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Last Updated on April 28, 2026 by Stefanie Hutson

We're coming up on May now, and long-time Acorn TV fans will know what that means – it's time for Murder Mystery May! In addition to the continuation of a number of long-running mysteries like Brokenwood Mysteries and Murdoch Mysteries, they're rolling out an entire month of murder-y TV shows and films. Keep reading for the full lineup + descriptions.

Shows Continuing on Acorn TV in May 2026

Murdoch Mysteries, Season 19

Set in early 1900s Toronto, the series follows Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson, Casino Jack, Baking All the Way) as he investigates murders using forensic methods that are unusual for the time. The period setting and focus on early investigative techniques remain central to the show.

New episodes in May are: 

• May 4th – Episode 10, “Death in the Saddle” – The suspicious death of a cowboy has Murdoch and Brackenreid investigating alongside Annie Oakley at the first ‘Stampede' in Calgary.
• May 11th – Episode 11, “Strangers on Paper” – Murdoch investigates a murder connected to classified ads, while Effie helps Louise track down a man who scammed her; the Brackenreids try to hobnob with the Rathnelly gilded class.
• May 18th – Episode 12, “Tow Tags” – Constable Higgins goes undercover to investigate a deadly turf war between tow truck firms.
• May 25th – Episode 13, “Murdoch in Hogtown” – Reporter Louise Cherry investigates the suspicious death of a man in a meat processing plant by going undercover as a sausage maker.

Catch up on both current and past seasons of Murdoch Mysteries HERE. 

The Feud on Shelbury Drive (aka The Feud, 2025)

Emma (Jill Halfpenny, Waterloo Road, EastEnders) and John (Rupert Penry-Jones, MI-5, Match Point) appear to have a comfortable life on Shelbury Drive, where they are part of a close-knit neighborhood. But when Emma plans a kitchen extension, objections from nearby residents begin to strain those relationships.

As tensions build, hidden secrets start to surface and the dispute takes a darker turn. What begins as a home improvement project gradually becomes tied up with suspicion, fear, and Emma’s growing fixation on getting what she wants.

Episodes will continue in May as follows: 

• May 4th, Episode 6 (FINALE) – Emma must dig deep and rely on her initiative to find out what led to murder in her home. With everyone on the street a suspect and time running out, she finds her life in grave danger.

Brokenwood Mysteries, Season 12

Set in a small New Zealand town where murder has an oddly persistent way of disrupting local life, this mystery series follows Detective Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea, The Warrior’s Way), Detective Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland), and their colleagues as they investigate crimes that are often stranger than they first appear. Some have compared it to a New Zealand-flavored Midsomer Murders. 

In this run, the body count in town keeps climbing as hidden motives, local conspiracies, and long-buried secrets come to the surface. Mike and his team continue to rely on their own unconventional approach as they work through some of the town’s most unusual murder cases.

New episodes in May are: 

• May 4th – Episode 5, “Death Has Four Strings” – Brokenwood's ukulele orchestra rehearsal hits a sour note after a property developer is killed with a snapped instrument; Mike and Kristin look into grudges within the band as the suspects multiply.
• May 11th – Episode 6, “Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend” (FINALE) – When a woman is murdered in Ray's restaurant, Trudy is found at the scene covered in blood and becomes the prime suspect; as Mike and the team investigate, they uncover a web of lies, secrets, and a deadly scheme.

Catch up on both current and past seasons of Brokenwood Mysteries HERE. 

New Shows on Acorn TV in May 2026

May 1st Premieres

The Limehouse Golem (2016 film)

Set in Victorian London, this murder mystery follows a series of killings that have left the city on edge, with the murderer using victims’ blood to leave written messages behind. As the case grows more urgent, Scotland Yard brings in a well-known inspector to lead the investigation. Bill Nighy (Living, Love Actually) stars alongside Douglas Booth (The Sandman), Olivia Cooke (House of the Dragon), and Sam Reid (Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire).

Can't wait? You can watch it HERE now. 

May 4th Premieres

Dead & Buried (2024)

In this psychological thriller, Cathy (Annabel Scholey, The Split, The Serial Killer’s Wife, The Salisbury Poisonings) comes face to face with Michael (Colin Morgan, Humans, Belfast), the man convicted of killing her brother two decades earlier. Disturbed to find that he has built a new life after his release from prison, she begins looking into his background and the family he now has.

Against the advice of her closest friend, Cathy draws herself into his world and begins pursuing a private campaign against him. As she becomes more consumed by the past, her actions grow more extreme, and the line between revenge, fixation, and reality becomes harder to separate. Acorn TV hasn't listed a premiere schedule for this one, but given that it does NOT say binge premiere in their release, we suspect it might be dripped on a weekly basis.

The Murders (2019)

This Canadian police drama follows rookie homicide detective Kate Jameson (Jessica Lucas, The Resident, Gotham), whose work is shaped by the fallout from a fellow officer’s death. As she takes on new investigations, Kate is also trying to rebuild her standing and move forward from the role her own negligence played in the tragedy. Binge premiere.

May 8th PremierES

Kaleidoscope (2016 film)

This psychological thriller centers on a man recently released from prison as he tries to put his life back together under the shadow of his overbearing mother. Toby Jones (The Long Shadow) and Anne Reid (Last Tango in Halifax) star as the central pair, with Sinead Matthews (Hullraisers) also in the cast.

Can't wait? It's also available HERE. 

May 11th PremierES

The Island (aka An t-Eilean, 2025)

This BAFTA-nominated Gaelic crime drama follows Kat Crichton (Sorcha Groundsell), a young family liaison officer who is drawn into a murder investigation when the wife of a local tycoon is killed at a remote island estate. The case takes her back to Lewis and Harris, the place she left behind ten years earlier.

As the investigation continues, old connections and buried secrets begin to resurface, linking the crime to Kat’s own past. Told in both Gaelic and English, the series combines a remote island setting with a mystery rooted in lies, loss, and long-standing tensions. Binge premiere.

May 15th PremierES

The Best Offer (2013 film)

In this thriller, art auctioneer Virgil Oldman becomes involved with Claire Ibbetson, a wealthy young woman who asks him to handle the sale of a large antique collection. Intrigued by her secrecy and inexperience with the outside world, he turns to a younger craftsman, Robert, for help as he tries to understand her and draw closer to her. Geoffrey Rush stars as Virgil, with Jim Sturgess as Robert and Sylvia Hoeks as Claire.

Can't wait? You can watch it HERE now. 

May 18th PremierES

You're Killing Me (2026, United States)

Set in a small New England town, this mystery follows novelist Allie (Brooke Shields) as she teams up with aspiring writer and podcaster Andi (Amalia Williamson, Sullivan’s Crossing) after a close friend is killed. As they begin looking into the case themselves, the local investigation is led by Jack (Tom Cavanagh, The Flash, Ed), a new detective still adjusting to the rhythms and peculiarities of small-town life.

The Bridge (2013 to 2014, United States)

Based on the Danish/Swedish original, this crime drama follows detectives Sonya Cross (Diane Kruger, Inglourious Basterds) and Marco Ruiz (Demián Bichir, Let the Right One In) as they investigate crimes that cross the U.S.-Mexico border between El Paso and Juárez. As they work together, the series combines serial killer cases with wider issues involving corruption, trafficking, and cartel violence.

Across its first two seasons, the pair take on increasingly complex investigations spanning both sides of the border. Season 2 continues that story with another major case linked to the Texas-Chihuahua region, as Sonya and Marco are again forced to navigate both violent crime and the political realities surrounding it. Binge premiere.

May 22nd PremierES

Cold Weather (2010 film, United States)

After leaving his forensic science course, Doug returns to his hometown of Portland, Oregon, where he moves in with his sister Gail and takes a job at a local ice factory. Spending much of his free time reading detective fiction, he falls into a new routine and develops a close friendship with his co-worker Carlos.

That changes when Doug’s former girlfriend Rachel goes missing. Drawing on his scientific background, he begins looking into her disappearance himself, with Gail and Carlos joining him in the search. The cast includes Cris Lankenau, Raúl Castillo, and Robyn Rikoon.

Can't wait? It's also available HERE right now.

May 25th PremierES

Summerwater (2025)

Based on Sarah Moss’s novel, this drama is set among a group of holiday cabins by a Scottish loch, where guests have come hoping for rest, distance, and a break from the pressures of everyday life. Instead, the retreat becomes an unsettling place where private tensions, hidden motives, and uncomfortable truths begin to surface. Dougray Scott (The Crow Girl), Valene Kane (Gangs of London), Anna Próchniak (Showtrial), and Shirley Henderson (Harry Potter) star.

Wisting (2019 to present)

This Norwegian crime drama follows homicide investigator William Wisting as he takes on major cases in the coastal town of Larvik. Sven Nordin stars as Wisting, a quiet, methodical detective whose work often unfolds alongside his journalist daughter, Line, played by Thea Green Lundberg.

Based on the novels by Jørn Lier Horst, the series centers on murder investigations that combine police procedure with personal and family pressures. Carrie-Anne Moss also appears in one storyline as FBI agent Maggie Griffin. Seasons 1-5 premiere as a binge.

Can't wait? You can also watch it HERE now. 

May 25th PremierES

The Nightingale (2018 film)

Set in 1825, this revenge drama follows Clare, a young Irish convict in Tasmania, as she pursues a British officer responsible for a brutal attack on her family. To navigate the wilderness, she turns to Billy, an Aboriginal tracker with painful experiences of his own. Aisling Franciosi, Maya Christie, and Baykali Ganambarr star.

Can't wait? You can watch it HERE now. 

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We have plenty of other posts designed to help you find just the right thing.

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