Death in Paradise: The 20 best episodes, ranked

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It’s been one other killer season of Death in Paradise, the murderous, more-ish cosy crime drama set on the fictional and deeply lethal Caribbean island of Saint Marie. As the thirteenth season got here to an in depth on the weekend, it additionally marked the tip of Ralf Little’s tenure as DI Neville Parker.

With its beneficiant servings of stabbings, poisonings and kidnappings since 2011, the present has turn into a rankings blockbuster for the BBC and not too long ago reached a milestone 100 episodes. The broadcaster has even introduced an Australia-set spinoff, Return to Paradise, to happen in Dolphin Cove, Queensland – arriving on the heels of an earlier off-shoot, Beyond Paradise, which adopted Kris Marshall’s DI Humphrey Goodman again to the Devon Coast.

Its success is not any thriller. Death in Paradise has beautiful climate, eye-catching places (filming takes place in Guadeloupe) and an ever-escalating physique rely. Who may resist? Grab your proof package and solar lotion, then, as we deliver you a extremely unofficial and fully unscientific countdown of the 20 best episodes ever.

20: The Impossible Murder (season six, episode three)

A romantic getaway for DI Goodman and on/off romantic curiosity Martha Lloyd (Sally Bretton) is interrupted by… homicide! The brother of the resort’s proprietor has been killed in his room. The sufferer’s laptop computer is untouched – however his watch and pockets are lacking. Humphrey concludes the killer is in the neighborhood, so the sport is afoot. But with all of the resort visitors accounted for, the place may the offender be hiding? A tense serving of Agatha Christie-esque detective work and a showcase for Marshall as sleuth extraordinaire.

19: Death of a Detective (season three, episode one)

Death in Paradise is commonly written off as a middle-of-the-road whodunit: the Coldplay of crime drama. But goodness, what braveness it took to bump off the lead character – in impact, taking part in a sport of switcheroo on the viewers and turning the sleuth into the sufferer.

More disconcerting but, DI Richard Poole (Ben Miller, concurrently channelling Mr Bean and Humphrey Bogart) is killed at his college reunion – stabbed in the ticker with an ice-pick. Detective Camille Bordey (Sara Martins) – Richard’s foil and potential paramour – is devastated. But, oh look, right here’s a brand new detective, Marshall’s Humphrey Goodman, to trace down the assassin in a surprising and gripping episode.

18: A Dash of Sunshine (season two, episode six)

A holidaymaker is strangled in her villa. The husband is the apparent suspect – however he and Richard had been former police colleagues who’ve had a falling out. Might the detective’s sad historical past with the suspect have clouded his judgement? And what concerning the suspiciously behaving homeowners of the villa? There are many transferring components in this winningly intricate episode.

17: The Blood Red Sea (season 5, episode seven)

A 400-year-old silver coin stash is recovered from a sunken galleon – just for the chief of the salvage crew to show up lifeless. He’s been stabbed in the chest, after eye-witnesses noticed him arguing with a rival treasure hunter. But the suspect has an alibi, leaving Humphrey with a tough puzzle to unravel.

16: Amongst Us (season one, episode eight)

The spirit of David Fincher’s Seven hangs over this grotesque instalment, which begins with the invention of a girl murdered in mattress, silver cash stuffed in her mouth. Awkwardly, she’s simply loved an evening out with Officer Dwayne Myers (Danny John-Jules), whose police badge is retrieved from her room. Could the kindly detective be a killer? Look out for an prolonged cameo by Adrian Dunbar, taking part in – mom of god – a possible love curiosity for Camille’s mom, Catherine. But his character Aidan Miles is not any cuddly Ted Hastings, as Richard finally works out.

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15: A Deadly Curse (season two, episode 4)

A double homicide has rocked Saint Marie, and there are experiences of bizarre goings-on in the jungle. Camille suspects the traditional folklore of the island could also be essential to unlocking the thriller – however, wise Englishman that he’s, Richard insists on sticking to the info. The Richard-Camille double act drew many viewers to Death in Paradise in the primary place, and their opposites-attract dynamic is at its strongest right here.

14: Switcharoo (season 9, episode 5)

Ralf Little makes his massive entrance as DI Neville Parker as he’s flown in to research the demise of a younger girl in a resort. She is electrocuted, the door locked from the within – everybody assumes suicide. Parker is predicted to rubber-stamp these conclusions, however he believes there may be extra to the case than meets the attention. A fantastic introduction to a personality viewers would quickly come to like.

13: Flames of Love (season 5, episode eight)

A backpacker is discovered lifeless at a resort, homicide weapon in hand. Another Death in Paradise obvious suicide, absolutely? Perhaps not. Humphrey wonders if the sufferer’s boyfriend or the hostel’s supervisor won’t be concerned. His investigation is sophisticated when his outdated girlfriend Martha surfaces. It is an opportunity for Marshall to point out his vary extends past merely taking part in a mild-mannered detective who may do with a lie down in a quiet, darkish room.

12: Fake or Fortune (season 10, episode six)

The homicide of a live performance pianist is occupying all of Neville’s time in the concluding half of a 10-year anniversary particular. But the actual twist is for the returning Camille, who has a flashback to Richard – sure, Ben Miller again for a cameo. For veteran viewers, it’s a second to treasure. Richard rants concerning the French – goodness, it’s actually him – after which comes shut, however not too shut, to expressing his emotions for Camille. “Feeling regret about things you never said, or did, it’s a waste of time,” he says. “All that matters is how we act in the moment.” Cue melting hearts all over the place.

11: Written in Murder (season seven, episode three)

Much like Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond, Ardal O’Hanlon’s DI Jack Mooney is the underrated Death in Paradise lead – ignored by many however beloved by connoisseurs. There are numerous giggles as he and Dwayne are compelled to share a shack – just for the inevitable lifeless physique to kill the temper. “Dwayne better get those pants on; there’s been a murder,” says Mooney – sounding like Father Dougal in the tropics.

10: Unlike Father, Unlike Son (season 4, episode eight)

We peek behind the scenes into Humphrey’s inside life when his barrister father, Martin (James Fox), visits the island. It seems his domineering dad is accountable for his son’s insecurity. Oh, and there’s a homicide, too. But the actual killing happens when his father sits Humphrey down for a heart-to-heart. “You’re living alone, in a shack, with a bloody lizard.” Oof – any individual name an ambulance!

9: An Unholy Death (season two, episode two)

There’s been a blaze on the Saint Marie convent, and a pupil nun has died. It appears like a tragic accident – she was smoking, her bed room door locked. But why was she receiving threatening notes, and will it have one thing to do with a skeleton in the cabinet of Father John? Sounds like a case for grumpy DI Richard Poole.

8: Man Overboard, Part Two (season six, episode six)

DI Goodman swaps sunshades for brollies when an investigation into the demise of a constitution boat captain on his yacht leads again to London and a shadowy cabal of bankers. Back in Blighty, Humphrey decides to start out over with Martha. In his place, DI Jack Mooney (Ardal O’Hanlon) flies to Saint Marie as a brief alternative – one other slick segue from one detective to a different. Think of it as a Doctor Who regeneration with out the wonky particular results.

7: Music of Murder (season one, episode seven)

Richard goes all Indiana Jones after we uncover his dread of snakes. But his concern of leaving a case unsolved trumps his terror of limbless reptiles, and he’s quickly in scorching pursuit of the killer of a lead singer at a band’s comeback present.

6: Ye Of Little Faith (season three, episode 4)

Another resort, one other homicide. A cabin crew employee is discovered poisoned at a resort well-liked with airline employees. Humphrey and Camille be taught that one of many suspects was having an affair with the lifeless girl. He’s the apparent suspect – except it was his jealous associate, who occurred to be 30,000 toes in the air on the time.

5: A Personal Murder (season 5, episode 4)

An opportunity for Danny John-Jules to shine because the likeable Officer Myers. It’s yet one more obvious suicide on Saint Marie – a barber who served as a father determine to Myers has seemingly killed himself. But as Humphrey appears deeper, he attracts a connection between the sufferer and the mutual pals he shared with Myers.

4: Murder Begins at Home (season eight, episode eight)

Another showcase for Ardal O’Hanlon’s DI Mooney, who should examine the demise of a horse trekker whose physique is dumped on the Saint Marie police station. It’s a far-fetched demise, however O’Hanlon’s heat, almost-but-never-quite-bumbling efficiency sells the episode. He comes inside touching distance of his Father Dougal character from Father Ted, but by no means goes over the road.

3: Arriving in Paradise (season one, episode one)

The one the place it began. Ben Miller is implausible because the fish-out-of-water DI Richard Poole known as on to unravel the demise of his Saint Marie police predecessor (Hugo Speer), discovered lifeless in a protected room. Though he spends most of his time grumbling concerning the warmth, Richard places all of it collectively in the tip – and we uncover the assassin is chillingly near residence.

2: Sins of the Detective (season 12, episode seven)

Meaty two-parters are a Death in Paradise staple, and final yr’s “Sins of the Detective” charges as some of the knuckle-biting up to now. DI Neville Parker is behind bars on suspicion of killing smarmy criminologist David Cartwright (Patrick Kennedy). We know Cartwright has got rid of poor Jack Dalton purely for the enjoyable of it – however when his killer is, in flip, revealed, it’s a twist for the ages and a sucker punch for poor, trusting Neville. His identify has been cleared, his coronary heart damaged into 1,000,000 items.

1: Predicting Murder (season one, episode three)

You’ll by no means take a look at a classroom skeleton the identical method once more. Wonderfully knotty and thrilling, this season one spotlight begins with a faculty cleaner seeming to foretell her demise throughout a voodoo ceremony. “He’s killed before,” she says. “And he will silence me!”

Twenty-four hours later, her physique is discovered in the science lab of the native complete. But as Richard and Camille look additional, they realise there may be extra to the case – that they’re, in truth, investigating two instances.

They additionally uncover the varsity’s smug headmaster has a skeleton in his closet and one other in full public view. An outstanding 60 minutes of sleuthing, with a twist that holds collectively whereas seeming to come back out of the blue.