The Inspector Lynley Mysteries The Complete Fourth Series   Starring: Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small Acorn Media UK RRP: £19.99 AV9704 Certificate: 15 Available 01 June 2009

Based on the the best-selling novels of Elizabeth George, in fourth series of The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Lynley and Havers continue to reach across an ever-crumbling class barrier in their attempt to solve cases of murder that would challenge the savviest of detectives. As the series begins, Havers is recovering from a shooting incident, and the trial separation from his wife has sent Lynley reeling and at risk to others...

Series four of The Inspector Lynley Mysteries contains another four 90 min episodes, and was originally broadcast in 2005.

In Divine Proportion: It's Havers's first day back at work and she and Lynley find themselves in a Suffolk village, where a young woman has been brutally murdered with a shot gun. Everyone seems to know something, but no one is talking, until a series of clues lead to a suspect who might turn out to be another victim. This episode feature Burn Gorman, who would later go on to star in Torchwood. The only minus point for this episode is that the conclusion just seems to go on and on as the writers try and stretch the material.

In the Guise of Death: Havers and Lynley have taken different paths to Cornwall, but end up at the same destination - a barn containing an apparent suicide... and a lot of money. If it’s murder, the cause may be wrapped up in a world of horses and coastal smuggling - and the killer may be closer to home than Lynley suspects. Here we get to see Lynley's home life as we meet his mother and sister.

The Seed of Cunning: A doorkeeper at the House of Lords has been murdered and Lynley and Havers find themselves caught up in the murky world of politics, lobbyists and arms dealing. This could be their most dangerous case yet as they find themselves up against forces they are helpless to combat.

Word of God: The body of a man has been found frozen on a meat truck carrying a British passport and a valuable page from an ancient Koran. But which is the greater clue, the body or the Koran? Under pressure, Lynley may cross a line from which there is no return. This episode stars Mark Benton - one of the funniest men in the business in my opinion. Here, though, he proves he can stretch his acting muscles and turns in a good, serious role.

There are no extras on these two discs, but then that's no great shame as the six hours of programming alone is well worth the retail price.

8

Nick Smithson