Robert Thorogood’s book will become a four-hour drama starring Samantha Bond. 

Writer Robert Thorogood is best known as the creator of the enduring Death in Paradise. Currently filming its 13th series, and with a spinoff up and running, it appears we can’t get enough of the sun-drenched whodunnit.

However, there’s another Thorogood creation on the way as UKTV have commissioned an adaptation of his 2021 novel, The Marlow Murder Club. The four hour, two-part drama is a co-commission with co-producer and US broadcaster MASTERPIECE, produced by Monumental Television (Ghosts) in association with ITV Studios.

It stars Samantha Bond in the lead role of Judith Potts. The announced cast also includes Jo Martin (Doctor Who), Cara Horgan (The Sandman) and Natalie Dew (The Capture).

Here’s what we know about The Marlow Murder Club:

Retired archaeologist Judith Potts (Bond) lives alone in a faded mansion in the peaceful town of Marlow, filling her time by setting crosswords for the local paper. During one of her regular wild swims in the Thames, Judith hears a gunshot coming from a neighbour’s garden and believes a brutal murder has taken place.

When the police are reluctant to believe her story, Judith finds herself forming an unlikely friendship with local dog-walker and empty-nester Suzie (Martin) and unfulfilled vicar’s wife Becks (Horgan) as they start an investigation of their own. Eventually asked to assist with the official police investigation, headed by newly promoted Tanika (Dew), the women must piece together clues, grill suspect witnesses, and face down real danger as they work against the clock to stop the killer in their tracks.

Robert Thorogood said:

“After over a decade of working on Death in Paradise, I’m thrilled to be creating a brand-new murder mystery series for TV. I can’t wait for audiences to join Judith, Becks and Suzie on their adventures as they solve a series of fiendishly puzzling murders.”

The director of The Marlow Murder Club is Steve Barron (The Durrells, Around the World in 80 Days), the producer is Jane Wallbank. The executive producers for Monumental Television are Debra Hayward, Alison Owen and Alison Carpenter. Susanne Simpson is executive producer for MASTERPIECE, while Steve Barron and Robert Thorogood also serve as executive producers.

Should the show be a hit, there’s also a second novel in the series called Death Comes To Marlow ripe for adaptation too. The third, The Queen of Poisons is out in January 2024.

The show will air on Drama and UKTV Play in 2024. MASTERPIECE will air the series in four parts on PBS.