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The Second Shadow & The Burning Question: The Inspector McLevy Mysteries
Inspired by the real-life memoirs of a Victorian Inspector in Scotland, James McLevy prowls the dark streets of 1860s Edinburgh bringing criminals to justice, with the assistance of Constable Mulholland.
Counterfeiters are at work in the city in The Second Shadow, and McLevy is under pressure to secure rapid convictions. But his mind is more on the deliciously immoral Jean Brash - is he becoming jealous of the male company she keeps?
In The Burning Question, an unsolved murder is bringing vigilantes onto the streets, and Jean Brash's house of ill-repute is a particular target for the Citizen Volunteer Force. Time is running out for McLevy - unless he finds the killer, mob rule will triumph and the Law will be mocked.
Brian Cox stars as James McLevy with Siobhán Redmond as Mistress Jean Brash and Michael Perceval-Maxwell as Mulholland in these two BBC Radio dramatisations.
Counterfeiters are at work in the city in The Second Shadow, and McLevy is under pressure to secure rapid convictions. But his mind is more on the deliciously immoral Jean Brash - is he becoming jealous of the male company she keeps?
In The Burning Question, an unsolved murder is bringing vigilantes onto the streets, and Jean Brash's house of ill-repute is a particular target for the Citizen Volunteer Force. Time is running out for McLevy - unless he finds the killer, mob rule will triumph and the Law will be mocked.
Brian Cox stars as James McLevy with Siobhán Redmond as Mistress Jean Brash and Michael Perceval-Maxwell as Mulholland in these two BBC Radio dramatisations.
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First published May 1, 2010
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About the author
David Ashton
110 books32 followersDavid Ashton (born 10 November 1941 in Greenock) is a Scottish actor and writer. Trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, 1964–67, he has acted in a wide variety of film, television, theatre and radio roles. He has also developed a parallel career as a writer of fiction, film and television screenplays and plays for theatre and radio. His radio play The Old Ladies at the Zoo, which starred Peggy Mount and Liz Smith, won the Radio Times Drama Award in 1985.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 3, 2012
* NOTE: I listened to this in sequence with the first McLevy mystery, For Unto Us + The Trophy Club so this review refers to both sets, which make up "series 1" as they aired.
Brian Cox, whom I know best as the mean ol' scientist who messed up Jason Bourne's brain, stars as the fictional version of the real-life 19th Century Edinborough detective, James McLevy. This first series of BBC Radio plays (which originally aired in 2000) recounts four mysteries. In Each, McLevy navigates the complex landscape of the cop who knows all his "charges" and values their lives just as much as the swells who want him to do their bidding. A few quick thoughts:
McLevy is gruff but fair, a man who secretly cares more than he lets on. He reminds me a lot of the chief inspector from the Murdoch Mysteries, while McLevy's sidekick reminds me a lot of Murdoch's Constable Crabtree.
The series spends significant time on the idea of fairness and class warfare. The first case, "The Trophy Club," involves the murder of a prostitute and the consequent protection of a couple young swells who seem to be involved. Another case, "The Burning Question," takes up the question of vigilante justice and the semi-legal gray area inhabited by prostitutes in the era.
The series also varies in tone quite a bit. "The Second Shadow" brings McLevy up against an organized crime ring and a brutal murder, while "For Unto Us" is a light-hearted Christmas tale that never gets more serious than theft.
The series is rife with humor as well as crime. Especially amusing are McLevy's interactions with the alluring brothel owner Jean Brash. Will their playful jests ever become anything more?
Worth a listen.
Brian Cox, whom I know best as the mean ol' scientist who messed up Jason Bourne's brain, stars as the fictional version of the real-life 19th Century Edinborough detective, James McLevy. This first series of BBC Radio plays (which originally aired in 2000) recounts four mysteries. In Each, McLevy navigates the complex landscape of the cop who knows all his "charges" and values their lives just as much as the swells who want him to do their bidding. A few quick thoughts:
McLevy is gruff but fair, a man who secretly cares more than he lets on. He reminds me a lot of the chief inspector from the Murdoch Mysteries, while McLevy's sidekick reminds me a lot of Murdoch's Constable Crabtree.
The series spends significant time on the idea of fairness and class warfare. The first case, "The Trophy Club," involves the murder of a prostitute and the consequent protection of a couple young swells who seem to be involved. Another case, "The Burning Question," takes up the question of vigilante justice and the semi-legal gray area inhabited by prostitutes in the era.
The series also varies in tone quite a bit. "The Second Shadow" brings McLevy up against an organized crime ring and a brutal murder, while "For Unto Us" is a light-hearted Christmas tale that never gets more serious than theft.
The series is rife with humor as well as crime. Especially amusing are McLevy's interactions with the alluring brothel owner Jean Brash. Will their playful jests ever become anything more?
Worth a listen.
Displaying 1 of 1 review