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Daunt & Dervish: The Complete Crime Series
All four series of the jaunty crime drama featuring two ex-spies who set up a private detective agency.
London, 1953, Josephine Daunt and Susan Dervish both worked for the Ministry of Defense during the Second World War, doing top-secret, highly dangerous espionage work. But in peacetime, they find themselves without a job and feeling useless. Determined to put their talents to good use, they decide to set up a detective agency, with the help of former private eye Bill Mackie.
From their Covent Garden office, they handle a steady flow of business. But the ladies' lives really become exciting when they rescue a woman from drowning - only to discover that she's not what she seems. Soon, the daring duo are caught up in all manner of challenging cases, including a sporting assignment involving a priest and an Olympic boxing hopeful, a request to bid on a Monet that takes them on a trail across the Channel, a commission to investigate film actress Belinda Lane and a theft at a fashion designer's workshop that leads them into a world of Teddy boys, political machinations and murder. . .
Guy Meredith's light-hearted crime series stars Anna Massey as Josephine Daunt, while Imelda Staunton, Frances Barber and Sylvestra Le Touzel play Susan Dervish. Bill Paterson and Sean Scanlan co-star as Bill Mackie - AND many, many more various narrators and contributors.
RUNNING TIME ⇒ 10hrs.
©2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
London, 1953, Josephine Daunt and Susan Dervish both worked for the Ministry of Defense during the Second World War, doing top-secret, highly dangerous espionage work. But in peacetime, they find themselves without a job and feeling useless. Determined to put their talents to good use, they decide to set up a detective agency, with the help of former private eye Bill Mackie.
From their Covent Garden office, they handle a steady flow of business. But the ladies' lives really become exciting when they rescue a woman from drowning - only to discover that she's not what she seems. Soon, the daring duo are caught up in all manner of challenging cases, including a sporting assignment involving a priest and an Olympic boxing hopeful, a request to bid on a Monet that takes them on a trail across the Channel, a commission to investigate film actress Belinda Lane and a theft at a fashion designer's workshop that leads them into a world of Teddy boys, political machinations and murder. . .
Guy Meredith's light-hearted crime series stars Anna Massey as Josephine Daunt, while Imelda Staunton, Frances Barber and Sylvestra Le Touzel play Susan Dervish. Bill Paterson and Sean Scanlan co-star as Bill Mackie - AND many, many more various narrators and contributors.
RUNNING TIME ⇒ 10hrs.
©2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 22, 2021
I so enjoy BBC radio productions. The actors usually throw themselves into their parts, there are usually plenty of sound effects, and the serial nature of the productions works well for those of us who like to listen to 45-60 minutes at a time.
In the Daunt & Dervish series, two women from very different walks of life team up to form a London private detective agency in the bleak years after World War II, when many buildings still lay in ruins, and rationing still ruled everyday life. During the war, Josephine Daunt worked for the Special Operations Executive (Churchill’s favorite espionage agency) as a controller of agents behind the lines in France. One of her operatives was Susan Dervish, who was full of derring-do and now finds life back in England lacking. Josephine is a posh sort, while Susan is a working-class type. Josephine despairs of Susan’s terrible dress sense and lack of interest in culture, while Susan disdains everything to do with the upper classes. But they bonded through their war experiences and now they, together with former lone PI Bill Mackie, make a good team.
This collection generally tells one story in around 45 minutes. There are tales of local gangsters, drug smuggling, a far-right political coup attempt (huh), a divorce case that turns out to be much more than that, a possibly crooked priest, and much more. There is plenty of local and period color, and a great many supporting characters.
Anna Massey gives just the right posh but no-nonsense tone to Josephine. I liked Imelda Staunton best as Susan, but Frances Barber and Sylvestra Le Touzel, who play her in later series, were fine. To be honest, I didn’t notice when Bill Mackie’s part went from being played by Bill Paterson to Sean Scanlan. Both are very good.
Lightweight stuff, but entertaining.
In the Daunt & Dervish series, two women from very different walks of life team up to form a London private detective agency in the bleak years after World War II, when many buildings still lay in ruins, and rationing still ruled everyday life. During the war, Josephine Daunt worked for the Special Operations Executive (Churchill’s favorite espionage agency) as a controller of agents behind the lines in France. One of her operatives was Susan Dervish, who was full of derring-do and now finds life back in England lacking. Josephine is a posh sort, while Susan is a working-class type. Josephine despairs of Susan’s terrible dress sense and lack of interest in culture, while Susan disdains everything to do with the upper classes. But they bonded through their war experiences and now they, together with former lone PI Bill Mackie, make a good team.
This collection generally tells one story in around 45 minutes. There are tales of local gangsters, drug smuggling, a far-right political coup attempt (huh), a divorce case that turns out to be much more than that, a possibly crooked priest, and much more. There is plenty of local and period color, and a great many supporting characters.
Anna Massey gives just the right posh but no-nonsense tone to Josephine. I liked Imelda Staunton best as Susan, but Frances Barber and Sylvestra Le Touzel, who play her in later series, were fine. To be honest, I didn’t notice when Bill Mackie’s part went from being played by Bill Paterson to Sean Scanlan. Both are very good.
Lightweight stuff, but entertaining.
March 6, 2014
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2022
Two ladies thrown together in the aftermath of World War II. Susan, a working-class go-getter that worked as an agent in France during the war. Josphine, a posh upper class no-nonsense older woman that was her controller at the time.
Finding themselves alone and forgotten in peacetime they decide to open a detective agency together if only for another shot of adrenaline every now and again.
This is a BBC show with an episodic nature, each tale is around 45 minutes with a range of cases from local street gangs to espionage. A lot of world-building that puts you into that time frame like ration coupons.
A very light-hearted show with so much in its favor. The voice acting is great breathing life into the characters and adding just the right notes to each as needed.
The only thing stopping it from being perfect was the occasional breaking of the 4th wall. Those were infrequent but because the show plays it straight throughout they tend to be jarring when they happen like saying "Oh I wish someone would invent a phone you can carry around with you!" in the 1940s by a woman searching for a phonebooth, sure...
Finding themselves alone and forgotten in peacetime they decide to open a detective agency together if only for another shot of adrenaline every now and again.
This is a BBC show with an episodic nature, each tale is around 45 minutes with a range of cases from local street gangs to espionage. A lot of world-building that puts you into that time frame like ration coupons.
A very light-hearted show with so much in its favor. The voice acting is great breathing life into the characters and adding just the right notes to each as needed.
The only thing stopping it from being perfect was the occasional breaking of the 4th wall. Those were infrequent but because the show plays it straight throughout they tend to be jarring when they happen like saying "Oh I wish someone would invent a phone you can carry around with you!" in the 1940s by a woman searching for a phonebooth, sure...
May 6, 2022
This was really good and cool. A series of mysteries that follow Josephine Daunt and Susan Dervish as well as their assistant and Josephine's on/off love interest. Anna Massey was brilliant as Josephine and I really loved the relationship that developed between her and Bill. There were three actresses that portrayed Susan Dervish and my personal favourite interpretation was Sylvestre Le Tousel although both Imelda Staunton and Frances Barber were good as well. Both actors playing Bill were brilliant too. The mysteries were ok but pretty standard Foyles War type mysteries and crimes but really good nevertheless.
July 29, 2023
I enjoyed listening to this series over a couple of weeks. I enjoyed them as I was listening to them, I enjoyed the acting very much and also the sense of the era, starting just after the end of World War II but as for the actual story lines they seemed to be instantly forgettable.
May 31, 2011
BBC edition
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews