The cozy British mystery gets a new coat of paint with Murder Most Puzzling, a series that kicks off with a body and a cryptic crossword. Debuting on Channel 5, the premiere sets its scene in the town of Bakerbury, where a local murder has the police, led by DCI Hooper, completely stumped by the puzzle left with the victim. It’s a setup that forces them to seek outside help, however reluctantly.
Enter Cora Felton, the town’s resident Puzzle Lady. She’s the only one with the skillset to decipher the wordplay, but her assistance comes with its own set of complications. Cora isn’t exactly who she appears to be, a fact that puts her directly in the killer’s sights. As she works through the clues, she begins to connect the current crime to the past death of another young woman, suggesting Bakerbury’s placid exterior hides something much more sinister.
Along the way, she collects a small circle of interested parties, including journalist Anton Grant, who seems drawn to Cora and her niece, Sherry, and lawyer Becky Baidwan, whose professional agenda may or may not align with finding the truth. The central question isn’t just who the killer is, but who Cora Felton is and whether her secret will get her killed before she can solve the case.
Murder Most Puzzling begins Thursday, June 19, at 8:00 PM on Channel 5.
