In the Guise of Death (24 Mar. 2005)

DI Lynley is visiting the family estate with his sister. Lynley is concerned that his mother may not be able to run the place on her own. As he debates whether to continue his police career... See full summary »

Director:

Nigel Douglas

Writers:

Simon Block, Elizabeth George (character)

Stars:

Doug Rollins, Sally Leonard, Nathaniel Parker

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Doug Rollins	...	Stephen Fenner
Sally Leonard	...	Moira
Nathaniel Parker	...	Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley
Kelly Hunter	...	Judith Lynley
Adrian Bower	...	DC Tremayne
Doug Allen	...	Lachlan
Sharon Small	...	Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers
Gabrielle Drake	...	Lady Asherton
Stella Gonet	...	Lady Sarah Keach
Bernice Stegers	...	Denning
Nick Dunning	...	Lawrence Chilcott
Alex Blake	...	PC (as Mike Blake)
Paul Ireland	...	Connor
Devon Black	...	Mrs. Tremayne
Phil Cheadle	...	Chilcott's Solicitor

Storyline

DI Lynley is visiting the family estate with his sister. Lynley is concerned that his mother may not be able to run the place on her own. As he debates whether to continue his police career or return to Cornwall permanently, he studiously avoids having to tell his mother that he and Helen are separated after the loss of the baby. Havers is also in the area on leave and attending a rehab center. They're soon drawn in by the local police to assist with the suspicious death of Stephen Fenner who is found hanging in his barn. The post-mortem reveals that he was drugged and the suspicious death is soon a murder investigation. Fenner had recently been on the wrong end of a business deal having bought a lame racehorse. The investigation reveals however that there is a smuggling ring operating along the Cornish coast and Fenner may have been involved. A key suspect and a police officer will die however before Lynley and Havers identify the ringleader.

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Plot Keywords:

police | murder | smuggling | aristocracy | family relationships

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Official Sites:

BBC [United Kingdom]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 2005 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley: It's that we try that makes us heroes. Not that we necessarily succeed.

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Connections

Followed by The Inspector Lynley Mysteries: Word of God (2005)

User Reviews

Lynley at home

DI Lynley is home on the family estate, concerned for his mother, who is attempting to run the place on her own. He considers quitting the force. He also doesn't tell his mother that Helen has left him, hopefully temporarily.

Havers is in the area as well, at a rehab center (presumably for her shoulder injury from the shooting), and soon, the local police ask for their help in a death by hanging -- the man was drugged, and it has become a murder investigation. The two soon uncover a smuggling ring and there's another death. Also, one person is not as he seems.

Good mystery. I love how Havers takes in Lynley's bad humor and then does just what she wants anyway. That seems to be a recurring theme, and it makes their relationship not only realistic but fun for the viewer. She's very headstrong, and he can't intimidate or scare her. He could scare me, though, despite his good looks.

Entertaining.