Hetty Wainthropp Investigates

Hetty Wainthropp is world's most unlikely detective. In need of extra money due to her husband's pittance of a pension, Hetty (Patricia Routledge) has set herself up as a private eye, and is determined to bring miscreants to justice. Ably abetted by her assistant, Geoffrey (Dominic Monaghan), Hetty is a wise and slightly eccentric sleuth who provides plenty of laughs throughout the show. Features all four series of the hit BBC programme. Nine disc set containing all four series as seen on the BBC, starring Patricia Routledge (Keeping Up Appearances), Dominic Monaghan (Lost) and Derek Benfield (The Brothers). DVD extras include an exclusive interview with Patricia Routledge.

Mystery buffs will find Hetty Wainthropp to be delightful and uniquely entertaining company. Hetty has just turned 60, but she is not about to "ride serene into the evening tide," as her doting husband so poetically puts it. "I'm not 60 and I never will be," Hetty proclaims. "I'm not a senior citizen." Hetty wants to matter, so she gets a job at her local Lancashire post office. But that wouldn't make for much of a miniseries. Before you can say "cheeky monkey," she has involved herself in a deadly case of pension-fund fraud, and made a splash on the front pages as a "Super Gran Sleuth." The redoubtable Patricia Routledge, best known as Hyacinth Bucket on the beloved Keeping Up Appearances), does lovely work as Hetty, who first appeared in David Cook's 1986 novel, Missing Persons (Cook co-wrote the six first-season episodes contained here). Hetty is not as quaint as Miss Marple, nor her cases as seamy as Jane Tennison's Prime Suspect mysteries. She is a formidable character in her own right, opening her own private detective agency, and recruiting a 17-year-old shoplifter (Dominic Monaghan from the Lord of the Rings trilogy) to be her "devoted sidekick." A rogue cop, a roving arsonist, and other unsavory characters are no match for the woman who won't rest until things add up. As one police inspector grudgingly admits, "She's an extraordinary woman. She's no Miss Marple, but..." But, indeed !

The second series from the television programme concerning the adventures of the Northern pensioner turned PI. The second season of this series chugs along pleasantly, with Hetty investigating a new round of mysteries: a spiritualist who may be scammng people, an old lady suspected of poison pen letters, and some undercover work in a women's shelter. And Geoffrey runs into a problem when his romance with a suspect's daughter threatens to derail his place at the agency

The complete third season of HETTY WAINTHROPP INVESTIGATES is included here, offering numerous adventures with the world's most unlikely detective. In need of extra money due to her husband's pittance of a pension, Hetty (Patricia Routledge) has set herself up as a private eye, and is determined to bring miscreants to justice. Ably abetted by her assistant, Geoffrey (the terrific Dominic Monaghan), Hetty is a wise and slightly eccentric sleuth who provides plenty of laughs throughout the show. Features all nine episodes from the third series.

The fourth series from the television programme concerning the adventures of a Northern pensioner who woke up on her 60th birthday and decides to become a PI. This is a wonderful British Series that is very easy to watch. Plots are simple and uncomplicated but good. The acting is very natural and realistic. Patricia Routledge is of course just great playing the part of Hetty. For a pleasant change from the more forensic type shows we see now I recommend this highly.