by Kathleen Costa

AcornTV continues to provide me with hours of laughs, tears, gasps, and nods of interest … all in all big time entertainment I can stream anywhere, anytime, on any of my devices with excellent video and audio quality. With so many streaming options available, I consider my AcornTV membership well worth the cost. You can choose a $6.99 monthly fee or a special discount for an annual charge of $69.99. I am an eclectic fan enjoying the quirky comedies, intense dramas, informative documentaries, and my favorite, engaging detective mysteries, of which, The Brokenwood Mysteries is a Kiwi Gem.

The Brokenwood Mysteries, a personal favorite, is still going strong finishing its ninth season, a tenth season soon to begin filming, making an art of clever, quirky, and often surprising murder mysteries. The crime, of course, is the center, but orbiting is a very experienced detective squad, wildly entertaining and just the team you want to forge through the clues to find the culprit, usually a murderer.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea) whose love of country music (often part of the soundtrack), his vintage Kingswood sedan, and love life, may be part of the story, but it’s his commitment to his job through rational, introspective insights and often greeting the unfortunate victim with a “we’ll find the killer” promise that sets him apart from others in the pantheon of detectives.

His second in-command Detective Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland), who still can’t make a good cup of coffee, has a enjoyable dry sense of humor with a “roll of her eye” that says much. She is suspicious at all times when questioning witnesses writing everything in her trusty notebook, but does acquiesce to Shepherd’s authority.

DC Daniel Chalmers (Jarod Rawiri), the handsome M?ori, is a good partner and friend to Sims’ seniority. He’s also not one to be trifled with, especially if you attempt to evade him or his questions. His dry sense of humor matches Sims’ and makes him fun to watch.

In the lab there’s Dr. Gina Kadinsky, with a Russian accent, spouting off notable old sayings that often are misspoken or obscure. She is pushy, to Sims’ frustration, and has an unrequited affection for Mike. She knows her dead bodies, though, and “borscht.”

These characters, brilliantly cast, feel like old friends as one watches the drama unfold, and it’s sprinkled with a few giggles, insights into humanity, and portrayal of all that’s good and bad in this small New Zealand town of Brokenwood.

Beyond the detectives and visitors of Brokenwood, who often butt heads, there are some odd residents that assist or impede the investigations. My favorite is “Frodo” (Karl Willetts), as he prefers, with his ponytail and for a short time tortoise Hercules, has had the most obvious transformation, finally finding a reliable, legal income source whipping up all manner of coffee concoctions at his coffee cart. He’s also eager to help in any situation offering, often unsolicited advice and information. There’s more to round out the Brokenwood’s residents good or annoying: the acerbic manager of the local watering hole and convicted murderer is always under suspicion, the gay mayor hopes to make the town a popular destination, the Anglican priest looks out for the town’s spiritual side, the Porky Pigeon Pizzeria owner is rarely forthcoming about criminal activity, a slick lawyer walks a fine line between lawful representation and suborning perjury, and Mike’s fiancée is vying to be his … fifth wife? An excellent ensemble!

The Brokenwood Mysteries earns 5+/5 country songs as a frequently quirky, always engaging police procedural punctuated by fascinating and entertaining characters and the extraordinary actors portraying them. From a musical about the founding of Brokenwood to a strange family and their secrets, from a group of nuns who’ve taken a vow of silence to the turmoil among veterinarians, from a locked hotel room mystery to the solidarity among a female motorcycle gang each of the six storylines is clever with clues slowly exposed, uncooperative witnesses, some revised as suspects, a few motives to ponder, coffee breaks at Frodo’s, beers at the pub, and a surprise final arrest. It’s good to know the group will be returning for a tenth season, but I wish Detective Sims could break out with a more personal, even dramatic storylines as well as finding a way to focus on DC Chalmers’ native heritage. But, no matter the story focus, I am eager for more Brokenwood.

For fans, head to Facebook to connect with like minded individuals.

Official AcornTV, managed by the parent company, RLJ Entertainment, Inc., is a public group fans can “follow.” They disseminate information about the programs currently airing and provide updates on premiers and returns of popular shows. Fans don’t have permission to post their own items, but commenting on their posts is allowed.

AcornTV Fans is a public group anyone can join and post, after a moderator’s approval, of course. The site focuses on sharing information about all of the programs, not just dramas or detective mysteries, the various stars and cast members, and behind the scenes insights.

Brokenwood Mysteries Fan Group is a private group of over 2K fans that FB members can easily join and post, with monitor’s approval, of course, or comment with information about the show, it’s core cast or guest stars, filming locations, and insights into the show or behind the scenes. The moderator, Bill Bolton, posted some fascinating “Did you Know? items about season nine. Here’s some standouts:

S9-E1 Brokenwood, the Musical
“Manky is my new word for things “worthless, inferior, unpleasant, or dirty.”

S9-E2 Old Blood Money
“A bit handsy” seems universal. It literal means “often touching people with your hands, especially when they do not want you to.”

S9-E3 Nun Of The Above
More worthy of personal use: “Nowuckers” means “no bother, no trouble; an assurance all is fine” and “munter” refers to one “whose judgement is often impaired by alcohol or recreational drugs.”

S9-E4 Going To The Dogs
DC Daniel Chalmers is M?ori and frequently uses the M?ori greeting “kia ora.” It has many meanings, similar to the Hawaiian word “aloha,” such as hello, good morning, good luck, and take care.

Surprise Fact! Frodo named his tortoise Hercules which could very well be a reference to the 1990s’ television show Hercules: The Legendary Journeys in which Neill Rea played King Arthur in the 1999 episode “Once Upon a Future King.”

S9-E5 A Shot of Love
Kristin uses the expression “Goodnight nurse” to show surprise or exasperation. I remember an uncle using this phrase which as a child was hard to understand.

S9-E6 Motorcycle Mamas
DC Chalmers refers to “Farkle” (function plus sparkle), a modification to a motorcycle that creates “bling,” serves a purpose, more useful in the eyes of the farkler, and is most likely expensive. [Google, however, offers an alternate definition for “farkle.”]

Upcoming Gems!

Dalgliesh, a favorite series, aired its second season with Bertie Carvel as Detective Adam Dalgliesh. Set in the 1970s, Dalgliesh continues his partnership with DS Kate Miskin (Carlyss Peer), but DS Daniel Tarrant (Alistair Brammer) is added to the team. The question this season is will Dalgliesh choose to continue as a detective or will he move on and focus full-time on his career as a poet?

WPC 56 (2013-2016) is a newly added drama set in the 1950s and follows the first woman police constable in the Midlands Constabulary at the Branford Police Station. Starring Jenna Jacques as WPC Gina Dawson (series 1-2) and her successor WPC Annie Taylor (Claudia Jessie; series 3) as they navigate a very male-dominated career with all the drawbacks, obstacles, and pressures.

Happy Valley aired its third and “final” season with Sarah Lancashire portraying police sergeant Catherine Cawood in the West Yorkshire town of Calder Valley, which is also known as Happy Valley not for being a “happy” place to live and work, but due to the high number of drug-related crimes. The intensity of the storyline entangles Cawood’s family.

Cannes Confidential is a new detective series with a no-nonsense detective Camille Delmasse (Lucie Lucas) partnering with a charming international conman Harry King (Jamie Bamber) to solve a variety of crimes on the French Riviera.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify. A new episode goes up next week.

Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying year 2 of retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband of 26+ years.