A Most Mysterious Murder

Unparalleled in the production and presentation of classic mysteries, the BBC outdoes itself with this new series, which combines recreations of real-life unsolved murder cases and present-day “detection” by the show's host, award-winning actor-writer-director Julian Fellowes (who penned the script for Gosford Park and wrote the bestselling novel Snobs). Boasting the same feature-quality writing and production values that have typified BBC mysteries as far back as the old Lord Peter Wimsey entries from the 1970s, A Most Mysterious Murder concentrates on sensational crimes in five hour-long episodes compiled on two discs, including the brutal 1902 stabbing of a pregnant servant girl, a 1929 poisoning that gave rise to fears of a serial killer, and the 1941 shooting of a high-living British aristocrat in Kenya. The recreation of each case introduces the principal suspects, details the crime itself, and catalogs the clues, which are then interpreted by Fellowes, who presents the likely solutions in his dry, droll manner. DVD extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette, photo gallery, bio of Fellowes, and case notes. Recommended. (E. Hulse)