Product: Inspector Morse [VHS] (1988)
Rating: 5.0
An Empathetic Morse
This entry opens at a high mass, offered at a country church, with thirteen in attendance - one of which is killed during the service. The Vicar informs Morse that this was not an ordinary mass, but rather a special saint's feast day, (Saint Augustine,) which accounts for the small attendance, as opposed to a normal daily mass. From Max's pathology report Morse discovers the victim was killed by several different means. And thus our story's setting is in place and the mystery ready for the solving. Five more bodies require Morse's attention as does the Vicar, church warden, organist, custodian, as well as the Vicar's brother. We learn that Morse does not belong in the bell tower as he suffers from acrophobia. Along the way we have a possible pedophile, blackmail, adultery, and revenge. Morse's attention to detail reveals a most important clue i.e. identifying two Saint Augustines and their not having feast days recently. There is much more including a romance between Morse and the custodian, as well as a surprising twist as we reach the end. The empathy of Morse also arrives at the end. Not much of Morse's idiosyncrasies but an excellent plot to carry the tale to five stars.