The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2003-4)

 S 2, 4. Deception on His Mind. Written by Valerie Windsor.

A racist murder has taken place on the Essex coast. Havers' neighbour Tanveer Ghani and her child go there for 'personal reasons' and Havers also goes along to look up her former boss Emily Joyce (lots of TV including Cracker).

Meanwhile a young Pakistani girl is pregnant - Anjali Jay - her fiance has been killed. Father Saeed Jaffrey. Brother is the truly vile Tarek Ramini who it turns out is involved in people trafficking (and much worse) . And it also turns out there's a reason for Joyce's hostility to him. Terence Hillyer is funny as a slightly sinister B&B owner.

Lynley turns up, of course. In an exciting boat chase finale, Lynley jumps in to save the girl but Joyce won't stop the boat to save them so Havers has to shoot her with a flare gun.

What a lovely smile!

In its treatment of racism and sexual hypocrisy and the vile brother character (who likes shagging white women though he claims he detests them) and the Ahab-like police DS, it's one of the strongest of the series.

S 3, 1. In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner. Written by Ann-Marie di Mambro.

Lynley has longer hair; Havers has been demoted for the flare gun incident - what was she supposed to have done??

A couple camping have been bludgeoned - she's the daughter of ex police chief Timothy West, wife Sorcha Cusack. Lynley manages to get Havers up there to help - strictly to do research through old files. Naturally she's soon off doing her own thing. Despite being repeatedly told she's off the case, she cracks it - this very amusing. But - she doesn't receive recognition for it. We love her character. Also has to deal with sexist local police (Jack Deam). Simon Williams is an alky and there's a very young Tom Burke involved.

S 3, 2. A Traitor to Memory. Adapted by Kevin Clarke.

A woman's been involved in a hit and run, somehow connected to a violinist who cracks in performance. The police constable and Lynley's former boss are both hiding something. It all goes back to a child murder twenty years ago.

Havers has threatened to resign. And - Helen is pregnant. We're not sure Lynley is very happy about it.

David Calder, John McGlynn, Michael Culkin, Richard McCabe, Anthony Higgins.