In Suspicious Circumstances (TV Series) Mrs Bravo Regrets/No Smoke Without Fire/The Jewel and the Magpie (1991) User Reviews

A fine start to the much loved mystery series.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 8 June 2023]

Edward Woodward debuts in the very first episode of the wonderful In suspicious circumstances series, there stories, Mrs Bravo Regrets, No smoke without fire and Jewel and The Magpie.

I am so genuinely grateful to Talking Pictures TV for finally getting to see this series, what a shame it's never had a commercial release, a much loved series, Edward Woodward was an excellent host.

Three very different, but equally interesting cases, a wise move to kick off with the story of Charles Bravo, surely one of the best known real life mysteries of all.

I wish they'd gone a little deeper into the story of Charles Bravo, there was a whole lot more to this story than was presented here. If you're keen to learn more, check out the Charles Bravo story from The Julian Fellowes Investigates series. I'm left none the wiser here as to who administered the poison, here it seems likely that Mrs Cox had given him the fatal dose.

The second story, a real tragedy, the murder of Miss Marshall, I wasn't aware of thr case until now, but a truly sad tale. Very interesting to hear some first hand evidence from the interviewees. I can't believe Peter killed her.

The third installment saw a real change in pace and tone, another interesting case, I loved the black and white filming, it felt very 60's.

Solidly acted by all parties.

All in all, this is more than enough to make you want to watch episode two.

8/10.

Mrs Bravo Regrets

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 14 November 2022]

Edward Woodward decides to mimic Edgar Lustgarten. After finishing his stint as The Equalizer.

With his health not so good. Woodward returned to Britain and was offered this true life crime docu drama.

Woodward introduces and narrates three real life crime dramas in each episode.

The first edition had three stories. Mrs Bravo Regrets concerned a well to do woman in the Victorian era. She had a thing with her doctor but married a barrister with prospects.

It was a unsuitable union. Mrs Bravo miscarried, she signed her property over to her husband and had to sack her staff. No wonder she drank a lot.

When her husband died of poisoning. Mrs Bravo and her housekeeper both became suspects. It was diverting story with lots of speculation. No wonder it could not even sustain a full half hour.

The second story was more recent. Peter Luckhurst was convicted of the murder of 79 year old Gwendoline Marshall with a pitchfork in 1980. There were immediate doubts over the conviction due to the forensic evidence and Luckhurst was questioned extensively without a solicitor present.

This was presented like a docu-drama with testimony from living people. There was intimation that the police force had a high clear up rate due to getting confessions from people who could not had committed some of those crimes. Luckhurst was found guilty.

The final story concerned Stephen Jewell who was convicted of the murder of a gangster Anthony Maffia in 1968. He was shot dead in a Jaguar car.

Jewell went to the police fearing for his life over a boat deal he planned with Maffia. After they viewed the boat, the were confronted by two scary men.

One of the detectives interviewing Jewell was later found guilty of being corrupt. Jewell was found guilty and served 11 years. He died while the program was being made.

The first episode was not sensationalist enough as a tabloid style television show. It was not in depth or serious to be a miscarriage of justice type of program.

About time

[hmoorhouse66 · 10/10 · 14 November 2022]

Its about time this was back on the box so its down to Sarah and her team at TPTV to get it back on the last time it was on the year it was made absolutely brilliant tv series so sit back and enjoy this gem of a lost and some what forgotten tv series the ones that stick out to me was Mr FreddieMills how my dad met so meny times his death is so terribleto a nice man like him and the next one i do remember well the bodys in the bath murders so fascinating i bet a lot of peoplewas killedlike that so hard to find out how they died . Ps we need this series on DVD or better still Blu-ray thanks for readying Haydn66.