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Vera – British Television Mystery Series

Vera - Series 1 [DVD] [UK Import] My husband and I sort of put off watching the first episode of this because I knew this British television series is based on a “not necessarily Cozy” mystery series (written by Ann Cleeves). I received several comments and letters from Cozy Mystery readers suggesting I watch this TV mystery show. Am I glad we finally did!

This British mystery series is set in Northumberland – and features a rather cold, desolate area. Vera (played beautifully Brenda Blethyn) is usually seen donning a rumpled overcoat – somewhat reminiscent of Columbo’s. She wears her trademark floppy fishing hat almost every time she’s outdoors. Vera is a Detective Chief Inspector heading an office of detectives. She is a no-nonsense type of boss who doesn’t go in for normal everyday pleasantries. She doesn’t remember the names of her subordinates’ children, probably because their names aren’t important facts in a case. She often asks questions, but doesn’t listen to the answers since she’s off on another tangent.

During the first four seasons, Vera was very capably shadowed by Detective Sergeant Joe Ashworth (David Jean). One of my favorite characters throughout the first six seasons is Detective Sergeant Kenny Lochhart (Jon Morrison). His relationship with Vera seems to go way back. He is the person Vera is most likely to joke about – however we never actually see him outside of the office with his many women – the subject of many of Vera’s needling jokes.

Another favorite character of mine was the forensic technician, Billy (Paul Ritter). Vera and Billy also shared a past. They were almost “equals” which doesn’t happen very often with Vera.

There are no female characters of whom I can write. It seems like as soon as the viewer becomes familiar with a female on the show >>> she’s gone. Sometimes her absence is explained, other times I’m left asking my husband “What the heck?”

If you’re looking for a new mystery to watch that isn’t flashy, sexy, or full of beautiful people – but rather a series that is realistic, and centers on a believable mystery, then I suggest you try Vera. My husband and I are glad we did!

(By the way, Vera is available for streaming on Acorn TV – which is how we watch it.)

Also, if you’re interested in taking a look at some other good mystery shows, make sure to go to my Cozy Mystery TV and Movies page.

Comments

  1. Sounds like another good one. I’m not familiar with Acorn TV, but I see my library has the DVDs.

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  2. I love the Ann Cleeves series of Vera Stanhope and have read them from the beginning. The TV series is good if you have not read her books. I do recommend reading the series, Vera is quite a character.

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  3. I’m glad to read your assessment of Vera Stanhope. I have not read any of the books, but see them frequently because I am looking for other Ann Cleeves books in others of her series. Reading an assessment by a cozy expert gives me a better idea if I want to read these books. Quite coincidentally, I just read reviews (via Amazon) of the FIRST Vera Stanhope book in the series yesterday, and many of the reviewers said the FIRST in the series took a longer time to introduce Vera in the book than they liked, but basically they still liked the first book and then the whole series. I actually like the premise of Ann Cleeve’s series with George Palmer-Jones and his wife very much, and read them when I can. I also read the Jimmy Perez series, although the main character’s actions once made me almost want to stop reading that series. Running out of Ann Cleeves books I thought I would like has me looking for others of her series, although just reading their descriptions didn’t entice me to start on them. I think I will try Vera. Your description helps ease me into them, and the fact that a cozy aficionado likes them is a good recommendation for me . I realize you are talking about the TV programs, but until the time I have a chance to watch some of those (which I have not chosen to do), I am glad for a glimpse into whether or not I want to try the books.

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    • I did not start the series from the first book, didn’t know there was a series when I found out I started with the first book. The first book is good don’t let it turn you off, I just love Vera! I have not tried the Shetland series and will give it a try. I did see one episode on PBS and it was difficult to understand but made a note to read the books. You will fall in love with Vera though.

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      • I have grown to love the Shetland TV series – I put the captioning on as they speak very softly and it IS hard to catch all their words.

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  4. I stumbled on the series on our local PBS station and was immediately hooked. (Who doesn’t love an overweight frumpy middle aged woman who calls everyone “pet” and runs a police department?) Cleeves also writes the Shetland series, which has popped up on PBS as well. Both are delightful, and don’t take liberties with Cleeves’ books, as far as I can tell. I was thrilled to meet her at Malice this past spring, and she seemed completely unpretentious. I have three of her books on my TBR pile, and I’m waiting until I have time to savor them.

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    • I have loved watching Brenda blethyn for years, ever since I first saw her in On a Clear Day – a quietly touching movie with quiet humor, that I recommend if you like her. Have been watching the Vera series as they’ve been released on DVD, from the library.

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    • Wow, I’m surprised and impressed to see a post by Sheila Connolly. I enjoy her books immensely. One of my sisters introduced me to her books, and now I am hooked. They’re great.

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  5. An excellent choice. Vera is extremely popular here, though there has been comment from folk about the scenery being ‘all over the place’ and scenes supposed to be adjacent being far apart in reality (one of the perils of location filming) to the wide range of ‘North Country’ accents used. Mind you, if they used the real thing we’d all need subtitles.

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    • Joppy, I suppose I understand how people who know a location might be sensitive about it being portrayed accurately. That said, it’s pretty rare for me to know an area portrayed (San Antonio is pretty rarely depicted in modern tv/movies) so it’s never been a problem for me.

      That said, lately I certainly do know what you’re saying about subtitles… it must be something about getting older, but my husband and I find ourselves watching more and more British programming with subtitles on, whether or not the accents are particularly authentic to the region.

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  6. Best series. Brenda Blethyn is great. My family has adopted the line: “Joe with me” for everything!

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  7. I have watched all six seasons of Vera! You will love it!! It certainly worth your time to watch unlike, most of American TV…..

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  8. I’m watching Vera now and after the first episode am enjoying it. Also streaming on Acorn TV except yesterday I was ready for Season 3 and couldn’t find it on Acorn. It went from season 2 to 4. Anyway, found it on Amazon for only $8 so just bought it.

    You might try Shetland which is also from books by Ann Cleeves. Not sure if on Acorn as I watched on Netflix.

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  9. I LOVE this series! I think the opening theme song is the most gorgeous theme song bar none! The acting is phenomenal, the stories are exceptional. After every episode ends, I wish the story could have gone on (that’s unrealistic, I know). I highly recommend watching the show.
    With that said, when I realized that this was based on a a series, I started reading the first book, “The Crow’s Trap.” I started reading it in March and still haven’t finished. It’s dreadful, so far, but I hate abandoning books, so I’m trying to plow through. the reviews say it gets better, and the books after are much better.

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  11. Love, love, love Vera! Not cozy, but then your hubby will like her too. My husband loves her too.

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  12. I have watched and enjoyed Vera on Acorn. I have not read any of the books but will try to find them now that I know the author

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  13. Love this series. And Ann Cleeves is the loveliest woman. I’ve been lucky enough to meet her a few times, and even had her on a Left Coast Crime panel I moderated. She couldn’t be more humble or down-to-earth.

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  14. I love this series, especially the early seasons! Brenda Blethyn is captivating in her portrayal of Vera. Every time she calls someone “pet,” or she mutters something, I have to smile. I wait eagerly for each new season to be released here in the U.S. Many episodes are dramatizations of Cleeves’ actual books, which I haven’t read, but I do have one novel about Vera, called The Glass Room, that I don’t believe has been turned into film. Thanks for reminding me to read that one.

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    • Jacqueline, I agree that Brenda Blethyn certainly brings a lot of character to the role that would certainly be missed with another actress. It’s rare to see an actress make a role as thoroughly “her own” as Blethyn has here.

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      • I admired Brenda Blethyn so much in her portrayal of Vera that I’ve since watched many of her other films. One that is quite funny and endearing is called Undertaking Betty that I think lovers of cozies will enjoy.

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  15. I agree that Vera sounds like a change of pace that is due on television. I’m tired of beautiful and perfect people too and she sounds like a breath of fresh air. What station is she on if we get Cable!

    It seems like all the detectives on tv like Hallmark are either blonde or Kellie Martin or Brooke Shields…not that I have a problem with those ladies-I enjoy watching them both but at my age, give me Agatha Christie or Hercule Poirot! That is an age I can relate to!
    If you folks like your myteries cozy-please try Vickie Fee who does the Dixie girls series-she is really good and One Fete in the Grave just released. Her earlier books were winners as well. The other titles are Death Crashes a Party and It’s Your Party, You Can Die If You Want to.

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    • I have a couple of other authors that write great cozies that I really enjoy and forgive me if I’ve mentioned them before. Leslie Budiewicz writes two series and I’ve only read one series about Murder at the PTA but there are several others with PTA in the title by Laura Adler that I’ve found very entertaining. One more I’d like to mention that I really enjoy is Emily Brightwell that writes Victorian Mysteries and those can be considered cozy as well. So a few ideas for your June reading pleasure.

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    • Rob, unfortunately I don’t know if Vera has made it to American cable. We saw it on Acorn, a service that is available through Amazon or on its own that is a good place for Americans to catch British television.

      And thanks for the suggestions as well!

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      • For those who live in larger areas, I think you might find that your library has the video sets for borrowing. And if they don’t, some libraries will buy requested materials and have the available funds for this.

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  16. I just discovered Vera this year. It’s on several times a week here in the UK and I love it. Brenda Blethyn is excellent! Another cracking series is The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (also not necessarily a cozy) It’s based on the novels of Elizabeth George. Never read the books but love the TV series.

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  17. Thanks! I’ve considered watching that one but didn’t know anything about it. I also recently watched Shetland and really enjoyed that too.

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  18. Just in case you had missed it, “Midnight, Texas,” based on Charlaine Harris’ series by the same name, will be premiering on NBC July 25 at 9/10C. Frankly, I’m a bit skeptical about how well they will do with it. I’m already unhappy about the casting of Lemuel, but I will certainly give it two episodes, just to see. Not quite a cozy like the Aurora Teagarden series, but fans of Ms. Harris might want to take a look and see if it is worth keeping up with. Dunno.

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  19. My husband and I discovered Vera accidentally in2015 when we were on vacation in Niagara Falls, NY and were channel surfing on a Saturday night in our hotel room. The local PBS had some English mystery on and we got sucked in. Turned out it was Vera and we were happy to discover that one of our PBS stations carried it! Sometime the stories are a little dark, but the acting and tale are masterful! So far, I’ve only read the first Vera book and plan on reading others. One of my friends loves the other Ann Cleeves books, too. It was a nice surprise to see today’s post! I think cozy readers most likely would enjoy the TV series and books.

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  20. Thanks, as always, Danna, for the recommendation. I’ve stumbled across the series a number of times (I think it’s on NetFlix) but have never watched it. Will definitely add it to my list. It’s so funny that you should post about this today. Last night I posted a message on my FB page about “Grantchester,” which I just discovered over the weekend. People have been telling me how much they love Grantchester. It’s another fabulous British mystery, although not exactly cozy, but it has a wonderful (and handsome!) Anglican priest in the starring role, and a world-weary police inspector played by Robson Green, who’s appeared in many wonderful British mystery shows. Anyway… a couple of people who told me they love Grantchester, also mentioned Vera! Your review and description of Vera have definitely made me anxious to watch the shows as well as read the books!

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    • Patti, it’s definitely interesting to hear that it might be on Netflix – we let our own subscription lapse some time ago, but I’m sure it’ll be helpful for many others! And thanks for the suggestion for Grantchester!

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      • Well rats! I just checked NetFlix, and Vera’s only available through NetFlix DVD. 🙁 I also checked amazon prime, and didn’t see it there, either. Maybe I’ll have to break down and subscribe to Acorn, since my husband and I absolutely adore most all British shows. (Was Vera shown on PBS? I’m sure I taped one episode of it once–but never got around to watching it, which is–sadly–kind of typical.) I did, however, order the first book in the series yesterday!

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  21. So many good shows on Acorn – I’m thinking I’m going to have to invest in a subscription.

    Thanks for the review and recommendation

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  22. We’ve enjoyed the Vera show for years, rewatching it on PBS, now on Acorn, we love Acorn. So many shows and such quality acting and subjects. The open country and seaside are such interesting and vast landscapes, unlike what we’re used to in Minnesota. I haven’t read the book so don’t know how to compare, but it is a fun show to watch.

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  23. Thank you for writing about this series…I’m definitely going to check it out! I discovered “The Crow Trap” at our local library last week. I really enjoyed reading it. Unfortunately, they don’t have all the books so I have to wait for inter-library loan. I’m a reader who likes to pick up the next one in a series immediately after she finishes a book. LOL

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  24. Love, love Vera…and a new season, or set of episodes, will be on tv shortly…also really enjoy Shetland by the same author. Maybe not the coziest, but very GOOD!

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  25. Danna Boston Cream Bribery by Jessica Beck is coming out June 27 it is number 32 in the donut shop mysteries wanted to let you know

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  27. I love Acorn as well . . . so fortunate for me that my memory is not so great. That means I can re-watch entire seasons of favorites and re-enjoy them all over again. Glad I found your blog!

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  28. I have never been disappointed in any of the British mysteries that PBS airs. I find them all far more interesting than those shown in America. But I must say since the new guy on Midsomer Murders, Neil Dudgeon, took over, I no longer like nor enjoy the series. That actor played a lecherous gardener on one of the early shows and I cannot forget that. I tried the whole new season when he took over and found myself disliking him and his wife. I adored John Nettles, the original and his family relationship with his wife and Callie, his daughter.

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  31. I’ve just read the last “Shetland” book, “Wild Fire,” and it set me thinking about the first Ann Cleeves book I read, decades ago. I think it was “The Healers” but I’m not sure. It was set in the lovely little town of Hexham in Northumberland and intrigued me so much that I went to see the place. I stayed for 2 years!
    I read the Vera books before they were televised and I have such a vivid image of Vera from them that I’ve never watched the t.v. versions in case they spoil it. Daft maybe. However, I came to the “Shetland” series via the T.V. so… I would certainly recommend her books.

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      • Well, it’s only a 3hr. drive from my home town and as an artist I’ve always been able to work where I like – but in the end I couldn’t afford to keep 2 houses going so I had to go home. It’s quite unlike the locations in “Vera” and “Shetland.” It’s an old medieval town and at that time was still small and quiet. It’s since been “discovered” and is now twice the size, “sigh.” I think that book was the only one she set there.

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  32. I have watched Vera off and on and now that I have Britbox I can watch episodes 3 and 4 plus episodes 7 to 9; my question is “are Vera and Joe related?” I saw the shows on PBS and I got the impression that they are mother and son….can you enlighten me. Thanks.

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  33. The local PBS station just started showing Vera! Definitely a lot of Columbo references, which I really like (being that he’s my favorite TV detective of all time), but tbh I find myself wishing the mysteries were less formulaic and more intriquing. Perhaps I’ve just seen so many British mysteries over the years that they’ve all become too predictable for me. However, I’ll continue to watch Vera. I wish the producers would go full Columbo because I think the actress who portrays Vera would be really good in that type of series, suspecting the baddie from the start, going toe to toe with the killer and then a great “Gotcha!” moment at the end would be very different from today’s version of a mystery.

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