by Kathleen Costa
AcornTV is a popular streaming option and one for which I’ve had a membership for several years: $5.99 monthly or get a deal with the annual $59.99 fee. My personal experience has been without complaint, and whether I’m binging an old favorite, enjoying a current season, or checking out a new-to-me production, I totally enjoy the quality of the audio and video and the convenience to view anywhere on any of my devices with my AcornTV app. Slowly, programs that had new seasons contracted before the pandemic are returning to filming with premiers set throughout the summer and into the fall. I am thrilled about two of AcornTV Originals ready to go: the new Whitstable Pearl, and season two of Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mystery. Yeah, AcornTV!
by Kathleen Costa
BritBox is an extraordinary streaming option for Anglophiles, and one of which I have been a member for a reasonable fee that you can choose to make monthly ($6.99) or annually ($69.99) for a discount. For several years I’ve enjoyed their extensive library, updated regularly, with access to decades-old favorites or “fresh out of lockdown” TV shows, mini series, and movies to meet my every mood: comedies, dramas, mysteries, or nail-biting police procedurals.
by Doward Wilson
To Catch a Spy is a new series entry in Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Signature Movies lineup. It stars Nathalie Kelly as Chole Day, a travel magazine writer, and Colin Donnell as Aaron Maxwell, an FBI agent.
by Kathleen Costa
The pandemic has directly effected our lives in many ways and we have tried desperately to find ways to keep ourselves engaged or distracted. We’re used to reruns, and in many cases don’t mind binging our favorite sit-com and movie series, but there’s On Demand, Netflix, Pay-Per-View, and a wide selection of streaming services for reasonable to “Ouch!” fees. For several years now, my “reasonable” membership in two streaming services has provided this Anglophile access to a wide variety of UK television shows and movies, some new and some longtime favorites.
by Doward Wilson
The newest Hallmark Movies and Mysteries entry is the fifteenth in the Aurora Teagarden franchise. How to Con a Con stars Candace Cameron Bure as Aurora Teagarden, local librarian and president of the Real Murders Club. Her new fiancé Nick Miller (Niall Matter) is a college professor of psychology, an eager member of the Club, and very supportive of Aurora’s interest in all things murder. Marilu Henner, as Aurora’s mother Aida, isn’t a murder fan and usually is very vocal against any extraneous investigation, but will participate under serious protest.
by Kathleen Costa
Law & Order is an iconic American television drama spinning off other iconic and long-running shows, so why not send it over the pond to the UK? Law & Order | UK aired originally in 2009, and currently, AcornTV is showing the first five seasons with a cast that in my opinion rivals, if not surpasses, its American cousin. The “police who investigate crime” is led by Detective Sergeant Ronnie Brooks (brilliantly cast with Bradley Walsh), partnered with Detective Sergeant Matt Devlin (Jamie Bamber), and under the supervision of Senior Inspecting Officer Natalie Chandler (all-time favorite Harriet Walter).
by Doward Wilson
Hallmark Movies and Mysteries continue to give us great movies in the various lineups with new ones coming out every month. For a fun night’s entertainment check all them out. You won’t be disappointed.
by Kathleen Costa
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.
by Kathleen Costa
It’s 1958 London, and the tabloids are all over the news—Inspector Michael Jericho has received the Queen’s Award for Bravery, and with his impeccable team at Scotland Yard, “London can sleep safe at night.” However, the realty is darker, more intense, more…murderous than the headlines: Jericho: The Man of Action
by Kathleen Costa
“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is a well-worn adage that seems better suited to illustrate cultural and generational differences than an older generation incapable of learning something new. However, maybe it is a better and more successful strategy to combine the old with the new rather than scrapping one for the other. My new find, New Tricks, has a contemporary, yet seasoned, female detective superintendent being placed in charge of three older, retired, male detectives.
by Kathleen Costa
BritBox has been a lifesaver in keeping me entertained. For a nominal monthly ($6.99) or annual ($69.99) membership fee, I have had access to a huge library, regularly updated, of comedies, dramas, and a mix of both with detectives, private eyes, doctors, and nosy neighbors, some good, some bad, but all entertaining!
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.
