Product Details

• Actors: Brenda Blethyn, David Leon
• Format: Box set, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 4
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Acorn Media
• DVD Release Date: August 30, 2011
• Run Time: 355 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0050N0US4
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,329 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Two-time Oscar® nominee Brenda Blethyn (Little Voice, Secrets & Lies) stars in a new British detective series based on the bestselling mysteries by Ann Cleeves. DCI Vera Stanhope is a solitary, obsessed, caustic, brilliant investigator, and a bit disheveled; think female Columbo. Filmed in the Northumberland villages of the original books, the set includes four feature-length, character-driven crime dramas. With David Leon, Wunmi Mosaku, and Paul Ritter. SDH. Mature audiences.

Disc 1

Episode 1:  Hidden Depths

A handsome young man, a coquettish student teacher, and nothing in common between them—except that both were murdered and left with their bodies meticulously posed. As the killer begins to zero in on a third victim, DCI Stanhope finds suspects and motives mounting.

 

Disc 2

Episode 2:  Telling Tales

Eleven years ago, Jeanie Long was found guilty of murder, despite unwaveringly maintaining her innocence. On the strength of new evidence, DCI Stanhope must put together the pieces of a decade-old murder—and stop a ruthless killer before he or she strikes again.

 

Disc 3

Episode 3:  The Crow Trap

As groundbreaking begins on a rock quarry in the moorlands, a local woman who had opposed the construction is found murdered. She had been pressured to sell her land to the developers but refused. When two other women with connections to the project find their own lives in danger, Vera questions what makes this quarry worth killing for.

 

Disc 4

Episode 4:  Little Lazarus

Generally indifferent towards children, DCI Stanhope finds herself acting as caretaker for a boy whose mother was murdered before his eyes. As she unravels the deadly secrets that led to the woman’s demise, Vera finds a kindred spirit in the boy—and the key to her case lying deep in his disturbed memory.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 65 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars North England never saw a copper like VERA July 12, 2011

By Harold Wolf TOP 50 REVIEWER

Format:DVD

DCI Vera is crude, slovenly, crabby, obsessed, uninviting, and has a caustic mouth. She's a female Columbo. She'll get the job done, her way, so stick that in your beer and drink it-her way! You may find Vera less than respectable, but she finds killers. This first series has four 89-minute episodes [WITH SUBTITLES]. Teens and older recommended due to violence and gritty scenes. The episodes are named and adapted after mystery novels by Ann Cleeves. The Northumberland filming locale (the same place as Catherine Cookson stories) is delightful and parallels the books' venue. The shows ratings have fostered a 2012 2nd season.

Brenda Blethyn (Atonement, Pride & Prejudice) as Vera, leads the team. DS Joe (David Leon) is the young family man and assistant. Single DC Holly (Wunmi Mosaku) looks for acceptance of her ample crime fighting help, while forensics is covered by Cartwright (Paul Ritter). DC Kenny (Jon Morrison) first appears, gets canned, and then rehired in episode 2. This nucleus cast questions guest stars playing criminals and victims.

1 HIDDEN DEPTHS: Murdered teen Luke's widowed mother Julie (Gina McKee-"Forsyte Saga", "Atonement") tells DCI Vera about Luke's friend Tommy drowning earlier. Connection? Teacher Lily Marsh is killed. Finding her is a bird-outing group, Peter ((Murray Head-"Sunday Bloody Sunday") & Felicity Calvert (Juliet Aubrey-"MiddleMarch"); Gary (Neil Armstrong) Julie's friend; Clive (Paul Higgins-"Hope Strings" view that show) the woman's-man. A new missing teen puts the case into compelling high gear.

2 TELLING TALES: Jeannie Long (Sarah Preston) escapes from prison, fights with dad, & steps in front of a bus. Vera tells Long's former lover Mantel (Hugo Speer-"Full Monty","Bleak House" `05) new evidence proving Long did not kill his daughter. Former Probation Officer Robert Winter's (Gary Lewis-"Gangs of NY") son is murdered. Quite suspicious! Vera catches her predecessor, DCI Fletcher (Lolita Chakrabarti-"Fortysomething") and Mantel in an affair. More suspicious! More murder makes this case as crazy as Vera.

3 THE CROW TRAP: A body in a barn is found by environmentalist Anne Preece (Daniela Nardini-"Reckless","Sirens") hoping to stop a new quarry headed by Waugh (Daniel Flynn-"The Bill"). Murdered Bella (Jane Holman) had refused to sell land. Edmund Fulwell (John Lynch-"Sliding Doors","The Passion") another against the quarry; Mrs Waugh (Susie Trayling); Grace (Amy Cudden) Waugh's new spicy hired girl all are questioned. What's with the affair twixt Anne & Waugh? Others are in danger because of the quarry. The `Why?' puts Vera between a rock & a hard place.

4 LITTLE LAZARUS: Vera, kid loather, baby-sits a boy who witnessed his mom's, Margaret (Laura Norton) murder. Adam's (Sam Jarvis) memory holds clues to the murder. He recognizes Judge Patricia Carmichael (Kerry Fox-"A Village Affair","The Affair") calling her Tia. Husband Aiden Carmichael (Tim Dutton-"Patriot Games") is Mr.Mom to child Sorcha (Alice Sykes). Adams runs away and hides, only to witness another murder. What is the connection? Kieran O'Brien ("Cracker", "Life on Mars") also guest stars as Bobby Salter.

What a disheveled cunning copper couple VERA and COLUMBO could have made.
This also reminds me of the new crime show "The Glades" but that one is Florida-USA, not "Vera's" northeastern England-UK. Both excellent and recommended.
Anyone remember the days when a murder mystery had one murder? Did "Midsomer Murders" [one of the best series] begin the new trend of multiple murder mayhem?

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56 of 58 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Fantastic!!!! August 31, 2011

By billb

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

These video adaptations of Ann Cleeves books are some of the best entertainment I have seen in a long time. Having read the books made them even better.
It seems they make better TV shows in the UK :o)

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Cuddly she "ain't" but very good she is September 10, 2011

By GEORGE RANNIE

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

The reviews to this outstanding British mystery series on four (4) DVDs with four (4) episodes running about an hour and one-half each have stated that DCI Vera Blenching (brilliantly acted by Brenda Blethyn) the lead investigating detective is a loner, and is rather cantankerous (bordering on nasty). I, after viewing this very fine series, found Vera NOT to be so cantankerous, cruel or nasty just a very private(she, comes across, as a "loner") individual that is extremely good at solving some really horrendous and puzzling cases that kept me unsuccessfully trying to guess "who done it?" until all was revealed.

I found this series very intriguing with four (4) really good and suspenseful mysteries plus it is acted fabulously. By the way, I adore the character of Vera--she really comes across as a highly efficient detective that "ain't" too cuddly or too comfortable with young kids.

I used the subtitles because I found the North England English a little hard to understand.