RHYS BOWEN: This is a new and exciting direction for Jungle Red Writers. I was approached by Britbox to review a new Britbox Original mystery series, called GRACE, making its debut today! How cool is that!
As most of you know, I'm a huge fan of Britbox. It has been my rock, my escape, during the past year. When I have been stressed, depressed, feeling isolated, I have gone to Britbox and binged on my favorite silly old comedies: Are you Being Served, Keeping Up Appearances, The Vicar of Dibley etc etc, or my favorite mysteries: Miss Marple, Vera, Poirot, Death in Paradise... I could go on and on. If you like British television this is an absolute must.
What the Brits do so well is to create real, human, flawed but likable detectives. Think of Morse, Dalziel and Pascoe, Banks, Vera. Meet Detective Superintendent Grace, (played by John Simm--Life on Mars). Some of you may already be familiar with Detective Superintendent Grace, the creation of Peter James. James isn't so well known in the States but he is a mega-star in the rest of the world, and with good reason. He writes taut, edge of seat plots in the manner of Prime Suspect. The books have now been turned into a TV series written by the creator of Endeavor, Russell Lewis. What more could you want?
Anyway, this first episode introduces us to DS Grace, a man who has fallen from grace, (couldn't resist the pun, sorry) been sidelined and is now suspect because he has used a medium to help him solve a crime. He is stuck with cold cases when he is recruited by a young Detective Sergeant to help him with a very current case--a man is missing after his stag night. His stag buddies were in a van crash. Two are dead and one in a coma. But no sign of the groom. His background reveals a dodgy company with offshore assets. But then we, the viewers, learn what has happened to the groom and that his fate lies in the hands of a disabled man. This is when the nail biting begins.
You know me--I'm a cozy sort of gal. But I could not stop watching. I think I held my breath for an hour. Brilliant acting from John Simm and the sort of jigsaw puzzle cinematography that is the hallmark of British TV. I particularly like the multi-racial cast that feels very natural. Everybody go and watch and tell me what you think!
Here is a link to the trailer to whet your appetites!
So do you like the idea of occasional recommendations for movies or TV on Jungle Reds?
This sounds like the kind of show I enjoy watching, Rhys. Thanks for telling us about it. [And I like the idea of sharing movie and television recommendations.]
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting. Thanks for letting us know and I do like the idea of recommendations of movies and TV shows.
ReplyDeleteI have been waiting for this since I first read it was being made. I love Peter James’ books and DEAD SIMPLE is one of his best. The premise scared the socks off me! Roy Grace and his team are great characters. The series is one of my favorites.
ReplyDeletePlease continue with recommendations.
Marianne in Maine
PS. I love BritBox.
DeletePS. I love BritBox.
DeleteIt scared the socks off me watching it, Marianne
DeleteRecommendations are fine, and the Reds have talked about movies and shows before. Bring it!
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds great, and might tempt me to actually sign up for Britbox...
Wow, this sounds amazing. And YES to the recommendations! I look forward to more!
ReplyDeleteI don't have Britbox so I don't know when or if I'm going to be able to see this any time soon.
ReplyDeleteBut there's never anything wrong with recommendations from the Jungle Red Writers and all of us readers as well. It has led to a lot of good stuff to see for me and I'm sure for others as well.
Speaking of recommendations, today is the start of the Xfinity Watchathon Week. Running from April 27th through May 3rd, a ton of channels that you usually have to pay extra for are FREE!
We're talking HBO, Cinemax, STARZ, EPIX, Hitz, AMC+, Showtime (this one starts 4/30) and yes, AcornTV! Plus other channels too.
I've already made a list of stuff that I want to check out both movies and TV shows. Some that I've seen before but there's a number of new stuff as well.
Wow, Jay, I didn't know. I'm pretty sure there are a couple of things on HBO I've been wanting to see. Thanks!
DeleteThanks for this info, Jay!
DeleteI can't imagine life without Britbox and Acorn. These are the places to go for excellent TV, and we've had both for ages. I'm pretty sure I've sold one or the other to JRW more than once. Hallie? Debs?
ReplyDeleteWe haven[t had cable for eons, have an indoor antenna for network stuff like the morning and evening news and Roku for everything else.
Thanks, Rhys, for bringing "Grace" to our attention. We will give it a try for sure. In the meantime, we are watching "QI" for the umpteenth time. There isn't a funnier, more irreverent show on TV. Well, maybe "Are You Being Served"
We love QI! We watch an episode or two every evening. I’ve never laughed so much.
DeleteStephen Fry is brilliant. Full stop.
DeleteYes —love BritVox! And this sounds fabulous. Very cool, Rhys!
ReplyDeleteAnd may I say: Wow! I can’t believe THE FIRST TO LIE is on sale for $1.99! 🎉This is more than 80% off the price for the e-book. HERE: is the link you can copy: http://bit.ly/TFTLSALE
ReplyDeleteAnd the price will never ever be this low again, the publisher has promised me that :-)
Grab it now! And get one for a pal. And this is for a VERY limited time!
(No pressure, it's just my career.)
This looks intriguing. As long as the supernatural stuff doesn't overwhelm the mystery. Gonna have to put this on the list.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm a-okay with recommendations. We're always on the hunt for a good TV show (and it doesn't have to be mystery).
No. It’s very much background.
DeleteLooks like a great series, enough to entice me to sign up for Britbox, in addition to Acorn. Last night we watched the first episode of Backstrom about a Swedish murder team detective. Very much in the Balthazar mode and fun!
ReplyDeleteI love Britbox and Acorn. They have been my escape the last few years. Since I’ve read all the Roy Grace books and am a fan of John Simm I have been following the creation of the tv show on Facebook. So I’m quite looking forward to watching it today.
ReplyDeleteMonday is Acorn new show day and Tuesday is Britbox new show day. Bright notes to start the week. A couple weeks ago Britbox added Kate & Koji with the wonderful Brenda Blethyn. And Acorn started season 22 of Midsomer Murders. So between all you lovely writers and British and Australian tv I’ve made it through the pandemic. Thank you all.
I watched the first new episode of Midsomer, but I don't know about Kate and Koji so am looking that up. Thanks, Ann!
DeleteThanks for the recommendation! We subscribe to both Acorn and Britbox. In fact, together they account for about 85% of our TV viewing. Sometimes it's hard to know which of the new offerings will interest us, though, as some are definitely misses, too. We will definitely have to check this one out.
ReplyDeleteSame here! Sometimes islets Prime or Netflix but usually Britbox
DeleteThanks, Rhys! Sounds like an excellent show to add to my repertoire.
ReplyDeleteI'm catching up on all my Acorn shows at the moment, but I've been watching the BritBox lineup for new ones there, too.
Aren't we spoiled for choice these days? Netflix, Acorn, BritBox, Hulu, Roku, Vudu, Amazon, and then all the cable and network shows. And I still find myself clicking through channels more than actually watching. And defaulting, once again, to an iTV or BBC show.
I agree. Sometimes there is too much choice. Tokugawa opened a Pandora’s box!
DeleteYes to recommendations on JRW, Rhys! After all, most great movies and TV series begin with great writing.
ReplyDeleteIt’s in my queue! Thank you, Rhys!
ReplyDeleteI love recommendations! Books, movies, TV, bring it on!
ReplyDeleteIt's in my queue. Thank you, Rhys. I hope it is not violent. I love recommendations of books, movies, TV.
ReplyDeleteBritbox is wonderful. I have been watching Shakespeare and Hathaway, a detective duo comedy mystery, on Britbox. They are also showing Downton Abbey on Britbox!
Diana
It’s scary!
DeleteThanks! Since it is scary, perhaps I will wait until Halloween to watch it?
DeleteI would welcome more recommendations!
ReplyDeleteA couple of my siblings have been urging me to sign up for Britbox and for Acorn. I think one of them will definitely love Grace, and will probably recommend it to me! The only TV I watch is Netflix or Amazon Prime, and mostly the detective programs. I plan to look into both Britbox and Acorn now.
DebRo
Okay, you've convinced me. Well, this and the fact I've lately been binging on Agatha Christie and other Golden Age mysteries, and to be frank, there's a limited supply on Amazon and Netflix. I keep trying to resist new streaming services - we already have the last two and Disney Plus, but... I need Britbox!
ReplyDeleteAnd I just checked. $8.99 a month! I spend more than that on tortilla chips and salsa to snack on while watching.
Rhys, I love the recommendation and we will watch GRACE this weekend! We have Britbox and Acorn and love them. We are all streaming, no cable, so these channels are well worth the monthly fee. I LOVE John Simm. He's one of my favorite British actors and I'll watch anything he's in. And written by Russell Lewis is really the icing on the bun! Funnily enough I have never read Peter James, although of course in the UK you see his books everywhere.
ReplyDeleteSounds good. If I had BritBox, I'd give it a try.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who loves movies and TV in addition to books, I'd definitely be open to the occasional recommendation.
I love BritBox and Acorn and will put this on the list. BTW, Rhys, The Venice Sketchbook is your best book ever.
ReplyDeleteI am so looking forward to watching this tonight - thank you, Rhys, for bringing it to our attention. And anything you recommend is bound to draw me in perfectly. I love it that you took the time to review it - by all means, continue this practice!
ReplyDeleteI'm sold. Thanks, Rhys. I love the idea of movie/TV recommendations.
ReplyDeleteI've been grateful for Masterpiece over the last year. Atlantic Crossing, about the Crown Princess of Norway's quest to get Roosevelt to help Norway after the German Invasion in 1940 is my current binge. Did you ever get to check it out, Rhys?
ReplyDeleteI keep meaning to! Thanks for reminding me
DeleteRhys,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tip. As you know, I have been an Anglophile since I was little. I devour all books, television shows and movies that are set in the U.K. Mysteries and spy thrillers are my favorites.