Thankfully, there’s more … more interesting British crime stories with little or no violence or gore. (Find links to British TV Crime Dramas parts one and two at the end of this article.)
Foyle’s War – You might not think that entering the world of a police detective in a small town on the British side of the English Channel during the second World War would be relaxing, but it is. Crafted with care, the characters and settings of this series exert a mesmerizing pull. The series focuses on Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle’s experience of the war as he attends to crimes in his region, even though he’d rather take a more direct role in the war effort. Michael Kitchen as Foyle compels by saying so much with so little. He’s the king of the barely lifted eyebrow and the quirking mouth – a man of contained emotion and an unerring sense of justice. All of the main characters, including Foyle’s chauffeur (played by the actress Honeysuckle Weeks, whose name is so marvelous I can’t help but mention it), his son, and his assistant, are so well-drawn and vividly brought to life that I felt grief at having to let them go when the credits rolled on the last episode. There are six seasons. I strongly recommend seeing them in order.
Blue Murder – This time, the Detective Chief Inspector is a woman, Janine Lewis, played by Caroline Quentin. The draw of this series, for me, has to do with Lewis’ choices as she juggles her job, her family – she’s a divorced mother of several kids, and her attraction to Detective Inspector Richard Mayne, played by Ian Kelsey. There’s enough of both crime-solving and interpersonal intrigue to make the series worth seeing. There are five seasons, but not many episodes per season.
House of Cards, To Play the King, and The Final Cut – Though not listed as a series on imdb.com (The Internet Movie Database, which does all things for me regarding movies), this trilogy is definitely one long, deliciously wicked story. Ian Richardson brilliantly brings to life evil, politically devious Francis Urquart (or “F.U.” as he’s known to some), who rises from Chief Whip to Prime Minister over the course of the series, using anyone and everyone and committing whatever crimes need to be committed in the process. With his supportive and disturbingly like-minded wife by his side, F.U. gets himself in and through one fix after another, including, in the middle series, engaging in a wits-fest with the King (it’s a parallel universe, 
where Prince Charles – one assumes – has ascended the throne, post-divorce; the King is played to perfection by Michael Kitchen). Definitely see this trilogy in order or you’ll be scratching your head in later episodes.
Chancer – And while we’re on the topic of main characters with imperfect morals, I’d like to introduce Stephen Crane, a man with a mission to make money and poke boredom in the eye, taking whatever chances come his way to do so. Played by a young Clive Owen (in the part that launched him), Crane gets himself into fix after fix, yet also gets himself out of fix after fix, all only one step away from disaster in some form or another – the boss, the bank, the law, the woman. This isn’t, strictly speaking, a crime drama, but the flavour is similar, since it’s such a relentlessly compelling dramatic portrait of an character with little respect for convention or principles or law, who nevertheless charms everyone and shows us glimpses of the true heart within the con man. See this series in order, too. It’s a long series, but the endless wit and unexpected turns provide plenty of reason to watch.
Related reading: British TV Crime Dramas, British TV Crime Dramas – Part Two
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Oh Goodie! Struck out on all of the first 2 lists at the library and gave up BUT I just joined Netflix and am going to see if they have any (All? Could I be so lucky?) These sound perfect for me to watch while I stitch and knit/crochet. Thanks Grace!
Bummer that your library didn’t have any of them so far, Jo. Maybe you can suggest them. I’ve had good success with going that route and the libraries actually purchasing things. But Netflix is a good solution. I’ve got a friend who swears by it. Let me/us know what you think when you see some of these, if you want. I’d like to know. Happy viewing and munching.
Guess WHAT?!?! *all* of these are on Netflix — mostly DVDs but still . . . and I will definitely give the library these list with a “hint hint” attached, LOL!
Have you ever read Scandanavian crime fiction? I got started with Stieg Larsson’s Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and Girl Who Played With Fire, both of which I liked a lot although a bit too violent for my taste. Now I am reading Johan Theorin’s Darkest Room and I just finished his Echoes from the Dead and it was fabulous!
There is something about the Scandinavian landscape and natural reserve of the people that makes a great combination for mysteries.
I’m with you, Andrea. In fact, I recently finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and had the same reaction you did. I liked its gripping-ness – so much so that a couple of days ago when I saw The Girl Who Played with Fire on the fast reads shelf at the library I lunged for it (otherwise, I’ll have to wait to get it on hold and I’m about 283rd in line). Only downside now is that I have 4.5 more days to finish it.
I’m glad to have suggestions for more of this geographic genre. I’ll check into them. Oh, and my husband sent an email to me a few days ago (ahem. yes, we both work at home. yes, we send emails to each other from our different rooms — it keeps us from interrupting each other. I make no excuses.) alerting me to this fellow, from Norway, who’s also apparently a great author: Jo Nesbo (with a line through the o) — http://www.jonesbo.com/
Do you already know about Henning Mankell and his Kurt Wallander series? Swedish. Totally un-put-down-able stuff (his mysteries, that is — he’s also written other stuff).
I ordered two Jo Nesbo books from the library last night and then saw your post! Can’t wait to get them.
My husband and I sometime Facebook chat to each other from different rooms. True love means not having to get out of my comfy seat.
I just discovered the TV Wallander series a month ago, and via Netflix have received and read all the first two series. Is there a third series? I have tried Google an Netfix without hint of Series three — with Kenneth Branaugh of course. I saw part of one in Swedish with subtitles but left it after 15 minutes.
Wire In the Blood is outstanding. Touching Evil, Murphy`s Law, Cracker, The Lakes, Butterfly Collectors, Luther, Red Riding, South Riding, Sherlock,Dalgliesh, Edge Of Darkness, Foyle’s War, Prime Suspect, Poirot, Midsummer Murders, Mersey Beat, Inspector Morse, Lewis, Thorne, State Of Play, Criminal Justice, The Knock, Life On Mars, Ashes to Ashes, Mad Dogs, Rosemary and Thyme and Taggart … The list is prob endless of series I have seen and liked a lot.
But … I really get grumpy when people tend to think the British version of Wallander is better than the original. Did you not learn anything from the great series like State Of Play and Edge Of Darkness turned out to be ripped apart and turned out to be a Hollywood mockery?
Wallander and Beck, also Van Veeteren is really good crime from Sweden. Please note, I am from Norway, so I do not tend to stick up for them really sad swedes: But if you turn something of after just 15 min? Well, I just find it really daft.
Yes, I have seen most of British crime series, and also other British tv-series. Yes, I know it is a matter of taste at the end … and yes: Good site 😀
All the best from the norse scally.
I’m rather new to British Crime series as I haven’t owned a TV for many years and just recently started finding interesting and enjoyable shows online. I’ve watched a few British series….far prefer British TV to Canadian or particularly American. But I think my favourite so far is New Tricks. I’m older so of course that may have something to do with it, but I find the back stories and characterization wonderful, appealing, easy to relate to…and of course there is a strong focus on the humanity of the main characters and the characters in each story. The humour is also great. I was surprised not to find it in the list, but highly recommend it.
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