On the new series Murder in a Small Town, an overworked detective escapes to a coastal town, hoping for some respite. However, he doesn’t get his wish because every small town has secrets, and murders continue to wash up along the shoreline.
Rossif Sutherland plays the lead character, Karl Alberg, in the television series based on L. R. Wright’s nine-book series.
The series has added an all-star cast and the following characters.
Karl Alberg (Rossif Sutherland)
Karl Alberg is the lead character. He’s weary of working in the big city and escapes to the coastal town of Gibsons.
However, Karl soon realizes that this small town has its own dark secrets, and he must use his world-class detective skills to solve the murders that keep appearing on his shoreline.
Things become more complicated when Karl meets Cassandra (Kristin Kruek), who challenges and intrigues him.
Rossif Sutherland is the son of the late Donald Sutherland and the half-brother of Kiefer Sutherland.
Sutherland began his television career by recurring on ER. He then went on to star in other series, such as the Canadian series King and The CW’s Reign.
Sutherland married his Reign costar Celina Sinden in February of 2016, and they have a son together.
He was recently seen in several films, including Orphan: First Kill.
In May 2024, he was cast, along with Tatiana Maslany, in a thriller movie Keeper. In the movie, a couple celebrates their anniversary in a secluded cabin, and the cabin unleashes its evil secrets upon the wife.
Cassandra Mitchell (Kristin Kruek)
Cassandra Mitchell is the local librarian. She’s also Karl Alberg’s (Sutherland) muse and love interest.
She challenges him and assists him in solving the murders. While there isn’t much information on her character yet, they wouldn’t cast someone like Kruek as the librarian and muse. She’s an essential part of the story.
It reminds me of when they cast Emily VanCamp as Nurse Nevin on The Resident, and there was very little information about her casting.
We’ll have to wait until the show premiere to learn more about Cassandra and her relationship with Carl.
Kristin Kruek first appeared in the Canadian teen series Edgemont from 2000-2004, where she first worked with Ian Weir, who she reunited with on Murder in a Small Town.
Kruek then moved to The CW, where she starred in Smallville, Beauty & the Beast, and Burden of Truth. Burden of Truth first aired on CBC, and Kruek produced the series.
Since appearing in that, Kruek has seemed like she’d excel in a Canadian legal or thriller series, and we’re excited to see what she’ll bring to this one.
George Wilcox (James Cromwell)
George Wilcox was recently dealt a devastating blow when his wife of nearly 50 years, Myra, died.
He tries to deal with his grief by working in his garden and visiting Cassandra at the library.
George also sees his 80-year-old acquaintance, Carlyle Burke, and their shared grief goes back decades and erupts into a surprising fit of violence.
James Cromwell began his career by appearing in many classic TV shows, such as All in the Family, Barney Miller, and Little House on the Prairie.
Cromwell starred in several critically acclaimed films, such as Babe and The Green Mile, which were nominated for an Academy Award and a Screen Actors Award.
Most recently, he starred in several HBO and MAX series, including The Young Pope, Succession, and Julia, where he portrayed Julia Child’s father.
Cromwell has been a long-time activist for animal rights. He became vegan while playing Farmer Hoggett in the 1995 film Babe.
Zoe Strachan (Stana Katic)
Zoe Strachan is a beautiful 40-year-old woman who lives outside of town and prefers to keep to herself.
She has a cool exterior; she can erupt into sudden temper rages if the wrong buttons are pushed.
In 2008, Stana Katic began playing Kate Beckett on ABC’s Castle.
That role earned her many accolades, and she soon became a fan favorite.
Katic starred and produced Absentia, a thriller series that aired on Prime Video from 2017 to 2020.
She played FBI agent Emily Byrne, who disappeared and was found six years later with no memory of learning her husband had remarried and had a new life.
With all of her experience, we know she’ll bring emotional layers to Zoe.
Katic is a dedicated activist, focusing on Children’s education and worldwide organizations.
Corporal Edwina Yen (Mya Lowe)
Corporal Edwina Yen recently moved to the coast and graduated with a degree in criminology at 30.
She’s street-smart and speaks three languages. She sees this opportunity to advance on the career ladder.
Mya Lowe has always been passionate about the arts. She began her career as a Hip-Hop dancer in Victoria, BC, where she competed for years.
It wasn’t until after high school that Lowe discovered her love of acting.
She recently starred as Gen in Yellowjackets and Kiley in My Life With the Walter Boys.
Edwina Yen sounds similar to Kiley since they’re both witty and dependable. This will be Lowe’s first adult role since before she portrayed teenagers.
Isabella Harbud (Savonna Spracklin)
Isabella Harbud is the witty civilian receptionist.
She is a fiercely proud Indigenous American who struggles to balance her deeply held convictions with working for the police force.
Savonna Sprackin is a member of the Nisga Nation and enjoys honoring her roots in her projects.
She recently portrayed Casey Woodburn in Season 2 of the Canadian series Tribal and played Annie Sullivan in Departure Season 3.
Sergeant Sid Sokolowski (Aaron Douglas)
Sergeant Sid Sokolowski is Karl Alberg’s (Sutherland) second-in-command. He’s a hard-working man and a devoted father of five.
Working with Karl rekindles the spark Sid lost about life. He’s not the brightest man out there, but he’s loyal and would jump into a burning building to save your life.
Aaron Douglas has appeared in several sci-fi series, including Stargate SG-1, Dark Angel, Smallville, Eureka, and Flashpoint. He was nominated for a dramatic guest performance for his role on Flashpoint for the 2013 Canadian Screen Awards.
He’s most well-known for portraying Galen Tyrol in Battlestar Galactica. This role allowed him to evolve as an actor.
Douglas reunited with his Battlestar Galactica co-star Paul Campbell in the 2011 Syfy film Killer Mountain.
Constable Andy Kendrick (Fritzy-Klevans Destine)
Constable Andy Kendrick tries to be a good cop when he’s not being a jerk.
He has good intentions but often keeps screwing up.
As the new guy, he often irritates the rest of the team, but Karl Alberg has a soft spot for him and sees his potential.
Andry Kendrick sounds like an older version of Sean Smith, the character Fritzy-Klevans Destine played on Superman & Lois.
Sean started off aggressive and difficult but became friendlier with the rest of his classmates once he got to know them better.
Hopefully, this role will work out for him since Superman & Lois cut all their recurring cast, including the high school teens and football players.
Destine also appeared in Season 3 of The Boys as Young Black Noir.
Murder in a Small Town will be his first series regular role.
Over to you, TV Fanatics. Who are you most excited about seeing in Murder in a Small Town? What were your favorites of their past roles?
Let us know in the comments below.