This Is Not a Murder Mystery follows an Agatha Christie-like plot that sees a group of surrealist artists at the heart of a twisty murder mystery investigation

alling all Agatha Christie fans! U&Drama has a new cosy crime series on the way – and it’s the perfect whodunnit to fill the murder mystery-shaped hole in your viewing schedule.

Aptly titled This Is Not a Murder Mystery, the six-part Belgian drama is set in the Golden Age of the 1930s and sees a group of surrealist artists journey to a Downton Abbey-style estate house in the English countryside.

Florence Hall as Lee Miller © Studio Canal
Florence Hall as Lee Miller in This Is Not a Murder Mystery

After the international artists gather for a night of frivolity, their worlds soon turn upside down when the body of a young performance artist is found dead. As a Scotland Yard detective arrives, the hunt for the killer begins.

Directed by Hans Herbots (Paris Has Fallen) and Matthias Lebeer (Brod ludaka), This Is Not a Murder Mystery stars Stephen Tompkinson (DCI Banks, Ellis) and Pierre Gervais (Drift) and is perfect for fans of And Then There Were None, The Pale Blue Eye and Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials. Intrigued? Keep reading for everything you need to know…

What to expect from This Is Not a Murder Mystery

The series centres around a young painter, René Magritte, whose life changes when he’s invited to participate in a private art exhibition at an opulent English estate, owned by the flamboyant (and mysterious) Lord James.

This Is Not a Murder Mystery© Studio Canal
Donna Banya as DC Quant in This Is Not a Murder Mystery

The synopsis reads: “It’s 1936 and the art world is abuzz with the rise of surrealism. Fellow guests include Salvador Dali, Lee Miller, Man Ray, and Max Ernst – all artists on the brink of global fame. But after a wild night, Magritte wakes up beside the dead body of a young woman, with no memory of the previous evening.

“As more bodies fall and Scotland Yard arrives to lock down the estate, Magritte must uncover the truth to clear his name. Is everything what it seems, or nothing at all?”

This Is Not a Murder Mystery© Studio Canal
Gala Dali and Salvador Dali in This Is Not a Murder Mystery

Who stars in This Is Not a Murder Mystery?

The series stars Pierre Gervais (High Tides, Into the Night) as René Magritte, Mathilde Warnier (The Widow, A Very Secret Service) as Georgette Magritte, Iñaki Mur (We Were the Lucky Ones, Merlí) as Salvador Dalí and Stephen Tompkinson (DCI Banks, Ballykissangel) as DCI Thistlethwaite.

Lee Miller, DC Quant, Salvador Dalí, Pierre Gervais, Man Ray, DCI John Thistletwaiten, Mathilde Magritte© Studio Canal
Lee Miller, DC Quant, Salvador Dalí, Pierre Gervais, Man Ray, DCI John Thistletwaiten, Mathilde Magritte in This Is Not a Murder Mystery

They’re joined by Regina Bikkinina (Into the Night) as Gala Dalí, Florence Hall (The Princess Switch 3, Bank of Dave) as Lee Miller and Frank Bourke (His Dark Materials, The Winter King) as Man Ray.

Rounding out the cast are Mike Hoffmann (The Privilege) as Max Ernst and Donna Banya (War of the Worlds, Breathtaking) as DC Quant.

This Is Not a Murder Mystery lands on U&Drama at 9pm on 29 Wednesday April, with all episodes available to stream on U after.