If you’re in the mood for some good old-fashioned sleuthing and Grantchester’s return feels slightly too far away (likely next year!), we’re here to save the day. Enter Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries, the 10/10 detective drama which takes us back to the swinging 1960s and on the adventures of aspiring sleuth Peregrine Fisher (Geraldine Hakewill). Grantchester upgrade, found!
The spin-off to the beloved Australian series, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, sees Peregrine take the mantle from her missing aunt Phryne Fisher (from the original series) and Peregrine won’t stop until she’s a world-class investigator just like Phyrne was. But with everything from culinary school deaths to electrocutions on her hands, she’s certainly got her work cut out.
With the series now available to stream, here’s everything you need to know about Ms Fisher’s Modern Mysteries before you tune in, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries about?
UKTV
As we mentioned, the series is a spin-off of the hit Australian series, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, and takes us to the Swinging Sixties in Melbourne where the fearless Peregrine Fisher (Geraldine Hakewill) is our central character. Peregrine is the niece of world-class adventuress and private detective Phryne Fisher (fans will remember her from the original series) who inherits a windfall from her famous aunt and sets out to become a sleuth in her own right.
Keen to be part of the same Adventuresses’ Club as her aunt, Peregrine makes the bold decision to follow in Phryne’s footsteps and solve the murder of a model found dead at a bridal fashion show – and that’s just the beginning. In series 1, she also finds herself dealing with the murder of a pop star and a chef who’s found dead at a culinary school.
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Series 2 takes us back to the streets of 1964 Melbourne and sees Peregrine investigate even bigger mysteries – namely, at an air hostess school, a dog show, and a bowling alley. She’s also juggling her career with a romance with Detective James Steed (Joel Jackson). But his desire for marriage brings the pair to a crossroad on possibly divergent paths.
Geraldine Hakewill told IndieWire how it was important to make Peregrine Fisher her own, given the earlier success of the original series, explaining: “She’s such a ballsy, delightful, spontaneous kind of person. There’s always the anxiety that because it’s a companion piece to such a loved show that people are going to be disappointed or have very strong opinions about what they wanted it to be.
She added that she watched the series back herself and was pleasantly surprised: “I really enjoyed watching it, and usually I don’t like watching myself. It’s very difficult. But I got lost in the world of it – and that’s always a good sign that something’s working – when I forget that it’s me doing it.”
Who’s in the cast of Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries?
Lachlan Moore
The main cast of Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries includes:
Geraldine Hakewill (Wanted) as Peregrine Fisher Joel Jackson (Jungle) as James SteedCatherine McClements (Return to Paradise) as Birdie BirnsideToby Truslove (The Strange Calls) as Samuel BirnsideJames Mason (A Star is Born) as Eric Wild Louisa Mignone (Fake) as Violetta FelliniKatie Robertson (Deadloch) as Constable Fleur ConnorGreg Stone (The Bank) as Chief Inspector Percy Sparrow Emma Hamilton (Last Cab to Darwin) as Sally WhedonMadeline Davies (She Wore Blue) as Linda WadeIs there a trailer for Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries below.
Is Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries any good?
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Yes – and fortunately, you don’t need to have seen Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries to enjoy it. The series is escapist, immersive and extremely well-acted. One of the real highlights is the variety of mysteries Peregrine has to solve – from the murder of a dog trainer whose prized dog is framed, to that of a pop singer and his back-up who are electrocuted during a show. It’s safe to say there’s never a dull moment!
How can I watch Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries?
You can watch the first series of Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries now on Prime Video. You can also watch series 2 on Apple TV.
What other detective dramas can I watch now?
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For something equally escapist, we’d recommend Recipes for Love and Murder. The series introduces us to crime-solving cook and agony aunt Tannie Maria whose advice goes far beyond the kitchen! It’s a brilliantly witty series that every cosy crime fan should see and, fortunately, it’s available to watch on U. For something a little darker, we’d suggest Scrublands. Investigative journalist Martin Scarsden (Luke Arnold) finds himself in the drought-stricken Australian town of Riversend where a dedicated young priest has, seemingly out of nowhere, killed five parishioners. You can watch Scrublands now on BBC iPlayer.