The Brokenwood Mysteries

In a seemingly quiet country town the newest resident, Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd, finds that murder lurks in even the most homely location.

The Brokenwood Mysteries (2014-present) is a New Zealand whodunit series created for TVNZ 1 and distributed internationally via Prime and Acorn TV. Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea), the newest resident of a seemingly quiet country town, investigates a murder in each ninety-minute episode, working alongside Detective Constable Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland) and Dr. Gina Kadinsky (Cristina Șerban-Ionda). The engine of the show is the gap between the homely rhythms of the community, its gardens, pubs and local gossip, and the violence that surfaces beneath them. Each case is self-contained, so the series works as a case of the week format running across twelve seasons, with episodes built from interviews, small-town suspects and patient detective work. Set in present-day rural New Zealand, the atmosphere is warm, wry and quietly melancholic, with a country music soundtrack reinforcing the sense of place. Its gentle humor and unhurried pacing balance the darker crimes at its center. Viewers who enjoy Midsomer Murders, Death in Paradise and Broadchurch will find the same mix of pastoral charm and dark puzzles here.

Viewers broadly rate the series as a pleasant, well-crafted whodunit with a strong sense of place, though a few seasons dip more than others.

• Midsomer Murderscozy small town mystery, case of the week whodunit, rural community secrets
• Death in Paradisequirky small town crime, gentle tone with murder investigations, detective outsider
• Rectifyrural setting, detective investigating murders with local color and dry humor
• BroadchurchNordic-style landscape crime with isolated community secrets

Release Date

2014-09-28

Episode runtime

90 min

Rating

7.9 / 10 (100)

What is The Brokenwood Mysteries about?

A newly arrived detective uncovers murders hidden beneath the calm of a New Zealand country town.

What is The Brokenwood Mysteries like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Brokenwood Mysteries as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is The Brokenwood Mysteries violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Brokenwood Mysteries as mild.

What did critics think of The Brokenwood Mysteries?

Viewers broadly rate the series as a pleasant, well-crafted whodunit with a strong sense of place, though a few seasons dip more than others.

Which shows are like The Brokenwood Mysteries?

Shows with a similar feel include Midsomer Murders, Death in Paradise, Rectify, and Broadchurch.

How long is The Brokenwood Mysteries?

The Brokenwood Mysteries: 12 seasons, 60 episodes.

Is The Brokenwood Mysteries still running?

Yes, The Brokenwood Mysteries is still running.

Where can I watch The Brokenwood Mysteries?

In United States, The Brokenwood Mysteries streams on Acorn TV, AcornTV Amazon Channel, Acorn TV Apple TV channel, Hoopla, Spectrum On Demand, KQED, WETA+, YouTube TV, Thirteen.