Murder in a Small Town

Premise and Setting

Murder in a Small Town follows Karl Alberg, a former detective from Minneapolis who relocates to become the police chief of a small coastal town. Seeking solace from a troubled past, Alberg instead finds himself investigating a series of murders that disrupt the community's peaceful facade. The series is set in the fictional town of Gibsons, which is presented as being located in the state of Washington, USA, despite being filmed in the real British Columbia community. This fictional setting allows for narrative references to both Washington state and various British Columbia locales, including Seattle, Egmont, and Powell River. The show combines procedural crime elements with the personal drama of Alberg's life and his evolving relationship with local librarian Cassandra Lee. The premise directly adapts the central dynamic from L. R. Wright's novels, translating the literary mysteries for a weekly television format.

Cast and Characters

The series is led by Rossif Sutherland as Police Chief Karl Alberg, a role central to the narrative. Kristin Kreuk portrays Cassandra Lee, the town librarian who becomes Alberg's love interest in the first episode. The main cast also includes Aaron Douglas as police sergeant Sid Sokolowski and Savonna Spracklin as Isabella Harbud. The first season featured Mya Lowe as Corporal Edwina Yen and Fritzy-Klevans Destine as Andy Kendrick. Key recurring characters include Alberg's daughters, played by Cassandra Sawtell and Dakota Guppy, and Fiona Vroom as Phyllis Diaz, who owns the local restaurant Molly's Reach. The second season introduced new regular characters, including Bethany Brown as Laila Jackson and Marcia Gay Harden as Mayor Christine Holman. The show has featured numerous special guest stars from Canadian and American television, such as James Cromwell as George Wilcox, Stana Katic as Zoe Strachan, Devon Sawa as Gordon Murphy, and Erica Durance as Emma O'Brea.

Production and Development

Murder in a Small Town was created and written by Ian Weir, who also serves as showrunner and head writer. The series is produced by Soapbox Productions in co-production with Sepia Films, in association with Future Shack Entertainment. The pilot and subsequent episodes were directed by Milan Cheylov, with other directors like Leslie Hope attached for the second season. The project was picked up by the Fox network in the United States in late 2023 for its 2024 to 2025 television season. International distribution outside of the U.S. and Canada is handled by ITV Studios. The series was renewed for a second season on January 16, 2025, which premiered on September 23, 2025. In May 2026, Fox renewed the series for a third season, with filming scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026. Casting for the series is led by director Corinne Clark.

Filming Locations and Visual Identity

The series is filmed entirely on location in Gibsons and other communities on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast. A prominent filming location is Molly's Reach, a Gibsons restaurant famously used as a key setting in the long-running Canadian series The Beachcombers. On the show, Molly's Reach is owned by the character Phyllis Diaz and serves as a frequent backdrop for scenes, including Karl and Cassandra's first date. Other notable Sunshine Coast locations featured include the High Beam Dreams event space, used for a high school reunion in season one, and the Gibsons Public Market. The production utilizes these real locations to create a tangible sense of place for the fictional Washington town. Filming for the third season is scheduled to take place from February 20 to June 2, 2026, continuing the show's deep connection to the region. The series features extensive footage of the coastal landscapes, which has become a defining visual feature of the program.

Reception and Critical Response

The series has received a mixed critical response since its premiere. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Murder in a Small Town holds an approval rating of 70% based on 10 critic reviews, with an average rating of 5.3 out of 10. On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the series has a score of 56 out of 100 based on 7 critics, indicating mixed or average reviews. The show's combination of a moody mystery atmosphere with the picturesque setting of the Sunshine Coast has been noted by reviewers. Its success in securing renewals for multiple seasons indicates a stable audience for its blend of crime drama and regional character. The casting of Rossif Sutherland and Kristin Kreuk has been a focal point for both promotion and audience discussion. The series represents a notable example of a Canadian literary property being adapted for a network television audience in both Canada and the United States.

Source Material and Adaptation Process

The series is an adaptation of the Alberg and Cassandra Mysteries, a series of crime novels written by Canadian author L. R. Wright. The original books are set in the real community of Sechelt on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast and feature RCMP Staff Sergeant Karl Alberg. For the television adaptation, the setting was shifted to the fictional town of Gibsons, located in a fictional version of Washington state. This change allows the narrative to incorporate elements from both sides of the border while maintaining the essential small-town coastal atmosphere of the source material. The adaptation process involved translating the literary characters and mysteries into a serialized television format suitable for network broadcast. The character of Karl Alberg was changed from an RCMP staff sergeant to a municipal police chief, facilitating the cross-border setting. The relationship between Alberg and Cassandra Lee remains the emotional core of the story, as it is in the novels.

Broadcast and Distribution

Murder in a Small Town premiered simultaneously in Canada and the United States on September 24, 2024. In Canada, the series airs on the Global Television Network, which is part of the Corus Entertainment family of channels. In the United States, the series airs on the Fox broadcast network, having been acquired for the 2024 to 2025 television season. The international rights to the series, excluding the U.S. and Canada, are distributed by ITV Studios, a major global distributor of television content. This dual-country broadcast strategy is common for Canadian-produced series seeking a larger audience and financial model. The show's fall premiere schedule aligns with the traditional broadcast television season in both countries. The series is also available for streaming on various platform-specific services following its linear broadcast.

Cultural and Regional Impact

The production of Murder in a Small Town has a direct economic and cultural impact on the Sunshine Coast region of British Columbia. The use of locations like Molly's Reach has renewed interest in a site already famous from The Beachcombers, potentially boosting local tourism. The series explicitly encourages fans to visit the filming locations, with travel guides highlighting spots like the Gibsons Public Market and High Beam Dreams. The production provides local employment for crew members and supporting actors, and it utilizes local businesses during filming. The fictional portrayal of the region, albeit set in Washington, still presents the visual beauty of the British Columbia coast to a wide audience. The show's multi-season commitment ensures a sustained presence for the production in the community, with filming blocks lasting several months each year. This relationship between a television series and a specific Canadian region is a noted feature of the domestic production industry.

Questions about Murder in a Small Town

Where is Murder in a Small Town filmed?

Murder in a Small Town is filmed on location in Gibsons and other communities on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. Specific filming locations include the Molly's Reach restaurant, the High Beam Dreams event space, and the Gibsons Public Market. While the show is set in a fictional town in Washington state, USA, the production utilizes the distinct landscapes and architecture of coastal British Columbia to create its visual identity. Filming for the third season is scheduled from February 20 to June 2, 2026, in the region.

Who stars in Murder in a Small Town?

The series stars Rossif Sutherland as Police Chief Karl Alberg and Kristin Kreuk as librarian Cassandra Lee. The main cast also includes Aaron Douglas as Sergeant Sid Sokolowski and Savonna Spracklin as Isabella Harbud. The second season added Bethany Brown as Laila Jackson and Marcia Gay Harden as Mayor Christine Holman. The show features a robust roster of Canadian and American guest stars, including James Cromwell, Stana Katic, Erica Durance, Paula Patton, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner.

Is Murder in a Small Town based on a book series?

Yes, the series is based on the Alberg and Cassandra Mysteries, a series of crime novels by British Columbia author L. R. Wright. The books are set in Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast and feature RCMP Staff Sergeant Karl Alberg. The television adaptation modifies the setting to a fictional town called Gibsons in Washington state but retains the core characters and mystery elements from Wright's original work. The show's creator, Ian Weir, adapts the novels for television.

How many seasons of Murder in a Small Town are there?

As of May 2026, there are two completed seasons of Murder in a Small Town. The first season premiered on September 24, 2024, and the second season premiered on September 23, 2025. The series was renewed for a third season in May 2026, with filming scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026. The show continues to be produced for broadcast on Global in Canada and Fox in the United States.

Who created and writes Murder in a Small Town?

The series was created and is written by Ian Weir, who also serves as the showrunner and head writer. The pilot and several episodes were directed by Milan Cheylov, with other directors like Leslie Hope involved in later seasons. The production is a collaboration between Soapbox Productions, Sepia Films, and Future Shack Entertainment. The writing team adapts the mysteries from L. R. Wright's novels while expanding the world and characters for a continuing television series.

Can I visit the filming locations in Gibsons?

Yes, many of the filming locations in Gibsons are real places that visitors can experience. Molly's Reach is a functioning restaurant open for breakfast and lunch, famous for its prior role in The Beachcombers. The High Beam Dreams venue hosts public events and has gardens to visit. The Gibsons Public Market is a community hub. Fans are encouraged to be respectful and courteous if they encounter active filming, but the Sunshine Coast locations featured in the show are generally accessible to the public.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.