I happily stumbled upon this series and it has surprised me. I love a good cozy mystery and I wasn't aware there was a new one set in Dublin, Ireland.
Jane Seymour plays Harry, a mouthy, retired English professor, who tries her hand at solving a mystery after recognizing a similarity in an abduction case to the theme of an old, obscure novel and having a peek at her son's police files. Her son Charlie (Kevin Ryan) is a detective with the Guarda and his mother often infuriates and exasperates him.
She's mugged by a young man, Fergus Reid (Rohan Nedd), and begins following him after she recognizes him playing in a park with his young sister. He surprises and intrigues her with his kind and caring behavior toward his little sister so she asks for his help with the case in exchange for tutoring.
He helps her and they discover they are a good team. She really doesn't plan on making private detecting a new career but her friend brings them a new case and Fergus wants to do it. Her son discourages her from ever getting involved in a case again and lets her know he got in trouble with his superior officer, Ray Tiernan (Stuart Graham), over it all.
So the scene is set for this unlikely pair to launch their private investigation company and Fergus even has business cards printed and a website created before Harry has made up her mind. I may have missed it but I don't think they ever sat their licensing exams before taking on cases. Fergus did sit his final high school exams though due to her coaching.
She is often obnoxious and very rude to anyone she meets, especially her daughter-in-law who doesn't like her either. She's entitled and thinks herself superior to everyone else's intellect and is rarely seen without a glass of red wine in her hand. There's something endearing about her though ...I'm in Season 3 and I'm still not sure what.
But, as time goes on, she mellows a bit and Fergus is a good influence. She learns to lean on him more which is a new experience for her.
I've always enjoyed Jane Seymour's acting but it's a bit choppy in this one. Sometimes she's great and other times she stumbles or misses the mark. Rohan Nedd often overacts and for a moment you think you're watching an amateur community theatre production. Other scenes are very professional and solidly acted. They have a good supporting cast and guest actors.
In general, it's well-written and definitely entertaining. Some episodes and crimes are better than others and sometimes the coincidences and logic that lead to their solution are too far-fetched.
It's got the same cozy feel as "Father Brown" and "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries" with the same set-up as "Hetty Wainthropp Investigates"...without the likability of Hetty. The chemistry between the 'retired woman and young lad' is very similar in both series.
It's hard to go into any more detail without spoilers. Anyone who enjoys the above shows are bound to enjoy it unless Harry's character is just too abrasive, they object to her constant drinking and loose morals, and to the general bad language and odd adult comments throughout.
Jane Seymour plays Harry, a mouthy, retired English professor, who tries her hand at solving a mystery after recognizing a similarity in an abduction case to the theme of an old, obscure novel and having a peek at her son's police files. Her son Charlie (Kevin Ryan) is a detective with the Guarda and his mother often infuriates and exasperates him.
She's mugged by a young man, Fergus Reid (Rohan Nedd), and begins following him after she recognizes him playing in a park with his young sister. He surprises and intrigues her with his kind and caring behavior toward his little sister so she asks for his help with the case in exchange for tutoring.
He helps her and they discover they are a good team. She really doesn't plan on making private detecting a new career but her friend brings them a new case and Fergus wants to do it. Her son discourages her from ever getting involved in a case again and lets her know he got in trouble with his superior officer, Ray Tiernan (Stuart Graham), over it all.
So the scene is set for this unlikely pair to launch their private investigation company and Fergus even has business cards printed and a website created before Harry has made up her mind. I may have missed it but I don't think they ever sat their licensing exams before taking on cases. Fergus did sit his final high school exams though due to her coaching.
She is often obnoxious and very rude to anyone she meets, especially her daughter-in-law who doesn't like her either. She's entitled and thinks herself superior to everyone else's intellect and is rarely seen without a glass of red wine in her hand. There's something endearing about her though ...I'm in Season 3 and I'm still not sure what.
But, as time goes on, she mellows a bit and Fergus is a good influence. She learns to lean on him more which is a new experience for her.
I've always enjoyed Jane Seymour's acting but it's a bit choppy in this one. Sometimes she's great and other times she stumbles or misses the mark. Rohan Nedd often overacts and for a moment you think you're watching an amateur community theatre production. Other scenes are very professional and solidly acted. They have a good supporting cast and guest actors.
In general, it's well-written and definitely entertaining. Some episodes and crimes are better than others and sometimes the coincidences and logic that lead to their solution are too far-fetched.
It's got the same cozy feel as "Father Brown" and "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries" with the same set-up as "Hetty Wainthropp Investigates"...without the likability of Hetty. The chemistry between the 'retired woman and young lad' is very similar in both series.
It's hard to go into any more detail without spoilers. Anyone who enjoys the above shows are bound to enjoy it unless Harry's character is just too abrasive, they object to her constant drinking and loose morals, and to the general bad language and odd adult comments throughout.
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