Sergeant Cribb: A Case of Spirits
Sergeant Cribbcombines clever detective work with a wry look at the Victorian era. The first set includes six episodes, each themed around quirks of Victorian life, ranging from week-long walking competitions to literary conceits and skinny-dipping. Best of the bunch is "A Case of Spirits," which takes a humorous look at the spiritualist movement. The actual mysteries, though satisfying, are almost secondary to author Peter Lovesey's impeccable research and trenchant observations on the Victorian social strata. The coolly unflappable Cribb, played with a wink by Alan Dobie, bristles at the indignities inflicted on him by his superior officer even as he passes them along to his constable assistant. The DVD version includes a biography of Lovesey and a history of Scotland Yard.--Ali Davis