Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda

I am a connoisseur of True Crime shows. I have seen (and mentally judged) them all. For a good true crime show you need a good narrator, intelligent commentary from the real investigators and witnesses, and a fairly realistic (but always slightly cheesy) reenactment. This show has ALL of these things! I could listen to Joe Kenda tell me stories all day long. I can 100% tell why he was such a good investigator. He is really what makes this show stand out. I looooove the reenactments too - the guy who plays Kenda in them is fabulous. If you like True Crime, this is a must see!

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 came across this show completely by mistake one night, and became my #1 Crime Show!

The almost dry humor quotes from Joe: My my my, I like crazy and much more is what caught my attention to this show Homicide Hunter.

Ambition and curiosity molded this 70's College Graduates after starting with the CSPD as Lt Joe Kenda. Taking several years he quickly rose in the Homicide Department. The candor of Lt Joe Kenda who's work for over 20+ years solving over 400+ cases reminds us when a life is taken they will never be back.

Fighting the network, he did not want a show you read the words of the show's writers. Unscripted and in his own words, you get the real now retired "Joe Kenda".

I love Joe Kenda, in a way, although I'm British he reminds me of my father, also Joe. He was a police inspector & his steely professional gaze, like that of Kenda belied a very kind hearted generous man.

I enjoy the intercourse between the real Joe and actor Joe. Mr Kenda's knowledge of guns, velocity are carefully explained, as are blood splatter, knife wounds etc.

Really great character & great show. Long may it run