PBS stations, like KVIE (Sacramento/Stockton), KQED (San Francisco), and KVPT (Fresno), provide viewers with a variety of programs including some of the most iconic mysteries and crime dramas. There’s VERA, Death in Paradise, Annika, Grantchester, Father Brown, Shakespeare & Hathaway, and so much more, including Endeavour, the popular prequel to the iconic Inspector Morse series.
PBS, for me KVIE or KQED, is another way to get a dose of “ahhh” for my Anglophile thirst with Masterpiece Mystery. No membership fee required. No commercial breaks, barring the seasonal pledge break. Every summer the new seasons for Endeavour and Grantchester are aired, and to better adjust to the year wait, the previous season is rerun to remind fans of last year’s events and cliffhangers and allow newbies a chance to get up to speed.
In 2020, I reviewed a record 181 entertaining books and explored a few cookbooks along with connecting with talented and delightfully friendly authors, including some beta reading opportunities. It was again a daunting task to choose my annual “Tops” because every book, and a few television shows, have provided me with hours of entertainment and some inspiration.
The streaming options of Acorn-TV and BritBox are excellent opportunities to enjoy U.K. detective programs, but not everyone has the equipment, and although very reasonable, can't justify purchasing a membership. For those people, there are still avenues to explore beyond network television.
Inspector Morse concluded its run in 2000, but not its popularity. “What will the next invasion bring?” Two spin-off dramas crossed to our shores providing a positive nod to the original, yet unique enough to become favorites among the “Morse” fans.
Since it aired on our local PBS station, we've enjoyed the Masterpiece Mystery Endeavour crime drama series. A prequel to the Inspector Morse series, also set in Oxford, the series focuses on the detective’s early career and is based on the Colin Dexter novels.
