The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Since PBS is in the middle of rebroadcasting the Inspector Lewis mysteries, I thought I'd create a topic. I think they're quite well done. The story lines often seem to have a sameness to them, since they're set in Oxford - students, professors, pubs, book authors....but I think the acting and writing is pretty good.

I didn't this character or this actor was in the book, but on the TV it's a very good serie, but now it's stop it and I don't know wy

My PBS station is broadcasting the second set of Inspector Lewis mysteries and I am really enjoying them. I agree that limiting the location to Oxford can bring a bit of sameness to the series but the new set of detectives for us to get to know provides variety.

Speaking of new detectives, I particularly like Hathaway, Lewis's DC, a bit of a reincarnation of Morse.

Yes but his humor is less caustic than Morse so Lewis is more pleasant than Morse.

I love Hathaway also and am really enjoying the series. I think they've done a great job with it. Am hoping PBS will rerun the "Prime Suspect" series with Helen Mirren. Great show, too.

I really like Hathaway, he has depths, and I love the way they made him sexually ambiguous (at least in one episode).

I never watched Inspector Morse (except maybe one episode and I have no memory of it) but if it comes back on TV, I will.

"Prime Suspect" never really grabbed me, not sure why.

Dear lobstergirl, I loved that episode, too. Hathaway is my favorite. My PBS station ran TWO "Wallender" episodes with that wonderful Kenneth Branagh, and then no more. I guess because there wasn't time since my station has Pledge Week about three times a month. They seem to be running all of the Inspector Lewis series, though. I've DVR'd them and gotten my two adult children hooked on them, too.

We watched a lot of the Morse episodes and was happy to see the Lewis series... enjoyed season one (even watched a few twice) and we're liking season two even better... and I'll admit it, Hathaway is yummy! Definitely a young Morse-like character!

Yes, Hathaway is darling, even to an old granny like me (my mom used to say "we only get old on the OUTSIDE, inside we're still the same girls we used to be). I missed all of Season One but will definitely be getting it from Netflix. I'm into "Doctor Who" at the moment from Netflix, so will finish that series and have Lewis and Hathaway to look forward to, and I love to see how beautiful Britain is.

I'm more movies as CSI, Numbers, because i try find before them

Michele, there are some very good crime series on television these days and my family enjoys CSI and Numbers also. My personal favorite is N.C.I.S. of the network series, but I like Criminal Minds and a new show - Flash Forward. I have the terrible habit of reading and watching TV at the same time, thus having to hit the rewind button on the DVR often.

Sandra wrote: "Dear lobstergirl, I loved that episode, too. Hathaway is my favorite. My PBS station ran TWO "Wallender" episodes with that wonderful Kenneth Branagh, and then no more. I guess because there was..."

I missed one of the Wallanders; they showed three and I had never heard of the series before and missed the first one. PBS lets you watch the episodes online for a limited period of time after the broadcast (2 weeks or so), but I missed the window. I thought Kenneth Branagh was perfect. It's hard to imagine anyone inhabiting Wallander better. I wasn't crazy about the actress they cast as his daughter, but her role wasn't that big.

I also missed a couple of the early Inspector Lewis because I was not watching PBS due to Constant Pledge Drives. (If they would just show Inspector Lewis DURING Pledge Week instead of the bizarre crap they show, maybe people would give money.)

Sandra wrote: "Michele, there are some very good crime series on television these days and my family enjoys CSI and Numbers also. My personal favorite is N.C.I.S. of the network series, but I like Criminal Minds..."

Sandra,

Those are my favorites too. I love the characters on NCIS. I could never get into Morse or Lewis, although I liked Lewis as a character. I enjoyed the Daghliesh P.D. James series when it was on with Roy Marsden. Wasn't the guy who plays Lewis in that one too, or am I thinking of some other sidekick?

Yay!

Inspector Lewis
Masterpiece mystery! favorites Kevin Whately and Laurence Fox are back as Inspector Lewis and DS Hathaway in four new Oxford University-based whodunits, which have them solving cases at an all-female college, investigating the poisoning of a bishop, looking into a clinical trial and examining a sinister blackmail plot. Inspector Lewis: Series IV premieres Sundays, September 4, 18, 25 and October 9, 2011.

I am watching Miss Marple right now on Masterpiece. Thanks for the heads up about Inspector Lewis. Great series.

Next week is the first in the new series based on the Aurelio Zen series by Michael Dibdin.

A friend sent me a copy (shhhh!) of that... I must get around to watching it.

Donna wrote: "Next week is the first in the new series based on the Aurelio Zen series by Michael Dibdin."

Beautiful to look at, but otherwise reasonably average.

Heads-up - Inspector Lewis, the new season, premieres tonight in some locations. Check your local listings.

I'm just sitting here waiting for Lewis to start tonight, just over an hour to go. I think it's a great series. I particularly like the 'relationship' between Lewis and Dr Hobson. I think she's lovely.

I have never seen any of these shows before but I have been recording all of them and watching them with a friend. We've been watching at least two a night two nights a week. I'm really enjoying them. I can't wait til the new ones starts but then I'm also enjoying the old ones. I have t keep telling my friend to hush because she keeps trying to tell me what going to happen. :)

Inspector Lewis is one of my favorites also! Everyone knows not to bother me on Sunday night at 9 because I am watching Masterpiece Mystery. I love Hathaway too, he reminds me of my son so much. Didn't really get into Inspector Morris but only saw a few episodes. Prime Suspect is okay, If you've never seen 'The Last Detective' starring Peter Davison you have to check it out! Netflix has the series. Based on 'Dangerous Davies' series of novels written by Leslie Thomas

I likeLewis, but I still miss Inspector Morse...

I miss Morse too but Colin Dexter is involved in the writing of a new TV series about Morse's life when he first became a policeman.

Hi Jane, I thought I heard something about that but I wasn't sure. Sounds like it could be a very interesting series.

Jane wrote: "I miss Morse too but Colin Dexter is involved in the writing of a new TV series about Morse's life when he first became a policeman."

I'd be very interested in seeing that, but it's hard to imagine who they would cast even as a younger Morse since John Thaw so thoroughly inhabited the role.

I'm liking Lewis almost as much as I liked Morse.

Lewis is getting as grumpy as Morse.

That would be pretty grumpy!

If you are watching Lewis keep a lookout for Colin Dexter. He often plays an extra, so he is obviously still keen to be involved. He is in most episodes of Morse somewhere too.

The new Inspector Lewis was a good one. Yay!

I'll try to keep an eye out for old men with white hair but I'm not even sure I'd recognize him.

It was good.

I debated about watching the rerun at 1 am but I fell asleep.

Lobstergirl
I think it's the remorseful day when Colin Dexter appears in a wheelchair as part of a tour group.
Don't think anyone could replace John Thaw, and it was sad watching him playing a sick Morse, knowing he was himself so ill.

Deanne wrote: "Lobstergirl
Don't think anyone could replace John Thaw, and it was sad watching him playing a si..."

Yeah, that certainly made the end of the series a lot more poignant.

I've been a huge fan of the Morse series, as well as John Thaw, and I was very sad when John Thaw passed away. I've been really pleased with the Inspector Lewis series,though. The writers have developed his character in rich and interesting ways. When Lewis was Morse's sidekick, his character was flat, even a little dull, at times. Now, he's older and much more complicated. He and Hathaway make a great team--and I do like how Hathaway isn't merely a foil, but a fully realized character, as well. I can't wait for the next episode.

I'm watching the latest one. Excellent!

I dvr'ed the latest. Looking forward to watching it!

Although, in the latest one Hathaway's hair did something weird. It has some kind of tiny, bouffant flip in front. I preferred it close-cropped.

I love the Lewis Series on PBS. Lewis and Hathaway are really great together.I haven't missed one yet!! Lucy @1p.m. on 9-28-11

Lobstergirl, I totally agree with you about Hathaway's hair. It's too poofy!

I'm going now to search for Inspector Lewis. It seems I've been missing something good.

I searched and didn't find any matches for Inspector Lewis. Should I be searching under another title?

Hi Scout. I just checked Netflix and it should come up with Inspector Lewis but you can also try Masterpiece Mystery.

This is the Masterpiece video site where recently aired episodes of various shows are available online. I see there are several Inspector Lewis still available, plus a new Jackson Brodie.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/w...

Ah, checked Masterpiece Mystery and found Jackson Brodie and am recording it. Never tried watching a program online because I've not wanted to stress my elderly laptop, but I may try one episode out just to see. Thanks to you both for the suggestions.

I've watched two of the Jackson Brodie episodes, and I've liked them. I would say that his secretary deserves a big raise. And maybe his name should be Jackson Broody. Is this a brand-new series or a new season of an established series?

No, it is new. Based on Kate Atkinson's books.

I haven't read any yet. But I'm thinking about it.

Jan C wrote: "No, it is new. Based on Kate Atkinson's books.

I haven't read any yet. But I'm thinking about it."

Me too, I really enjoyed the series. It was excellent.

I've read the first two (I think) of the Jackson Brodie series, and I'm really enjoying the Masterpiece Mystery series. I think Jason Isaacs is perfect in the role.

Yes, he is well cast (not that I actually remember his character from the book).

I wish they would stop showing all those flashbacks to his sister's death, though. They've shown them about 10 times in the first two episodes. We get it.

Yes, I know. We got it the first five times :)

I've somehow missed the name of the city where this one takes place.