The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries

Happy New Year, everyone! I have returned, and present to you the first Murderess Ink review of 2010!

Now, I apologize, because this is not the review that I originally intended to post. Far from it, in fact. But over the holiday break, a friend of mine introduced me to a new series, and I decided that this must be the next review that I post! This review will be for the Mrs. Bradley Mysteries, a televised adaptation of several novels of the mystery author Gladys Mitchell. I freely admit that this review is a little unorthodox in that I am reviewing the television version before I have ever read the books, but bear with me here, please! I will be speaking about the series in general, rather than focus on the individual cases.

BIOGRAPHY - GLADYS MITCHELL
Gladys Mitchell was born in the year 1901 in Cowley, Oxford. She taught history, English, and physical education for nearly 40 years while still managing to publish at least one novel a year. Mitchell's hobbies included architecture, writing poetry, and psychology, the latter serving as a tremendous influence on her work. She wrote 66 novels featuring her detective Beatrice Adela Lestrange Bradley, a psychoanalyst and author, as well as several other detective novels and children's books under various pseudonyms.

Mitchell was a member of the Detection Club, a literary club comprised of the most famous authors of the time, and was widely acknowledged to be one of the most celebrated female detecive authors of the 1930s. Besides the Detection Club, she was a member of several literary organizations, and was the 1976 recipient of the Crime Writers Association's Silver Dagger Award. After her death in 1983, Mitchell's work was neglected though several posthumous books sold well. However, interest in her work perked up again after the creation of the Mrs. Bradley Mysteries.

ABOUT MRS BRADLEY

Now, the series itself is a treasure. Heartbreakingly short (only four episodes and a full-length film), it is a hybrid mystery/comedy show. Mrs. Bradley herself offers the wittiest banter, through wry observations and asides to the audience. The series was shown in the US on PBS's program Mystery!, hosted by Diana Rigg (who also starred as Mrs. Bradley!).

The Mrs Bradley Mysteries focus less on the crime-solving aspect of the mystery, preferring to invest itself in the characters. The presentation and examination of clues is haphazard at best, and the show refuses to throw so much as a bone to the viewer eager to solve the puzzle along with Mrs. Bradley. The vital information needed to solve the case is usually withheld from the viewer, making the show more of a passive experience than a challenge to the wannabe sleuth. Regardless, the fantastic acting and writing more than make up for this.

ACTORS
The series stars the incomparable Diana Rigg, who brings a sly and seductive edge to the character. Her Mrs. Bradley is an indomitable woman who refuses to let anything--from age to the sexist society she lives in--dictate how she should live her life. Rigg clearly enjoys playing Mrs. Bradley, relishing her air of mystery and sophistication. (I have heard that Rigg's interpretation of Mrs. Bradley varies greatly from the book, though I suppose that will be covered in a later review)

Every Sherlock needs his Watson, and so Mrs. Bradley is accompanied by her loyal chauffeur George (played by Neil Dudgeon). He serves as the straight man in their odd relationship, and primarily is responsible for ferreting out information or running errands. Dudgeon does a terrific job as George, imbuing him with an energetic personality--which one definitely needs to keep up with Mrs. Bradley!

The supporting cast in each episode is strong, as well. Keep an eye out for a pre-Dr. Who David Tennant in "Death at the Opera." Excellent casting, overall.

EPISODES

Details I liked - The music in this series is terrific. Preferring to eschew general background music, the show offers songs from the period to help immerse the viewer in the world of the 1920's. The writing was tight and well-done, and strikes a nice balance between developing the cast of characters we're given and moving the plot along. And the comedic dialogue is superb.

Details I didn't like - Whoever chose Mrs. Bradley's outfits should be immediately arrested by the fashion police. Those were some of the ugliest coats and hats I have seen since Keeping Up Appearances! And why did so many people have the same exact hairstyle and color as Mrs. Bradley? It almost seems as though the costuming department had a surplus of Mrs. Bradley wigs, and started passing them out to characters at random.

Based on what I have seen, I definitely will read the Mrs. Bradley books, and look forward to reviewing them.

In one sentence: A tightly written, well-acted series of novel adaptations that provides for good entertainment, though it is more passive than some hardcore mystery fans might enjoy.

Good sleuthing!