Hi there, guys and dolls! Hanging in there? Hope you are all well and for those of you who are under the weather, may you feel better soon. I’ll bet a lot of you are sitting in front of the old rabbit ears (or a modernly reasonable facsimile), and have no idea what to watch next. Well, for this week’s Raves n Faves, yours truly has some historical mystery series from around the world that you may have not seen. And even if you have and it’s been a while, why not watch them again? Clicking on the title or image will take you to either Acorn or MHZ to watch or learn more.

CRIMES OF PASSION (Sweden) – Based on the classic mystery novels by Maria Lang and featuring Ola Rapace from Skyfall and Wallander Season 1, Crimes of Passion is a collection of stylish whodunnits set in postwar Sweden. The stories follow the exploits of the brainy and beautiful literature student Puck; wherever she goes, mystery and murder are never far behind.

FOYLE’S WAR (Great Britain) – Combining historical accuracy with compelling mysteries, this award winning British series is “a triumph from start to finish” (The Wall Street Journal). Michael Kitchen stars as Christopher Foyle, the upright, laconic detective tasked with investigating cases on the home front as WWII ravages the social fabric of his coastal community.

MAIGRET (France) – Sporting his pipe that seems a nod to Sherlock Holmes, the pragmatic, reserved and refined Maigret investigates murders in his singular unhurried manner and inevitably discovers the truth. To crack his cases he peels back the veneer of seemingly idyllic villages and neighborhoods, exposing the criminals who lurk in all levels of society. These feature-length films pay homage to one of the most brilliant detective minds of the the 20th century.

MISS FISHER’S MURDER MYSTERIES (Australia) – This stylish and sexy period mystery stars Essie Davis (The Babadook) as Phryne Fisher, a thoroughly modern woman operating in a mostly male world. Set in 1920s Melbourne, the series follows the glamorous lady detective as she goes about her work with a pistol close at hand and, more often than not, a male admirer even closer.

MURDOCH MYSTERIES (Canada) – In this beloved, award-winning Canadian series, Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) solves turn-of-the-century Toronto’s most intriguing mysteries with the help of Constable Crabtree (Jonny Harris, Still Standing); Dr. Julia Ogden (Helene Joy); and Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig). Season availability varies by region.

Hope you found some new faves or past raves here. Happy viewing, dear friends!

And just to let you know, my gals Andrea and Heather will be taking Good Friday off. Lord knows, the girls deserve it and so do you. My advice anyway? Have a wonderful and blessed Easter, and for gosh sakes, wash your hands and stay home!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more posts. And don’t forget to give my Poppy Cove Mysteries a try if you haven’t already.

Toodles, Barbara Jean