After a statue of Mary is stolen from the church's nativity, DI Humphrey Goodman is called to investigate a ghost sighting

As fans tuned into a new episode of the BBC crime drama, many were left weeping after a shocking and emotional twist on the show's Christmas special.

As Humphrey emerges from the house with a fresh tray of sausage rolls, heavily dusted in nutmeg, Martha anxiously adds the finishing touches to the outer decorations of their home. After the pair share a laugh over Humphrey's kitchen mishap, Martha voices her worries about it being their first foster placement at Christmas.

Luckily, Beyond Paradise, the spin-off from the cheery Caribbean sleuther Death in Paradise, has stepped up to fill that gap. This year’s festive offering was a prime example of how to make crime fiction fun.