Midsomer Murders: Set One (Death's Shadow / Strangler's Wood / Blood Will Out / Beyond the Grave)
Acorn Media presents a beautifully realized boxed set that brings to life all the ghastliness and arch humor ofCaroline Graham's intriguing mystery series. Set 1 includes four episodes:Death's Shadow,Strangler's Wood,Blood Will Out, andBeyond the GraveEach is set in a different village in the quaint but surprisingly lethal Midsomer County, complete with sharp portraits of the love and loathing that small-town life can breed. John Nettles plays Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby with a wry wit, a satisfyingly keen-but-not-supernatural intelligence, and a deep understanding of human nature. Daniel Casey as the much younger Sergeant Troy has a somewhat tougher job, painting his younger policeman's character in shorter bits over the course of the series, but he becomes a most welcome face. The series is beautifully acted and produced and the solutions are satisfying--not a clinker in the bunch. The DVDs include selected cast filmographies, a biography of author Caroline Graham, and a map of Midsomer County.--Ali Davis