The Mail Van Murder

A familiar tale of a robbery, a violent crime group and a sultry blonde.

Robert Fenton walks free after serving three years for an armed robbery.

There is no welcome committee waiting for him. Earlier in the morning a mail van was robbed and a postman was left for dead.

Fenton's gang boss John Tanner is suspected of that robbery. Fenton angry that he has been cut out of his share by Tanner, is seen having an altercation with Tanner when the police arrive.

The next day Tanner is found dead and Fenton is lying low.

Scotland Yard get news of John Strange, another member of the Tanner gang was recently released from prison in Tangier.

The police think that he might have smuggled himself into Britain and killed Tanner as he might have also been cheated by him.

There is a lot of story packed in here. Lustgarten narrates that this is a story where the big boss is under threat.

However some of the action scenes were a bit silly. Two grown men rolling around in the ground.

Look out for actor Jack Howarth as a cleaner. He was better known as Albert Tatlock in Coronation Street.

Robert Fenton is out of prison, having served time for armed robbery. Fenton goes looking for answers, starting with his former boss and fellow criminal, John Tanner. Tanner is suspected of robbing a mail van and killing the guard. The following day Tanner is killed. Superintendent Hammond investigates.

It's a very nicely imagined plot, a good set of characters, all with a story to tell. My one gripe would perhaps be that it may have just felt a bit rushed at times, there's so much plot, perhaps too much for a running time of thirty minutes.

One scene did make me chuckle, that moment where Hammond and Sergeant Wilson board the ship, they dramatically claim that they could be chasing a web footed sea monster, dramatic music follows....

Good episode, with some solid performances.

7/10.