The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (BBC Crime, Nathaniel Parker)

Crime drama series The Inspector Lynley Mysteries saw Nathaniel Parker star as posh, vintage Bristol driving Inspector Thomas Lynley, who, when he is not Inspectoring is the eigth Earl of Asherton. Sharon Small, meanwhile, is his take no nonsense working class Sergeant Barbara Havers. The pair team up in the pilot episode A Great Deliverance and it’s an uneasy alliance at first but as the first season progresses they come to understand and respect each other a little more.

Based on the series of novels by Elizabeth George, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries is a high quality detective drama. A little more languid than most and with plot lines involving poisonings and the death of a playwright it’s also something of an harkening back to the golden age of detective fiction.

The series sadly sort of just fizzled out, the final two episodes should have aired in 2007 but finally saw the light summer 2008.

Cast: Nathaniel Parker as Insp Thomas Lynley; Sharon Small as DS Barbara Havers; Anthony Calf as Simon St James; Emma Fielding as Helen; Amanda Ryan as Deborah St James; Nicholas Day as Chief Supt Hillier; Paul Brennen as Supt Webberley; Rebecca Gallacher as Roberta Tey; Brendan Coyle as Richard Tey; Pooky Quesnel as Stepha Odell; Cate Hamer as Olivia Odell; Denise Black as Tessa Mowbray; Peter Halliday as Father Hart; Matthew Dunster as Ezra Farmington; Caroline Carver as Danny; Colum Convey as DS Niles

Novels: Elizabeth George / Costume: Claire Anderson / Producer: Ruth Baumgarten / Design: Anthony Ainsworth / Executive Producers: Jane Tranter, Rebecca Eaton / Camera: Jonathan Bloom

UK / BBC One – WGBH Boston / 2×75 minute episodes 22×90 minute episodes / Broadcast Monday 12 March 2001 – 1 June 2008

THE EPISODES
SEASON ONE 12-13 Mar 2001
1. A GREAT DELIVERANCE PART ONE
2. A GREAT DELIVERANCE PART TWO

SEASON TWO 8 Apr – 29 Apr 2002
1. WELL-SCHOOLED IN MURDER
2. PAYMENT IN BLOOD
3. FOR THE SAKE OF ELENA
4. MISSING JOSEPH

SEASON THREE 10 Mar – 31 Mar 2003
1. PLAYING FOR THE ASHES
2. IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ENEMY
3. A SUITABLE VENGEANCE
4. DECEPTION ON HIS MIND

SEASON FOUR 4 Mar – 5 Mar 2004
1. IN PURSUIT OF THE PROPER SINNER
2. A TRAITOR TO MEMORY
3. A CRY FOR JUSTICE
4. IF WISHES WERE HORSES

SEASON FIVE 17 Mar – 7 Apr 2005
1. IN DIVINE PROPORTION
2. IN THE GUISE OF DEATH
3. THE SEED OF CUNNING
4. THE WORD OF GOD

SEASON SIX 20 Jul – 10 Aug 2006
1. NATURAL CAUSES
2. ONE GUILTY DEED
3. CHINESE WALLS
4. IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

SEASON SEVEN 5 May – 1 Jun 2008
1. LIMBO
2. KNOW THINE ENEMY