Murdoch Mysteries Complete Series 4   Starring: Yannick Bisson, Hélène Joy, Thomas Craig and Jonny Harris ITV Studios Home Entertainment RRP: £39.99 3711534593 Certificate: 15 Available 16 May 2011

Set in 1895, Murdoch Mysteries follows the eccentric detective as he breaks with convention and pioneers forensic techniques in an attempt to solve the mysteries set before him and his team. Surrounding and supporting his unorthodox methods is the ever sceptical boss Inspector Brackenreid, pathologist and love interest, Dr. Julia Ogden and Constable George Crabtree, Murdoch’s enthusiastic and loyal right hand man...

The fourth series of Murdoch Mysteries contains another 13 episodes of this 19th century forensic crime drama. I was a little surprised that ITV is still charging £40 for these box sets when other shows are releasing 20+ episodes for the same price.

As usual Murdoch sets about investigating strange murders and to help him in his pursuit of the criminals he manages to invent a number of "new" gadgets (which we come to take for granted these days). This time around he invents a security camera, the fax machine, sonar, a silencer for use on guns and a bank security system that shoots dye at anyone attempting to steal money from a bank.

Highlights in this collection include:

Dead End Street: At a local fair Murdoch is intrigued by a miniature model of a street scene. The attention to detail is amazing, but Murdoch is curious to know why there is a gunman in one of the house's windows. The woman who created the model can't help as she is an autistic woman who doesn't speak. While no crime has been committed, Murdoch wants to get to the bottom of the mystery, convinced that the young woman may be the witness to an unreported crime.

Dial M for Murdoch: A telephone operator believe she has witnessed a murder, but this isn't the first time she's run to the police with such a wild claim. Murdoch decides to take her claim seriously and gives George the job of investigating. The woman is a bit of a fan of detective novels and her and George start to form a relationship.

Voices: Murdoch runs into his sister, who he hasn't seen since he was a teenager. She is a nun living at the scene of a crime Murdoch is investigating. A priest has been killed and buried in the grounds, and one of the nuns claims to be able to talk to angels as well as the Devil.

Blood Lust: This episode is interesting as it draws heavily on the "recent" publishing of Bram Stoker's Dracula novel. When a girl is killed at a school, Murdoch uncovers a case of ritualistic abuse. Some of the girls are being seduced by a mysterious stranger who appears to bite their necks and drink their blood.

Murdoch in Wonderland: The night after a Lewis Carroll themed party Murdoch wakes up in the room next to a dead man. Murdoch is the chief suspect and must rely on his team to prove he wasn't responsible.

I wasn't sure why Julia seemed to be absent for the start of this collection... I mean, I know that it was to resolve her leaving at the end of the last series, but Murdoch keeps bumping into her in the most ridiculous of places.

There are no extras - which is a shame. The retail price is a little steep, but as most of the online stores are offering this for under £30, I suppose this isn't too high a price to pay.

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Nick Smithson