A Taste for Death - Part One

Still hard to figure out what the makers of this series think they were doing. The plots are stripped of any context or nuance -- it's Dalgliesh for Dummies.

And how can English programme makers get a simple title so wrong? Sir Paul's wife is reported to have been born poor, so she is plain Barbara Swayne when she marries him. As his wife, she becomes Lady Berowne, not Lady Barbara.

We have the usual token conversions of white characters to black -- irrelevantly in Halliwell's case, but an issue in Miskin's. Only because the prickly character of Massingham is turned into the (drop a syllable from prickly) Masterson.

What an actor of Bertie Carvel's quality is doing in rubbish like this mystifies me. And how this garbage ever got commissioned -- did any of these programme people even read the books? Let alone watch the series that showed how they could be done?

All I find here is contempt for a highly regarded English author and for the audience for this material, which, like me, tuned in to see how a new generation of programme makers treated the material. Answer: insultingly.

Seriously- hair was bad in the 70s, but hers is hideous plus. Agree with the other reviewer about the bad job the sheer laziness of those involved in the productions - clearly never read the books, PC checklist casting, stupid cultural errors- Barbara would have been Lady Berowne and the mother would have been dowager Lady Berowne - we could give her the benefit of the doubt because might be the daughter of an earl, viscount or duke as thus could be called Lady Lavinia. Also, throwing in the odd F-bomb into the dialogue every so often does not make it edgy or add verisimiltude to the moribund script derived from compelling and fascinationg novels.

The only reason for 2 stars is the acting and settings are mostly good.

Those who want to enjoy screen versions of one of mystery fiction's most interesting detectives and the excellent storytelling of P. D James should stream the ITV and BBC dramatisations starring Roy Marsden (ITV) and Martin Shaw (BBC) - far superior to this dreck in every respect.

Miserable and illogical. Unbelievable characters - including the policemen. As for the acting ...

The 1970s may have been in the last century, but life was illuminated! Dark inappropriate settings don't add to the suspense! We had no desire to see how it ended and turned off after an hour. Did someone die? We didn't actually care....

Time some of these scripts were consigned to the bin although I'm not sure why the cast didn't realise how awful they were at first reading! Presumably desperate for any sort of work.

I'm being kind with 2/10 and won't watch any more. The original series was bad but this is even worse!

Adam Dalgliesh and his new Sergeant are called to investigate two deaths inside a Church, one a titled man, the other a tramp.

I have enjoyed this series so far, this is the third wonderful novel to be adapted. First thing to address, the story, great in its own right, and the essence of it was maintained, sure they have tinkered about with a few things, no issues for me, as they kept the core points.

Pacing is generally good, it doesn't hang around, it moves on pretty quickly, and that's a good thing.

Production values are excellent, it looks marvellous, great use of sets and clothes, the cars are phenomenal.

Carvel was great once again, I did enjoy Jane Lapotaire here as the mother of the deceased, well acted.

A good start, 7/10.

A woman and a young boy make a grisly discovery in a church. Two dead bodies one was a local tramp Harry Mack. The other was a politician who recently resigned in disgrace.

Sir Paul Berowne who came from aristocratic circles and had been involved in a scandal involving a young woman. She was working for him and was pregnant and reportedly drown herself.

The deaths relating to Berowne and Mack look like a murder-suicide. Of course Dalgliesh wonders why would a tramp be involved.

The first episode sees Dalgliesh interviewing the Berowne family. That includes his mother, his wayward wife who might be having an affair as well as her brother. It seems Berowne's wife and brother in law are from lowly stock.

The Berwone are also from a distinguished military family, some of the ex soldiers are loyal to them as they work for the household.

The episode also sees DS Kate Miskin from the previous story now recruited to the Metropolitan police force. Her sex and her race, puts her in a collision course with DS Charles Masterson.

I felt the opening story was too bogged down with the set up. Too much questioning of potential suspects, although Dalgliesh always has a cunning trick or two up his sleeve.