Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV
I am going to keep this very brief… Don’t forget that tonight your local PBS station should be showing a new Inspector Lewis episode: Your Sudden Death, which of course, is inspired by the wonderful (non) cozy Colin Dexter mystery books.
And, for all of you Jonathan Creek fans >>> The terrific news is that Alan Davies will be in this Inspector Lewis episode!
![The Duchess of Duke Street - The Complete Collection [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51YD96K3IqL._SL500_.jpg "The Duchess of Duke Street - The Complete Collection [DVD]")
The Duchess of Duke Street is a BBC series from the mid 1970s. Masterpiece Theatre aired this British miniseries, which is set in Victorian and Edwardian England… the late 1800s and early 1900s. The series follows Louisa Trotter, a young woman from England’s lower class society – during a time when the possibility of bettering your social standing was pretty much nil to nothing.
Louisa (played magnificently by Gemma Jones) works as a scullery maid (the lowest servants’ position possible for women) but has three very strong traits: ambition, the inability to “hold her tongue,” and intelligence. We watch Louisa go from a very young, almost abrasive girl to a self-assured woman of high society.
Gemma Jones’ portrayal of Louisa Trotter, as she goes up the ladder of British society, is absolutely superb. This period BBC (and Masterpiece Theatre) production will stay with you way after you watch the two-season miniseries.
As you watch the episodes in The Duchess of Duke Street, try to keep in mind that the plot is based on the true life story of Rosa Lewis and The Duchess of Duke Street‘s Bentinck Hotel is based on London’s Cavendish Hotel.
The Duchess of Duke Street miniseries takes us along as Louisa goes from being a scullery maid to a great chef, to eventually the owner of a London hotel. Quite a feat for those times!
This period piece production is (to me) delightful. I enjoyed the costumes, make up, acting, sets, and plot line. Fans of Upstairs, Downstairs will no doubt become fans of The duchess of Duke Street.
Watching it is addictive, but beware – it is not for young children. (Also, it is not a mystery…)
If you would like to see more TV and Movies suggestions, click here.
Here’s a quick reminder for all of you who love mystery shows… make that British mystery showws! Tonight, on your local PBS stations, they will be airing Dark Matter, the third episode – of the third season – of the Inspector Lewis shows.
Remember that the Inspector Lewis episodes are inspired by Colin Dexter‘s Inspector Morse mysteries. Unfortunately, Inspector Morse is no longer here, but Inspector Lewis is doing his mighty best to fill the void.
Dark Matter has Inspector Lewis (played by Kevin Whately) and Detective Sergeant Hathaway (played by Laurence Fox) back at Oxford. What a beautiful setting. And, yes, for all of Reginald Hill‘s Dalziel and Pascoe fans… Warren Clarke will be guest starring as … let’s just say he isn’t affiliated with policing!
And, remember when Inspector Morse used to sing in the chamber choir? Well, how wonderful is it that Dr. Laura Hobson, the police forensic pathologist (played by Clare Holman) is a clarinet player in the very same orchestra that needs investigating?
PS>>> When are Dr. Hobson and Inspector Lewis finally going to see that they are absolutely perfect for each other? I mean, I can remember when Inspector Morse “dated” every woman around… even the major suspects!
Inspector Lewis (Kevin Whately) and Sergeant Hathaway (Laurence Fox) are back! Yes tonight, your local PBS station will be airing The Dead of Winter, the second installment of the third season of the Inspector Lewis mystery shows.
While the Inspector Morse mystery shows were based on the mystery novels by Colin Dexter, the Inspector Lewis shows are inspired by Dexter’s mysteries. I have to admit that I miss Inspector Morse, but perhaps, after as many years of having Inspector Lewis as the main focus, I will miss him as much. Time will tell…
Right now, however, we are able to enjoy the same Oxford-ish atmosphere that the earlier (Morse) series provided. And, The Dead of Winter will give us a little more information about Sergeant Hathaway’s past. So far we know that Hathaway is a Cambridge graduate, who started training for the priesthood…
Some of you will probably recognize Nathaniel Parker (from Elizabeth George‘s Inspector Lynley mystery shows) who will be guest starring… not as a Scotland Yard inspector!
