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Queens of Mystery
GenreMurder-mystery, comedy-drama
Created byJulian Unthank
Written by
  • Julian Unthank
  • Matthew Thomas[1]
Directed byIan Emes[2]
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes12 (6 two-part stories)[3] (list of episodes)
Production
Running time45 minutes[4]
Production companiesSly Fox Productions, Ferncroft Media[1]
Original release
NetworkAcorn TV
Release8 April 2019 (2019-04-08) –
present

Queens of Mystery is a British comedy-drama murder-mystery TV series created by Julian Unthank starring Julie Graham, Siobhan Redmond, Olivia Vinall (Series 1), Florence Hall (Series 2) and Sarah Woodward.

Synopsis

In the first series, Vinall stars as Matilda Stone, a young detective who has been assigned to the constabulary in her fictional hometown village of Wildemarsh, England,[5] where she is reunited with her three crime-writing aunts Cat, Beth, and Jane, played by Graham, Woodward, and Redmond. Florence Hall took over the role of Matilda Stone in Series 2.

Queens of Mystery is Acorn TV's second entirely original production.[6] The first series was released in 2019 and comprises three separate stories, each split across two 45-minute episodes. Queens of Mystery was renewed for a second series in March 2021,[7] which premiered on 29 November 2021.[8]

Cast

Guest stars

Episodes

Series overview

SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
168 April 2019 (2019-04-08)22 April 2019 (2019-04-22)
2629 November 2021 (2021-11-29)13 December 2021 (2021-12-13)

Series 1 (2019)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected by [13]Written byOriginal release date (U.S.)
11"Murder in the Dark: First Chapter"Ian EmesJulian Unthank8 April 2019 (2019-04-08)
22"Murder in the Dark: Final Chapter"Ian EmesJulian Unthank8 April 2019 (2019-04-08)
33"Death by Vinyl: First Chapter"Jamie Magnus StoneMatthew Thomas15 April 2019 (2019-04-15)
44"Death by Vinyl: Final Chapter"Jamie Magnus StoneMatthew Thomas15 April 2019 (2019-04-15)
55"Smoke & Mirrors: First Chapter"Ian EmesJulian Unthank22 April 2019 (2019-04-22)
66"Smoke & Mirrors: Final Chapter"Ian EmesJulian Unthank22 April 2019 (2019-04-22)

Series 2 (2021)

No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [4]Directed byWritten byUK release date [4]U.S. release date
71"Sparring with Death: First Chapter"Ian EmesJulian Unthank29 November 2021 (2021-11-29)10 January 2022
82"Sparring with Death: Final Chapter"Ian EmesJulian Unthank29 November 2021 (2021-11-29)10 January 2022
93"The Modern Art of Murder: First Chapter"Theresa VargaMatthew Thomas6 December 2021 (2021-12-06)17 January 2022
104"The Modern Art of Murder: Final Chapter"Theresa VargaMatthew Thomas6 December 2021 (2021-12-06)17 January 2022
115"The Raven: First Chapter"Ian EmesJulian Unthank13 December 2021 (2021-12-13)24 January 2022
126"The Raven: Final Chapter"Ian EmesJulian Unthank13 December 2021 (2021-12-13)24 January 2022

Home media

DVD releases
Season Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
1 October 29, 2019 November 29, 2021[14] April 1, 2020[15]
2 April 26, 2022 TBA May 4, 2022[16]

Production

Julie Graham was attracted to the script's portrayal of older women, explaining that "Cat, Jane, and Beth... are all in their fifties... it was a joy to see scenes about authentic females in a family. It's unusual and it's important and of this moment",[17] while Olivia Vinall said the series "feels really truthful [about] the way the women behave."[17] Graham also called Queens of Mystery "very tongue-in-cheek and cartoonish."[18]

Filming for the first season took place in Kent,[6] specifically in Stone Street in Cranbrook.[19] Production used Lympne Castle as Hiddledean Castle in the fictional town of Wildemarsh in the Murder In The Dark episode. The series visited several locations in Farningham, Beth’s cottage was filmed at Mill Estate. Wadard Books doubled as the Murder Ink bookshop and Jane’s house. Farningham Village Store also featured as Wildemarsh Village stores and the Entrance to The Corn Exchange Theatre. In the Death By Vinyl episode Stoneydale craft shop in Cranbrook was converted into The Sound and Fury record shop. Cranbrook also features as the High street throughout the series. St Michael's Churchyard in Smarden was used as the Wildemarsh churchyard and a private residence in Water Lane featured as the village's Embittered Hack Pub. The police station is filmed at the old school building in Benenden, alongside the village green and church in the backdrop.[20]

Critical reception

The New York Times recommended the series due to its "whimsical" tone,[9] noting its "fairy-tale-style omniscient narrator" and comparing it favorably with Pushing Daisies.[3] Writing for TV Insider, Matt Roush found Queens of Mystery to be in the same vein as Murder, She Wrote, yet inferior to sibling Acorn TV series Agatha Raisin.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b White, Peter (1 August 2018). "Acorn TV Continues Move Into Original Drama With Detective Series 'Queens Of Mystery'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b c White, Peter (6 September 2018). "'The Woman In White's Olivia Vinall To Front Acorn TV's Female Detective Drama 'Queens Of Mystery'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b Lyons, Margaret (11 April 2019). "How Much Watching Time Do You Have This Weekend?". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Queens of Mystery - Episodes Guide and Summaries". Next Episode. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Queens of Mystery". Acorn Media International. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Munn, Patrick (6 September 2018). "Julie Graham, Siobhan Redmond, Sarah Woodward & Olivia Vinall To Star In Acorn TV's 'Queens Of Mystery'". TVWise. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  7. ^ "AMC Streamer Acorn TV Renews 'Queens of Mystery' for Season 2; Olivia Vinall Replaced by Florence Hall". 17 March 2021.
  8. ^ Munn, Patrick (19 October 2021). "Acorn TV Sets UK Premiere Date For 'Queens Of Mystery' Season 2". TV Wise. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  9. ^ a b Shattuck, Kathryn (6 April 2019). "The Week in Arts: The Criterion Channel, Charlotte Gainsbourg and 'Queens of Mystery'". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  10. ^ a b Roush, Matt (8 April 2019). "Worth Watching: Acorn's 'Queens of Mystery,' 'Jesus' as Seen by Judas and Pilate, 'Hostile' Ocean Life, the NCAA Championship". TV Insider. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  11. ^ Cain, Brooke (8 April 2019). "What to Watch on Monday: NCAA Championship game, 'Queens of Mystery' makes US debut". The News & Observer. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  12. ^ "Smoke and Mirrors: Final Chapter". tvmaze.com. 2019.
  13. ^ Bylykbashi, Kaltrina (1 August 2018). "Acorn TV commissions Brit drama Queens of Mystery". Television Business International. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  14. ^ "Queens of Mystery: Series 1 | DVD | Free shipping over £20". HMV Store. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Queens of Mystery". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Queens Of Mystery - Series 2". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  17. ^ a b Brodie, Anne (5 April 2019). "Julie Graham and Olivia Vinall talk Acorn TV's Queens of Mystery". What She Said. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  18. ^ Ingham, Alexandria (4 April 2019). "Queens of Mystery star Julie Graham talks about murder mysteries and Cat Stone". Fansided. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  19. ^ Pyman, Tom (19 October 2018). "Queens of Mystery TV series being filmed in Cranbrook". Kent Online. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  20. ^ "Kent Film Office".
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