The Cozy Mystery List Blog

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

More about Nemesis … And, We’re Heading Home

We’re on our way home. We’re driving through some beautiful country. In case any of you have ever wondered why Virginia and Tennessee are so doggone beautiful with their green trees and thick, lush grass >>> I can tell you why. For this Texas dry-country, long-straight roads driver >> there’s nothing quite like driving through the Appalachian’s windy roads in the pelting down rain. It is beautiful country, though. (At least it’s not snowing!)

Our trip was very successful. We whittled the 20 apartment complexes that were on our list to four for our daughter to consider. We think she’ll enjoy living out in the D.C. area. There is so much to see and do, and I know she’s looking forward to her new job, even though she’ll miss New Orleans.

My husband and I had started listening to Agatha Christie‘s Nemesis (a Miss Marple mystery) on the way out, and finished it yesterday. There’s a reason Agatha Christie is considered one of the four queens of the Golden Age of Mysteries. Her mysteries are absolutely full of great characters, of whom Miss Jane Marple is always my favorite. Christie always manages to transport us to Cozy, quaint, and picturesque settings. This book provided all that!

My husband and I really enjoyed listening to this audio book, however >>> Toward the end of the novel, Miss Marple’s explanation of how she solved the mystery amounts to (practically) a retelling of the whole story. At one point, my husband stopped the recording to mention that it reminded him of the Cliff Notes version of the book.

I want to emphasize again, we really enjoyed the book. The settings, characters, plot, and the mystery are classic Christie. I’d also like to recommend my favorite retelling of Agatha Christie’s Nemesis, which is the Nemesis television movie with Joan Hickson. It just doesn’t get any better than this! (This link will take you to my original entry about this phenomenal television mystery series.)

(Sorry, but as far as I can tell this is no longer available on Netflix.)

P.S. Totally off subject: I saw my first robin in years on our drive home today. It took me back to the days when I lived up north.

The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Television Mystery Series

When my husband and I started watching this British, early 1970s mystery series, we didn’t know that each episode is actually based on a real written mystery. (Be sure to watch the opening credits so that you know who the author and main sleuth are.) The mysteries were written at the same time Sir Conan Doyle was spinning his mysteries – featuring Sherlock Holmes. Thus, the name: The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes. (I should add that Sir Hugh Greene published The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, which includes 13 of these cases.)

The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes does not attempt to “sanitize” Victorian London. There are rats in the prison, pick-pockets on the streets, and murder in even the aristocratic parlors. As with Sir Conan Doyle’s mysteries, the private investigators had to step in to solve some of the crimes of the days.

There are thirteen episodes in the first ITV season and thirteen in the second season. If you are a fan of British television you will no doubt recognize many familiar faces. (Three who I can remember right off the top of my head are Derek Jacobi, Donald Pleasence and a very young Jeremy Irons.)

When I write reviews of older shows/movies I enjoy, I feel like I have to “forewarn” people not to expect the slick, glossy Hollywood productions with green-screen special effects, or the CSI-type of beyond-incredible forensic clues. Do not expect one of these private investigators to be able to pick up a single 1/2″ strand of navy blue wool and be able to identify which home in all of London has an afghan in the master bedroom that matches this. These mystery-solvers use their brain power (as Sherlock Holmes did) in order to identify the who, what, where, and why.

If you’re in the mood for a good British 1970s mystery series that pays attention to detail and has nice sets and wardrobe, not to mention good acting, you might enjoy The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes.

P.S. It is available on Netflix.

Upstairs, Downstairs Television Series

Upstairs Downstairs: Series One, 40th Anniversary Edition I was thinking back about some of the best television series I have watched, and Upstairs, Downstairs immediately came to mind. I have watched this series three times, and think it’s one of the best period piece series ever made. Sure, it is from the 1970s, so the production values aren’t what they aren’t anything like today’s slick looks. However, the story line and acting are (in my opinion) much better than most television series.

Upstairs, Downstairs is yet another dazzling jewel in British period-piece television productions. The show initially ran in the USA on Masterpiece Theatre in the early 1970s. It is set in Edwardian London, and features the life of all who inhabited “165 Eaton Place.”

The “Upstairs” at this opulent residence consists of an aristocrat family. The Bellamy family hob-nobs with all of England’s wealthy. The patriarch is a member of Parliament, and as such, entertains many of the ruling class. His wife is a perfect hostess, and is the one who brings the title and money into the family.

The “Downstairs” is comprised of many house maids, a chauffeur, the cooking staff, and a very competent & efficient butler at the top of the working people’s hierarchy. Mr. Hudson (the butler) runs all of the tasks required to keep the household running smoothly. Of course, there are sometimes mishaps, but Mr. Hudson is quick to get things back on track.

Upstairs, Downstairs follows the lives of the Bellamy family and their staff. The set is realistic, opulent, with deep, rich-colored furniture and curtains. The wardrobe, hair and make-up are exactly as I would have expected of the early 1900s.

Jean Marsh, the actress who plays Rose (the head parlour maid) is one of the two creators of the series. Her co-creator, is a fellow actress, Eileen Atkins. The London Weekend Television is the production company responsible for this beautiful, interesting view of life in London during the first thirty years of the twentieth century.

For me, Upstairs, Downstairs works so well because of the head of the family, Richard Bellamy, with his extremely kind nature. Because this member of Parliament is such an honorable man, his household is a place where even the lowest on the totem pole (the scullery maid ?) is treated fairly. Perhaps the reason for Richard Bellamy’s good nature toward the household staff is because he was not born into the aristocracy, he simply married into it.

The two “Downstairs bosses” (so to speak) are the butler (excellently portrayed by Gordon Jackson) and the cook (delightfully played by Angela Baddeley). All the acting is superb. It is such a treat to see Pauline Collins (Sarah) & John Alderton (Thomas) in this production from the 1970s, who incidentally, have been married since the late 1960s.

I strongly recommend Upstairs, Downstairs – especially seasons 1, 2 & 3. In 2010, the BBC brought Upstairs, Downstairs back. Unfortunately Rose (Jean Marsh) was the only character from the “real” Upstairs, Downstairs cast. To me, this didn’t fit in with the original Upstairs, Downstairs television series I  have loved for many years. However, keep in mind that this was released in the 1970s, so don’t expect the visuals of today’s pieces.

P.S. It is available on Netflix. This is not a mystery series.

Death In Paradise – Fun Cozy Mystery TV

I recently discovered the British TV mystery series, Death in Paradise. This is currently one of my favorite TV shows and one of the few that falls well within the bounds of the Cozy Mystery genre.

The show is set in the fictional tropical island of Saint-Marie which is a British possession and filmed on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. The setup of the first episode is that a murder has occurred on the island, and because the murder is that of the local British detective, a new detective from London is brought in to investigate.

The London detective, Detective Inspector Richard Poole, played wonderfully by Ben Miller, is not happy to be sent to the island. His character is very much a “fish out of water” type character, much in the mold of the Doc in Doc Martin. The London detective refuses to adopt the casual island clothing, for example. He goes everywhere in a suit and tie despite the tropical heat (which bothers him quite a bit.)  And, for some reason, he always carries a briefcase no matter where he goes. I like that the character is quirky, but not over-the-top zany.

Other characters include a few members of the local police force. The refreshing thing about the additional characters is that they are all intelligent, and they all provide great help to the main detective in gathering the facts for each episode’s mystery. They make a great team both in the stories and with their great chemistry on the screen.

Besides the characters and the settings (which are beautiful, by the way), I really like that the mysteries are well plotted. All the clues that are necessary to solve the crime are actually presented to the viewer. One of my pet peeves is when the writer of a mystery saves one important clue for the detective to disclose during the final scene’s “reveal”. I always feel cheated when the clues remain hidden until after the sleuth has solved the case. One of the fun things I like about good Cozy Mysteries is that they provide a puzzle to solve. Holding back a clue until the end strikes me the same as keeping some of the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle off the table. Frustrating — and not fun!

I have not yet finished watching seasons one and two, but I understand (from Ian) that something big happens during the first episode of season three. Hmmm… I hope it’s something good! I can’t attest to the quality of the later seasons (yet), but I have really enjoyed what I have seen so far. And (again, from Ian) they are currently watching season 4 across the pond, so good news for us!

(Note – this show is not based on the Robert B. Parker Jesse Stone novel Death in Paradise nor is it related to the mystery novel of the same name by Carolyn Hart. Death in Paradise is a popular title among mystery writers!)

P.S. Thank you so much, Ian, for all the Death In Paradise information, including this fun fact:

Ian:

(Fun fact – Ben Miller found it so hot that whenever his feet were out of shot he took his shoes off, and his shirt was only a front and cuffs).

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