The Good Ship Murder

A Luxury Mediterranean cruise ship sets sail, stopping at all the major destinations, but at each stop, murder, and on the case is former Detective now crooner Jack Grayling, and first officer Kate Woods.

If you're a fan of shows such as Mallorca Files, Shakespeare and Hathaway etc, I am sure you will enjoy this series. Don't expect anything too serious, and expect to be made to believe some rather impossible scenarios.

Gorgeous location work, it really does emphasise and make the most of The Med. I spent a fair bit of time in Malta, and I may be wrong, but did Malta double up?

Shayne Ward absolutely makes this series, he has that combination of being talented, likeable and charismatic, he really does help to make this show pretty good. Jack is a bit of a bad luck charm, he's The Jessica Fletcher of The Mediterranean, wherever he goes, murder follows.

Shayne's songs are really good, especially his version of True Faith by New Order.

Some nice guest performances along the way, and the regular cast are all very good.

As it stands series two has been commissioned, looking forward to that.

7/10.

I'm enjoying this show. It's lighthearted following in the steps of Death in Paradise, and the scenery is amazing.

The cinematography at the various locations is superb and really makes me want to visit all the ports they've been to.

It doesn't take itself too seriously and this is all for the better.

We don't always need dark, gritty crime dramas every time.

The sunshine helps too, especially in the middle of a UK year of mainly rain.

When it's miserable outside it's good to watch a show like this.

Shayne Wards wardrobe is full of multi coloured linen clothes and they look great. The costume designer has done well.

The stories have been varied and some of the dialogue has been funny.

What's not to like.

I hope there are more series.

Its a syrupy and soapy confection that will appeal mainly to fans of the cosy crime genre. Shayne Ward and Catherine Tyldesley play the amateur sleuths chasing murderer's at sea.

Yes its a bit naff and won't win any awards but it does what it says on the tin. Its an escapist show with nice scenery and songs. The sharpest things about it was probably Shayne Ward's designer stubble.

On the negative side the plot had more holes than a fisherman's net and there was no chemistry between the leads.

If you like Agatha Raisin, Death in Paradise etc. Its worth a look - if you prefer more serious whodunnits it won't be your cup of tea.

On the plus side this is family friendly series set on a luxury cruise liner allowing each episode to be set in different beautiful location, which means on the down side as each episode goes by it stretches credulity that one liner could have so many murders associated with it. However this is light entertainment and there are plenty of other series that suffer with the same problem that many are happy to overlook. Unfortunately the acting is very poor and the solution to the murders contrived, a poor man's Agatha Christie. All that being said I suspect that is exactly how it was meant to be written. It stars amongst others Shayne Ward who is a singer and ex winner of the X Factor, so appropriately each episode concludes with him in his role as ship's entertainment officer singing a song. It is what it is and if you take it as that it is a pleasant enough show.

As many of the reviewers have noted, this is not a deep dark difficult to discern crime saga. This is light and fun entertainment, which I discovered on a Sunday afternoon and I'm now tuning in for the second episode.

The lead actors are fun to watch in action. The cruise scenery brightens up one's day and it is pure entertainment for entertainment sake.

Of course I was curious as to which cruise line allowed their ship to be included in this program featuring murder and cruising. I did find it interesting to see some of the behind scenes views of a cruise ship.

So unless you are too stuck up in your views of murder dramas, it's time to get in the cruise buffet line and sample this tasty fun program!