Netflix’s How to Get to Heaven From Belfast Is the Perfect Mystery Binge-Watch

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Lisa McGee, the creator of Derry Girls, has long shown the world that life in Northern Ireland is hilarious. Now, with her new show, How to Get to Heaven From Belfast, she proves she’s also a master of suspense. This eight-episode crime thriller is ideal for mystery lovers and centers around three friends in their late 30s who reconnect when a former classmate dies under strange circumstances.

Although comparisons to the popular show Derry Girls are inevitable, How to Get to Heaven From Belfast brings its own distinct and darkly comedic voice to the story. What truly makes the show stand out is that it’s consistently engaging. It immediately grabs your attention with a past secret revealed within the first few minutes, and it balances a compelling murder mystery with the strong bonds between its characters. The chemistry between the friends is just as important as solving the crime.

Lisa McGee Blends Dark Mystery With Sharp Irish Comedy

What makes How to Get to Heaven From Belfast special is its blend of intriguing mystery and sharp, Northern Irish humor. Lisa McGee successfully brings the lively spirit of her previous hit, Derry Girls, to this new work, which went on to become one of the

This show strongly echoes the spirit of . Those familiar with the sitcom will recall the Season 3 episode featuring the mothers’ high school reunion, where their past anxieties and a long-held secret come to light.

Though the initial ‘sin’ turned out to be a harmless teenage tattoo, the idea really stuck with McGee. She was captivated by the thought of grown women haunted by a secret from their youth, and her novel, How to Get to Heaven From Belfast, is built around that very concept.

The show builds on a funny idea by raising the tension dramatically. Instead of worrying about a regrettable tattoo, the characters now face the terrifying reality of a body in a coffin.

This story isn’t about typical teen dramas set during wartime. Instead, it takes place in modern Ireland and uses flashbacks to reveal the characters’ pasts. It’s not a comedic take on a thriller either; it’s a serious exploration of hidden trauma, but with genuinely funny characters.

This show doesn’t make light of the main character’s death, but it does use humor to portray the characters as relatable people, not just detectives you often see in crime dramas.

The show’s snappy, fast-paced dialogue is key to its appeal. It’s designed to sound like a natural, overlapping conversation – almost like a group of friends panicking while trying to deal with something scary. This quick back-and-forth keeps the show from becoming too dark or unsettling, even when the plot gets intense, and helps viewers stay connected to the characters.

How to Get to Heaven From Belfast Is a Relatable Drama About Female Camaraderie

The show’s strength lies in its characters—Saoirse, Robyn, and Dara. Viewers familiar with the creator’s earlier work will recognize these characters as mature versions of her familiar types. These women, all in their late 30s, are dealing with the challenges of work, family, and caring for others, making their story very relatable, especially as they grapple with a secret from their past.

Since they’re ordinary citizens, not police officers, the risks feel much greater. However, due to their close past and shared, difficult experiences with their deceased friend Greta, they immediately sense something is wrong and realize the truth is being deliberately concealed.

Because the investigation isn’t led by official law enforcement, the show focuses on the personal struggles of its characters rather than relying on predictable plot devices. Saoirse, a TV writer, tries to understand what’s happening by framing it as a story, but this usually backfires. Robyn, a busy mother of three, sees the perilous journey across Ireland as a welcome escape from her everyday life. And Dara, who keeps her feelings hidden, is haunted by mistakes from her past.

After learning about the death of their friend Greta, the three women come together to mourn at her wake, an event that profoundly changes their lives. The show carefully explores each woman’s personal journey, highlighting their struggles with societal expectations and the pressures of conforming to the typical standards for middle-aged women.

Solving the mystery of their friend’s death gives them a renewed sense of direction and meaning in their lives.

The Netflix Show Is the Ultimate Weekend Binge

This series is perfectly paced for a weekend binge, and the clever writing keeps you hooked. With eight episodes, it’s just the right length for a thriller – long enough to develop a complicated mystery, but short enough to watch all in one go, making it incredibly satisfying.

The show immediately grabs your attention by starting with a mystery and the characters facing a problem. This fast-paced beginning then weaves between revealing the characters’ histories and showing how their current situation escalates, keeping you engaged and wanting to know more.

Although the story sometimes detours into comedic side adventures, the clues are revealed often enough to keep you guessing. This mystery series wraps up nicely, providing satisfying answers by the end – unlike many other shows on Netflix that rely on frustrating cliffhangers.

“How to Get to Heaven From Belfast” is a clever, humorous, and surprisingly suspenseful thriller that effectively takes the place of “Derry Girls.” It demonstrates that combining comedy with a noir style works really well for modern, binge-worthy television.

The show uses humor to keep things light, preventing the intense, draining feeling you can get from darker thrillers—making it ideal for a weekend when you want something gripping but not overwhelming. It’s also a landmark moment for Irish crime dramas, highlighting the talent of its creator and the instant connection between the actors.

This drama skillfully combines surprising plot twists with relatable, well-developed characters. You’ll find yourself caring just as much about the friendship between the three main characters as you do about solving the mystery surrounding Greta’s death. If you’re looking for something fresh and compelling to watch this weekend, this is a standout choice.

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2026-05-13 20:40