Death in Paradise: Season 8 of Hit Brit Mystery Series Premieres on KCET

Death in Paradise, one of the most popular British mystery series on telly today, returns to public TV stations in the US starting this month, including KCET.

Death in Paradise S8 — Death in Paradise: Season 8: (L-R) Don Warrington as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, Shyko Amos as Officer Ruby Patterson, Ardal O’Hanlon as DI Jack Mooney, Joséphine Jobert as DS Florence Cassell, Tobi Bakare as Officer J.P. Hooper & Elizabeth Bourgine as Catherine Bordey — Photo © BBC, courtesy of KCET

There are three sure things about Death in Paradise: complex murder mystery stories; the big reveal at the end of each episode, in which the lead detective unmasks the murderer (and culprits of other crimes, if any); and terrific guest stars.

For Season 8, Ardal O’ Hanlon (Father Ted, My Hero) returns as DI Jack Mooney, who heads up the local police team on the (fictional) Caribbean island of Saint Marie. Plenty of murders happen here — so much so that it’s becoming a bit like Midsomer County, only sunnier, sandier, and surfier.

The new season finds Jack, DS Florence Cassell (Joséphine Jobert, Cut), and Officer J.P. Hooper (Tobi Bakare, The Tunnel) joined by a new colleague: Officer Ruby Patterson (Shyko Amos, A Very English Scandal), who happens to be the niece of Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington, The Five) — and is the replacement for Officer Dwayne Myers.

In Season 8, Jack and his team investigate the stabbing death of a bus passenger, the killing of a zookeeper with a tranquilizer, and a locked-room mystery involving the murder of a radio DJ, amongst others.

But good things happen on Saint Marie, too. Florence falls in love!

Elizabeth Bourgine (Elite Squad) — now the only other original cast member of Death in Paradise, along with Don Warrington — reprises her role as Catherine Bordey.

Guest stars in Season 8 include Jonas Armstrong (Robin Hood), Anna Chancellor (Mapp & Lucia), Ron Cook (Mr Selfridge), Kevin Doyle (Downton Abbey), Rebecca Front (Inspector Lewis), Louis Greatorex (Last Tango in Halifax), Robert James-Collier (Downton Abbey), Alastair Mackenzie (Monarch of the Glen), Leemore Marrett Jr. (Silent Witness), Terence Maynard (Coronation Street), Lisa McGrillis (Mum), Indra Ové (Unforgotten), Saskia Reeves (Wolf Hall), Charlotte Ritchie (Call the Midwife), Tristan Sturrock (Doc Martin), and Errol Trotman-Harewood (Deutschland 83).

Death in Paradise: Season 8 premieres on KCET tonight, April 1, at 8 PM PT.

If you live outside of KCET’s Los Angeles/Southern California viewing area, contact the Viewer Services department of the public TV station that serves your area to find out if it will be screening Season 8.