Episode #1.3

DI Hooper must come to the aid of his school friend Ray Hendrix, who is accused of murdering his wife Gloria. The Hendrix's were sponsoring Dennis Pride, who was performing at Bakerbury, much to the annoyance of Sherry, who's concerned that her ex husband is in town to torment her.

It gets more accomplished with each passing episode. Another light hearted, intriguing bit of fun, with nice characters, including the introduction of Sherry's violent husband Dennis.

I love that Cora is flawed, she's far from perfect, she's very human, she's easily taken in, but the way she chose to help out Hooper, we learn that she's a good human being.

I like it continuing story of Mayor Firth, surely he's got to be brought down in the series finalé. Richard Croxford is so good as the devious, smarmy Mayor.

I loved that Phyllis Logan got to act alongside her husband Kevin McNally, the chemistry was very evident, they performed well together, even if the singing was a little questionable. Logan was fantastic here.

Good to see Sarah Alexander, but she was a little wasted, quite a small role for her.

I thoroughly enjoyed it.

8/10.

Wealthy businessman Ray is an old friend of DCI Hooper. Ray is regarded as insanely jealous and his first wife died in suspicious circumstances.

Now his second wife Gloria is found drowned in similar circumstances. Later his chief officer Olivia is also found dead.

Olivia was mixed up with Mayor Firth over the use of prison labour. Something Ray was unaware of and was dead against.

Mayor Firth also puts pressure on DCI Hooper to arrest Ray.

Sherry's abusive ex husband has also arrived ay Bakerbury to play a gig. He gets mixed up with the events and becomes a suspect for Gloria's murder.

Only for Cora to reluctantly confirm his alibi. Cora also gets involved with a suitor called Gilbert Sullivan. With that name she fails to smell a rat.

There was a decent mystery here. If it was not for the infantile writing. The finale when Cora and others confront the baddie was ridiculous.

The press reaction to Cora being exposed as a fake puzzler was laughably bad.

Also for a cosy murder mystery. The four letter word was used twice. Tonally this show is all over the place.