by Kathleen Costa
It’s North West England, and murders from gangland conflicts to family scrabbles from crimes of passion to serial killers to historical cases are investigated by Syndicate Nine Major Incident Team (MIT) as part of the Manchester Metropolitan Police. The group is lead by Detective Chief Inspector Gill Murray (Amelia Bullmore; credited for some writing) whose tough, by-the-book manner is tempered with keen intellect, compassion, and a bit of a sharp tongue. Her team includes several capable professionals, but not without their weaknesses and flaws.
by Kathleen Costa
BritBox offers a variety of programming options for a reasonable monthly or annual fee. There are movies, documentaries, and television comedies and dramas enough to binge or just for a quiet respite. These days afternoons have been perfect for binging all-time favorite comedies like Are You Being Served?, Are You Being Served? Again, and The Vicar of Dibley, then exploring some engaging dramas like Scott & Bailey, DSI Bancroft, and Casualty 1900s London Hospital. This past month two surprises popped up with new police dramedies McDonald & Dobbs and Wild Bill. Check out the trial offer.
by Kathleen Costa
PBS is an easy, free way to see some favorite and popular U.K. mysteries and police procedural with access to Masterpiece Mystery on KVIE and KVIE2 (Sacramento) and KQED (San Francisco). Every year Endeavour shows up, but with infrequent reruns the rest of the year. Father Brown is a regular with weekly reruns from the current and some of the previous seasons. I also make regular weekly visits to watch favorites like Vera, Death in Paradise, Prime Suspect, Grantchester, Morse, Lewis, Midsomer Murders, The Dr. Blake Mysteries and more although not the full series and not all the time. However, even with issues of regularity, variety, and completeness, PBS is a good way for many to enjoy these popular favorites.
by Kathleen Costa
What better way to fill the “stay home” hours than by streaming clever and fun murder mysteries! AcornTV has an excellent library of vintage, iconic, and contemporary mysteries, dramas, and police procedurals. Get your Sherlock on with lots of Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Miss Marple, then Pie in the Sky, Above Suspicion, and Deadwater Fell. But your reasonable monthly or annual membership also includes comedies (French Fields, Trivia), documentaries (The Family Farm, Bollywood), and feature films (The Return, The Scapegoat).
by Kathleen Costa
I continue to find enjoyment using my streaming choice, AcornTV. It is a very reasonable monthly or annual membership fee, especially considering all the options available. The quality is excellent whether accessing one’s library through a computer, tablet, or smartphone. So what do I feel like watching today?
by Kathleen Costa
Staying at home? Tired of the news? Desire something different? Check out whether streaming AcornTV is the answer for you; it is for me! I’ve been a member for a very reasonable annual fee (monthly membership available) for a few years, and have always found something entertaining, engaging, and thought-provoking. From comedies (Ain’t Misbehavin’) and dramas (Pitchin’ In) to amateur and licensed detectives (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mystery and Hamish MacBeth). I plug myself in and…relax!
by Doward Wilson
The newest addition to the Matchmaker Mysteries series of movies is A Fatal Romance starring Danica McKellar as Matchmaker Angie Dove, Victor Webster as Detective Kyle Cooper, and Bruce Boxleitner as Angie’s Dad, a retired cop.
by Steven Sanchez
Filmmaker, editor, musician, producer, these are the many titles that shape Robert J. Thissen’s identity. This Central Valley artist has made a name for himself in Hollywood for his work as a television and associate editor on several TV shows ranging from Hart of Dixie, Life In Pieces, Rizzoli and Isles, and that’s just naming a few. He’s become a go-to from the big studios in Tinseltown, maybe you’ve heard of them, the selection being Warner Bros. Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Disney, along with others. But now he’s shifting gear and his focus to another craft…music.
by Kathleen Costa
Finding entertainment during this “stay at home” season may be challenging, however, for me, it is as close as my iPad and the BritBox app. I am a happy Anglophile with a huge library of movies, mini series, and television shows included in my very reasonable membership (monthly or annual fee options). I can start with a couple comedy shows like Waiting for God and Scarborough or dramas like DSI Bancroft and Casualty 1900s: London Hospital, or get comfy for a long weekend of binging all of thriller MI-5 and police procedural Prime Suspect. I have also found new-to-me shows like Taggart, Blandings, and The Mallorca Files offering lots of entertainment.
by Doward Wilson
Mystery 101: Education In Murder is the fifth installment in this Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Signature Mysteries Movie series. Set in a small college town in the Pacific Northwest, Jill Wagner stars as English Professor Amy Winslow who specializes in mystery fiction. When murders occur, she partners with transplanted urban cop Detective Travis Burke played by Kristoffer Polaha. Also offering his take on events is Amy’s bestselling author father, Graham Winslow, played by Robin Thomas.
by Kathleen Costa
Stuck at home? Streaming your entertainment on an iPad, iPhone, or computer is a great option, and BritBox is one of my favorites! With a more than reasonable monthly fee, or the annual fee option for convenience, Anglophiles living in the U.S., like me, have access to hours and hours of classic mysteries, contemporary detective dramas, laugh out loud sit-coms, and thought-provoking documentaries. Often a whole series with multiple seasons is available providing “binge” fanatics the perfect opportunity to enjoy it all…no waiting!
by Kathleen Costa
With travel restricted and getting out and about raising concerns, for me finding a distraction is still as close as my iPad or iPhone. AcornTV adds weekly to their streaming library ample choices for any interest from dramas to comedies, private detectives to police procedurals, from mini series to movies, and of course, fascinating documentaries.
by Kathleen Costa
With repetitive news, baseball only in spring training mode, and Hallmark Christmas movies shelved, most might find limited choices for entertainment. Not me! I am not at a loss for entertainment with AcornTV airing classic and contemporary dramas, comedies, movies, and documentaries varied in style, era, and mood. For a monthly fee comparable to the price of a caramel macchiato, I can stream my favorites and some new finds anywhere my iPad or iPhone has a signal…which for me has been everywhere from doctor offices to waiting in line at Starbuck’s drive-thru. From England to Scotland, Wales to Ireland, Down Under to North of the Border, I love my streaming options!
by Doward Wilson
In The newest entry in Hallmark’s Movies and Mysteries Picture Perfect Mystery franchise is Dead Over Diamonds starring real life husband and wife Carlos and Alexa PenaVega. Alexa plays professional photographer Allie Adams and Carlos plays Detective Sam Acosta. Together the two of them are working on the theft of a valuable diamond necklace which was on display at Allie’s friend’s gallery opening.
