Channel 5’s Murder Most Puzzling has taken the crime drama world by storm, blending the cosy charm of Only Murders in the Building with the dark intensity of Broadchurch. Premiering on June 19, 2025, the series stars Downton Abbey’s Phyllis Logan as Cora Felton, the enigmatic “Puzzle Lady,” alongside her real-life husband, Kevin McNally, in a chilling whodunit set in the deceptively sleepy town of Bakerbury. When a teenage girl’s body is found in the local cemetery with a cryptic crossword clue in her pocket, Cora’s knack for solving puzzles becomes the key to unmasking a killer. Fans on X are hooked, calling it “addictive” and “impossible to switch off,” with this real-life couple’s chemistry stealing the show.
Set against the quaint backdrop of Bakerbury’s market town, Murder Most Puzzling kicks off with a murder that sends ripples through the community. Logan’s Cora, a crossword expert with a sharp mind and a devil-may-care attitude, teams up with DCI Hooper (Adam Best) to crack the case. McNally, known for Pirates of the Caribbean, plays Gilbert, a charming suitor whose arrival sparks romance and suspicion. Adapted from Parnell Hall’s Puzzle Lady Mysteries, the series weaves a tapestry of twists, with each clue unraveling secrets that echo the layered betrayals of Dark Winds on AMC+. X posts praise Logan’s “magnetic” performance, with one fan tweeting, “Phyllis as Cora is Miss Marple on steroids!”
The show’s genius lies in its blend of cosy and dark. Cora’s “shoot first, ask questions never” approach, paired with the eerie discovery of the crossword clue, keeps viewers guessing. The ensemble cast, including Charlotte Hope as Cora’s niece Sherry and Alistair Brammer as journalist Anton Grant, adds depth, with each character hiding potential motives. Critics, giving it an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, call it “a masterclass in small-town suspense,” with Radio Times noting its “clever, funny script” by Dominique Maloney. The Bakerbury setting, with its misty cemeteries and charming streets, mirrors the atmospheric tension of The Thursday Murder Club, whose cast reunion recently sparked its own frenzy.
X is buzzing with fan theories about the killer’s identity, with one user speculating, “That crossword clue is hiding something BIG!” The real-life dynamic between Logan and McNally, who previously played Jane Austen’s parents in Miss Austen, adds authenticity to their on-screen spark. Stream Dark Winds for a thriller as gripping as this, and dive into Murder Most Puzzling on Channel 5 to join the crossword-cracking craze. With Logan and McNally leading the charge, this is the mystery that’ll keep you up all night.
