A Promising Start for a New Mystery World

Read Time:5 Minute, 41 Second

TV SERIES REVIEW
Murder Before Evensong
TV-14 –

Genre: Drama, Mystery
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 6 episodes (approx. 6h total)
Writer(s): Adapted from the novel by Reverend Richard Coles
Cast: Matthew Lewis, Amanda Redman, Amit Shah, Tamzin Outhwaite, Adam James
Where to Watch: available now on digital and DVD

RAVING REVIEW: MURDER BEFORE EVENSONG begins with a sense of routine, the kind that defines small communities where everyone knows everyone and change feels like an unwelcome guest. It doesn’t take long for the serenity of Champton, a rural English village in the late 1980s, to warp under the weight of suspicion. That shift becomes the backbone of the series, which adapts Reverend Richard Coles’ bestselling novel into a six-part mystery that blends warmth, tension, and restrained humor. Rather than rushing to pull viewers into the murder at its core, the show builds a clear understanding of the world Canon Daniel Clement inhabits, allowing the eventual crisis to hit with more weight.

Matthew Lewis delivers a layered performance as Clement, grounding the series with a character who isn’t a caricature or eccentric. Instead, he portrays Clement as an empathetic figure, drawn into a role he never sought, as the community turns to him during an investigation. Clement doesn’t overpower the plot with brilliant deductions; instead, he’s guided by relationships, instinct, and a genuine desire to protect the people he serves. That approach differentiates the series from other mysteries that rely on quirkiness or gimmicks. Clement’s appeal lies in his sincerity and restraint.

The series uses its 1988 setting to highlight the community’s anxieties without leaning into nostalgia. The details — the parish politics, the social expectations, the reluctance to embrace modernization — create an authentic backdrop for the mystery. When Clement announces proposed changes to the church, the village fractures in ways that reveal long-standing tensions. This conflict is more than window dressing; it sets the foundation for the murder that follows. Before a body is even discovered, the series has already established the cracks beneath the surface of Champton, making the subsequent investigation feel deeply personal.

Amanda Redman adds dimension as Clement’s widowed mother, Audrey, whose presence in the rectory offers both comfort and complication. Her protectiveness, stubbornness, and observations create a dynamic that shapes Clement’s choices more than he would ever admit aloud. Their relationship feels enriched by years of unspoken expectations and shared loss. Their scenes together carry weight, balancing the mystery's darker elements with the tension of domestic life. Her role is essential in portraying how deeply personal matters become intertwined with public responsibility in a small village.

The murder itself, discovered in the church, shifts the tone from gentle drama to a layered investigation. Champton, with its picturesque scenery and charming routines, quickly becomes a place where fear circulates as promptly as gossip. The series leans into this shift with patience rather than shock. It doesn’t rely on twists; instead, it shows how communities react when the illusion of safety is disrupted. Everyone becomes a potential suspect not because the show is trying to keep viewers guessing, but because the characters themselves genuinely struggle to trust one another.

Amit Shah’s DS Neil Vanloo enters the story with a pragmatism that balances Clement’s involvement. The series avoids turning their partnership into a clash of opposites. Instead, Vanloo recognizes that Clement’s connection to the community can uncover truths that formal questioning cannot. Their dynamic grows gradually, marked by mutual respect and occasional tension. Vanloo is written as competent and steady, which avoids the common trope of dismissive or incompetent officers found in many mysteries. His presence raises the stakes without stealing focus from Clement’s internal conflicts.

As the investigation unfolds, additional deaths push the community further into turmoil. Rather than escalating the violence simply to heighten drama, the series uses each development to reveal how tightly controlled the town’s social fabric really is. The story emphasizes the ways small resentments, rivalries, and secrets accumulate over time. The mystery becomes a lens through which viewers examine the vulnerabilities of a village that outwardly appears calm but inwardly teems with unresolved friction.

The pacing throughout the six episodes is deliberate. Viewers who prefer rapid-fire may find the pace slower than expected, but the restraint serves the story well. By focusing on conversation, observation, and shifting dynamics within the community, the series allows each revelation to land with purpose. The slow build contributes to the impact of the final episodes, where Clement must confront the possibility that he may have been the intended target all along. This shift adds a layer of introspection, forcing him to evaluate the cost of his leadership and the unpredictable consequences of his decisions.

The ensemble cast enhances the story by embodying a range of villagers. Their motivations are shaped by history, pride, family obligations, and fear — all of which make their reactions to the unfolding crisis all the more compelling. The show avoids overly theatrical performances, instead highlighting the quiet pressure that builds when everyone watches everyone else a little too closely.

The first season resolves its mystery while leaving enough unanswered questions to merit future exploration. It’s a promising adaptation that blends warmth and suspense with confidence, and it succeeds because it allows its characters to remain fully human. Their actions, mistakes, and fears shape the narrative as much as the clues in the investigation. That human-centered approach gives the series its staying power and distinguishes it from more formulaic entries in the genre.

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[photo courtesy of ACORN MEDIA INTERNATIONAL]

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