The Brokenwood mysteries Series 1 Series 1 /

This whodunit series takes its title from a fictional provincial town on New Zealand's North Island, where the show is set. Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea) is an unconventional policeman. He talks to murder victims, drives a beat-up car, listens to country music on cassette, and can't always remember how many ex-wives he has. Despite his humorous persona and somewhat rumpled appearance, Shepherd possesses an intuitive approach to investigation that relentlessly narrows down each list of suspects. He interacts with several associates including a young female detective (Fern Sutherland) who spars with him before they start to respect each other and a free-spirited Maori neighbor (Pana Hema Taylor). In these first four episodes, the murders revolve around winemaking, golf, hunting, and hit-and-run driving. Verdict The solid acting, quaint setting, and even tone between humor and homicide make this an exceedingly delightful addition to the stable of such imported series mysteries as Midsomer Murders and A Touch of Frost.--Lawrence Maxted, Gannon Univ. Lib., Erie, PA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.