The Susan Ryeland Mysteries

Played by Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread, The Crown), Susan is the main character in three MASTERPIECE series: Magpie Murders, Moonflower Murders, and the upcoming Marble Hall Murders, all adapted from the bestselling Anthony Horowitz novels by the author himself. THE SUSAN RYELAND MYSTERIES offers behind-the-scenes insights from cast and creators about these devilishly clever mysteries-within-mysteries, which toggle between the present and the 1950s world of fictional detective Atticus Pünd, played by Tim McMullan (The Crown, Patrick Melrose, The Serpent).

Through production design, costumes and locations, the Susan Ryeland mysteries immerse viewers in two worlds. Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders feature actors playing dual roles, an experience the cast enjoyed. “The main reason I wanted to do Magpie Murders was exactly that concept of playing two characters,” says Daniel Mays, who plays modern-day cop Locke and Chubb, the bumbling village cop of the 1950s.

Locations also play dual roles. Alan Conway’s home, Abbey Grange, doubles as 1950s Pye Hall, with changes to artwork, furniture, lighting and décor to differentiate the two versions. The series are filmed in the same village, with color adjustments made to convey each time period.

The program also explores Susan’s three key relationships: her romance with Andreas Patakis (Alexandros Logothetis), her complicated, tumultuous relationship with Alan Conway, and her deepening friendship with fictional detective Atticus Pünd. “The crossover of the two worlds being that Pünd and Susan have this really rather lovely relationship,” says Lesley Manville.

THE SUSAN RYELAND MYSTERIES wraps up with a special treat: a sneak preview of the upcoming Marble Hall Murders. In this third mystery, Susan is drawn into another Atticus Pünd novel, this time by a new young writer. The real killer’s identity is hidden in the book and, once again, Susan finds herself in grave danger.