Murder In A Small Town review: A very cozy crime thriller

There is a lot of complaining these days that television is not what it used to be, and there is nothing that is “like it used to be” than Murder in a small town. Fox's adaptation of the Karl Alberg book series strikes a tone reminiscent of WB series from the 2000s, such as Everwood And “Gilmore Girls”: It's light-hearted, light-hearted, and all about a quirky small town. In this case, however, there's a crucial touch of darkness woven in, not just through the titular murder, but also through the suggestion of the secrets that lurk beneath the surface of every small town. This is well-worn territory, of course, but the show strikes a fairly light-hearted tone and manages to be somewhat unique without coming across as unpleasant.

Gracious, Murder in a small town doesn't play up the folksiness of the setting or the protagonist's unreality. Karl Alberg (Rossif Sutherland, son of Donald) has moved from the big city to a small coastal town, but has settled in quite well. We meet him when he goes on an online date with Cassandra Mitchell (WB veteran Kristin Kreuk), a local librarian with commitment issues. The show actually has a lot more to deal with than just the murder, as there's also Edwina Yen (Mya Lowe), a new hire from Philadelphia, and George Wilcox (guest star James Cromwell), who is somehow connected to the victim. Murder in a small town isn't always the cleanest. And sometimes the series is more like a small-town drama than a crime thriller, laying the groundwork for overarching storylines or just background details. But most of the time it works.

And what about the titular murder? The show uses a mind palace-style visual style, although Karl is portrayed as really good at his job rather than a genius or particularly special. Overall Murder in a small town is a fairly standard crime drama that requires at least basic skills for everyone on the force, so much so that at times it feels more like you're waiting for a predetermined target rather than being surprised by unexpected twists. The show shines in the interplay between Karl and Cassandra. Sutherland and Kreuk have great chemistry that bodes well if she ever decides to help him with cases. As I said, she has some commitment issues, but overall Cassandra comes across as just being brave and charming. (We should also note that she isn't as well developed as Karl yet.)

Murder in a small town doesn't strive for the depth of the biggest crime series, but it has enough subtle drama and small-town charm to pique our interest. Is an edge that emerges in the second half of the show's 90-minute premiere and introduces a moral dilemma into the proceedings. As it stands now, it is not entirely clear whether the series is building a season arc or something like a new Lockan episode of the week that's driven by a “will they or won't they” feeling (and, like this ABC crime thriller, also stars Stana Katic). Both the cast and setting provide enough ingredients for a pretty good small-town drama, and the nebulous Canadian setting is a refreshing change from all the shows that have tried to portray this country as America. The comparatively lighthearted tone helps too, although you do feel like you don't want to step into anyone else's shoes. to dark, even when it alludes to stories of domestic violence, for example.



God knows there is no shortage of cop shows on the television landscape, and while there may be better – or at least more exciting – shows to get your dose of crime stories, there is something to be said for a new project that is as much about a place and a community as it is about the bodies. And in the quieter moments, when Karl and Cassandra are walking and joking, Murder in a small town gets pretty gripping. It's certainly never boring, even if there could be more investigation and revelations. And by the end, we actually wanted to know what brought these characters (some of whom feel a little thinly drawn at the beginning) to this town. Everything here stays just on the edge of cliché, enough to be warmly familiar without making you roll your eyes. another Detective haunted by the things he's seen. This is the definition of cozy TV, the kind that used to star Angela Lansbury or that were set in Alaska. Even if the intentions are a little obvious, it's just a pleasure to be around these actors for an hour or so. And honestly, that's an achievement in itself.

Murder in a small town Premieres September 24 on Fox