Ep 3. A Murderer's Beef (3)

Mapleworth Murders is a comedic murder mystery series where Abigail Mapleworth, a retired author, solves murders in her quaint hometown of New Woodstream. In the third episode of the first season, titled "A Murderer's Beef," Abigail is called in to investigate the mysterious death of local butcher, Clarence Mason.

The episode begins with Clarence's mother, Mrs. Mason, arriving at Abigail's doorstep in the middle of the night, frantically begging for her help. Abigail soon learns that Clarence was known to be a bit of an unsavory character around town, and that he had been in a feud with his ex-business partner, Frank, over their competing butcher shops. When Abigail and her team of amateur detectives start poking around, they discover that there are plenty of other suspects with motives for wanting Clarence dead.

As with the previous episodes, "A Murderer's Beef" is filled with plenty of silly characters and satirical jabs at the genre of murder mysteries. The townspeople are once again a colorful cast of oddballs, including the aloof barista with a love for detective novels, the dramatic community theater director, and the secretive gardener with a love for cows.

Despite the show's lighthearted tone, "A Murderer's Beef" still manages to keep viewers guessing until the very end. The murder weapon is a particularly creative one, and there are plenty of red herrings along the way to keep Abigail and her team of crackpot detectives on their toes. As always, the reveal of the killer is handled in a delightfully over-the-top fashion.

Overall, "A Murderer's Beef" is another enjoyable episode of Mapleworth Murders. It doesn't break any new ground in terms of the series' format or storytelling, but it's a solid addition to the show's first season. Fans of the murder mystery genre will especially appreciate the show's winks and nods to classic tropes, while those looking for a good laugh will find plenty to enjoy in the show's silly characters and clever writing.