by Kathleen Costa
AcornTV is a great entertainment option: wide variety of classics and new programs, set all over the UK universe and beyond, easy access on any device, excellent video and audio quality, a reasonable membership fee (monthly $6.99; special annual $69.99), and a free trial. I have classics that I revisit often (Hamish Macbeth), favorites I watch over and over (Agatha Raisin) or am excited for the next season to arrive (The Brokenwood Mysteries), and other shows that offer insights into real events or historical figures, tours of bucket-list destinations, and informative cooking and gardening shows (England’s Forgotten Queen, Grand Tours Scotland, Mary Berry Love to Cook, Monty Don’s Paradise Gardens). It’s the perfect present for any Anglophile…check out the Give a Gift opportunity.
My Life is Murder is a favorite “cozy” mystery dramady with a great cast, New Zealand setting, and clever murder mysteries I try to solve. Lucy Lawless has returned as police consultant Alexa Crowe with Rawiri Jobe as police contact Harry Henare who brings her several interesting cases to explore, Ebony Vagulans as her tech savvy roommate Madison Feliciano, and Reuben Wulf (Joseph Naufahu) whose café is a haven and outlet for her prized sourdough bread. New to the series is quirky Beth (Tatum Warren-Ngata) as a former Navy cryptologist adding tech and undercover support, Alexa’s brother Will Crowe (Martin Henderson) who recently was released from prison looking for employment to keep him out of trouble, and his estranged ten-year-old daughter Olive Crowe (Nell Fisher) who unexpectedly shows up at Alexa’s door…Auntie Alexa?
Detective Henare relies on Alexa’s professional skills as a retired detective, but she has less constraints for her covert snooping and undercover plans, but when an arrest is imminent, the detective and his back-up are there with the cuffs. It Takes Two when a murdered tango dancer at a local dance studio has Alexa going in as an eager student with Reuben as her plus one. A crime novelist is found hidden in a Nothing But Concrete public statue with too many suspects having wanting to write his last chapter. A champion thoroughbred horse with impeccable Bloodlines is the prime suspect in the death of his handler….can you arrest a horse? A very active senior resident at The Village ends up dead revealing her very “out there” lifestyle. It’s Silent Lights out when over-the-top Christmas fanatic has a tragic accident and the neighbors more relieved than regretful. The Bride to Bee doesn’t make it down the aisle. Two feuding bakers, also exes, would prefer Breaking Bread over each other’s head, but it’s a murder that may sour the dough. It’s the last note for a music producer with a Gaslight Sonata, and with Alexa one foot down, the investigation is a remote affair. A popular male nanny is found dead after a lightning storm and since everyone involved is Staying Mum, an undercover plan is needed. A Rising Angel in the fashion industry is murdered exposing jealousies, failing careers, and high fashion high jinx. Whew! What a caseload!
Earns 5/5 Sourdough Starters…Entertaining! This series puts the entertaining quirky back into detective shows. The delightful personalities and connections, clever mysteries with several suspects, and a final reveal that seems right out of Agatha Christie’s playbook is punctuated by the witty banter, colorful wardrobe, and marvelous vistas. Alexa is definitely the “favorite” aunt engaging her niece’s help with online searches, pop culture knowledge, and even using her as a way into her school. Alexa’s friendships seem more due to her investigations than emotional connections. She is a bit brusque and demanding with Madison and Beth, when in contrast, they are helpful, concerned, and always have her back. And don’t “diss” her sourdough bread! A glimpse of softness does appear at the end, and that’s good to see. Hopefully, season four will explore the softer side of Alexa Crowe.
My Life is Murder
Season One KRL Review Feb 2021
Season Two KRL Review Oct 2022
Alexa’s Rustic Rosemary Bread
Different Drummer-Movie Reviews for Film Loving Foodies
This fabulously hearty and chewy bread sends out delicious aromas of rosemary and garlic as it bakes. It’s much tastier than many restaurant versions. We think you’ll love this!
Ingredients
1-1/2 tsp active dry yeast
1 cup warm water, 110-115F
2 tsp white sugar
2 tsp fine salt
3 TB extra virgin olive oil
2-1/2 cups bread flour
1 TB dried rosemary
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 head of roasted garlic
extra olive oil for brushing on top and serving
coarse sea salt for sprinkling on top
balsamic vinegar for serving
clean water in spray bottleDirections
1. In large bowl, Sprinkle yeast into 1 cup warm water. Mix in the sugar and salt. Let sit for about 10 minutes or until it foams. Add in olive oil. Add flour and knead (by hand or stand mixer) for about 10 minutes. Add rosemary, black pepper, and oregano. Knead another 5 minutes. Finally, gently knead in roasted garlic by hand, about 1 minute. Dough should come together well at this point; slightly sticky is fine.
2. Place dough ball in well oiled bowl, turning dough a few times so that dough surfaces are protected by oil. Tightly cover bowl with cling wrap. Place in warm, draft-free area to rise until dough is doubled, approx. 1 hour, depending on room temp (if your room is cooler, it could take 2 hours.)
3. After dough is doubled, punch it down and shape into a rounded loaf. Using sharp knife, make a criss-cross design on top. Place rounded loaf on greased baking sheet. Cover up loaf with large mixing bowl inverted over it. Make sure bowl is large enough that it gives your loaf room to rise. Let rise until doubled again, approx 1 hour.
4. After dough has doubled again, gently brush with olive oil, sprinkle with coarse sea salt and a bit more rosemary. Bake at 375F for 25-30 minutes, spraying loaf with water once during the middle of baking. Bump oven up to 425F and spray loaf with water again. Watch carefully – bake just until top is a nice golden brown, taking care not to over bake.
5. Serve bread fresh and warm, with your favorite blend of good olive oil, freshly ground black pepper, and balsamic vinegar!
Other Kiwi Gems!
One Lane Bridge is an outstanding mystery. Season One introduces newly assigned Detective Arika Davis (Dominic Ona-Ariki) to the unit headed by Stephen Tremaine (Joel Tobeck). The young Maori’s latent second sight is triggered revealing many tragic events related the one-lane bridge. Earns 5/5 Creepy Bridges…Outstanding! (KRL Review HERE)
Under the Vines has two strangers, not well suited for a rural environment, jointly inherit a failing vineyard. London lawyer Louis Oakley (Charles Edwards) and Sydney socialite Daisy Monroe (Rebecca Gibney) need to put aside egos and entitled personalities to find common ground. Earns 5/5 Wine Glasses…Fun!
The Sounds (2020), set around the Pelorus Sound, follows husband and wife Tom and Maggie Cabbott (Matt Whelan; Rachelle Lefevre) who move to the area to escape too much family drama. Life becomes extremely complicated when Tom goes missing revealing secrets, infidelities, and family plots that taint their new found paradise. Earns 5/5 Secrets…Engaging!
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 went up this week.
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