‘Beautifully Brutal’: The BBC Crime Drama Fans Say Could Rival Happy Valley

Finding a crime drama that genuinely feels different can be difficult, but Dublin Murders has managed to leave a strong impression on both critics and viewers.

The eight-part psychological thriller, developed by Sarah Phelps, combines a murder investigation with buried trauma, complicated relationships and mysteries that refuse to reveal themselves too easily. Based on Tana French’s novels In the Woods (2007) and The Likeness (2008), the series takes viewers into a darker side of Dublin, where the detectives investigating the crimes are carrying their own secrets.

For fans of British crime dramas such as Line of Duty and Broadchurch, the series offers a similarly tense blend of investigation and character-driven storytelling. But Dublin Murders develops a distinct atmosphere of its own, with a psychological edge that keeps the story unpredictable.

Two detectives at the centre of a disturbing case

Killian Scott and Sarah Greene lead the series as Detectives Rob Reilly and Cassie Maddox.

Their investigation begins after a young girl is found murdered on the outskirts of Dublin. What initially looks like a case that needs to be solved gradually becomes more complicated, drawing the detectives into a web of secrets and unresolved personal issues.

Rob and Cassie are not simply observers of the darkness surrounding the investigation. As the case develops, their own friendship and judgment are put under increasing pressure.

That personal dimension is crucial to the series. Rather than treating the murder as an isolated puzzle, Dublin Murders explores the people affected by it — including the detectives trying to uncover the truth.

Sarah Phelps has previously explained that she was less interested in the conventional “whodunnit” than in the reasons behind a crime and the lies people tell themselves. That idea shapes much of the drama, where understanding the characters can be just as important as identifying the culprit.

Adapted from Tana French’s bestselling novels

The series brings together material from the first two books in Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad series: In the Woods and The Likeness.

The first novel follows Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox as they investigate the murder of a young girl while Rob is forced to confront memories of a childhood disappearance. The Likeness shifts the focus towards Cassie, who becomes involved in an undercover investigation after a woman bearing a striking resemblance to her is found dead.

Rather than simply reproducing the books, the television adaptation combines elements of both stories into one eight-part drama.

The result is a narrative in which the investigations and the detectives’ personal lives become increasingly intertwined.

A slow-burning thriller built around atmosphere

One of the series’ biggest strengths is its mood.

From the beginning, Dublin Murders creates an unsettling world where apparently simple answers rarely remain simple for long. The murder investigation gradually opens the door to older secrets, psychological scars and connections that change the way the characters — and the audience — see the case.

The Guardian described the opening as a sophisticated and atmospheric whodunnit that grows increasingly filled with dread.

That slower approach may not appeal to viewers looking for constant action, but it gives the drama room to develop its characters and mysteries.

The tension comes from not knowing exactly where the story is heading — and from the feeling that the detectives themselves may be affected by what they uncover.

The cast brings the darker story to life

Alongside Killian Scott and Sarah Greene, the ensemble includes Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Moe Dunford, Peter McDonald, Conleth Hill, Eugene O’Hare and Ian Kenny.

Scott plays Rob Reilly, while Greene takes on Cassie Maddox. Their partnership is central to the drama, with the investigation repeatedly testing the trust between them.

The series also features a largely Irish cast, reinforcing the distinctly local character of the story and its Dublin setting.

Critics and viewers were hooked

The response to Dublin Murders has been mixed in places, but there has been considerable praise for its atmosphere, performances and ability to keep audiences guessing.

Rotten Tomatoes currently lists the series at 79% from critics, based on 29 reviews, with a 74% audience score from more than 100 ratings.

Reviewers have highlighted different aspects of the show. Some praised the combination of mystery and tension between its central detectives, while others described it as an atmospheric and unusually compelling crime story.

The series has also developed a strong following among viewers who appreciate its psychological approach. Audience reactions have praised the performances of Scott and Greene, the increasingly complicated plot and the way the characters’ troubled histories become part of the mystery.

Some viewers have even described the series as “beautifully brutal,” while others have singled it out as one of the more memorable crime dramas they had watched in years.

Why it appeals to Happy Valley fans

The comparison with Happy Valley comes less from the stories themselves and more from the way both dramas treat crime as something deeply connected to human lives.

Neither series relies solely on the question of who committed a crime. The emotional consequences, damaged relationships and difficult choices made by the characters are equally important.

Dublin Murders is also comfortable allowing uncertainty to remain part of the story. Some mysteries are answered, while others are left deliberately unresolved, a choice that has generated plenty of discussion among viewers.

That combination of compelling investigation, flawed characters and psychological tension makes the series particularly suited to viewers who enjoy crime dramas that demand more than simply following clues.

Where to watch Dublin Murders

Originally broadcast on BBC One, Dublin Murders premiered on 14 October 2019, with its eight-episode first season concluding on 5 November 2019. It was also broadcast by RTÉ in Ireland and Starz in the United States.

The series is currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer in the UK, as well as Netflix and other services depending on location.

For anyone searching for a crime thriller with a darker psychological edge, Dublin Murders offers a compelling alternative to more familiar British mysteries.

It is atmospheric, character-driven and deliberately unpredictable — the kind of series where finding out what happened is only part of the story.