If you’ve worked your way through Hercule Poirot’s cases and are at a loss over what to watch next – well, let us introduce you to another exceptionally polished sleuth. Set among the country estates and exclusive circles of post-war Britain, The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries is the dream detective drama you’ll want to binge this weekend.
From murder and blackmail to family feuds and stolen treasure, scandal seems to plague the upper echelons. Luckily, the aristocratic Inspector Roderick Alleyn (Patrick Malahide) and his dependable colleague, Inspector ‘Brer Fox’ (William Simons) are on hand to expose the guilty in this perfect Poirot replacement.
With the series available to stream now, here’s everything you need to know about The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries about?
Based on the novels by Dame Ngaio Marsh, The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries follows Scotland Yard detective, Roderick Alleyn, as he solves a slew of murders among the wealthy in post-war Britain. In the 1990 pilot, Simon Williams plays the role of Alleyn, before Patrick Malahide takes over for the following series. He’s joined by the more down-to-earth Inspector ‘Brer’ Fox (William Simons), whose working-class warmth is a brilliant contrast to Alleyn’s polished aristocracy.
The pilot begins with the murder of an artist during a life-drawing class at the home of painter Agatha Troy (Belinda Lang), and all the guests in her manor become suspects. While untangling the case, Alleyn must grapple with his growing romantic feelings towards Agatha – who’s also a suspect!
For a taste of the drama across the other series, the duo investigates a murder game that turns frighteningly real, the killing of a pompous Shakespeare actor, and the death of a disliked man in a secretive rural community. The sleuths also travel to a remote Scottish island, where a dispute over a proposed development escalates into murder.
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Who’s in the cast of The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries?
The cast of The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries includes:
- Simon Williams (Upstairs, Downstairs) as Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn (pilot only)
- Patrick Malahide (Hunted) as Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn
- William Simons (Heartbeat) as Inspector Fox
- Belinda Lang (Sister Boniface Mysteries) as Agatha Troy
- Tim Dutton (Ellis) as DS Bailey
- Sandy Welch (Ordeal By Innocence) as DC Robinson
- Leslie Schofield (EastEnders) as ACC Connors
- Mark Penfold (Secret Diary of a Call Girl) as Doctor Curtis
- Derek Benfield (The Brothers) as Alfred Belt
Is The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries any good?
Yes – we particularly loved it because it has the same grandiose glamour and classic murder mystery components of Poirot. Patrick Malahide is the perfect Detective Alleyn – he’s gentlemanly and polite, whereas William Simons’ Inspector Fox is the perfect contrast with his down-to-earth warmth. Their magnetic partnership kept us watching, just as much as the elaborate mysteries!
How can I watch The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries?
You can watch The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries now on U.
What other detective dramas can I watch now?
If you’re after something more modern, we’d recommend Agatha Raisin, in which the eponymous sleuth, played by the brilliant Ashley Jensen, solves an assortment of murder cases in a supposedly sleepy Cotswolds town. You can watch Agatha Raisin now on Acorn TV via Prime Video. For another dose of escapism, we’d point you towards The Chelsea Detective, where we follow Detective Inspector Max Arnold (Adrian Scarborough) cracking puzzling cases across the upmarket west London borough, but he’s very different to the wealthy residents he helps. The Chelsea Detective is available to stream now on U.
