Reviewed by George Ivanoff

The first season of The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries is a set of five movie-length murder mysteries. The first one, “A Man Lay Dead”, is definitely the weakest: little more than a slightly cumbersome, try-hard Agatha Christie story, that never quite lives up to its potential. But don’t judge the series by this first faltering instalment because the next four episodes are a darn sight better. Although each episode is a murder mystery, the stories are all quite varied and told in different ways. In “Final Curtain” half the story is told in flashbacks, as Inspector Alleyn listens to another’s recount of a murder and the events leading up to it. Then he starts investigating in the second half. “Death at the Bar” begins as a story about a blackmail investigation, with murder happening later in the story. There’s only so much variation you can have in the murder mystery format, but with each episode this series manages to deliver a fresh and engaging approach.

I’ve watched many murder mysteries over the years, and what sets these up as being better than average are the characters and the perfect casting of actors. Inspector Alleyn is a genteel but determined man of aristocratic background. His quite persistence and almost aloof investigating style is counterbalanced by his friendship with his partner, Inspector Fox, and his almost-romance with renowned artist Agatha Troy. Patrick Malahide’s subtle and engaging performance as Alleyn is nothing short of brilliant. He is believable and likeable, especially in the final episode, which sees him investigating the murder of a friend and having real difficulty in maintaining a professional and impartial investigation. William Simons delivers a down-to-Earth performance as the efficient and workman-like Inspector Fox, but still manages to imbue him with humour and a genuine likeability. Alleyn’s love-interest, Agatha Troy, is played by Belinda Lang, and she and Malahide exude a genuine chemistry that is a joy to watch. They manage to bring out the warmth and affection their characters feel for each other, while still retaining the almost-repressed way in which they interact. Of course, Troy is not merely a love-interest, as she also plays an important role in several of the investigations. 

The only extra on this DVD set is the original pilot for this series, shot two years prior to the series, with Simon Williams in the title role. It is interesting to see the elements that were eventually dropped for the series, such as Alleyn’s little quirks, the appearance of his mother, and an extra inspector on his team. Williams’s performance in solid, but lacks Malahide’s subtly. In the pilot, Alleyn comes across as a much less real character. The plot, nevertheless, is as engaging and interesting as those of the series.

Bring on Season Two!

The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries: The Complete First Series
(1993)

Available through Madman Entertainment.