Netflix’s Seven Dials is a stylish three-episode mystery series released in 2026, inspired by Agatha Christie’s 1929 novel The Seven Dials Mystery. Created by Chris Chibnall, the show follows Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent as she probes a death that first appears to be the result of a reckless prank at an extravagant English country house in 1925. What begins as lighthearted mischief quickly spirals into murder, espionage, and betrayal.
The story opens at the Chimneys estate, where a group of wealthy young guests play a practical joke on Gerry Wade by placing alarm clocks in his room. The following morning, Gerry is found dead, apparently from an overdose of sleeping pills. While authorities lean toward suicide or accidental death, Bundle senses something is wrong and begins her own investigation. Alongside friends such as Ronnie Devereux and Jimmy Thesiger, she uncovers links to a stolen industrial formula, secret alliances, and the mysterious organisation known as the Seven Dials.
In the final episode, the truth comes out during a tense confrontation aboard a train. Gerry Wade was murdered by his half-sister, Loraine Wade, who poisoned his champagne during the party. Fearing that Gerry was becoming suspicious of their plan to steal and sell a valuable steel-making formula developed by Dr. Matip, she staged his death to resemble an overdose. Jimmy Thesiger helped disguise the crime by arranging the alarm clocks around the room, deepening the illusion of confusion and carelessness.
The violence does not end there. Ronnie Devereux, who had begun to piece together the conspiracy, was shot by Jimmy when he got too close to exposing the truth. Ronnie’s final words hinted at both “Seven Dials” and Jimmy’s involvement, though their meaning was only understood later.
The most shocking revelation is the identity of the mastermind. Lady Caterham, Bundle’s own mother, was orchestrating the entire scheme. While Loraine and Jimmy carried out the murders, she designed the plot in pursuit of power and profit, manipulating those around her while maintaining an image of respectability.
The series also subverts expectations surrounding the Seven Dials themselves. Rather than being the villains, they are revealed to be a covert group working to protect the stolen formula and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. Bundle’s father is among their members, and by the end of the series, Bundle steps into a leadership role, symbolically taking on the mantle of “Number Three.”
Seven Dials leans heavily on misdirection, turning trusted allies into suspects and hiding the true danger within the family itself. While remaining faithful to Agatha Christie’s spirit of clever plotting, the adaptation adds a modern pace and polish to its 1920s setting. For fans of classic whodunits with layered twists, the ending delivers both surprise and closure.
