Q: Any chance of a continuation of “Magpie Murders” or “Moonflower Murders” on PBS? Lesley Manville is terrific.
Clues point to more PBS ‘Murders’
Another novel in the series is due for publication.
By Rich Heldenfels
November 11, 2024 at 9:59AM
A: Maybe — to the continuation question, not to your appraisal of Manville.
For those of you tuning in late, both productions are based on novels by Anthony Horowitz, with their main character a mystery-solving editor named Susan Ryeland, played by Manville.
They are complex tales, says Telly Vision’s Marni Cerise: “Ryeland must use the 1955 fictional world of private detective Atticus Pünd (Tim McMullen) and the murders he attempts to solve to illuminate clues and investigate mysteries in her present-day, real world. Making things more interesting, Susan interacts with Pünd; he appears in her life to help her think through each puzzle. They have rich exchanges and a meaningful friendship, despite his imagined existence.”
Horowitz has completed a third book, “Marble Hall Murders,” which is set for publication early next year. Horowitz told Cerise last month that a “Marble Hall” series will depend on the success of the TV version of “Moonflower.”
‘Winds’ picking up
Q: Please tell me that “Dark Winds” will be returning.
A: I mentioned some time back that the series will be back for a third season, and now we have an air date: March 9, 2025, on AMC and AMC+. (The first two seasons are on Netflix and AMC+). The third season will have eight episodes, an expansion from the six episodes in each of the previous seasons.
Changing addresses
Q: I’m wondering if “Law & Order: Organized Crime” is coming back to NBC soon.
A: It’s coming back, but not to NBC. “Organized Crime’s” next batch of new episodes will be on NBC’s streaming companion, Peacock, instead of on the broadcast network. The new season, the series’ fifth, arrives in 2025.
Motivated to find ‘Motive’
Q: Several years ago, ABC ran a Canadian detective series that in the first scene showed a murder and the killer. The remainder of the hour followed the investigation by police and why the incident happened. Can you find the name of the series and if it is available somewhere?
A: That was “Motive,” which originally aired in Canada in 2013-16 and had showings in the U.S. on ABC and USA Network. Kristin Lehman and Louis Ferreira starred. You can find the show on Prime Video and Fandango at Home.
‘Startup’ has ended
Q: I just finished season 3 of a series called “Startup.” It’s several years old, but I just heard about it and watched; it was wonderful. Season 3 ended abruptly, and definitely a season 4 was necessary to complete this show. Do you know if they plan to ever do that?
A: The drama starring Martin Freeman and Adam Brody ran for only those three seasons in 2016-18 on Crackle. (Folks can find it now on streaming service Tubi.) I’ve not seen anything about the series coming back. But you might want to check out Brody’s recent work on “Nobody Wants This” on Netflix; it’s a pleasure.
Write to brenfels@gmail.com.
