简介：Atrulyingeniousandslymurdermysteryseries,MurderMostEnglishfeaturesthepolite,thoughtful,andcompletelyengagingInspectorPurbright,playedwithgraciouswilinessbyAntonRodgers.ThisBritishseriesfromthe1970sadaptedfournovelsbyColinWatson,anunjustlyneglectedmysterywriterwhoseexcellentplotting,eccentriccharacters,andsneakyhumorareinfulldisplay.SetinthemythicalandtypicalEnglishtownofFlaxborough,MurderMostEnglishfeaturessomeatypicalgoings-on:Alovetrianglemurderthatturnsouttoinvolveasingularlyindiscreetsecret-serviceagent;amurdererwhousesamatrimonialservicetofindhisprey;asexualpredatorwhowalkssideways,likeacrab,andwhoseafflictionmayberelatedtoapharmaceuticalcartel;andaclandestinepactofupstandingcitizensthatunravelsthroughaseriesofmurders.Eachtwo-episodestoryisskillfullystructured,alwaysseemingtobesolvedonlytorevealacompletelydifferentlayerofmystery.Oddandintriguingcharactersdoteveryturn,deftlittlepsychologicalsnapshotsthatmaketheplotsnotmerelysmartbutsurprisinglyresonant--andwonderfullyfunny,suchaswhenacrankyoldwomanunsettlesaprimchurchmatronwiththerudenamesofcountryplants.Puffinghispipe,Purbrightquietlybutdoggedlysortsoutthetangledstrands,aidedbytheimpulsiveDetectiveSergeantLoveandnotparticularlyhelpedbythestodgyChiefConstableChubb.AppearingintwoofthestoriesisthestealthyLucillaTeatime,aconwomanwhosebland,benignappearancebeliesasteelyspiritandafoulmouth.Evenviewerswhoaren’tusuallydrawntomurdermysteriesmayenjoyMurderMostEnglish;ColinWatson’simaginationdoesn’tfollowthenarrowclockworkefficiencyofAgathaChristieandisallthemoreenjoyableforit.--BretFetzer…