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Starring: William Simons, 
Directed By: John Woods,  Jim Goddard,  Martyn Friend, 
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Release Date: 2005
Studio: ACORN MEDIA
Format: Box set,  Closed-captioned,  Color,  Dolby,  DVD-Video,  Full Screen,  NTSC, 

Editorial Reviews and DVD Information

Product Description
Get ready for a second caseload of complex crimes and quirky criminals deftly handled by Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn (Patrick Malahide, The Singing Detective). A hard-working Scotland Yard detective, Alleyn's aristocratic breeding allows him to blend into the high-society realm in which these crimes occur. In stories based on the classic mystery novels by Ngaio Marsh, Alleyn traps a murderous blackmailer stalking London's debutante set, attends a lethal luncheon at the home of a gracious host, uncovers the killer of a World War I veteran's entrusted confidant, and witnesses heinous exploits on a picturesque Scottish island. The chief inspector gets expert assistance from his partner, Detective Inspector Fox (William Simons, Sergeant Cribb), and his insightful lady friend, artist Agatha Troy (Belinda Lang, To Serve Them All My Days). Guest stars include Diana Quick, John Gielgud, Geoffrey Palmer, Derek Benfield, Margaret Tyzack, and Tom Wilkinson.

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Anyone familiar with the thin, cruel features of Patrick Malahide from The Singing Detective (or any other movie in which he so vividly plays someone venomous or unpleasant) will have some trouble adjusting to his role as the hero of Inspector Alleyn Mysteries, based on the popular mysteries by Ngaio Marsh. But Malahide, a keenly intelligent actor, will win you over. As the gentleman turned police inspector Roderick Alleyn, Malahide is genteel and almost dandyish, but his ferocious intensity underlies his gracious manner and gives it teeth. Though Marsh's mysteries are whodunits, they play out more like police procedurals, with Alleyn and his right-hand man Inspector Fox (William Simons, Heartbeat) doggedly piecing together the clues.

The second set of Inspector Alleyn Mysteries includes the final episode of the first series, Death in a White Tie--in which Alleyn asks a good friend to assist an investigation, leading to that friend's death and Alleyn's fierce pursuit of his killer among the upper crust--as well as the three episodes of the second series. Hand in Glove features Sir John Gielgud (Prospero's Books) as a stuffy aristocrat caught up in a plot featuring forged paintings and a letter of condolence sent before the murder is even discovered. Dead Water sends Alleyn and his beloved Agatha Troy (Belinda Lang, To Serve Them All My Days) to a Scottish island where a waterfall is believed to have healing powers--at least, until a dead body turns up in it. But the strongest of them all is Scales of Justice, which coolly observes British social schisms as Alleyn tries to unravel a mystery featuring stray cats, stray arrows, Nazi skullduggery, and a very large trout. Tom Wilkinson (In the Bedroom) gives a wonderfully nuanced performance as a petty, lecherous creep who values his family's name more than a woman's heart. A satisfying collection for any mystery fan. --Bret Fetzer

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Customer Reviews

Inspector Alleyn
I love this series of Inspector Alleyn of Scotland Yard. I enjoy the main character with his quiet ways and the lack of blood and gore

Four superb Ngaio Marsh mystery films detailed
Here we have the second set in the BBC series, starring Patrick Malahide as the aristocratic Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn, William Simons as Detective Inspector Fox, and Belinda Lang as Alleyn's fiancé and renowned artist, Agatha Troy. The setting for these great Ngaio Marsh mysteries is England, portions being wedged in time between the two great wars but mostly a few years beyond that era.

These four color films on DVD are at least as entertaining as the first set and I was very pleased with the overall quality. They run 98 minutes each and the aspect is 4:3, full-screen. All the films were produced in the early 1990s.

In "Scales of Justice," (Jim Goddard, director), a retired military man is murdered as he casts for "The Old-un" along his favorite trout stream. Just prior to his demise, he had been charged with publishing the memoirs of a recently dead associate and those scandalous writings cause an entire family to clam up as Chief Inspector Alleyn tries to solve the murder. This is a really top mystery, conveyed with beautiful cinematography and plenty of British aristocratic atmosphere.

"Dead Water," (John Woods, director), takes place on a scenic Scottish Island where a "magic waterfall" is becoming renowned for having restored health to people from their otherwise incurable diseases. To add to the legend, a "green lady" is said to haunt the mists of the falls. The local community tries to exploit their good fortune, commercializing the wondrous H2O in every possible way but the leaseholder of the property, a determined old spinster, means to disrupt any pecuniary benefits for the islanders. Chief Inspector Alleyn fears that her demise is inevitable and rushes to her rescue but, once there, he has to investigate murder.

"Death in a White Tie" (John Woods, director), transpires entirely in London, urban scenery prevailing. Up against a case of blackmail, Chief Inspector Alleyn asks an elderly aristocratic friend to do some snooping as he makes his rounds of the debutante balls and art gallery receptions. But when the friend turns up murdered, an enraged Alleyn tosses out all the rules to solve both cases, as they appear to be connected.

A weird and dysfunctional family is the focus of "Hand in Glove," (Martyn Friend, director), and Chief Inspector Alleyn is called in when one of the clan is murdered. At the same time, Alleyn's right hand man, Inspector Fox, discovers a hidden cache of faked paintings during the raid of an unlicensed nightclub - these paintings are of special interest to Alleyn since the originals were painted by his off-and-on fiancé, Agatha Troy! Of course, clues discovered during the investigation of each case ultimately bring them together as one.

For British mystery/cozy murder fans, "Dead Water" takes first place, "Scales of Justice" is second, "Hand in Glove" third, and, "Death in a White Tie" last, albeit the least of the four is still very good. These film versions of Marsh's works are clearly conveyed with the original stories in mind.

The excellence of this set well-deserves my highest rating.


Very good series
I cannot add to the good things that have been printed here by other reviewers. Although the DVD set indicates closed captioning is available, I can't get it on my TV. We need CC because our 60+ year old ears have a difficult time understanding the British accent. I will say we did not have any problem with the accent, the actors spoke clearly and distinctly. Also, there was not a lot of background music to interfere with the dialogue.

Excellent and intelligent!
This series was brilliant. The acting, writing, camera work, direction and costuming were superb. This is definately worth every penny spent. Start a fire, pour some wine, curl up with someone comfortable, and prepare to be entertained....

British Mystery
Very well acted period detective murder mystery. Some language a little difficult to understand but overall interesting.

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