Death Valley (TV)

 

(2025- )
Created by Paul Doolan
Starring Timothy Spall, Gwyneth Keyworth
IMDB Entry

The pleasure of a mystery series (TV or book) is not just the mystery. It's the characters and their interactions, a trope that dates back at least to Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Death Valley* is a relatively new show that works because of the (non-sexual) chemistry between the leads.

DS Jane Mallowan** (Gwyneth Keyworth) is a detective in Wales. And, when tracking down a murderer, she knocks on the door of a neighbor to find John Chapel (Timothy Spall), the former star of a hit detective show, Caesar. A bit starstruck, she doesn't push back when Chapel offers her some advice. As is often the case in shows like this, the two form a team. 

Jane is smart, but has an unfortunate penchant for blurting out awkward comments and having to apologize.  Keyworth really shines in the role, managing to show intelligence even when she's saying exactly the wrong thing. 

Chapel uses his acting and story sense instincts to put her on the right path when she makes a mistake. He's also not afraid to use his fame to charm others into giving up information. Spall is a veteran of British movies and TV, and his owlish performance is a great contrast to the more awkward Jane.

The first season is available on Hoopla, where you can also find my novel, The Cadaver Princess. A second season ran in May of 2026, and hopefully will be available there soon.

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*Nothing to do with the Death Valley in the US.

**A combination of Agatha Cristie's married name and the first name of her character Jane Marple