Only Murders In The Building Season 5 Ending: Who Killed Lester & Shocking Cliffhanger Death Explained By Creator

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Warning: the following contains spoilers for Only Murder in the Building season 5 finale.

John Hoffman, co-creator of Only Murders in the Building, explains how they revealed the killer in season 5 and hints at a new murder mystery coming in season 6. The season 5 finale, which aired on October 28th, finally solved the case of the Arconia doorman’s death, but also set up a brand new investigation for Mabel (Selena Gomez), Oliver (Martin Short), and Charles (Steve Martin).

The fifth season of Only Murders in the Building ends with Cinda Canning discovered dead just outside the Arconia building. This happens after she travels to the UK to look into a murder case.

The show’s co-creator told The Hollywood Reporter that Cinda was the main reason they decided to create a true-crime podcast. He explained that bringing her into the season 5 finale was a way to explore how true-crime podcasts became popular and where the genre came from. Here’s what he said:

Throughout this season, the show explores the significance of home and how far the core three characters have come together after five seasons of solving mysteries. It revisits the origins of their involvement, focusing on the building where it all began and the bonds they’ve formed. The season asks what initially brought them together – a shared fascination with a true crime podcast created by Cinda Canning, which sparked their interest and set them on this path.

We’ve been brainstorming about where we want to take the show next season, and it really hit me while thinking about the history of crime and mystery stories – everything from classic ‘cozy mysteries’ to today’s podcasts. We realized there’s a fascinating connection between the very first detective stories, like those by Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle, and the way we tell those stories now. It feels like a really rich area to explore for the next season, building on the amazing foundation Tina Fey gave us with this incredible character. We’re excited to dig into those origins and see where it takes us!

Cinda wasn’t just the inspiration for the main characters – she also fueled their competition. According to showrunner John Hoffman, season 6 will delve deeper into the lasting impact of the story, all while keeping the focus on the trio as they investigate the circumstances surrounding her death at the Arconia. Here’s what he had to say:

Absolutely. Cinda represents the start of a new chapter for our main three characters, building on the show’s history. We’re excited about how this expands the story and deepens the mystery. We’re incredibly enthusiastic about adding fresh ideas and strong writing, all while staying true to the core of who these three characters are and where they come from. This will allow us to really elevate the next season with some well-placed new elements.

After the death of a key character in season 5, Only Murders in the Building delved into the history of New York City, showcasing influential figures from the past and present. The season’s mystery – involving the doorman’s death – centered around a plot to build a casino, with clues hidden within the city’s oldest families and even a secret gambling room beneath the Arconia building.

The season 5 finale revealed that Mayor Beau Tillman was the one who killed Lester. The episode was released just a week before the New York mayoral election, and Hoffman admitted they definitely considered the political implications and intentionally tried to make headlines with the reveal.

You know, it actually struck me recently how much we were focusing on New York itself. We definitely kept New York politics in mind, and especially in season five, we really wanted to base storylines on what was happening in the headlines. We were inspired by a casino bid going on in New York right now, and we wanted to explore how power works in the city – in our own, over-the-top way, of course. It felt like a really fresh angle. We asked ourselves what New York power looks like today, and how we could put all the important players together in this building with such a unique past. It was exciting to keep everything so specifically New York, and it’s amazing how the real-world headlines kept confirming what we were doing, even up to today!

New Yorkers have already started voting in the mayoral race. Meanwhile, the city is also considering proposals for new casinos. Although many casino plans have been turned down in the past, four are still being considered for the three licenses that will be awarded by the end of the year. These potential casinos would be located in the Bronx, two sites in Queens, and Yonkers.

As a big fan of Only Murders in the Building, I was fascinated to learn about the inspiration behind season 5. Apparently, the storyline – where Mabel, Oliver, and Charles fight to save the Arconia from being torn down by some seriously powerful casino developers – was actually sparked by real-world political issues. I read an interview with one of the show’s creators, and they explained how those real-life power struggles shaped the story and the way they built the relationships between all the characters.

Hulu has ordered another season of Only Murder in the Building, confirming season six just hours after the season five finale aired. Season six will likely be set in or connected to London, as the storyline introduced Cinda Canning investigating a case there for her latest podcast before she showed up at the Arconia.

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2025-10-28 22:29