‘Marble Hall Murders’ Author Reveals How Lesley Manville Inspired the Book & Series

If it weren’t for leading lady Lesley Manville, Masterpiece‘s latest Susan Ryeland mystery wouldn’t exist. After playing the savvy book editor whose sleuthing unmasked killers in both Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders on PBS, Manville was keen to do another series. But author Anthony Horowitz didn’t have a third novel to adapt, so he had to work fast, since the in-demand actress’ schedule was packed tight.

“I suddenly had this idea about families with a famous forebear,” Horowitz says, and 15 months later, he’d written the novel Marble Hall Murders and turned it into a six-part TV series. The story is centered around the Crace clan, whose late matriarch, Miriam (All Creatures Great and Small‘s Patricia Hodge), was a beloved children’s book author who treated her relations horribly. Despite that, they manage the massive industry — from estate tours to a Netflix series — that has sprung up around her Tiny People characters.

Susan gets roped into the family saga after Miriam’s grandson Eliot (Jamie Blackley) is hired to pen a new novel featuring famous sleuth Atticus Pünd (Tim McMullan), whose books Susan edited until his original author died. For Eliot, writing what he knows — or thinks he knows — becomes dangerous. His characters resemble family members, and he’s convinced one of them murdered Miriam 20 years ago.

Lesley Manville and Tim McMullan (PBS)

Susan, who has returned to England after breaking up with her Greek partner, and Atticus are both on the case, as the series shifts between the Crace family in the present and Eliot’s novel, set in 1955 Corfu. The production shot for three weeks on the Greek isle, and cast members Rupert Penry-Jones, Mark Bonnar, Harry Lloyd, Zubin Varla (top, with Manville), and more play dual roles.

In Eliot’s story, the ailing detective, who knows this will be his last case, is visiting his ancestral homeland. But, through the magic of storytelling, he continues to interact with Susan. “The relationship between [Susan and Atticus] is more poignant than ever,” says Horowitz, who promises an emotional farewell.

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“I think the last scenes of the last episode brought a tear to all of our eyes,” he adds. “It’s a happy ending, but there’s a sort of sadness, an awareness that it’s all over. I think the word for it is tristesse. We had a lot of fun making it, and I really, really hope that the audience enjoys it.”

Marble Hall Murders, Series Premiere, Sunday, September 6, 9/8c, PBS