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Murder Most Puzzling: What you need to know About Phyllis Logan’s new cosy Crime Drama
The teaser for Murder Most Puzzling has finally landed—and it’s every bit as quirky, thrilling, and sharp as fans of cosy crime could hope for. BAFTA-winner Phyllis Logan lights up the screen as Cora Felton, blending mischief with mystery in a role that’s worlds away from her Downton Abbey days.
With vibrant visuals, a cryptic tone, and just enough danger, the teaser promises a crime caper unlike any other. If you're a fan of The Madame Blanc Mysteries or The Good Ship Murder, this one needs to be on your watchlist.
Adapted from Parnell Hall’s beloved Puzzle Lady Mysteries, the new series steps into the spotlight with its eccentric heroine at the helm and a delightful blend of wit and whodunit. With colourful characters and a tone that flips effortlessly between suspense and satire, it’s no surprise anticipation is sky-high. And with Logan leading the charge, expect both brains and boldness.
Want to know what secrets Cora’s hiding, how her puzzle-solving skills come into play, and what makes this show a must-watch? We've gathered all the latest buzz—from cast insights to episode count and more. And yes, we’re keeping this page updated as new surprises emerge… so don’t go anywhere. Something puzzling—and possibly murderous—awaits just a few scrolls down.
Release date & Where to Watch
Murder Most Puzzling is a three-part series premiering in the UK on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 8 pm on 5 (formerly Channel 5). New episodes will air weekly in the same time slot and will also be available to stream on My5.
What is the plot of Murder Most Puzzling?
Murder Most Puzzling is a brand-new cosy crime drama based on The Puzzle Lady Mysteries by late American author Parnell Hall. The series follows the eccentric and mysterious Cora Felton, who has a syndicated crossword column and is famous for her sharp mind and chaotic charm. But behind the fame lies a carefully guarded secret—and a knack for getting entangled in murder.
Set in the sleepy market town of Bakerbury, the story begins with the baffling murder of a teenage girl, whose body is discovered in a cemetery with an enigmatic clue tucked into her pocket. The local police, led by DCI Hooper, are stumped—until they seek the help of Bakerbury’s newest and most unlikely resident: the Puzzle Lady herself.
Despite not being who she claims to be, Cora dives into the mystery with a brash, rule-breaking style. Her “shoot first, ask questions never” approach makes quick work of murderers, conmen, and crooked officials alike. And as she connects the present-day killing to a cold case, Cora puts herself directly in the killer’s crosshairs.
The quirky small-town setting quickly unravels, revealing buried secrets and shady characters. Along the way, Cora builds a mixed band of allies and adversaries—including a nosy journalist, Anton Grant, and a cunning lawyer, Becky Baidwan, who’s more than willing to “throw them all under the bus.”
Phyllis Logan, who stars as Cora, described the series as, “A bit like Murder She Wrote meets Miss Marple on steroids! It is a police procedural, but not as we know it and it’s full of great characters that add so much to it. Like DCI Hooper, played by Adam Best, who is just so funny, he made me laugh all the time” (via TV Guide UK).
She added, “Our writer, Dominique Moloney, wrote such a clever, funny script and that’s what I focused on for the whole shoot. Because, if you play the episodes as they are written, you just can’t go wrong.”
With a chilling murder, a cryptic clue, and a heroine who’s anything but conventional, Murder Most Puzzling blends wit, mystery, and charm into a fresh take on the cosy crime genre.
Who’s Starring in Murder Most Puzzling?
- Phyllis Logan (Miss Austen) as Cora Felton, the Puzzle Lady
- Charlotte Hope (The Spanish Princess) as Sherry Carter
- Alistair Brammer (Dalgliesh) as Anton Grant
- Adam Best (All Creatures Great & Small) as DCI Derek Hooper
- Nick Danan (Innocent) as DS Sam Brody
- Jack Weise (The Hardacres) as PC Danny Finley
- Yasmin Seky (Kin) as Becky Baidwan
- Richard Croxford (Black Panther: Legacy) as Mayor Firth
- Conor Sánchez (Inspector Ellis) as Jimmi Potter
- Amber Mendez-Martin (Jay Kelly) as Katy Hooper
- David Crowley
- Declan O’Connor
- Sarah Alexander
- Aidan McArdle
- Sarah Gallagher
- Dearbháile McKinney
- Fiona Browne
- Chris Patrick-Simpson
- Trevor Kaneswaran
- Simon Haines
- Ismay Dalton
- Emmett Dalton
Is There a Trailer for Murder Most Puzzling?
The teaser opens with a dark, moody tone, but swiftly shifts gears as Logan’s leading lady makes a bold entrance—armed with wit, grit, and a wardrobe as vibrant as her personality.
Is Murder Most Puzzling Based on a book?
Yes, Murder Most Puzzling is based on the beloved Puzzle Lady Mysteries by bestselling author Parnell Hall. This cosy crime series draws inspiration from the books’ central character, Cora Felton—a sharp, witty amateur sleuth with a flair for solving murders and crossword puzzles alike.
The book series spans 18 novels, beginning with A Clue for the Puzzle Lady in 1999. The full list, in order of publication, includes:
- A Clue for the Puzzle Lady (1999)
- Last Puzzle & Testament (2000)
- Puzzled to Death (2001)
- A Puzzle in a Pear Tree (2002)
- With This Puzzle, I Thee Kill (2003)
- And a Puzzle to Die On (2004)
- Stalking the Puzzle Lady (2005)
- You Have the Right to Remain Puzzled (2006)
- The Sudoku Puzzle Murders (2007)
- Dead Man’s Puzzle: A Puzzle Lady Mystery (2009)
- The Puzzle Lady Vs. The Sudoku Lady (2010)
- $10,000 in Small, Unmarked Puzzles (2012)
- NYPD Puzzle (2014)
- Puzzled Indemnity (2015)
- Presumed Puzzled (2016)
- A Puzzle to Be Named Later (2017)
- The Purloined Puzzle (2018)
- Lights! Camera! Puzzles! (2019)
Each installment features Cora embroiled in a new mystery, blending humor, clever plots, and of course, plenty of puzzles.
What is Cora’s Secret?
Cora Felton may seem like a quirky crossword columnist with a flair for trouble, but there’s much more to her than meets the eye. Viewers will quickly learn that she’s harboring a secret—one so explosive, it could ruin her and those closest to her. The eccentric and outspoken Puzzle Lady isn’t exactly who she claims to be.
While investigating a cold case she believes might be connected to a new mystery, Cora stumbles upon a chilling truth behind the death of another young woman. In doing so, she puts herself squarely in the killer’s sights—a perilous place for anyone, especially someone with something to hide.
Of course, we won’t spoil her secret here—but it is revealed in episode one. And if you’ve read the books, you probably already know what it is.
Phyllis Logan, who plays Cora, shared (via TV Guide UK): “Cora is so refreshing! She is her own woman and that’s what makes her intriguing. If she wants a Bloody Mary for breakfast, she has one, why not?! Her niece despairs of her, and it’s true that Cora does some things I shouldn’t really laugh about – she’s not PC at all. But she’s a character that I absolutely believe. Of course, she has a big secret too, which will be quite dangerous if it comes out…”
Filming Details
While the town of Bakerbury may seem charmingly quaint on screen, it’s not a real place. The new three-part series was filmed entirely in Ireland, with Belfast serving as the primary filming location.
Charlotte Hope shared her experience on set, saying, “I really loved filming in Belfast. The crews there are famously excellent craic and I had really great time with them” (via TV Guide UK).
Her co-star Alistair Brammer echoed the sentiment, adding: “It was great for me because I actually live in Belfast. My family moved here during the pandemic. It’s been great for me because there are so many dramas shooting here and I don’t like being away from home, so it’s always a dream to work in Belfast. It meant that when I wasn’t filming, I could be at home with my two kids so that my wife could go to work.”
Behind the Scenes
Dominique Moloney has penned Murder Most Puzzling, with direction by Tom Dalton. Executive producers on the project include Moloney, Dalton, Patrick Irwin, and Emily Dalton for Factual Fiction; Paul Testar and Sebastian Cardwell for Channel 5; Todd Berger and Julie Di Cresce for December Films; Jennifer Chen for Channel Zero Studios; Daniel Mekinda for GroupM Motion Entertainment; and Yi Qiao and Robert Franke for ZDF Studios. Northern Ireland Screen is also supporting the production.
Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor for Drama at Channel 5 and Paramount+, shared his enthusiasm (via TV Zone UK): “We’re very pleased to bring The Puzzle Lady to Channel 5, a compelling, cosy crime drama that will keep viewers guessing and entertained equally. Phyllis Logan will be excellent as Cora Felton, our Puzzle Lady.”
Emily Dalton, Managing Director of Factual Fiction, praised the lead character: “With Cora Felton, Dominique Moloney has written a character that leaps off the page and we are so happy that the wonderful Phyllis Logan will bring The Puzzle Lady to life. This will be my fifth project in Northern Ireland, working with some of the best crew in the UK – it feels a bit like coming home.”
Todd Berger of December Films added, “It’s a huge pleasure to now be going into production on this show. We wish Parnell was still around to see this day, and are grateful for the support of his Estate, and to our partners ZDFS, Channel 5, PBS Distribution, Channel Zero and NI Screen.”
Yi Qiao, Director of Drama at ZDF Studios, also commented on the show's appeal: “Since we announced the development of The Puzzle Lady several years ago there has been a tremendous amount of interest from our clients looking for a light-hearted, quirky whodunnit. Cora Felton is an absolute force of nature with her charm, wit and chaos that I am sure audiences around the world will fall in love with her right away.”
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