Murder In: TV Series Offers a Virtual Tour of France
Even those of us who are well-traveled and have traveled extensively across France, aren’t likely to have visited many of the small towns and villages scattered across France’s 18 regions that appear on Murder In.
While some of these locations are familiar, many are hidden gems that remain undiscovered by most foreign visitors. To get to most of these places, you would have to drive from someplace else.
The French murder series, Murder In, has been the most-watched series program on MHz Choice, a streaming service that specializes in bringing international mysteries, dramas, and comedies to English-speaking audiences.
MHz Choice has just announced that Season 12 of Murder In will be streaming this year.
I’ve previously written about this wonderful series in my column on Forbes. This is an update of that article.
What is Murder In?
Each episode of the Murder In series is centered around a complicated murder mystery, involving two detectives or investigators called on-scene to help solve the case.
These whodunnits are complex with a minimum of blood and guts, leaving viewers wondering about the identity of the murderer(s) until the elusive details emerge at the very end.
All the stories are extremely well-acted, featuring strong women in lead roles, many of whom wind up getting involved in romantic liaisons. The supporting cast adds to the strong sense of place, depicting the lives of ordinary people of all social and economic classes.
“Basically, you get a new murder in a new place each time,” says Chung.
The characters are so well-developed with interesting individual backstories as the mysteries unfold.
Vive Le France: The unifying thread
According to the most recent data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization, France is ranked #1 on the list of the most visited destinations by international tourists.
It is the beauty and allure of France—and its local and regional customs, unique history and legends, dazzling art and architecture, distinct dialects and expressions, and appetizing foods and drink—that brings these disparate stories together to create a cohesive whole.
“Excellent cinematography showcases the landscapes and sometimes historical monuments,” says Chung. For example, one episode takes viewers inside the Pope’s Palace in Avignon, Provence, and another inside the Rouen Cathedral in Rouen, Normandy.
Along with the impressive aerial photography throughout the series, viewers will enjoy pinpointing or mapping the precise locations they’re seeing with a smartphone or other device with maps. It is the picturesque and unique backdrops that make the series so visually compelling.
In one episode set in Strasbourg, in the Grand Est region, I was thrilled to recognize a scene that was filmed inside a hotel (Pavillon Régent Petite France) where I had once stayed and the bridge over the canal that I walked along in Colmar. Veteran travelers will discover many such experiences.
Somewhat unusual for a series of this type, different writers and directors are credited for each episode, and each one featuring a different cast of talented actors.
How and where to watch Murder In
The hugely popular series initially aired on French television (France 3) in 2013 and is still ongoing.
MHz Choice is currently streaming eleven seasons of Murder In and Season 12 is set to premiere.
Each 90-minute episode, the length of a feature movie, is self-contained so viewers don’t necessarily have to watch them in a particular order. Viewers can determine their own personal binge strategy choosing from chronological, to where I’ve been, to where I would like to go or learn about.
Janice Chung of Toronto, a travel blogger and admitted Francophile, has been to France more than thirty times. She’s binged on Murder In. Her viewing strategy: “I first pick the places I have been to and then the places I’d like to visit in the future,” she says.
“I’m not really a mystery lover,” she says. “But I love interesting stories that that place in France. To me, it’s the setting that matters.”
“It’s a perfect mix of murder mystery, an engaging investigative duo, and iconic French locations, says Lance Schwulst, vice president of content strategy at MHz Networks. “It’s a perfect way to show off a country while entertaining potential tourists,” he says. He wonders why no other country has stepped in with their own version of Murder In.
All the episodes, filmed in French, are subtitled in English, allowing non-French-speaking viewers to brush up on the language.
MHz has a complete list of all the locations of Murder In episodes on their website.
Other not-to-be-missed French TV Mystery Series
Watch the trailer for Murder In (Season 11) on YouTube
If you like French mysteries, you’ll also like watching Cherif, filmed in Lyon, France.
If you want to explore The Emerald Isle, Tiffany Dahle has curated an excellent list of romantic movies set in Ireland.
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