The Cozy Mystery List Blog

A few years ago, my husband and I watched a P. D. James’ Inspector Dalgliesh television mystery that starred Martin Shaw. We enjoyed it so much that I put Martin Shaw on our list of actors to keep an eye on. (I periodically search to see when particular actors add a new television show or movie to their projects.) I looked up Martin Shaw, and voilà, I found that he had another mystery show for us to try out.

Martin Shaw is the star of George Gently, a British police procedural television show. In season 1 we find out why Commander Gently has left Scotland Yard and is now working in a somewhat out-of-the-way British town. He’s quite accomplished, and some wonder why he is stationed in this town.

One of the fun things about this series is that most of the shows are set during the 1960s, and they seem to enjoy showing the “free love”, psychedelic hippie/Twiggie era. Yes, that means we are treated to the shortest miniskirts, brightest blue eyeshadow (worn on the eyelid all the way up to the eyebrow), ratted hair styles, and flower-power hippies. A time when calling police officers “Pig” was not at all out of the norm. A time of young people having a considerable anti-establishment sentiment. Gently and his subordinates have to solve mysteries during this time frame, before DNA and the internet.

Commander Gently is aided by his sergeant John Bacchus, played by Lee Ingleby. Bacchus has the fortune (or perhaps not!) of being newly married to Gently’s boss’s daughter. As such, he drives a flashy sports car, and thinks himself quite “the man.”

Perhaps the reason these George Gently episodes have such a “1960s feel” is because they are based on the mystery series written by Alan Hunter (George Gently Omnibus), who started writing his Gently series in 1955. The shows had a feeling of authenticity, with sets that look like one would expect from the 1960s, and the mysteries are interesting. The characters are well-developed, with their own back-drop stories. It’s a little strange to see just about every character smoking cigarettes (non stop!), but that’s probably something that would have happened back then.

When we first saw these shows, they were being aired on our PBS station. This was a show that we looked forward to watching every week that it was on. We have since then discovered that it is available on Netflix in disc format, Netflix stream, and Acorn.

P.S. While my husband and I enjoyed George Gently, we stopped watching it during the fifth season. Perhaps we only needed to take a breather from it, but more likely, it had become a bit convoluted at the point when George became targeted by a mobster.

For more movie and television show recommendations, visit this page on my site: TV and Movies.

Let me start this entry by telling you that I thought for sure I had already written about this terrific television series. This entry is about the original Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime: The Tommy & Tuppence Mysteries which was made in the 1980s. It is a totally delightful series full of witty dialog, absolutely gorgeous and sumptuous wardrobe, and very good mysteries.

There are eleven episodes that follow the private detective duo comprised of Tommy and Tuppence. They are all based on Agatha Christie‘s Tommy & Tuppence mystery novels. I will admit to not being a fan of this series of Christie mystery novels but I love this television series. If I were to pick just two words to describe this mystery series. I would say “fun romp”.

The series starts out with Tommy & Tuppence reuniting after WWI. (No spoilers here->>> so I won’t divulge too much!) The series takes place during the 1920s, which means that Tuppence is able to wear flapper-type attire, including beautiful hats and dresses. Francesca Annis portrays Tuppence, and she’s terrific! Her portrayal brings a young exuberance to Tuppence. She makes us believe she is Tuppence, and we can see how Tuppence is a force to be reckoned with.

James Warwick portrays Tommy. At first I wasn’t quite sure if he would be convincing as someone Tuppence would enjoy being with, but by the end of the first episode, I knew he was perfect as Tommy.

Tommy and Tuppence take over the Blunt’s International Detective Agency after both Tommy & Tuppence were left unemployed after the Great War. The series was made during the 1980s – so don’t expect today’s production values. Although it lacks the bells and whistles of today’s television shows, it is a very superior television series.

My husband and I both enjoy the (original) Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime: The Tommy & Tuppence Mysteries. I strongly recommend this Cozy Mystery television series. I especially recommend it to fans of the Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. These mystery shows have the same delightful, whimsical, fun, joie de vivre as Phryne Fisher’s shows. I should mention there is a more recent series (which will be available on Netflix and is currently available on Acorn). We enjoyed the original series so much that when it’s time to revisit Tommy and Tuppence, we plan on staying with this version.

This series is available on Netflix in disc format. It is also available on Acorn.

For more ideas on movies and television shows, be sure to check my TV and Movie page on my site.