Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 3 hrs ago
Tall Tales and Murder is lively but overcrowded, review finds
Tall Tales and Murder is an Irish crime-comedy series about a care home worker and a local criminal pulled into a hunt for buried Celtic gold.
Bridget, played by Ella Lily Hyland, works at a care home where a man waking from a coma reignites an underworld feud.
The six-episode series is based on the first book in Caimh McDonnell’s Dublin Trilogy and was written for television by Stuart Carolan.
The story mixes gangsters, care home life and romance with treasure hunting, addiction and family trauma.
The review praises the chemistry between Hyland and Casey Walsh, who plays Paul, as well as performances by Sheila Flitton and Philippa Dunne.
Its fast pace keeps it entertaining, but the many characters, plotlines and twists make the show feel overcrowded and its gangland scenes familiar.
The review does not say what happens next for the series.
Tall Tales and Murder is an entertaining but overcrowded Irish crime series, according to a Guardian review.
The series is based on the first Dublin Trilogy novel by Caimh McDonnell and was written for television by Stuart Carolan.
Its story follows care home worker Bridget and local miscreant Paul as they become involved in a feud over a cache of Celtic gold.
The review praises the chemistry between Ella Lily Hyland and Casey Walsh but says the series becomes increasingly overwrought across its six episodes.
- Who
- The series features Ella Lily Hyland as Bridget and Casey Walsh as Paul.
- What
- Tall Tales and Murder is a crime drama reviewed as lively but overcrowded.
- When
- The review was published on 3 November 2026.
- Where
- The story is set in Ireland, including a care home.
- Why
- The review says the series has too many characters, plots, moods and twists, weakening its central story.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Episodes
- Six
- Source novel
- First book in Caimh McDonnell’s Dublin Trilogy
- Television writer
- Stuart Carolan
- Bridget
- Played by Ella Lily Hyland
- Paul
- Played by Casey Walsh
What people are saying
Tall Tales and Murder pummels you with a multitude of characters, themes, plots, moods and twists
It’s entertaining, sure, but in the same way that whiling your day away on TikTok is entertaining
Tall Tales and Murder’s attempts at gangland violence are by-the-numbers