Ep 5. The Artful Detective: Murdoch of the Living Dead

In season 7 episode 5 of Murdoch Mysteries, titled "The Artful Detective: Murdoch of the Living Dead," Detective William Murdoch is drawn into a case involving mysterious disappearances and a man who claims to have risen from the dead.

The episode begins with a young woman named Ruby Ogden arriving in Toronto to visit her fiancé, Dr. Julia Ogden. But when she goes to meet him at the morgue where he works, she finds him missing. Murdoch is called in to investigate and soon discovers that several other people have also disappeared from the city.

The prime suspect in the case is a man named Richard Hartley, who claims to have returned from the dead. Hartley was once a successful artist, but after a terrible accident, he was presumed dead and buried. However, he apparently woke up inside his coffin and managed to escape. Since then, he has been living in hiding, afraid that the authorities will find him and accuse him of being a ghost or a zombie.

As the investigation progresses, Murdoch and his colleagues encounter several bizarre incidents that seem to support Hartley's claim of being undead. At one point, they even encounter a group of people who believe that Hartley is some kind of supernatural being and worship him as a messiah.

Meanwhile, Julia becomes increasingly worried about her fiancé's whereabouts, and begins to suspect that he may be in grave danger. She joins Murdoch and the others in their search for Hartley, putting her own life at risk in the process.

As the mystery deepens, Murdoch begins to suspect that the disappearances may be connected to a rash of grave robberies that have been plaguing the city. He wonders whether someone is trying to create an army of the undead, or simply trying to sell corpses to medical schools.

In the end, Murdoch and his team manage to unravel the truth behind the disappearances and the strange events surrounding Hartley. They also discover a surprising connection between the case and one of their own colleagues, leading to a shocking revelation that will change the course of the series.

Overall, "The Artful Detective: Murdoch of the Living Dead" is an intriguing and suspenseful episode that explores some of the darker themes of the series, such as mortality, identity, and the supernatural. It also includes some great moments of humor and romance, thanks to the charming performances of the show's talented cast. Fans of the show are sure to enjoy this exciting episode.