The late Ngaio Marsh wrote a whole slew of books about the various investigations of Roderick "Rory" Alleyn, a police detective working for Scotland Yard. As the sequence continued, Alleyn grew older and rose up in rank. These books tended to have cunning and original mystery/detective plots replete with motives, suspects and alibis.
As a protagonist, Alleyn was one of these elegant, well-connected sleuths capable of interacting with the upper classes, of tossing off a French quotation and of recognizing a medaillon by Cellini. These attributes allowed him to crack cases involving aristocrats, diplomats, top surgeons or rich divorcees. His stalwart colleague inspector Fox, affectionately nicknamed Brer Fox, functioned as his personal Watson. Meanwhile Alleyn's love for painter Agatha Troy provided touches of romance.
"Alleyn Mysteries" is a faithful and careful recreation of Marsh's fictional universe. At the same time the series is a meticulous reconstruction of life in Great-Britain circa 1950. As if touched by the wand of a benevolent fairy, whole segments of society revive, complete with habits, manners and foibles. The "Death in a White Tie" episode, for instance, deals with the launching of debutantes, which seems to have been a costly and time-consuming enterprise requiring carefully pondered guest lists, expensive frocks and elaborate catering. (The plot, which is quite clever, invites the viewer to try and spot a blackmailer amidst a busy throng of servants and guests.)
Just about everything regarding the series is good or even very good : the casting, the acting, the costumes, the sets and locations, and so on. Made with obvious care and skill, the series is a must-see for all lovers of the classic British mystery/detective genre.
As a protagonist, Alleyn was one of these elegant, well-connected sleuths capable of interacting with the upper classes, of tossing off a French quotation and of recognizing a medaillon by Cellini. These attributes allowed him to crack cases involving aristocrats, diplomats, top surgeons or rich divorcees. His stalwart colleague inspector Fox, affectionately nicknamed Brer Fox, functioned as his personal Watson. Meanwhile Alleyn's love for painter Agatha Troy provided touches of romance.
"Alleyn Mysteries" is a faithful and careful recreation of Marsh's fictional universe. At the same time the series is a meticulous reconstruction of life in Great-Britain circa 1950. As if touched by the wand of a benevolent fairy, whole segments of society revive, complete with habits, manners and foibles. The "Death in a White Tie" episode, for instance, deals with the launching of debutantes, which seems to have been a costly and time-consuming enterprise requiring carefully pondered guest lists, expensive frocks and elaborate catering. (The plot, which is quite clever, invites the viewer to try and spot a blackmailer amidst a busy throng of servants and guests.)
Just about everything regarding the series is good or even very good : the casting, the acting, the costumes, the sets and locations, and so on. Made with obvious care and skill, the series is a must-see for all lovers of the classic British mystery/detective genre.