This Is Not a Murder Mystery: cosy-crime meets art in an irresistibly surreal Belgian drama

The show’s appeal lies in mixing fact and fantasy, incorporating real surrealist works and trading in the lore of these characters. René Magritte is determined to clear his name, but as the show approaches, the theatrical murders mount up. Each crime pays twisted homage to the masterpieces of the artists present, who are also suspects. The title is a nod to another famous Magritte painting, The Treachery of Images, or ‘The Pipe One’ to you and me. Young René is the star here, played by Pierre Gervais, a newcomer who looks about 8ft tall. DCI Thistlethwaite and DCI Quant investigate alongside bohemian guests like Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, Man Ray, Sheila Legge, and Lee Miller. Magritte’s investigation is driven by psychic compensation for his mother’s death. The show’s visual artist, Magritte, offers a unique perspective on art and crime, using techniques like repoussoir to create depth. The detectives risk spoiling the mystery, but the real artists carry the narrative. Iñaki Mur plays Dalí, and Florence Hall plays Lee Miller, who also carries a glass revolver and hand-chiselled salt bullets. The Belgian drama blends cosy crime with surrealist art, featuring striking visuals and sumptuous 1930s decor.