Death in Paradise fans looking for their next detective series need look no further. An 'outstanding' and 'clever' detective series is now streaming for free, and it boasts an impressive 89% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The Brokenwood Mysteries: A New Zealand Gem
Set in New Zealand, The Brokenwood Mysteries has been likened to Midsomer Murders and is currently airing its 12th season on UK screens. Viewers can catch up from series one on Channel 4 and U&DRAMA, with new episodes airing on Mondays at 8pm on the latter channel.
The show follows the 'seemingly quiet town of Brokenwood slowly being riddled with murders,' and it is up to Detective Mike Shepherd, played by Neill Rea, to solve the crimes. Other characters include Detective Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland), Detective Constable Sam Breen (Nic Sampson), Dr. Gina Kadinsky (Cristina Ionda), and Detective Constable Daniel Chalmers (Jarod Rawiri).
Rave Reviews and Fan Favorites
First released in 2014, the series has received rave reviews, with many viewers claiming it is 'better than Death in Paradise.' One fan said: 'If you like a great mystery, well written with lots of twists and turns as well as colorful characters populating a simply stunning locale, I can confidently recommend you visit the quirky world of Brokenwood.'
Another viewer added: 'I really enjoy this series and agree with the positive reviews I've read.' A third commented: 'I was pleasantly surprised, the lead actors were excellent and supporting cast very good in my opinion.'
One enthusiastic fan gave the show a 9 out of 10, stating: 'For me this is extremely rare, it's not often something catches my attention and keeps it, as well as Broken Wood does. BUT the Broken Wood Mysteries in my humble opinion, Is That Good! Wonderful Trio of exceptionally good Actors, Delightful Script Writing, wonderful Scenery which shows delightfully the beauty of New Zealand. ALL IN ALL, A very deserved 9 out of 10.'
Another viewer wrote: 'I look forward to future episodes of this refreshing NZ 'whodunnit', which for me rates better than Midsomer, definitely better than Death in Paradise, but perhaps not quite as good as Lewis, Frost, or the Swedish version of Wallander. Well done NZ!'
A different fan noted: 'Came across this well done series from the "you may like" section and was pleasantly entertained. The show built the characters quickly and the result was a wonderful mix of personalities with a nice mix of serious and humour, especially from Fern and Neill. The Medical Examiner is like someone everyone knows, and the banter between all the cast is the strongest part of the show.'
Finally, one viewer described it as: 'Outstanding Kiwi police series, reminiscent of some British country police dramas. The cast work well together and over the 11 seasons we see a development in the characters. If you like country music you'll love the soundtrack.'
Where to Watch
The Brokenwood Mysteries series one to 11 are available to watch on Channel 4 and U&DRAMA now. Season 12 airs on Mondays at 8pm on U&DRAMA, with episodes also available on Channel 4.
