Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes

If Arthur Conan Doyle based Sherlock Holmes on a real person to any degree, it was on his former professor, forensic pathologist Dr. Joseph Bell. This series recounts the fictional murder investigations that Bell might have undertaken with the assistance of young student Doyle.

Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes (2001) is a British period crime miniseries created by David Pirie for BBC One. Charles Edwards plays a young Arthur Conan Doyle, a medical student who assists his former professor, forensic pathologist Dr. Joseph Bell, played by Ian Richardson. Together they investigate fictional murders across Victorian Edinburgh, with Bell reading bodies and scenes with the sharp observation that later inspired the detective Sherlock Holmes. Each of the four ninety-minute episodes is a self-contained case built around a new killer, a new set of suspects, and the clinical methods of a medical school trained mind. The atmosphere is damp, shadowed and morbid, with a tone that blends intellectual puzzle solving and gothic unease, while the spiritualist fashions of the era add a note of superstition. Fans of Sherlock and Ripper Street will find resonance in its blend of Victorian crime and methodical deduction. Set in nineteenth century Scotland, the series is a compact, character driven take on the origins of a famous detective, offering a satisfying mystery for viewers who enjoy period procedural storytelling.

• Sherlockvictorian era detective mystery, forensic deduction, british period crime
• Ripper Streetvictorian era crime investigation, period mystery, british period drama
• Mr Selfridgevictorian detective origins, historical crime mystery, british period drama

Created by

David Pirie

Release Date

2001-09-04

Episode runtime

90 min

Rating

7.9 / 10 (18)

What is Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes about?

A young Arthur Conan Doyle assists forensic pathologist Dr. Joseph Bell in solving gruesome Victorian murders.

What is Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes as moderate.

Which shows are like Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes?

Shows with a similar feel include Sherlock, Ripper Street, and Mr Selfridge.

How long is Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes?

Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes: 1 season, 4 episodes.

Is Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes still running?

No, Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes has ended.