The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

Inspector Morse Shows…

The Inspector Morse (British) mystery series is based on Colin Dexter’s wonderful series of books. My husband and I are both fans of Dexter’s novels and the television shows. I believe I read some place that when  Colin Dexter was approached to make his mystery novels into a television series, he chose John Thaw to portray the very cerebral, very cultured, Oxford-educated Inspector Morse. What perfect casting! Kevin Whately is also perfectly cast as Morse’s Sergeant Lewis.

The series takes place in Oxford (Inspector Morse’s Alma Mater.) It is probably superfluous for me to say the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. This goes without saying since the location is supposed to be Oxford! If you’re into beautiful, old brick buildings with ivy growing up the walls and well-manicured court yards and of course, great mysteries, then you will probably enjoy the Inspector Morse series.

As in most British mysteries, you will be able to enjoy seeing some of Great Britain’s favorite leading men and women in guest starring roles. That is always a particular treat for me! The acting in the Inspector Morse mysteries is very convincing. And the wardrobe is what I envision it should be. Even Inspector Morse’s apartment is exactly what fans of the show would expect it to be. A lot of thought has been put into this series, which allows the viewer to sit back and enjoy the mysteries.

Inspector Morse always gets his man, but hardly ever gets the woman, and usually never follows police protocol. His sergeant is a happily married man with the usual “children worries” and always want to follow the rules. These two make quite a pair!

(I know I have said this before. I sure miss seeing these types of quality mystery shows on my PBS station!)

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Hercule Poirot with David Suchet

All of you Hercule Poirot (Agatha Christie’s Belgian private detective) fans are more than likely already aware of David Suchet’s wonderful portrayal of the rather prim, always correct detective. For those of you very few people who have not yet experienced any of the Agatha Christie’s Poirot delightful shows, you will be glad to know that you have many hours of entertainment to look forward to.

The setting is London in the 1930s. The scenery is perfect. I love the outside shots of the London streets: the architectural detailing is exactly how I imagine it must have been back then. As a lover of art deco, I love seeing the “modern” furniture, the clothes, and cars.

The long running British series starred four regulars: David Suchet as Poirot, Hugh Fraser as Capt. Hastings (his not-so-astute side kick), Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp, and Poirot’s very capable, always correct secretary Miss Lemon was played by Pauline Moran. All of them “became” the characters they portrayed for this series. (I have since seen two of the actors in other projects, and was surprised to see one of them playing the evil villain!)

What a treat it is to watch these shows… from Poirot’s penguin-like walk to Poirot trimming his  waxed moustache. The attention to detail really pays off for the viewer. Miss Lemon’s bobby pin curls, Capt. Hastings’ car fetish, and even Inspector Japp’s overcoat… the detailing is perfect. It’s all a treat to watch! And, the friendship between Inspector Japp and Poirot goes so much farther than the predictable rivalry that “modern day” shows depict.

This Poirot series is as cozy as you can find. I truly believe that Agatha Christie would have been very happy with this series… no gore, plenty of humor, great ambiance, quirky characters (Poirot being the quirkiest! – a model for today’s “Monk” character) and no need for “adult” situations. Poirot is able to solve all of the cases with the use of his “little gray cells” so that Inspector Japp is able to close the cases, and retain his dignity.

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Heat of the Sun miniseries…

Heat of the Sun Boxed Set (Private Lives / Hide in Plain Sight / The Sport of Kings) What happens if a 1930s up-and-coming Scotland Yard detective is headed for a melt down? (Think vigilante cop!) The Yard might send him to Colonial Africa… and in this case, I’m delighted that’s what they did! The Heat of the Sun is a British miniseries that follows a Scotland Yard detective after he has been “banished” from Scotland Yard.

The miniseries follows Detective Tyburn (played wonderfully by Trevor Eve) from the day he arrives in Colonial Africa as he is greeted by the terrible bigotry that existed in the colonies at that time. He does not conform to what the “elite” British class expects of him. And, as if that’s not enough, one of his superiors is an old boss (as in nemesis) from his Scotland Yard days.

The wonderful Susannah Harker plays Emma Fitzgerald, a woman who is about the only down-to-earth person in the “elite class”… a woman before her times: a pilot and one of the very few Brits who sees the African people as… people, and not as servants.

The mysteries are well-executed, the scenery is phenomenal, the wardrobe is realistic, and the acting is outstanding. The miniseries follows Detective Tyburn as he bucks the system and actually does what he is supposed to be doing>>> He finds the culprits of crimes, even though they could/might be from the upper British hierarchical class. He protects the innocent even though they could/might be from what the Colonial Brits consider the very lowest of classes.

This is yet another terrific character-driven mystery miniseries that we have come to expect from Great Britain. Be forewarned though… it is not for children.

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Midsomer Murders series…

Midsomer Murders, Series 1 (Reissue) I have put off writing this review because most people who visit the Cozy Mystery Site are already aware of this deliciously fun, long-running ITV mystery series: Midsomer Murders. The episodes are based on (inspired by) Caroline Graham’s Inspector Barnaby Mystery Series.

Nope, it is not “mid-summer murders”>>> the Midsomer in the title refers to the county area in which DCI Barnaby (John Nettles) and his loyal sidekick sergeant (Daniel Casey in the first several seasons, John Hopkins in the middle seasons, and Jason Hughes in the last few seasons to date) are charged with keeping the peace and solving the crimes. And, lucky for us, we get to meet Barnaby’s wife (Jane Wymark) and daughter (Laura Howard) and watch as they both evolve.

The scenery is phenomenal>>> I love all of the different cozy village settings they show in the episodes. Since Midsomer is a county made up of several villages, we are treated to many quaint villages with the traditional cozy mystery characters— including a few totally eccentric busybodies! And, even luckier for us, Barnaby has a civic duty to perform, so we see him officiating/participating in several fêtes>>> More cozy village ambiance for us to enjoy!

Midsomer Murders is now in its eleventh season (I think!) although we (in the USA) are no longer having the privilege of watching this truly cozy mystery show. (A&E stopped showing the series several years ago.) I wish A&E hadn’t decided to change its line-up years ago. It was truly one of my favorite television channels back when they showed us shows like Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett, Miss Marple with Joan Hickson, and Poirot with David Suchet.

If you’re looking for the ambiance of a truly cozy British mystery setting… you might want to introduce yourself to Midsomer Murders. That is, if you aren’t one of its many fans already!

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