'Death In Paradise - Season Four'
(Kris Marshall, Sara Martins, Danny John-Jules, Joséphine Jobert, Sharon D. Clarke, et al / 2-Disc DVD / NR / 2015 / BBC America)
Overview: What's a Detective Inspector to do? Just when it seems that love will finally conquer the reserved, British heart of DI Humphrey Goodman, beautiful Detective Sergeant Camille Bordey may leave their sun-baked Caribbean paradise. In the meantime, two new recruits join the team to investigate eight more killings from a ghostly stabbing during a séance and the drowning of a bride-to-be, to the murders of a surf instructor, rock-and-roll singer and champion volleyball player.
DVD Verdict: If you STILL haven't caught on by now, 'Death in Paradise' is very easy to watch! Even if you despise the old fashioned workings of the likes of Miss Marple and Poiroit, you can grow to love this murder mystery.
Set in more sunnier climbs than your usual crime drama, the quirky Caribbean police force combined with some brilliant acting from Kris Marshall (having taken over from the more somber Ben Miller) returns for another season - and finds our hero still a) longing to start a relationship with the beautiful Detective Sergeant Camille Bordey, and b) not quite sure if he actually even fits in on the island!
And so our hapless, yet genius detective sits back as the show's devious recipe for whodunnit fun lays out before him in these new so-much-fun-to-watch episodes. For those catching up, or trying to recall, at the end of the first season our beloved DI Humphrey Goodman was so close to asking Camille on a date, but failed miserably - as is his way with women, seemingly. But he puts all that (kinda) aside so that the troupe can investigate such incidents as the drowning of a bride-to-be, the murder of a surf instructor, the murder of an old school rock-and-roll singer, and even that of a champion volleyball player.
For those following along at home, the rumpled, clumsy and brilliant DCI Humphrey Goodin leads the team. Sergeant Fidel Best has already left (since Season 3) to take a job on the island of St. Lucia. Goodin's other sergeant, Camille Bordey, will break everybody's hearts (especially Humphrey's) when she also chooses to leave before the end of this fourth season. Their replacements are good though, but will need time to bed in - with us, the audience!
OMG, and as if all that weren't enough for the already distracted Goodman to handle, his father visits the island of St. Marie to set him straight! Personally, as I hope you can tell, I thoroughly enjoy this series, and this fourth season, in particular. These are well-crafted mysteries. Red herrings. Impossible crimes. It's not just fun viewing, it's good viewing. It's puzzling viewing. And there is a lot of comedy, too. It may take a while to get used to new people, but it works for me.
So come on into the sunshine, watch the thrill of the chase as the team track down the evidence in their ramshackle police hut and jungle 4x4! Trust me when I say that 'Death In Paradise' will not only try to keep you guessing right up until the end, but it's also a great way to go, my friend! This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs.
www.BBCAmerica.com