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Ghost Canyon

'Midsomer Murders Set 11'
(John Nettles, Jason Hughes, et al / 4-Disc DVD / NR / 2008 / Acorn Media)

Overview: The cozy villages of Midsomer County reveal their most sinister secrets in these contemporary British television mysteries. Inspired by the novels of Caroline Graham, modern master of the English village mystery, the series stars John Nettles (Bergerac) as the unflappable Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby with Jason Hughes (This Life) as his earnest, efficient protégé, Detective Constable Ben Jones. Guest stars include George Baker, Elizabeth Spriggs, Simon Callow, Joss Ackland, Siân Phillips, Dermot Crowley, and Julia McKenzie.

DVD Verdict: So many of our friends and family regret the decision of A&E and the Biography channels not to renew this classic British series. It is pure escapism and deliciously photographed in the wonderful English countryside.

John Nettles is everyman's hard working police inspector - cynical, darkly humourous and wholly believable. The cast and characters are comprised of true eccentrics (as only the Brits can be) and one never knows what lies around the next corner in one of the charming Midsomer Counties villages.

The charm of this series lies partly in its setting. Midsomer County is a very pretty place, green and cared for. The towns are tidy, filled with competent and knowledgeable tradesmen; the villages tend to have a few eccentrics and a lot of thatched roofs. This could be much too cosy except for three things. First, the performance by John Nettles. He's a fine actor who is completely at home in the role. Watching his Barnaby think his way through clever mysteries, unfailingly polite and unfailingly unintimidated, is a pleasure. Second, the mysteries themselves.

Overall, I found these mysteries to be really great! At one hour and forty minutes long, each show has a rich quality of scenery, with a fascinating mystery and at least three deaths. (Hey, what's a mystery without a few murders?) And the new man on the block, Jason Hughes holds up just fine on this his first set of outtings as Barnaby's sidekick. Plus, I must say that I enjoy the actors, especially John Nettles, who does a great job of portraying the very likable DCI Tom Barnaby. I really love this DVD set, and give it my highest recommendations.

So, if anyone of the powers that be in the programing offices of any network are reading this, please reconsider returning Inspector Barnaby and his confreres to their rightful place on our side of the Pond. They are sorely missed! This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the full-length Episodes: The House in the Woods, Dead Letters, Vixen’s Run, and Down Among the Dead Men.

www.AcornMedia.com





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