The Brokenwood Mysteries

New Zealand’s beloved murder mystery series returns in The Brokenwood Mysteries: Season 10 (2025) — a milestone season that proves this quiet country town still has plenty of secrets buried beneath its scenic surface. Blending dry humor, quirky characters, and cleverly constructed crimes, the show remains a comforting yet cunning addition to the detective genre.

Set in the fictional town of Brokenwood, the series once again follows the unassuming but sharp-witted Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea), who—with his ever-reliable team of Detective Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland) and DC Daniel Chalmers (Jarod Rawiri)—continues to unravel murder cases that range from the bizarre to the bizarrely relatable.

In Season 10, Brokenwood doesn’t just celebrate its past; it evolves. The cases are more layered, occasionally darker, but still retain the signature small-town charm. One standout episode involves the murder of a beekeeper at a honey festival, where the team must navigate local feuds, cryptic poetry, and a swarm of red herrings (and actual bees). Another episode digs into the town’s colonial history with a murder linked to a long-lost artifact — blending historical intrigue with contemporary themes.

The cast, now a well-oiled ensemble, shines with chemistry and quiet character development. Mike Shepherd continues to straddle the line between intuition and method, while Kristin shows new emotional depth as she’s forced to confront family secrets. DC Chalmers, with his humor and cultural insight, brings balance to the team, and new forensic pathologist Dr. Gina Kadinsky (Cristina Serban Ionda) continues to deliver her offbeat brilliance with dark comedic flair.

What’s remarkable about Brokenwood is how it resists the temptation to become formulaic, even after ten seasons. Yes, it follows the “murder-of-the-week” structure, but it consistently finds new ways to tell those stories — from music-themed mysteries to crimes involving cricket clubs, aging rockstars, or haunted libraries.

The writing remains clever and understated. Unlike flashier crime shows, Brokenwood doesn’t rely on over-the-top twists or dramatic flair. Instead, it leans into atmosphere, character-driven plots, and the quiet oddities of small-town life.

Final verdict: The Brokenwood Mysteries: Season 10 is a celebration of the show’s enduring appeal — witty, warm, and still wonderfully weird. It proves that in a world of high-octane crime dramas, sometimes the best mysteries come wrapped in a cup of tea and the sound of cicadas.