Silver Spring, MD —Combining the period appeal of Sherlock Holmes with the forensic fascination of CSI, Murdoch Mysteries, Season 3, debuts on Blu-ray and DVD from Acorn Media on May 3, 2011. This set marks the first Blu-ray release of the series. Based on the characters from award-winning author Maureen Jennings’ Detective Murdoch novels, the acclaimed Canadian series has garnered 25 Gemini® nominations to its credit, including Best Writing, Best Actor and Best Original Score. Set in Victorian-era Toronto, this engrossing and charming series follows Detective Murdoch as he uses revolutionary forensic techniques to solve the city’s most mystifying crimes. Distributed by ITV Studios Global Entertainment and available to U.S. audiences for the first time, the 4-volume DVD boxed set and 3-Disc Blu-ray set includes all 13 episodes from season three, plus a behind-the-scenes featurette and more ($59.99/$69.99, www.AcornOnline.com). Season 1 is currently airing on public television via APT and a fourth season has already been produced.

This sharp, sophisticated mystery series features Yannick Bisson (Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye) as William Murdoch, a Toronto police detective at the cutting edge of Victorian science. Together with a forward-thinking pathologist (Gemini® winner Hélène Joy, Durham County), he applies revolutionary criminology techniques to crack the toughest cases. This season finds Murdoch making the acquaintance of H.G. Wells, teaming up a second time with Nikola Tesla, investigating art forgery, and using the fledgling science of psychology to out the era’s most elusive murderers.

The series co-stars Thomas Craig (Where the Heart Is) and Jonny Harris (Hatching, Matching & Dispatching) with guest stars including Patrick McKenna (The Red Green Show), Lisa Faulkner (Murder in Suburbia), Ashley Leggat (Life with Derek), Sarah Gadon (Being Erica, Happy Town), Dmitry Chepovetsky (ReGenesis), and Peter Keleghan (The Newsroom).

Season 3 debuted in Canada on CityTV in February 2010 and a fourth season has already been produced. Acorn Media previously released Season 1 in June 2009 and Season 2 in May 2010 as 4-Vol. DVD Boxed Sets ($59.99).

Murdoch Mysteries is based on the characters from Maureen Jennings’ Detective Murdoch novels. The first in her Murdoch series, Except for Dying, was released in 1997; followed by six more novels in the series. Jennings is a creative consultant on the television series. Series website: www.murdochmysteries.com

Special Features: Behind-the-scenes featurette (9 min.), and Episode 13 alternate ending

Street: May 3, 2011
13 episodes - Approx. 624 min., plus bonus - SDH subtitles
Blu-ray 3-Disc Set (SRP: $69.99) / DVD 4-Vol. Boxed Set (SRP: $59.99)

Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., Acorn Media distributes distinctive home video releases to the North American market with a special focus on the best of British television. Acorn’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn Media at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.

ITV STUDIOS Global Entertainment is one of the world’s leading international TV distribution, home-entertainment, merchandising and licensing businesses.