Murder in a Small Town Season 2 Episode 3 ending explained- Who is Maria Bannister’s killer?

In the tranquil yet treacherous town of Gibsons, Murder in a Small Town season 2, episode 3, "Mother Love," delivers a gut-punch revelation: Maria Bannister’s killer is her half-brother, Harry Stewart, whose greed for family property drives him to murder. Adapted from L.R. Wright’s novels, Murder in a Small Town was created by Ian Weir. The series follows Karl Alberg, a former city detective seeking solace in Gibsons, British Columbia, only to find crime as complex as in any major metropolitan area.

This Fox series offers a blend of quaint small-town charm and dark, complicated mysteries, raising audience pulse rates. The third episode, which aired on Tuesday, October 7, reveals layers of Gibsons' employee community, complete with deadly motives rooted in personal histories.

With Rossif Sutherland as the pensive Karl and Kristin Kreuk as the hardworking Cassandra Lee, the series remains cognizant of the distinction between professional obligations and personal involvement. Maria’s death, initially staged as a robbery, exposes a sibling rivalry rooted in inheritance fears, with Harry’s desperate act threatening more lives.

Murder in a Small Town season 2 episode 3 ending explained: Secrets and sibling rivalry

In Episode 2, we witnessed the expansion of Karl's territory along with an influx of complicated cases. Cassandra’s new position as councilwoman creates tension in their relationship when her civil duty conflicts with Karl’s protective nature. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the murder unresolved, which presents a mystery for Episode 3, while also sparking personal engagement.

Episode 3, "Mother Love," opens with Maria Bannister following her estranged daughter, Belinda, in a desperate bid to reconnect. Belinda, feeling threatened, makes a run for her father. Richard warned Maria to stay away. That night, when Maria composes a letter to Belinda, which shows her heart towards her child, she was attacked in her own home, her neck broken in a swift, violent act.

Karl’s team begins investigating, when they stumble upon a staged robbery and a scrapbook with a torn-out page indicating something is wrong with the breaks in burglary. Richard reveals Maria’s affair five years prior, which shattered their family, and her occasionally aggressive demeanour, complicating the suspect pool.

Parallel to this case, Karl’s daughter, Holly, and friend Devon explore Gibsons' history, stumbling upon the grave of Lauren Park, tied to the local “Creeper” legend —a figure who visits the grave monthly for two decades. Cassandra, a town historian, dismisses it as a myth but confirms Lauren was her childhood friend. Holly and Devon’s nighttime stakeout yields a car’s license plate, adding a layer of youthful intrigue.

The investigation deepens when Maria’s friend Callie Jarvis reveals that Maria returned to meet her biological father, Captain Darcy Stewart, a revelation that devastates Darcy. Suspicion falls on his son, Harry Stewart, whose bankrupt business and presence near Maria’s stalking incident raise red flags.

A locket found with Todd, a homeless local, briefly misleads the case, but Todd’s account of a car tailing Maria points back to Harry. Karl pieces together the motive: Harry, fearing Maria’s claim to Darcy’s estate, killed her to secure his inheritance. The torn scrapbook page signals Belinda as his next target, tying her to the family legacy.

In a race against time, Karl arrives at the Bannister home, where Harry has knocked out Richard and corners Belinda. A tense pursuit ends with Harry’s arrest. In interrogation, he confesses his resentment; Maria’s sudden place in Darcy’s life threatened his years of loyalty, pushing him to murder. 

The resolution exposes Gibsons’ darker side, where greed and insecurity fester within family ties. Harry’s actions reflect a universal fear of being replaced, amplified by the town’s insular dynamics. To walk their own tightrope of trust, Karl and Cassandra face internal tension, as Kassie's efforts to placate Todd's emotional upheaval only heighten Karl's uneasiness.

Although the audience is granted insight into Karl's struggle in trusting Kassie, there remains a reaffirmation of that bond extending to the major thematic focus of relationships compromised by duty.

Murder in a Small Town season 2 new episodes drop every Tuesday at 8 pm PT/ET on Fox, or you can stream it on Hulu the next day.

Stay tuned for more such updates!