Masterpiece Announces 'Magpie' Follow Up, 'Moonflower Murders'

It’s a rare series that manages to be a ripping TV adaptation of a murder mystery novel while also acting as a meta-commentary on murder mystery novels, TV adaptations of those novels, and why we love them. Magpie Murders was a nesting doll of story and deep dive meditation on itself. Still, it managed to take the novel’s “book within a book” conceit and made it work as a “period piece TV mystery within a contemporary TV mystery series.” Telly Visions named it the Number One British Drama Series on PBS for 2022, and it seems Masterpiece agrees, having announced it will co-produce the follow-up Moonflower Murders.

Masterpiece confirmed the series’ return as part of its presentation at the Television Critics Association Winter 2023 press tour. Like Magpie Murders, the PBS brand will co-produce alongside Jill Green and Eleventh Hour Films. Named for Anthony Horowitz’s follow-up to his best-selling Magpie Murders, Moonflower Murders will also air on most PBS stations under the Masterpiece banner like its predecessor; however, in the U.K., the demise of BritBox means the series will move to BBC One and Player instead of heading to the new ITV-solo streaming service, ITVX.

Like the first series, Moonflower Murders will run six episodes adapted from the novel by its author, Anthony Horowitz. In a statement, Horowitz said, “I can’t wait to get started on the scripts of Moonflower Murders. We had a fantastic response to Magpie, and, speaking personally; it was a joy bringing Susan Ryeland and Atticus Pünd to life on the screen. There are lots of surprises in the second book, including something I’ve never done before in a murder mystery. It’s going to be great fun.”