Heat of the Sun

This series mixes genres and conventions in a most enjoyable way. It has elements of police procedural, hard-boiled detective story, historical mystery, and colonial soap opera. Trevor Eve is fun to watch as Tyburn, the tough, incorruptible British cop who is both repelled and amused by British society in 1930s Nairobi, Kenya, while refusing to become enmeshed in its racism and decadence. The lovely Susannah Harker is under-used as his aviatrix girl friend. The rest of the supporting cast is highly effective. I am not an expert on the period, but the stories give a good flavor of life as it was lived in that place and time.

Colonial Kenya provides an exotic, fascinating backdrop for this excellent PBS Mystery series. Heat of the Sun is what I call the "kitchen sink" approach to detective fiction, with every crime imaginable--from murder, arson, and drug-running, to blackmail, banditry, and slave trading--perpetrated under the hot African sun. The excellent acting, the palpable romantic chemistry between the two main characters, the hypnotic setting, and the clever, convoluted plots, all combined to make this a memorable viewing experience. Hopefully, we'll be seeing the continuing adventures of Superintendent Tyburn, Emma Fitzgerald, and company, before too long!!

This was a great series - Trevor Eve played the part of Superintendent Tyburn with a wry subtlety that fit the part. Having lived in Kenya myself when I was growing up, it was easy to relate to the foreigner in another country who does not fit into his "home" society anymore, but will never be African either. I can not comment on costume inconsistencies or period setting mistakes (one comment mentioned a 1939 rifle in 1933), but these do not detract particularly from what is essentially a mystery novel on DVD. As for the idea of "nazis" in 1933 Kenya, I think other comments may be jumping to conclusion. Tyburn was following leads to drug smugglers, if I recall correctly, and Germans in East Africa would not have been unheard of, considering that Tanzania was, at one point, a German colony (I believe Queen Victoria once gave Mt. Kilimanjaro to the Kaiser for his birthday, hence the strange "jog" in what is otherwise a straight line border between Kenya and Tanzania).

From every aspect this programme is tremendous. I am mesmerized whilst watching and sad when it ends. The attitudes of social stature are clearly portrayed. I find this highly enjoyable.

This is a terrific series. You totally loose yourself in the times, location; the characters are all too real; you only want it to continue.

The acting has so much depth;one has to believe and hope there may be a sequel. I thought the story lines blended well together; the script was tight; if you left for a second, you missed key dialogue. Happy Valley was an "anything goes" society so characters like DeVille, Hans Dietrick Gessler (it was never implied that he was a Nazi), and Daphne's affair are hardly surprising. As for the insignia on the plane, British and Kenyan planes had different registration schemes; I don't know if this was accurately portrayed. All in all 10 stars.