Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda

Yes, I'm old enough to have watched the original "Dragnet" series, starring the late Jack Webb, with great interest and understanding. That's why I only needed to watch a couple of episodes of "Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda" to become a dedicated fan. Much like the deadpan Friday of "Just the facts, ma'am," real-life Colorado Springs, CO, detective Kenda approaches the worst murder cases with a keen eye for detail and a steadfast dedication to speak for the victim.

Since "Homicide Hunter" is produced for Investigation Discovery, one of the Discovery cable networks, Kenda has the freedom to share most of the gruesome clues with which modern mystery afficionados are passionately familiar. Even better, Kenda reveals great insight into the twisted psyches of the most vicious killers as he leads them into interrogation traps that force them to confess to their crimes.

I confess, I hope to continue watching "Homicide Hunter" for years to come. Since he's solved over 400 murders since the 1980s, Lt. Joe Kenda has a lot of 'war stories' to share with dedicated--and addicted!--fans like me.

I've been waiting for new episodes featuring Joe Kenda, so hope there are more being filmed. This is one of my favorite shows. I particularly like the real Lieutenant Kenda's matter of fact style, and find myself quoting his "Well, my, my, my" observation quite frequently. As noted in a previous review, Kenda gives an excellent view into real police procedures, observations, and attitudes.

Every episode gives the viewer an accurate picture of how police act when a crime has been committed, from the hours of actual leg-work, to the questioning of witnesses and suspects. Lt Kenda's supreme goal is for justice, and his sympathy for the victims and family of victims is welcome. Too often shows depict police as hardened officers instead of human beings. This show provides views of the police as officers who care about the victims even when forced to cajole suspects into telling the truth.

Please, give us more episodes!

I actually like this show and I end up leaving the television on more for noise than anything else, but I happened to see this show one time and liked it.

I like the narrative and no-nonsense cop attitude. It isn't the usual cop fare that television writers feed us. This is much better and this cop is very realistic based upon the cops that I've met.

I hope others watch and enjoy it too. The shows seems to be more realistic than most other cop shows and Kenda doesn't seem like the crap cops that we get from most television shows. I hesitate to call this "based upon a true story" or a "reality" show, but only because the "reality" in reality shows is so scripted by some very poor writing. This show is much different. Enjoy.

Evil lurks within the sordid underbelly of an outwardly bucolic burg in the West. But this isn't Twin Peaks, this is Colorado Springs. And this isn't FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper, this is Lt. Joe Kenda. And the stories are real.

Kenda claims to have solved over 400 homicides over the course of his career, which means the show could go on almost indefinitely. We see him in two guises: one is the young homicide investigator, played by Carl Marino, the other is Kenda himself, who appears frequently with commentary on the case as it proceeds. The younger Kenda does resemble Kyle MacLaughlin's Dale Cooper, with a healthy dose of Jack Webb's Joe Friday. We occasionally see Kenda in repose, enjoying a rare moment relaxing with his wife, when the inevitable call comes. Another homicide. And Kenda is off.

It's the present-day Kenda, however, who makes the show worth watching. World-weary, laconic, jaded but not quite cynical, Kenda renders lacerating insights into human nature and the criminal mind. More often than not, alas, these are mindless, unnecessary murders, and we can only nod in agreement as Kenda bemoans the pointlessness of all the lives lost.

If you kill, Kenda will not only find you, he will mock you, and we will love every minute of it.

I'm a bit of a true crime fan anyway and Lt. Joe Kenda is absolutely my cuppa tea.

I love the droll manner in which he comments on the crime or more often the criminal(s). Lt. Kenda is who makes this show what it is - it would just be another whodunnit without him. He has such an entertaining personality - absolutely riveting.

I always make a point of watching whenever I see this show listed on the ID Channel.

For those who have not seen this show, I highly recommend it. Lt. Kenda is an older gentleman who does the commenting and narrative bits while a younger actor portrays him in the scenes.

While the crime is shown, it is not generally overly graphic.

Lt. Kenda has investigated over 400 homicides during his career and he knows how criminals' minds work. He knows all the "tells" when they're lying and exactly how to draw them out and get the truth of what really happened.

10 stars for Lt. Kenda Homicide Hunter!