Neill Rea is the perfect lead, and his passion for country/western music, yet awkwardness around horses, is very entertaining. The murder mysteries are realistic, incorporating excellent police procedural, and more times than not, the solutions are unique ending with a “Wow, that was great!” feeling. I greatly enjoyed this “down-under and turn left” gem, and highly recommend fans of Midsomer Murders check it out.
Through murder after murder, motive after motive, quiet to perilous apprehensions, the stories are engaging, Shepherd and his team are entertaining, and like Midsomer Murders, The Brokenwood Mysteries offers much for the police-drama/mystery fan.
In making Brokenwood home, he becomes an owner of a budding vineyard, enjoying his wine, but not really knowing the business. Despite having to take a demotion to Detective Senior Sergeant, Shepherd decides to stay and lead the local department, but learning to trust and cooperate with his team. His style is eyebrow raising since he talks to the corpses, goes off on his own, and has an uncanny ability to compile clues, see through witness “mis”statements, and uncover the truth. He has been sent, somewhat covertly, to Brokenwood to look into matters surrounding a local detective. YouTube – The Brokenwood Mysteries Trailer & Interview (3:33)īrokenwood Mysteries earns 5+/5 Bottles of a Nice New Zealand Merlot!Įnter Auckland Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd, who drives a classic Aussie car and loves country/western music. Tim Balme, creator and lead writer, explained in an interview, also airing on Acorn-TV, “It’s not a heavy and dark procedural, tough drama…” It has “an element of humor.” People love murder mysteries, they “wanna see if they can solve it first…” It makes “you feel a little clever, certainly engaged and involved.” He says, “A good murder mystery…it’ll suck you in every time.” The murders make Brokenwood a seemingly dangerous town in which to reside, much like Midsomer County, with crimes that are realistic, seemingly off the front pages, but without the in-your-face gory dead body. Both rely on forensic experts who reign supreme in their lab, but Shepherd’s expert is Russian offering an additional accent to navigate, quirky insights, and is she interested in a more personal relationship? The support and one-time characters are all rich, realistic, and are often representative of the culture from Midsomer’s gentry class to Brokenwood’s Maoris. Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland) who questions some of Shepherd’s theories, takes exception to and is affecting his “lone wolf” manner, and just like Barnaby and his partners, she is building a “let’s have a pint” friendship. However, Shepherd’s partner is female D.C. However, Shepherd is single with a few matrimonial challenges, and Barnaby is happily married with a small child.īoth detectives are supported by a capable partner providing feedback and their own perspective. Shepherd, like John Barnaby, is reserved and introspective, lacks inner demons or emotional challenges, and seems very well adjusted. Brokenwood, the quintessential rural New Zealand town, is much like the English countryside of Midsomer County, and Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd, excellently cast with New Zealand actor Neill Rea, is very reminiscent of Neil Dudgeon’s portrayal of John Barnaby. It is a delightful police drama in the same vein as Midsomer Murders, set in a small fictional town with the lead detective relying on clues, deduction, instinct, and intuition. Using my home wi-fi from the front room to the bedroom, kitchen to the patio, or finding an Xfinity hot spot at Starbucks or in the dentist’s waiting room, I always have a bit of fun at my finger tips.Īcorn TV is airing all sixteen 90-100 minute episodes of The Brokenwood Mysteries which first broadcast in 2014 and continued through 2017. The quality of the video and audio is excellent on my iPad allowing me great flexibility as to where I can sit and enjoy. Foregoing one Grande Latte and berry scone a month, I can satiate my Anglophile appetite and enjoy hours of funny, poignant, informative, or just plain nail-biting entertainment.
I have monthly subscriptions to Caza Trail K-cups, Epicurean magazine, and even Philosophy bath products, but my Acorn TV streaming option has been the best.
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