The 2024 Death in Paradise Christmas Special kicks off with a chilling discovery on the beach: a man in a Santa outfit is found dead. Officer Darlene Curtis (Ginny Holder) quickly alerts the team to the crime scene, and the investigation unfolds from there.
The Christmas Party and the First Murder
The episode begins with a lively Christmas party at the Paradise Bay Hotel, where Stuart Fullwell (Marcus Brigstocke) and Tony Hurst (Steven Hartley) are both dressed as Santa. As Stuart prepares for his performance, his fiancée, Tabitha Reed (Angela Griffin), flirts with him, calling him "sexy as Santa." Meanwhile, Tony talks about his career and his famous Christmas song, "A Christmas Paradise." While Stuart sings on stage, Kenny Simmons (Dex Lee) chats with Tabitha and Karla Hammonds (Elizabeth Carling), discussing business matters before heading to bed. A brief interaction with Jamie Barton (Jim Howick) adds a personal touch as Jamie searches for his missing son.
Later, a shocked Ollie (Charles Stagg) informs the reception desk of a dead man on the beach, setting the investigation into motion.
The Discovery of Two Bodies
Darlene reports the first victim is Stuart, and DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) is called to Saint Marie to take over the case. Shortly after, another murder is discovered: Tony Hurst, also dressed as Santa, has been killed in the same manner. Both victims have been shot in the chest, and a note found in Tony’s hand reads, “Play me.” A disturbing video is found, showing Tony pleading for his life just before his death.
Uncovering Motives
The investigation deepens when it’s revealed that both men were connected to the same song. Stuart had sung Tony’s famous Christmas tune at the party. Mervin and Naomi Thomas (Shantol Jackson) interview Tabitha, who admits she was thinking about calling off the wedding but denies any involvement in Stuart’s death.
Further investigation uncovers tensions between Karla and Tony, and a potential motive emerges: Karla’s past involvement in the song’s creation and her desire to avoid being thrust back into the spotlight. Karla admits she flew to Saint Marie to try to stop Tony from publishing a memoir that could reveal her secrets. However, she denies killing him.
The Third Victim: Tyrus DeMille
Tyrus DeMille (Michael Salami) becomes a key figure in the investigation after he’s shot at the same time as the other victims. It’s revealed that Tyrus was likely the target of an elaborate scheme to misdirect investigators. Dwayne Myers (Danny John-Jules) becomes involved as the case progresses, but the investigation remains tangled with confusing leads and personal drama.
Kenny Simmons: The True Culprit
Mervin uncovers crucial evidence when he discovers that Kenny Simmons had sampled Tony’s song without permission and had been denied a deal by Tony. After a tense confrontation, Kenny confesses to orchestrating the murders in an attempt to further his music career. He used the chaos of multiple shootings to cover his tracks, with the plan to mislead authorities into thinking all three victims were killed simultaneously.
The Final Reveal
As Mervin pieces the case together, it becomes clear that Kenny was responsible for both Stuart’s and Tony’s deaths, while Jamie Barton was unwittingly dragged into the plot. The case concludes with a dramatic revelation of how Kenny manipulated the events to frame the murders as part of a bigger plan.
Christmas on Saint Marie
The episode ends with Mervin preparing his case report and considering his future on Saint Marie. Selwyn Patterson (Don Warrington) extends an invitation to Christmas dinner, suggesting Mervin take the time to get to know the island and its people. Mervin’s reluctance to stay contrasts with Dwayne’s heartfelt moments with his father, Nelson (Ram John Holder), as they share a quiet, reflective Christmas together. Ultimately, the case is closed, and Mervin gets some closure of his own, realizing that perhaps Saint Marie might have more to offer than he initially thought.
Conclusion
The 2024 Christmas special of Death in Paradise delivers a suspenseful and festive murder mystery, with plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers guessing until the very end. The special not only wrapped up a complex case but also provided character-driven moments that deepened our connection to the island’s residents.
