Return to Paradise (2024)
DI Mackenzie Clarke is forced to leave London under a cloud of suspicion and return to the last place she ever wanted to be, her hometown of Dolphin Cove, Australia where her tenacity and work ethic helps her solve murder mysteries.
Callum reviewed
November 3, 2025•
ChatGPT said:
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (out of 5) Return to Paradise – Sun, Sand, and Second Chances
Return to Paradise brings the sunny sleuthing of Death in Paradise to the southern hemisphere, swapping the Caribbean for the coast of Australia. DI Mackenzie Clark arrives under mysterious circumstances — an Aussie who’s spent years in England and now finds herself back home, accent slightly borrowed and past sins barely hidden. The locals haven’t forgotten whatever sent her packing, and the show doesn’t make much effort to hide it either — the “twist” is about as subtle as a kangaroo in a library.
Clark’s style is methodical, mirroring Death in Paradise’s first detective, DI Poole — analytical, precise, and just a touch socially awkward. The tone sits firmly in that universe’s middle ground: lighter and warmer than Blue Lights’ WH40K grit, but still grounded enough to avoid floating off into Beyond Paradise’s fairy-tale cheer. Call it Agatha Christie by the Coral Sea — mystery with a tan and a knowing wink.
The humour works beautifully, balancing dry British wit with Australian bluntness, and the tropical palette feels closer to home for any Kiwi viewer. Even the franchise traditions are intact: an off-road vehicle that’s far too small for serious police work, and a resident animal mascot — this time a loyal dog, trading the lizard and duck of its sister shows for something far cuddlier.
By the season’s end, both the town and its detective are finding their footing, and you’ll be hoping for a second season to see how they all settle in.
Pairing: An iced flat white — familiar, local, and best enjoyed while pretending you’re solving crimes barefoot on the beach.