Alleyn Mysteries

Someone asked me what is are good English murder mystery to read and to watch. He had seen a lot of Agatha Christies' novels on the screen but was quite sick of them. I told him about Alleyn mysteries written by New Zealander Ngaio Marsh. The books are great and this short series are brilliant. Patrick Malahide is a perfect Roderick Alleyn and when I read the books I immediately picture Patrick as the main character. Belinda Lang suits the role as Troy and Inspector Fox is a likable person. The cases are terrific, my personal favourite being a man lay dead but they are all good. You'll find yourselves glued to the screen and as I said to my friend, this is what traditional English mysteries are like... a must watch.

When it comes to crafting intelligent and entertaining television mysteries, the English simply do it better than anyone else. This excellent 1993 BBC1 series takes place in post-WWII England (c. 1948), even though Dame Ngaio Marsh's novels were set prior to the war. The production effectively captures the rather gray atmosphere so prevalent throughout the country after the war, from the drabness of the period's clothes to the exhaustion in the character's personalities. Patrick Malahide plays Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn, and Belinda Lang portrays his love interest Agatha Troy, both remnants of Britain's post-war fading upper class. William Simons rounds out the cast as Alleyn's working-class assistant Detective Inspector Fox. The crimes are clever and their solutions sensible, surely to satisfy any mystery fan. My wife and I have viewed this series many times and find something new and enjoyable with each viewing. Highly recommended!

After watching the eight episodes made with Patrick Malahide, I began re-reading Ngaio Marsh's books. I discovered her as a teenager, probably around the time this series aired, but never had an inclination to read them again. And after watching this series I know why. Marsh's description of Alleyn was so nebulous- basically tall, dark, thin, and handsome with a fastidious face in one instance or a monkish one in the other. He's a dapper silhouette, complete with hat and an excellently cut suit, but still a shadowy figure. Troy and Fox were easy to visualize, in fact apart from Belinda Lang's longer hair and William Simons' lack of a mustache, they are exactly as I pictured them, but Alleyn remained elusive. After seeing Malahide as Alleyn, it's so much easier to read the books because Malahide gives Alleyn a face and voice. I must admit I wasn't thrilled with Simon Williams' performance of Alleyn in the first episode. At times he had the "Handsome Alleyn" look, but that's about all.

The episodes take liberties with some of Marsh's plots (Troy wasn't in A Man Lay Dead, subplots are added or changed), but overall very well done and worth a watch (or two or three). Of course, this is not your more current type of entertainment where the scenes shift constantly to keep up with an audience that has an attention span of 30 seconds. Characters and plots develop at a more leisurely pace, rather like a train ride through the English countryside, but never to the point where one feels the writers were padding the script to fill the time slot. Malahide, Simons, and Lang have wonderful chemistry in their scenes together, and the supporting actors are top notch.

What is it with these British mystery series? They're all wonderful in their own way.

I haven't researched this totally, but I believe that Alleyn, Campion, and Inspector Lynley were all inspired by Lord Peter Wimsey to some extent. And that's okay, because their characters and stories were tackled by good writers.

This series stars Patrick Malahide, Belinda Lang, and William Simons. The first episode that I saw, I kept staring at Patrick Malahide and saying to myself, why is it that I distinctly remember seeing another actor in this part? Well, I had, and it was Simon Williams - years ago.

In the books, Alleyn is known as Handsome Alleyn. I don't think Malahide is handsome, and I notice it's not mentioned in these episodes. He is, however, very elegant, and Malahide underplays, giving him a somewhat mysterious quality. Belinda Lang for me is perfect as Agatha. Remember, this is the '40s, not 2015. It was a more formal time. And these are mature people, taking their romance slowly. There's an undertone of flirtation, wryness, insouciance -- they have both been around the block a few times. As a couple, they are marvelous.

The mysteries are very good, normally taking place among the upper crust. I love William Simons as Fox - rough and tough, no nonsense.

These are engrossing mysteries. They're not filled with car chases, things blowing up, or over the top characters. It's not bombastic. It's British upper class, after all.

I am a compulsive reader and collector of books and DVD's. I disagree with any of the comments that state Patrick Malahide is not cast right as Inspector Alleyn. He is perfect in the role, as is Lang playing Agatha Troy. Having studied English actors for many years, I can't think of another pair that could have done a finer job in these roles. They are akin to the castings of Lord Peter Wimsey (Edward Petheridge) and Harriet Vane.

I have read all of the Alleyn novels, the Dagliesh novels, the Morse novels, the Wimsey novels, the Agatha Christie novels (yes all of them), and too many others to name. Each time I play the character in my head as I read - and Malahide is perfect, as is Lang. They play well off each other, their acting skills equal.