The BBC's new crime drama Lynley, based on Elizabeth George's novels, offers a contemporary update of the classic detective series. Starring Leo Suter as the unusually buff DI Tommy Lynley and Sofia Barclay as DS Barbara Havers, the show delivers a familiar yet engaging whodunit.
The first episode sees the mismatched duo investigating the murder of a wealthy island owner, Guy Brouard. With a cast of suspects including his dying wife, housekeeper, and a comely student, the plot unfolds with precision, firing off every Chekhov's gun from sex tapes to pottery shards.
Lynley, a Balliol man with a penchant for Latin, clashes with his new boss (Daniel Mays) while navigating a strained relationship with his parents. Havers, a feisty Norfolk lass, balances family secrets with her role as the DI's sidekick. The chemistry between the leads is promising, though the show leans heavily on genre tropes.
For fans of the original series or undemanding telly, Lynley offers a steady-paced, satisfying mystery. It may not break new ground, but it provides a comforting escape into a world of posh detectives and tangled motives.
