Murder in Suburbia

There are always crimes afoot on Wisteria Lane. Suppose you sent a fashionable version of Cagney & Lacey to investigate them. This is the basic effect of 'Murder in Suburbia'.

Just like 'Desperate Housewives', it manages to combine a good story with a generous helping of humor. The crimes are suitably bizarre, and the interplay between Ash and Scribbs as the two single police officers is a lot of fun.

This is not like most American mysteries which are heavy on procedures and tend to be very somber. This one is strong on character and very light hearted.

If you enjoy 'Midsomer Murders' you will probably enjoy this, and if ABC doesn't option the US rights to this show as a companion piece for 'Desperate Housewives', they're nuts.

This entertaining 2004 British mystery series takes place in the fictional English town of Middleford. Caroline Catz plays Inspector Kate Ashurst and Lisa Faulkner plays Sergeant Emma Scribbins, two well-dressed, wise-cracking, female detectives who must face a variety of grisly murders in the well-manicured suburban homes of Middleford, but who also are facing an unmarried middle age squarely in the mirror. The crimes they solve are clever and bizarre enough to make them interesting, and the suspects are just trendy and snobby enough that you just know they must be Mac users. Kate's romantic subplot centers on her hapless pursuit of their handsome supervisor, Chief Inspector Sullivan, played by Jeremy Sheffield. Emma's love life is a bit more varied with any number of odd sorts, all having dubious qualities. My wife and I have viewed this series many times and find something new and enjoyable with each viewing. Highly recommended!

In today's age of politicized and weaponized everything, this series is both a breath of fresh air and a throwback to a simpler time. The two leads are sophisticated yet personable and relatable, and not in an aggressive, "gonna run the world" sort of way. The plots involve upper-middle-class folks where dark passions lurk and still waters run deep. The dialog and the characters' psychology are witty, well written, and believable. And unlike most crime shows, the way the mystery unfolds is quite easy to follow, partly thanks to the episodes' compact format and length. This is a lighthearted whodunit that isn't out to confuse and outsmart you.

I have sampled a lot of series. I can be easily bored, and often I will last through two or three episodes, but then start to lose interest. This is not a slam on the various series, just a quirk with me. (If I'm really going to hate something, I'll know after one episode.)

This show did not follow that pattern with me, as I watched the first six in one sitting. It would be easy, at least as a Yank, to compare this to Midsomer Murders. And it wouldn't be far off to say it is a less over-the-top variation on that show. But that wouldn't be fair, as Caroline Catz and Lisa Faulkner are more believable as partners than either of the Barnabys and their various DSes. One review I saw called this show "wry," and that's a very good word for it. You won't bust out laughing very often (2-3 times per show), but you'll have a smile fixed on your face for the entire viewing.

Murder in Suburbia never takes itself seriously, as one would expect, but it has a certain sophistication nonetheless. Most of all, it is compulsively watchable and as comfortable as your favorite jeans.

Can't miss.

For an American saturated with "CSI," "Law & Order," and their spin-offs and clones, "Murder in Suburbia" is completely refreshing. This is the *best* whodunit mystery show that I have scene in years. The show ran on BBC America here in the U.S., in late 2004 and early 2005.

The show revolves around a Detective Duo: DI Kate 'Ash' Ashurst (Caroline Katz) and DS Emma 'Scribbs' Scribbins (Lisa Faulkner). 'Ash' and 'Scribbs' are both single, young women, with 'Ash' having a higher rank than 'Scribbs.' During each episode, the Duo lament about their single lives, which provides for the lighter moments in the show. Jeremy Sheffield also stars as DCI Sullivan, the Duo's boss.

This is not "CSI" or "Crossing Jordan," where in those series, technology tends to 'solves' the crime more than old-fashioned gumshoe brainpower. Each episode (so far) concentrates on a single murder, rather than two separate murders, which is the usual formula of "CSI" or 'Jordan.' This show is concerned with the mystery of the murder and paints a much fuller picture of the victim's life and situation, than most shows. It also helps that the run time for each episodes about 52 minutes (without commercials) compared to the forty-some minutes for most hour-long U.S. series.

The show is very faithful to the whodunit formula, allowing the viewer to try to solve the crime along with main characters. When the Duo interviews someone, this is not one or two questions, but many questions, which can be in rapid-fire succession, packing a lot more information than most mystery series. Fingerprints and DNA do play a role in the mysteries, but they are secondary to the *WHY* of the murder.

The *WHY* of the murder is the most intriguing aspect of each episode. Each episode shows a hidden layer of suburbia, from sophisticated dating services, real "wife-swapping," hidden pasts, and more.

If you prefer dark and gritty "crime dramas" or are looking for developed main characters, this series is probably not for you. But if you are looking for an intriguing whodunit with a bit of humor and where the mystery is the focus of each episode , this series is for you.