The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries (1993)
The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries is a British detective television series adapted from nine of the Roderick Alleyn novels by Ngaio Marsh. It originally aired between 1990 and 1994. In the pilot episode Detective Inspector Alleyn was played by Simon Williams. William Simons played Alleyn's righthand man and "Watson" figure, Detective Sergeant Fox, and Belinda Lang starred as the painter Agatha Troy, Alleyn's love interest. Williams was unavailable when the first series was made, so whilst Simons and Lang reprised their original roles, the lead character was henceforth played by Patrick Malahide. The BBC made nine episodes in all, each based on a separate novel. The eight episodes featuring Malahide are available on DVD in the USA and UK. An Australian set has all nine episodes.
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Episode 1 - A Man Lay Dead
Release Date: 1993-04-18Alleyn cancels his holiday with Troy to investigate a murder connected to a stolen chalice, but he's called when a second murder occurs at uncle's estate.
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Episode 2 - The Nursing Home Murder
Release Date: 1993-04-25A member of Parliament who has taken controversial stands on Palestine and A-bomb development is murdered during a routine appendectomy.
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Episode 3 - Final Curtain
Release Date: 1993-05-02An egotistical Shakespearean ham actor gathers his dysfunctional extended family in his mansion on his 75th birthday for the reading of his will.
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Episode 4 - Death at the Bar
Release Date: 1993-05-09During a display of dart throwing in a Cornish pub a man's hand is impaled by a dart, and he dies shortly afterward from cyanide although no one can explain how.
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Episode 5 - Death in a White Tie
Release Date: 1993-05-16Inspector Alleyn enlists the help of his friend Lord Robert "Bunchy" Gospell to uncover a society blackmailer. After Lord Robert is killed, a murder hunt follows among the world of titled heiresses, gamblers and adulterers.