Missing Joseph (21 Sep. 2003)

Rev. Robin Sage dies after eating a meal prepared by Juliet Spence, an expert herbalist who should know the difference between wild parsnips and deadly hemlock.

Director:

Richard Laxton

Writers:

Elizabeth George (novel), Lizzie Mickery (screenplay)

Stars:

Pippa Haywood, Charlotte Salt, Tony Boncza

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Pippa Haywood	...	Juliet Spence
Charlotte Salt	...	Maggie Spence
Tony Boncza	...	Reverend Robin Sage
Joanna Dunn	...	Polly Yarkin
Lesley Vickerage	...	Helen Clyde
Nathaniel Parker	...	Thomas Lynley
Sharon Small	...	Barbara Havers
Christine Bottomley	...	Bride
John Vine	...	Kenneth Shepherd
Robert Goldsbrough	...	Police Officer One
Adam Godley	...	Tony Philips
Jason Merrells	...	Steve Shepherd
Nathan Naylor	...	Sergeant Mason
Maggie Guess	...	Woman at Bishops
David Lyon	...	Bishop

Storyline

While on detachment to the Lancashire police, DI Lynley investigates the apparent murder of the Reverend Robin Sage who is found on a rural path, where he was presumably walking home. The autopsy reveals that he was poisoned with wild hemlock. He had dinner the previous evening with Juliet Spence who was also violently ill through the night, but survived the poisoning. Juliet is involved in a relationship with PC Steve Shepherd, son of the local DCI Kenneth Shepherd and it is apparent that Juliet's teenage daughter, Maggie, is not pleased with her mother's choice. Uncovering a false identity is central to solving the crime. Lynley meanwhile has fallen in love with Helen Clyde, but can't quite bring himself to do something about it. DS Havers is dealing with the aftermath of having placed her aging mother in a care home.

---

Plot Keywords:

parsnip | herbalist | poisoning | shotgun | wedding | 

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

BBCi [uk] PBS

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 September 2003 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), WGBH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 85 min (dvd)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Thomas Lynley: [Introducing Havers] Barbara Havers.
Tony Philips: Barbara Havers? Finally get to put a face to the name.
Maggie Spence: [laughs nervously, unsure of his meaning] Sorry?
Tony Philips: I was working with the Met last year. They were offering five to one that your partnership wouldn't make it out of the paddock.
Thomas Lynley: [Indignant] I beg your pardon?
Tony Philips: [Condescendinly] Just a bit of fun. I'm sure everyone's delighted that Barbara eventually found someone she's able to work with.
Maggie Spence: You know, call me snob, Tony, but given the choice between workin' with a ...

---

Connections

Follows The Inspector Lynley Mysteries: Well Schooled in Murder (2002)

User Reviews

Ferrying Us

I wonder if I have this wrong. I recall that in the books, our male detective is quite a bit different than what we have here. I recall he was an Earl, drove the Bentley to work. Shades of Peter Wimsey. Also that he was alarmingly depressed, a boozer, a poet, someone who would lose himself in loud classical music. Unlike Holmes, he didn't play it, merely listened, a difference worth noting to this victim of noir forces.

The producers decided to focus on his sidekick, who has depressions of her own that are more readily dramatized. Oh well.

The story? I'll tell you that it is remarkably well done, quite good compared to others in this series and in the larger collection of the branded "Mystery" offerings.

Why? The folks behind this one had some competence with cinematic storytelling. In the very first scene, we know that a woman is a particularly skilled cook and is nervous about what she is preparing, that her daughter has some special gloomy burden, in addition to and beyond loneliness. Also that there is a prettier, younger woman involved and some of our characters will be watching others. All this is conveyed visually without anyone having to tell us in words.

So in the first two minutes (after Diana Rigg reads some irrelevant tripe), you know you will get something better than usual.

The business between the male detective and his two women, and between them and the force — the main thing in the books, is here gladly made secondary to the mystery. Its quite interesting. You cannot possibly guess what's behind the murder, but it is clever, so clever and cinematically so.

Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.