Murder Before Evensong review: Grantchester meets Agatha Christie in this cosy crime drama

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A star rating of 4 out of 5.

Cozy crime shows are becoming increasingly popular on TV, and it looks like they’re here to stay. People are looking for relaxing entertainment, and a good mystery with an amateur detective is the perfect fit! It’s a delightful escape into a world of puzzling secrets.

Given the success of shows like Bookish, The Marlow Murder Club, and Agatha Christie adaptations, 5’s Murder Before Evensong is a great new mystery, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Matthew Lewis ends up starring in it for many seasons.

Inspired by Reverend Richard Coles’s popular novel, *Murder Before Evensong* delivers everything you’d expect from a traditional murder mystery. Think a quaint English village brimming with gossips, hidden grudges, and long-held secrets, plus an amateur detective trying to catch a calculating killer. It has all the classic elements!

Fans of shows like Grantchester and Agatha Christie will likely enjoy Murder Before Evensong, which takes place in the made-up village of Champton in the 1980s. The series stars Matthew Lewis as Canon Daniel Clement, and he plays the role with a natural tenderness and honesty that makes viewers immediately care about his character.

Daniel works hard to keep everyone happy in his small town, constantly caught between his strong-willed mother, Audrey, the church officials, and the various demands of his community. When he and his beloved dachshunds, Cosmo and Hilda, find a man murdered in the church, Daniel’s already busy life is turned upside down.

Murder Before Evensong is a compelling mystery where everyone in the village of Champton could be the killer. The story keeps you guessing, presenting a long list of suspects – from a rival journalist to a groundskeeper hiding a dark secret – in a way that feels like a complex game of Clue.

The series begins a little slowly, but quickly becomes captivating. The first two episodes establish the complex relationships and conflicts within the town of Champton. Tamzin Outhwaite shines as Stella Harper, a busybody shopkeeper who loves to cause trouble, and Adam James perfectly captures the snobbery of stately home owner Bernard de Floures. Though it takes a few episodes to really get going, it’s worth sticking with – by episode three, I was completely invested.

The whole cast is excellent, but some of the most memorable moments in the show happen between Daniel and his mother, Audrey.

Audrey has a hard time letting her son, Daniel, make his own choices. She constantly interferes, whether it’s with his decision to support AIDS crisis victims – a move that takes him away from his religious path – or his casual attitude toward investigating threatening letters he’s received. Actors Matthew Lewis and Amanda Redman have fantastic comedic chemistry and play off each other brilliantly.

Although cosy crime novels are usually light and cheerful, “Murder Before Evensong” is different. It tackles serious issues from the 1980s and doesn’t shy away from exploring them in depth.

The show explores Daniel’s internal conflict as he tries to stay compassionate in a harsh world. He wrestles with his own sense of right and wrong, even questioning whether to show mercy to a ruthless killer. This willingness to tackle tough questions is what makes the series stand out, elevating it beyond a typical murder mystery.

Don’t worry, this review won’t give away who the killer is. However, as more victims appear in *Murder Before Evensong*, the last episode delivers a satisfying and surprising resolution that genuinely caught me off guard.

Detective Sergeant Vanloo isn’t much help with the case, but Daniel has a knack for getting people to talk, and this quickly sparks a strong friendship. It feels like the beginning of a partnership that could resemble the dynamic seen in Grantchester.

Murder Before Evensong premieres on 5 at 9pm on Tuesday 7th October.

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2025-10-07 09:34