Inspector Morse and Me

I need a 12-step program for my addiction to British mystery series DVDs.  I am powerless over Poirot and Inspector Morse. When a new British mystery DVD series comes out, I am all over the hold list for it at the Burlingame Library.

These particular DVDs are great examples of books into film or TV series and just great fun to watch.

Agatha Christie's Poirot, the sharp, diminutive detective, solved cases in 33 novels and 51 short stories, and the great British actor, David Suchet, has played Poirot in more than 60 TV episodes, with more to come. Set mostly in the 1920's and 30's, with incredible Art Deco architecture, period music and luscious clothing, the series is a feast for the ears and eyes. The library has them all. Start with Series One and become a believer!

Inspector Morse (based on the books by Colin Dexter), the morose, romantic, Oxford, England Chief Detective, falls in love in practically every episode and sadly for him, sometimes the murderer is his current crush. He was forced to leave Oxford University as a young man and, despite his love of Wagner and his ability to quote almost anything literary and often times in Latin, became a copper and holds a slight disdain for the University. As murders happen all the time at the University, he's there a lot with a sneer on his face.

Alongside him, his ever suffering Detective Sergeant Lewis, who never understands Morse's quotes and certainly not the ones in Latin. After all, he's a working class dude from Newcastle. Start with The Dead of Jericho and prepare yourself to fall in love with Oxford (you'll find yourself wanting to learn how to row on the River Thames) and with the taciturn Morse, played brilliantly by the late John Thaw. There is also a real mystery until the very last episode. Morse goes by Morse, only Morse, but his first name begins with the letter "E" - what could it be? Again, come into the library and start your obsession.

Don't get me started on my love for Inspector Lynley or Detective Inspector Adam Dalgliesh!

All this and more at the Burlingame Public Library.