WhileDeath In Paradise’s 14 seasons might seem daunting, fans ofAgatha Christie’s iconic murder mystery novels should check out the long-running series. The manymovie adaptations of Agatha Christie’s books, along with her staggering sales record, prove just how perennially popular the queen of whodunit mysteries is. FromKenneth Branagh’s Poirot trilogyto 2018’sThe Alphabet Murders, Christie’s body of work is continually revisited by directors looking to update the classic murder mystery format.
As if these official adaptations weren’t enough, many movies likeNetflix’s upcomingThursday Murder Cluband theKnives Outfranchise also revisit the genre staples that made Christie’s output so popular. From quirky detectives who seem ill-suited to the task of solving murders to sprawling casts filled with colorful suspects in self-contained locations, these movies rely on the well-worn tropes that made the author’s output so reliably satisfying. The spirits of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot remain a mainstay at the cinema and on streaming services, as evidenced by one long-running murder mystery franchise.
Agatha Christie Fans Will Love Death In Paradise
Death in Paradise’s Blend Of Cozy Comedy and Murder Mystery Is Perfect For Christie Fans
The British murder mystery seriesDeath in Paradiseis one of the best modern attempts to recapture Christie’s appeal, complete with her trademark comic relief characters, red herrings, and inventive murders.Death In Paradiseinitially follows a British police officer who is sent to the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie, where his fish-out-of-water status isn’t enough to stop him from solving the case. This results in his superiors permanently reassigning him to the island, much to his chagrin.
The long-running show has introduced more than three fish-out-of-water antiheroes across its 14 outings.
However, this doesn’t mean that the star of the series necessarily stays the same throughoutDeath in Paradise’s 14 seasons. To say anymore would get into spoiler territory, but suffice to say that the long-running show has introduced more than three fish-out-of-water antiheroes across its 14 outings. If catching up sounded like more of a chore than a treat, it is worth noting that the show is a case-per-week murder mystery.
Death In Paradise Is Part Of A Much Larger Franchise
Death In Paradise Spawned Two Spinoff Shows To Date
Like a cozy British Caribbean spin onMurder She Wrote,Death In Paradiseis the perfect episodic viewing for the commitment-averse murder mystery fan. While it might sound like there is a lot ofDeath in Paradisefor newcomers to catch up on, murder mystery lovers who do make it through all 14 seasons need not wait untilthe nextKnives Outmoviefor their quirky murder mystery comedy fix. As well as the series proper, there is aDeath in Paradiseextended universe for eager audience members to dive into.
All 3 Death In Paradise TV Shows & Spinoffs Explained
The Death in Paradise franchise expands with Beyond Paradise and Return to Paradise, each adding new cultural twists on mystery-solving.
Death in Paradise’s first spinoff,Beyond Paradise, began in 2023, while a second spinoff titledReturn to Paradisearrived in late 2024. While a few reviewers feltBeyond Paradisedidn’t live up to the standard of its predecessor, other critics called the series an improvement on the original show.Beyond Paradisehas since released a second season and been renewed for a third, whileReturn to Paradiserecevied solid reviews upon its 2024 premiere. For fans of Agatha Christie, the ongoingDeath in Paradisefranchise proves that there are plenty more cozy murder mysteries still in production in 2025.
Death In Paradise Has Successfully Recast The Main Role Over & Over
Death In Paradise Has Repeatedly Replaced Its Central Detective
At first glance,Death In Paradiseseems to have a lot in common with other cozy murder mystery shows likeThe Mallorca FileorPsych. However, the show’s rotating cast of protagonists is unique to this murder mystery series.Death In Paradisehas replaced its main character no less than four times, with Ben Miller, Kris Marshall, Ardal O’Hanlon, Ralf Little, and Don Gilet all taking on the role for a few seasons at a time.
Miller’s Richard Poole is the show’s protagonist from seasons 1-3, while Kris Marshall’s Detective Humphrey Goodman plays Saint Marie’s new chief detective in seasons 3-6. Goodman is then replaced by Ardal O’Hanlon’s Jack Mooney from seasons 6-9, while Mooney is replaced in turn by Ralf Little’s Neville Parker in seasons 9-13.Death in Paradise’s new detectiveMervin Wilson only arrived in season 14, so only time will tell whether he lasts as long as his predecessors.
Like a lot of murder mysteries, the show is as concerned with its setting as its hero.
The reason thatDeath in Paradisecan pull off replacing its main character so many times is down to the show’s structure. Like a lot of murder mysteries, the show is as concerned with its setting as its hero. Much likeMurder She Wroteneeded Cabot Cove andMidsomer Murderswouldn’t work if its action were uprooted from the sleepy British county of the title,Death In Paradiseneeds its island setting more than a particular specific protagonist.
Why Death In Paradise Has Lasted So Long (& Is Still Going)
Death In Paradise’s Replaceable Protagonist Adds To Its Longevity
Each new detective brings a new tone toDeath in Paradise’s investigations, butthe show has managed to remain remarkably consistent over its 14 seasons.Death in Paradiseshares its quirky characters and morbid but gentle sense of humor with earlier British murder mystery shows like the aforementioned fellow long-runnerMidsomer MurdersorRosemary &Thyme. However, the picturesque location helps to make proceedings feel a little brighter and more exotic than those earlier procedurals. Furthermore, the series arrived at the perfect time.
Death in Paradisearrived at a time when British TV procedurals were mostly embracing a darker, grittier aesthetic pioneered by cold, self-serious Scandinavian noir.
As theupcomingThe Thursday Murder Clubmovie adaptation, the second season of Peacock’sPoker Face, and the thirdKnives Outinstallment all prove, cozy murder mysteries are very much in vogue in 2025. However,Death in Paradisearrived at a time when British TV procedurals were mostly embracing a darker, grittier aesthetic pioneered by cold, self-serious Scandinavian noir. As shows tripped over themselves to be the most dour, self-serious mystery on the small screen,Death in Paradiseprovided a fun reprieve for viewers who want a cheeky bit of humor reminiscent ofAgatha Christie’s writing to go with their murder mystery stories.
