Cosy crime is one of the most beloved subgenres, and it's easy to see why. There is something so comforting about settling down to watch a low-stakes show where, episodically, a detective (often kooky in one way or another) solves a cheeky little murder.
Shows like Ludwig, where each mystery is a puzzle to be solved, or Miss Marple, where a seemingly harmless old lady is a shrewd investigator, or Midsomer Murders, where every murder has a local village feel to it (even though more killings happened there than in The Wire).
© BBC/Big TalkHowever, I have been noticing a growing trend of what I am affectionately labelling 'quirky murder'. Not quite cosy crime, as these shows have higher stakes, more emotional baggage and, most importantly, tend to be told from the POV of the murderer, not the investigator.
In a quirky murder caper, the protagonists are usually unreliable or slightly unhinged. And despite this, you are still rooting for them to get away with it all, usually because their motivations are so valid. Of course, there have been plenty of successful 'quirky murder' shows over the years, the most notable being You starring Penn Badgley, but there has been such an upsurge of these shows recently—and these are the ones I'd definitely be keeping an eye out for.
How to Kill Your Family
Based on Bella Mackie's bestselling novel, Netflix recently confirmed a planned adaptation starring Anya Taylor-Joy as Grace, a Gatsby-like character who is wreaking revenge on her estranged extended (and incredibly wealthy) family after they rejected her and her mother. Her goal? To exact revenge and end up with an impressive inheritance. With filming set to kick off this autumn, this is definitely one to look out for.
© Variety via Getty ImagesEveryone in My Family Has Killed Someone
Penn Badgley is cast as the face of quirky murder for this adaptation of Benjamin Stevenson's novel of the same name. The story follows a mystery-writing expert who becomes trapped with his family in a snowstorm when the death toll begins to mount—and everyone in the family is somewhat culpable.
Speaking about the project, head of global television at Amazon MGM Studios Peter Friedlander said that it is a "brilliantly inventive series that subverts the murder mystery genre in the most unexpected and entertaining ways". Sign me up!
© Jocelyn Prescod/NETFLIXA Talent for Murder
This upcoming movie keeps you guessing. Starring Helen Mirren as bestselling author Patricia Highsmith, as she is persuaded to write one final instalment of her famous Ripley series by a mysterious young man from her publishing company. But his request will come at a cost.
© Getty ImagesSweetpea
After season one was a huge success, Ella Purnell's murderous series is set to return for a second instalment. The show follows Rhiannon, an overlooked young woman who turns to murder after being routinely ignored by everyone around her. In season two, Rhiannon is set to deal with a copycat killer, a new promotion and a new rebound romance - while questioning whether she is actually a monster.
© SKY UK
