A gripping Irish crime drama from 2019, The Dublin Murders, has made a significant splash on Netflix, climbing into the platform’s top 10 series and currently holding the number four spot. This compelling series, quietly added to Netflix earlier this month, has quickly captured the attention of viewers, proving its enduring appeal.
The drama features a stellar cast, including Sarah Greene, known for her roles in Bad Sisters and The Death of Bunny Munro, and Killian Scott, who has appeared in Kaos and Trespass Against Us. In The Dublin Murders, Greene and Scott portray detectives Rob Reilly and Cassie Maddox, respectively, as they navigate the complexities of an elite murder squad based in Dublin.
The official synopsis from the BBC paints a dark and intriguing picture: “When a young, talented ballerina is found dead on an ancient stone altar, her death drags up another tragedy that befell this community years before – when three children disappeared into the local woods and only one returned.” This premise sets the stage for a narrative deeply rooted in past traumas and unresolved mysteries.
A Deep Dive into Tana French’s World
Set against the backdrop of Dublin’s outskirts, The Dublin Murders is an adaptation of the critically acclaimed novels by Tana French, a celebrated crime novelist and a New York Times bestselling author. Her work is renowned for its psychological depth and intricate plotting, which the series faithfully captures.
Since its arrival on Netflix, the series has resonated with audiences, evidenced by a strong Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 78%. Viewers have been drawn into its dark and atmospheric world, with many praising its quality. User Anthony Y described The Dublin Murders as a “beautifully brutal” miniseries with “perfect” performances. Stephen C lauded it as a “dark and well made” show, while Arya S commended the script, acting, and story as “first rate.”
The critical reception has been equally positive. The Observer hailed it as “atmospheric, often terrific, never dull viewing.” Screen Rant labelled it a “satisfyingly dark and twisty crime thriller,” and Den of Geek celebrated it as an “excellent, unique crime story.” These accolades contributed to a “fresh” critic score of 79% on the review aggregator.
From Page to Screen: The Adaptation Process
The Dublin Murders draws its narrative from two of Tana French’s beloved books: In The Woods and its subsequent novel, The Likeness. The series masterfully weaves together the storylines and characters from these two novels to create a cohesive and captivating viewing experience.
Despite its title, much of the filming took place not only in Dublin but also in Belfast and the surrounding regions of Northern Ireland. The atmospheric Tollymore Forest in Northern Ireland, a location famously featured in Game of Thrones and the film Dracula Untold, served as the eerie setting for the woodland scenes central to the murders.
For the flashback sequences set in the 1980s, the nearby village of Drumaness was transformed. Filming crews meticulously recreated the era by introducing 80s-style Garda cars, green post boxes, and ice cream vans, immersing the audience in a bygone time.
Behind the Scenes: Crafting the Darkness
Speaking about her inspiration, the show’s creator, Sarah Phelps, expressed her deep connection to French’s novels. She told the BBC that she was “compelled” by the source material.
Phelps elaborated on the core of the lead characters’ dynamic: “This case will unpeel the thing that they have in common and share, the pact they have made with each other. I can’t say too much about it because there’s a huge spoiler, but there is something deep and dark about them that they share. It is something tragic and highly personal that has dogged them all of their adult lives. This story is about how they are going to be able to get on with the serious, difficult dirty business of just living with it.” This suggests a profound psychological undercurrent to the detectives’ personal lives, inextricably linked to the cases they investigate.
Lead actress Sarah Greene reflected on the intensity of the filming experience, describing it as “pretty heavy.” In an interview with Hot Press in 2019, she admitted, “It does get under your skin. I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m ‘method’, but it was dark in places.”
To help the cast fully embody their roles, the production employed an advisor who assisted Greene and Scott in understanding the mindset of hard-boiled detectives. This involved grappling with the emotional detachment required to meticulously examine crime scenes and deliver difficult news to grieving families. Greene highlighted the challenge: “When you see a body you have to get up close to look for details, while setting your emotions to one side. How do you tell a family that something has happened to a loved one?”
The Dublin Murders is now available for audiences to stream on Netflix and BBC iPlayer, offering a chance to experience this acclaimed crime thriller for themselves.
