DEBORAH CROMBIE: You all know by now that British TV/telly mysteries are my cup of tea, and I'm always thrilled when a brand new show comes across my radar and I get to share it with you. Last week Britbox (bless them!) aired all three episodes of THE TOWER, a gripping new drama from Patrick Harbinson, the creator of 24, LAW & ORDER:SVU, and HOMELAND, so some serious credentials there. It stars Gemma (love the name!) Whelan from GAME OF THRONES and KILLING EVE, who plays Detective Sergeant Sarah Collins, a homicide investigator with the Metropolitan Police.
When a veteran cop and a teenage girl are killed in a fall from a tower block in southeast London, Collins is called to the scene. Left behind on the roof are a five-year-old boy and the veteran cop's rookie partner, who later goes missing. The series is based on a book called POST MORTEM by Kate London, a former Met homicide detective, so this show has got all the gritty, fact-based drama you could want. It's a complex story, with hints of organized crime, racial tensions, and police corruption. The cast is terrific, especially Gemma Whelan as Collins. Here's a peek.
I especially liked Tahirah Sharif as Lizzie Adama, the runaway rookie.
And Emmet Scanlan, who plays the possibly dodgy Inspector Shaw, is mesmerizing.
To me, it seems that there are two main threads in British mystery television, one which includes cozier shows, from Midsomer Murders (although I usually find the methods of murder in Midsomer to be horribly gruesome,) the Marples and the Poirots, Hamish Macbeth, Hetty Wainthropp, Father Brown, Agatha Raisin, and one of my very favorites, Pie in the Sky. Some but not all of these shows feature amateur sleuths, but they have in common that you never feel the murders are to be taken seriously.
Then there is the tradition of harder edged British mystery shows, going all the way back to Prime Suspect in 1991 and including shows like The Killing, The Fall, Line of Duty, Broadchurch, Happy Valley, and Scott and Bailey. (Interesting that so many of these have featured female leads, isn't it?) I would put THE TOWER firmly in this camp.
Personally, I enjoy both styles, but it made me think about the shows that made me fall in love with the British telly mystery, and how they influenced my writing. Some, like Morse, which I adored, I couldn't classify. Murder is certainly taken seriously, but the series didn't have the hard-edged, fast-paced feel that we associate with gritty crime drama now. I loved the early adaptations of Sayers and P.D. James, but I was a huge fan of Prime Suspect, too.
REDS and readers, do you have a preferred "style" in TV mysteries? Or are you an equal opportunity fan? I know I've left lots out here, so share favorites that I've missed!
“The Tower” sounds amazing . . . and what a great cast!
ReplyDeleteI’m pretty much an equal opportunity fan when it comes to television mysteries . . . I enjoy watching the case unfold and seeing if I can figure it out before the big reveal.
Me, too, Joan!
DeleteDEBS: Since I started reading the Golden Age mystery writers as a tween/teen, I definitely started as a lover of British TV mysteries. I watched most of the PBS Mystery shows in the 1980s and 1990s: MORSE (my absolute fave), Poirot, and the short-lived CAMPION (with Peter Davison) and early Wimsey and DALZIEL AND PASCOE.
ReplyDeleteOf the newer US mysteries, I only watch a few police procedurals, including LONGMIRE and BOSCH.
OOPW, I forgot a new one. I have a 30-day trial of Disney+ which includes HULU originals that you otherwise cannot watch in Canada. I finished watching ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING (after seeing many recommendations here) and thoroughly enjoyed it.
DeleteGrace, Bosch was so well done. It's amazing how they kind of took the books, dumped all the stories into a pot, stirred and came out with something as cohesive, engaging and entertaining, that preserved the qualities of the characters from the books. Incredible!
DeleteJUDY: I agree with you about BOSCH. I had low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. Maybe it helped that Michael Connelly is an executive producer for the show? But of course, the key to BOSCH is Titus Welliver.
DeleteGrace where did you caught Bosch ? I like the books but never came upon the TV episodes.
DeleteDANIELLE: I have Amazon Prime so I watch it on Amazon Prime Video.
DeleteCampion! I loved that! I wonder if it's available anywhere now. That one was definitely in the charming camp.
DeleteI loved Dalziel and Pascoe, too. The books are wonderful, Grace, if you've never read them, and I think the TV adaptation was one of the most successful.
We've only seen one season of Bosch, and I keep thinking we should get back to it.
DEBS: I was a huge Reginald Hill fan. I was reading Dalziel & Pascoe way before the TV show. And I loved Campion so much, I boughf the DVDs since it was only a 4 episode (mini) series.
DeleteWe had been meaning to do Bosch for years, but turned out to be glad we waited for lockdown. It was a great way to see LA when we couldn’t do it in person.
DeleteI love both kinds of British mysteries. Some days I'm drained and can't follow the often complex gritty mysteries, so I tune in to Shakespeare and Hathaway, Agatha Raisin, Madam Blanc, etc. If I'm sharp I love Lewis, Broadchurch, the Fall, Shetland, Vera, Manhunt, etc. So happy Happy Valley is about to film another season - love Sara Lancashire and Siobhan Finneran! Also Unforgotten with Nicola Walker, one of my favorites, and Sanjeev Bhaskar. Loch Ness is a good one season serious mystery, and so poignant is River with Nicola Walker and Stellan Skaarsgard (forgive any name misspellings!) That one touched me deeply.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone else have trouble with names in the complex mysteries?! They often introduce so many character and then later they refer to them by name, and I can't remember who they are talking about! I think I'll start keeping a list and description as each character is introduced.
I adore Agatha Raisin. Ashley Jenson is brilliant.
DeleteThat's a great idea about keeping a list of the names in the more complicated, longer running shows. I also find that using close captioning helps a lot.
This was a funny issue with Hinterland, set in Wales. Multiple characters were named Dafydd, Huw, etc. so it could get confusing.
DeleteI love watching TV mystery shows. I like watching the cases unfold and trying to guess along with them. There was a show where they told you who the killer and victim was - I liked that show.
ReplyDeleteI do love Columbo (old show)
Dru, Peter Falk was perfect for the role of Columbo. A match made in TV heaven!
DeleteI also loved the Columbo, Dru.
DeleteI'd forgotten about Columbo, Dru! Peter Falk was iconic!
DeleteThe Tower sounds great, Debs. I read a lot of cozy mysteries, but my TV watching tends toward the grittier (possibly because I rarely watch TV alone, and Hugh doesn't like the lighter fare). We loved Unforgotten with Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar. Also Broadchurch, Shetland, and of of course Prime Suspect.
ReplyDeleteEverything Edith said!
DeleteI loved the acting in Broadchurch but the ending left me cold.
DeleteRick doesn't care for the lighter ones, either, although he did like Only Murders in the Building.
DeleteIrwin watches much more TV than I do these days. But most Friday nights we still watch Midsomer Murders together, and I agree, the killings are particularly gruesome, although I believe they're supposed to be funny. I've missed most of the British mystery shows you are talking about but the one that I loved was one during WWII, when a retired inspector is called back to the force. His son is an RAF pilot. (Help me with the name of the show gang!) The cast was stellar! It was on Netflix and I watched while I cooked and baked. These days I listen to Audible instead.
ReplyDeleteJudy, I think the Midsomer writers must have contests to see who can come up with the most gruesome methods of murder!
DeleteThe show you loved was Foyle's War, with Michael Kitchen as Foyle. I think that series is one of the best things ever done for TV. And incidentally, the actor who played Foyle's son, Andrew, would make a very nice Duncan. His name is Julian Ovenden.
Oh, he would be a perfect Duncan. What a hottie! Sigh!
DeleteHave you ever considered sending him a book and telling him you think he'd be a great Duncan? Sometimes actors can get things moving, too. Just saying.
I have actually thought about this. Maybe I could find out who his agent is, and have my agent send a book through them. But which book?
DeleteBefore I forget, what a love fest at Poisoned Pen last night! It was fabulous!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was fun to see the Reds at PP live last night. It was the first time I heard their origin story. I have been lurking/reading the JRW since @2008.
DeleteI do miss ROSEMARY HARRIS a lot!
She was one of the first Reds I met in person at LCC2008 in Denver.
How I loved Hank telling Hallie about a movie and Hallie saying her parents wrote it!
DeleteDarn - I forgot to watch!
DeleteANN: Yes, that was great!
DeleteThat was fun. And Grace, I also miss Rosemary, and she and Hank, along with Alex Sokoloff, where the first two mystery writers I met, too. At the Indianapolis Bouchercon.
DeleteAnn, that was funny
DeleteKAREN: I met Julia & Debs a year after I met Rosemary at the Baltimore Bouchercon. Too bad I did not go the one in Indy.
DeleteThat was so much fun.
DeleteWe are watching and enjoying the first season of THE LONG CALL, based on Ann Cleeves's book. Like Edith, I prefer TV that's a bit more serious, but not gory or brutal. Lupin was also right in my sweet spot.
ReplyDeleteOur lovely contact at Britbox, Maddie, says that The Long Call was their biggest premiere ever!! Oh, and we LOVED Lupin. I hope they make more of that.
DeleteI forgot to mention that I enjoyed last night's gathering with the Reds. I can't wait for us to see each other in person.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dru - Barbara Peters was an EXCELLENT host! And I have to say I had a blast doing it... almost (almost) as good as "being there."
DeleteYes she was.
DeleteWas it recorded, Hallie?
DeleteEDITH: Here is the link
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=299007688809443
Thanks!
DeleteThanks, Grace!
DeleteI'm giving myself a subscription to Britbox for Xmas. The Tower sounds like it would be right up my alley. I hope it's not anathema to say this, but I do find the shows that are long on wardrobe and flippant dialogue and short on believability leave me cold. LOVED Scott & Bailey. New Tricks. Rumpole! I can't seem to get into any of the series that are right now on public tv, though that's where I've discovered the series I love.
ReplyDeleteHallie, when you want a belly laugh, watch QI with Stephen Fry and then with Sandi Toksvig.
Deletealso Upstart Pig, and Mrs. Brown's Boys. Immerse yourself in Shetland and Vera when you need an Ann Cleeves fix. and don't miss The Tower! Britbox is my current favorite channel, but then there is Doc Martin on Acorn. I think you deserve two Christmas presents, so consider Acorn too.
It was so good to hear you laugh last night. Much love.
Yes, I so agree with Ann. Both channels are worth it. Shows do seem to switch back and forth on them as well. For a little British culture fix, I'm indulging myself by watching Eastenders on Acorn. I think you need to have watched every night for years in order to keep all the characters straight, but it's still fun.
DeleteWe're finishing up Vera and will watch THE TOWER next. I prefer crime series with strong female leads (Nicola Walker in THE UNFORGOTTEN). With some library DVDs plus PBS, we watched all the seasons of BAPTISTE, staring a flawed, traumatized investigator with a passion for the truth.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't watched Babtiste. Thanks for the recommendation, Margaret!
DeleteHallie, I'm with you--'shows that are long on wardrobe and flippant dialogue and short on believability'--I don't get past the trailers. Right now, I still can't stomach anything too gritty, too serious, so I know I'm missing shows I may enjoy in the future. I tried Longmire--and thought it was exceptional, except for the violence. Sometimes it's just as effective to leave some things to the viewers' imagination.
ReplyDeleteWe've only watched a bit of Longmire. Great cast in that one. Flora, you might really enjoy the Ann Cleeves adaptations.
DeleteThanks for the recommendation, Deborah--I've certainly enjoyed her books!
DeleteI finally (after months of dithering) subscribed to BritBox and I love it! I’ve subscribed to Acorn for a few years, too. I’m an equal opportunity British mystery fan; I’ll watch anything once. I love the “old” series like Morse and early Midsommer Murders but also like new entries. Loved the JRW gathering at Poisoned Pen last night. You are all a lovely group of people!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Emily! We had a ball. And I'm a double subscriber, too, both Britbox and Acorn. Britbox has really been great this year with new series.
DeleteMy good morning shout out to all you Reds for a fantastic show with Barbara at PP. Barbara was so great at in her interview. It was such a treat. And I had no trouble watching with the Apple TV. Please share your book recommendations here with us. As for Brit TV mysteries I love all kinds and need to make a note of recommendations. Debs I am anxiously awaiting #19 having just been on a DC marathon. I can imagine the challenge of no travel for atmosphere but I still can’t wait. While the pandemic is a trial and a test, more people reading, more books sold. You can’t beat that. Loved the origins story too.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Celia, and so glad you enjoyed the PP get-together. Barbara was terrific. It was a great idea for us to talk about how we came about. And I loved that Barbara says more people are reading!
DeleteMy very favorites are the ones that are hardest to categorize, like Morse and Inspector Lewis. I think the Ann Cleeves series (all three of them!) fall in that camp, too. Basically, I'm thinking of series that are hugely character driven.
ReplyDeleteThat said, though, I watch both styles. As someone already said, I believe, it depends a lot on my headspace that particular night. At the end of a long work day my husband and I are more likely to choose something cozy. When we're feeling a little more alert we might choose something grittier.
I was amazed recently to realize how little I watch any TV that isn't from Britbox or Acorn anymore. I saw some ad during a football game and when I commented on it, someone said, "You're just seeing that? They've been playing it everywhere for weeks!" And I thought to myself, "Not on Britbox or Acorn, they haven't!"
Thank goodness for that!
DeleteSusan, I feel the same about the Ann Cleeves series. I couldn't really put them in either camp. Maybe we need a "Police procedural, character-driven, serious but not too gritty" category!
DeleteThat's perfect, Debs!
DeleteMy exposure to British mysteries has been through PBS and even then, I normally forget to punch the buttons to change the channel. (I was about to say "turn the dial" but realized I haven't gotten up to turned the dial in years.) I've enjoyed the episodes of Vera I have seen.
ReplyDeleteDeborah, I am so happy with this topic and happy that you mentioned The Tower. I just got Britbox and I need help with what to watch next so you've given me some great ideas. I primarily wanted to see the new Veras and Long Call and Shetland, which I had never seen. What an abundance of riches!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy watching either style, maybe like others have said, depending on my mood.
Judi, you are in for a treat. Are all the seasons of Vera and Shetland running on Britbox now? Sometimes they seem to switch back and forth between Britbox and Acorn. We're watching the new series of Shetland now.
DeleteWhich is Britbox.
DeleteI love British TV crime shows, but I don't know that I have a preference for either camp. I want a good story well told. In fact, that pretty much sums up what I want out of any story, whether told in TV or in a book.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone else watched the new show, McDonald and Dodds? Love a show with a good underdog.
ReplyDeleteThis week I started watching Madame Blanc. Charming.
That's two to put on my list, Karen.
DeleteFirst, can I just say how much I enjoyed the JRW conversation on The Poisoned Pen yesterday evening. It was great fun to be part of that gathering, albeit after the fact as I missed it live and caught it on video. Thank you for that!
ReplyDeleteI don't have any recommendations of what to watch, being generally behind the trend on that front. But what I do enjoy is more character and less grit. I just cannot take too much horridness on the screen -- there's enough of it on the news and in the world; I don't want it in my entertainment as well.
Awww, thank you! We had fun, too! (As you could see!)
DeleteMissed you Amanda
DeleteI'm not watching mysteries on TV these days. Not sure why that has happened, but none of them are appealing to me. And I haven't had time since I'm stuck on the Arrowverse DC Superhero shows on the CW. Plus I don't have all the streaming subscriptions that I would need to watch most of these shows.
ReplyDeleteI can't say I was influenced by TV mysteries, because back in the early oughts when I started my career, the only ones I had seen were the VERY dark police procedurals. But as veiwer today, my faves are the traditional mysteries (I love adaptations of Agatha Christie, and I wish they would do more than the usual three or four titles) and the cozy and/or historical mysteries. I suspect part of my pleasure comes from the scenery in the latter - I would much prefer to look at English gardens and old stone walls than council towers and urban blight.
ReplyDeleteTrue about the council towers, Julia. I did wonder where they actually filmed The Tower, but I'll bet it was NOT London. Line of Duty was filmed in Ireland!
DeleteI enjoy both gritty and light but lean towards light mysteries more. Madame Blanc on Acorn is my latest "find" and it should qualify since the main characters are Brits in France. I also love Shakespeare and Hathaway, on either Acorn or Britbox. I enjoyed Lewis and Hathaway a lot more than Morse. I've also been watching Dalgliesh and My Life is Murder from New Zealand. And of course the Murdoch MYsteries from Canada. Love those.
ReplyDeleteI meant to ask if anyone was watching the new Dalgliesh! I think it's very good but haven't watched it all yet.
DeleteDEBS: Hmmm, I love P.D. James so will figure out how to watch the new Dalgliesh (from Canada)
DeleteI did not like the first Dalgliesh (Roy Marsden) very much.
Deb, we are living Dagliesh
Delete*loving
DeleteLove the British mystery series on Britbox and Acorn. That's about all the hubby and I watch. Love Line of Duty, Vera,Shetland, The Unforgotten is suberb. But my husband likes to relax in the afternoon with the cozies, Father Brown, Death in Paradise and the like.
ReplyDeleteEqual opportunity! LOVE the British mysteries in all their varieties. Mostly, I just want to be there now.
ReplyDeleteHere's our list of reading recommendations from our talk at the Poisoned Pen last night:
ReplyDeleteDebs--The Midnight Hour, Elly Griffiths
Jenn--Hacienda, Isabel Canas
Hank--Lavender House, Lev A.C. Rosen
The Woman in the Library, Sulari Gentill
Lucy--Tin Camp, Ellen Airgood
Hallie--Delia Ephron, Left on Tenth
Julia--Child Zero, Chris Holm
Rhys--Once Upon a Wardrobe, Patti Callahan
Debs, you know how much I love your suggestion! I'll be taking a look at the others, as I haven't read any of them.
DeleteI was so disappointed to find that she had changed the audio narrator for this book! I understand the reasoning for it--the books have definitely shifted towards the female characters--but I loved James Langton so much and was really looking forward to his narration. I may just have to buy a hard copy of the book instead of listening to the audio. :-(
DeletePie in the Sky was great.
ReplyDeleteThe only downside was it made me want to bake high class meat pies!
I am kicking myself hard for forgetting the Reds' Poison Pen event last night. I will definitely be watching the video of it.
ReplyDeleteConcerning British mystery movies on the telly, I like both kinds, or all kinds. I do love the shows with Nicola Walker, but Unforgotten broke my heart. However, I do plan on watching the next season with Sanjeev Bhaskar at the helm. I think he's wonderful. I'm on season five of Vera, and I need to get back to watching it, as I took a break from it. It was just a time when I was having trouble focusing on watching TV or reading, but, thankfully, that passed. I loved Broadchurch. How could I not with David Tennant, Olivia Colman, and Jodie Whittaker. Sarah Lancashire is another favorite actor, but I can't believe I haven't watched Happy Valley. I think it has to do with James Norton being a bad guy, and I so loved him in Grantchester. I did recently see Sarah in The Accident, and she was so good in it.
I love all Agatha Christie, and I'm really enjoying the new ones, such as And Then There Were None. I'm enjoying Endeavor, but I have to admit I came into it late and haven't gone back to catch up on earlier ones. I like Father Brown, but it can be a bit underwhelming sometimes. I am a big fan of Agatha Raisin, and I didn't think I would be because of having a blond play the part. But, Ashley Jensen has taken the part of Agatha and made it hers in a good way. I watched the first season of Marcella, but I haven't gone on to season two yet.
I want to watch The Long Call and Manhunt (for Martin Clunes, love Doc Martin) and now The Tower.
SO late! But we were RIVETED addicted and LOVED Line of Duty. The best. And Broadchurch~ Wonderful. And Foyle's War, of course. (Did you know Foyle was originally named George Ransom? But then Anthony Horowitz decided it was too on the nose. He worried worried worried, and then saw a stationery store called..... and there it was. ) OH! The Magpie Murders is coming to Masterpiece!! Won't that be GREAT?
ReplyDeleteAnd Debs, we are so eager to watch The Tower! Thank you!
Keeping Faith on Acorn, three series. Welsh noir with the terrific actors Eve Myles and Mark Lewis Jones, though not as noir as Hinterland or Hidden, both also Welsh. Right now I am enjoying Martin Clunes in the second series of Manhunt. And check out Whitechapel on Britbox, about modern-day crimes in London's East End, with echoes to the past. The first episode is, of course, about a copycat Jack the Ripper. If you like Nicola Walker, I highly recommend River. I think it's on Britbox. And Madame Blanc, yes, lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteI adore Vera its my favourite. like your London books Deborah, Vera has a wonderful sense of place that works in with the stories. Northumberland is so beautiful and covers so many different types of areas from wild moorland to villages, seaside and city, so a variety of plots can follow. Brenda Blethyn is marvellous as Vera, and all the cast are such strong actors. I love the books and the tv series both. I like my detective stories to be realistic (hence strong dislike of Midsomer) but I'm easily too stressed by anything threatening - it has to happen out of sight to the viewer for me!!
ReplyDeleteI’m a BritBox watcher I like both styles but my favorites have been Vera and Shetland. Just watched the Tower last night and highly recommend. Also enjoyed Midsomer Murders the first seasons. Also liked Luther very much
ReplyDeleteThank you for this, Deborah. I'm checking it out!!
ReplyDelete