For those of you who enjoy the Miss Fisher Mysteries, here’s some good news. Australia is back! This is another very good Australian television mystery series. It’s well-worth your time, mate!

The Doctor Blake Mysteries series takes place in Ballarat, Australia,  which looks like an absolutely beautiful, serene place – other than the occasional, weekly murders! Dr. Lucien Blake returns to his hometown after a long time away to take over his late father’s medical practice. He doesn’t seem particularly happy to be back, nor does he seem to have been missed very much while he was away. Lucien had been captured by the Japanese during WWII and had been held in a prisoner of war camp. He was separated from his wife and daughter during the war and does not know where they are.

Lucien inherited his father’s large Victorian house, which came with a few boarders: a young police man, a young nurse, and a beautiful middle-age housekeeper. At the beginning of the series you see Lucien interact with his patients a lot of the time. However, in later shows, Lucien’s job as police surgeon seems to dominate his time – which is fortunate for viewers with a penchant for well-told and thought-out mysteries.

The acting in The Doctor Blake Mysteries is terrific. Craig McLachlan plays Lucien Blake, housekeeper Jean Beazley is played by Nadine Garner, and Joel Tock is Chief Superintendent Matthew Lawson. All three of them are very, very convincing as three adults who grew up knowing about each other’s secrets. Cate Wolfe plays the young nurse, Rick Donald is the young constable who is then replaced by Charlie Cousins.

The late 1950s atmosphere is also very convincing. It’s very reminiscent of old 1950 television shows/movies. Of course, since Lucien inherits his father’s old Victorian house, a lot of the furniture dates way back.

I should mention that since the police chief and Lucien go way back, they share a friendship and mutual respect that is really enjoyable to see. This is rather refreshing because many TV mystery shows display an antipathy between the police and an amateur sleuth. Lucien is actually encouraged to do more than just the forensic necessities and to involve himself in the mysteries.

All in all, this is another beautiful Australian mystery series. The acting, writing, wardrobe, scenery, and yes, the mysteries are all very good. I highly recommend watching The Dr. Blake Mysteries, and from the letters I’ve received recommending the series, many other Cozy Mystery readers also enjoy watching the show.

P.S. This show is available on Netflix.

For more Cozy viewing ideas, click on my Cozy Mystery TV & Movies page.

Do NOT miss this terrific television series from New Zealand! The series takes its name from the rural town in which it’s set, but don’t try to find this beautiful setting on a map!

Neill Rea stars as Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shephard – a country western music fanatic who happens to love his vintage 1970s car. He’s new to Brokenwood, and isn’t particularly appreciated by Detective Kristin Sims (played by Fern Sutherland). Detective Sims was hoping to be in charge of the detective department. Both Fern Sutherland and Neill Rea are terrific in their respective roles.

This new detective-boss takes some getting used to. One of Detective Senior Sergeant Shepard’s idiosyncrasies: he talks to the crime victims >>> when he first meets them, while they’re laying dead on the ground!

As much as I appreciate the two main leads of The Brokenwood Mysteries, I will say this: I look forward to all the scenes Shepherd has with the Russian forensic pathologist (played beautifully by Cristina Ionda).  The interaction between the coroner and… well just about anyone brings a terrific addition of humor to the shows. Unfortunately she isn’t one of the main characters of the show, so you won’t see a lot of her…

With Mike Shepherd being new to the area, it’s a wonderful fluke that he makes friends with Jared Morehu (played by Pana Hema Taylor). Mike is able to get the entire history of the town – in minute detail – from Jared. Name any subject (wine, dramatic arts, rugby, golf, etc) and Jared knows all the local juicy gossip.

Another of the main characters is D.C. Breen (Nic Sampson). I was really happy to see that his role on the show was expanded (I think after the first season). He provides a lot of the humor in the show also.

My husband, grown daughter, and I all enjoyed these television mystery shows. The setting is absolutely beautiful, the acting is great, the humor is appreciated, the mysteries are full of red herrings, and the writing is terrific. Thumbs up!

And, by the way, this is just one of the terrific tv shows available on Acorn TV.

P.S. My husband and I use the subtitles while viewing this really, really good mystery show.

For more Cozy viewing ideas, click on my Cozy Mystery TV & Movies page.