and Top Boy, but those shows aren’t for the faint-hearted. That’s why, happily, there’s also been an influx of what has been termed “cosy crime” in recent years, which has helped soothe our nerves and sate our appetite for fictional criminal activity.
You know, the type of show where the murder happens off screen and the police are pretty useless, so (usually) a headstrong and capable woman takes the case into her own hands. There’s something comforting about a midlife woman getting the job done within each episode.
Series like Marple and Rosemary & Thyme kicked off the trend in the early noughties, and more recently, we’re being treated to a selection of friendly amateur sleuths in the form of Ashley Jensen’s Agatha Raisin, Meera Syal’s Mrs Sidhu, and Samantha Bond as Judith Potts in new offering The Marlow Murder Club. So, make yourself a cuppa and snuggle up with some of our favourite cosy crime capers that won’t give you nightmares.
AGATHA RAISIN (SKY/NOW)
A camp twist on the classic M. C. Beaton novels, the comical Agatha Raisin (Ashley Jensen) is a middle-aged PR agent who has moved to the Cotswolds following her retirement. Expecting a quiet life, Agatha soon finds that the village isn’t as peaceful as it first appears, with murders seemingly occurring weekly. Much to the chagrin of bumbling DCI Denzel Wilkes (Jason Barnett), she begins to try her hand at detective work.
We’re the OG OAP sleuths
THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB (UKTV PLAY)
If you’ve ever been to Marlow in Buckinghamshire, you’ll know that it’s one of the quaintest towns along the River Thames and therefore the perfect setting for the latest cosy crime show. From the creator of Death In Paradise, this two-part drama follows crossword-loving Judith Potts (Samantha Bond), vicar’s wife Becks Starling (Cara Horgan) and single mum Suzie Harris (Jo Martin) as they investigate a series of murders in their hometown.
