Heat of the Sun (1998– )

Set in the 1930s, a former Scotland Yard detective is sent to colonial Kenya to head the new criminal investigation unit.

Stars:

Trevor Eve, Freddie Annobil-Dodoo, Michael Byrne

Cast

Series cast summary:
Trevor Eve	...	Supt. Albert Tyburn (3 episodes, 1998)
Freddie Annobil-Dodoo	...	Cpl. Jonah Karinde (3 episodes, 1998)
Michael Byrne	...	Police Comm. Ronald Burkitt (3 episodes, 1998)
Sean Gallagher	...	Chico de Ville (3 episodes, 1998)
Susannah Harker	...	Emma Fitzgerald (3 episodes, 1998)
Cathryn Harrison	...	Charlotte Elliott (3 episodes, 1998)
David Horovitch	...	Dr. Emil Mueller (3 episodes, 1998)
Shaheen Jassat	...	Cookie 'The Dip' (3 episodes, 1998)
Julian Rhind-Tutt	...	Asst. Supt. James Valentine (3 episodes, 1998)
Joss Ackland	...	Max Van der Vuurst (2 episodes, 1998)
Paul Brooke	...	Sir Rex Willoughby (2 episodes, 1998)
James Neill	...	Clerk of the Court (2 episodes, 1998)
Hywell Williams	...	Judge (2 episodes, 1998)

Storyline

Former Scotland Yard detective Albert Tyburn is sent to colonial Nairobi, as the head of a new criminal investigation unit. Murder, arson, blackmail, slave-trading, and secret passions await him in 1930's Kenya. As he faces off against the pompous elitist expatriate community, he finds allies in Constable Jonah Karinde, Assistant Superintendent James Valentine, and Emma Fitzgerald, a spirited, strong-willed biplane pilot. This dark and twisting series encompass three cases: "Private Lives," "Hide in Plain Sight," and "The Sport of Kings."

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Plot Keywords:

1930s | investigation | colonial | scotland yard | kenya | 

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Genres:

Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 January 1999 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Zimbabwe

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carlton UK Productions, WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

360 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Asst. Supt. James Valentine: [repeated] The next one kills you.

User Reviews

Engaging, enjoyable, easy suspension of disbelief

Acting, directing, and writing are all fine. It's mysteries set in 30's Africa, and uses many of the conventions of films of the time, but from a modern perspective - not unlike the approach taken in Indiana Jones - and it generally works well.

I'm usually the first one to quibble about technical errors, but this series was sooo well done that I never noticed any of the ones noted in other reviews here. Mind you, I had a hard time with Valentine shooting guns out of people's hands, and with a flaming homosexual in that time and place, but I just let the excellent story telling carry things along. Somehow, it seemed ** right ** that Valentine was able to shoot guns out of people's hands, and that there were Nazis lurking, etc.

One of the most enjoyable things on TV in a long time, and I hope there will be more. Let's have a DVD soon, please.