Watch Scotland's Murder Mysteries

Scotland's Murder Mysteries is a true crime and investigative journalism television series from Curiosity Stream that explores the darker side of Scotland's past through unsolved and infamous murder cases. The show takes a deep dive into well-known and lesser-known cases from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, highlighting the unique historical and cultural context of these crimes.

Hosted by crime author and former police officer, Douglas Skelton, Scotland's Murder Mysteries delves into the evidence, testimonials, and police investigations surrounding each case, offering fresh insights into some of Scotland's most notorious and perplexing crimes. With each episode focusing on a different murder case, viewers are taken on a journey through the various threads of these gripping stories, gaining a deeper understanding of the motivations, psychology, and social dynamics behind the killings.

The show benefits from its talented host, who brings his wealth of knowledge in true crime writing and police work to each episode. Skelton is an experienced journalist who has written ten crime novels and several non-fiction books on the history of Scottish crime, including a biography of the infamous serial killer Peter Tobin. In Scotland's Murder Mysteries, Skelton acts as both a narrator and interrogator, guiding viewers through each case while posing critical questions and offering insightful commentary.

Scotland's Murder Mysteries is a well-produced show that takes advantage of Scotland's beautiful landscapes and historical buildings to add depth and atmosphere to each story. Alongside Skelton's storytelling, the show makes use of dramatized re-enactments to bring each case to life, providing viewers with a sense of the time and place in which these crimes occurred. Additionally, archival footage and photographs of the crime scenes, suspects, and victims are used to help tell the stories behind each case.

One of the show's strengths is its ability to shed light on lesser-known cases that have been forgotten over time. Through Skelton's research and interviews with experts, Scotland's Murder Mysteries unearths details and evidence that have been overlooked in the rush to solve sensational cases that captured public attention. The show explores cases like the 1935 murder of a farmer in Aberdeenshire, which remains unsolved despite decades of investigation, and the mysterious death of a wealthy businessman in Glasgow in 1928, which was only recently re-opened by the police.

Scotland's Murder Mysteries is not just a collection of lurid true crime stories, but rather an examination of broader social and historical issues that underpinned Scotland's criminal justice system in the past. The show raises questions about the prejudices and assumptions of investigators and the impact of poverty, class, and gender on the lives of both the perpetrators and the victims of these crimes. For example, the show explores the case of Madeleine Smith, a wealthy socialite who was accused of poisoning her lover in 1857, highlighting the moral and cultural constraints that shaped the lives of women in Victorian Scotland.

Overall, Scotland's Murder Mysteries is a engrossing, thought-provoking, and well-crafted TV series that provides viewers with a fascinating insight into Scotland's sometimes violent past. It offers a new perspective on crime stories that may have been forgotten, and challenges viewers to think critically about the structures and systems that contribute to criminal behavior. For true crime enthusiasts, history buffs, and armchair detectives, Scotland's Murder Mysteries is a must-watch.

Scotland's Murder Mysteries is a series that ran for 1 seasons (8 episodes) between June 4, 2015 and on Curiosity Stream