Dalgliesh: Series 1-3 Box Set – Review

By Karl Hornsey

The release by Acorn Media of this box set of all 18 episodes of Dalgliesh seems the perfect opportunity to help ease fans through the cold, dark nights of January. Following a well-received first two series, the third then aired just before Christmas, and it would be hugely surprisingly if a few more were not to follow, perhaps late in 2025, or into 2026.

With the revamped detective, played with understated dignity and charisma by Bertie Carvel, who also makes his directorial debut in series three, fully established, there is no need for any preamble and the stories can just be dived into. That said, we still continue to learn more about Dalgliesh as the cases unfold and that understanding of the lead character builds and builds, and is one of the main aspects that makes this such compelling viewing.

As with the previous two series, this one features three two-parters – Death in Holy Orders, Cover Her Face and Devices and Desires – with a raft of familiar guest stars appearing, including Claire Goose, Richard Lintern, Liz White and Anton Lesser.

“Serious”

The stories aren’t being told in the order that author PD James wrote them – for example, Cover Her Face was actually the first that she penned, but there are plenty more yet to come that haven’t been adapted in this new version. Whether the series could continue once the original stories have been exhausted remains to be seen, but it was done with great effect in the likes of the Inspector Morse series, so the opportunity certainly exists.

As well as the enigmatic and cerebral lead and stories that still hold up to scrutiny, in some cases more than 60 years after they were written, the setting of these stories at the end of the 1970s also plays a major part. It’s a time of change, with a new government on the way and, looking back with the benefit of hindsight, England seems a country set to embark on a new era, while trying to shake off some of the old ways and global turmoil that featured so prominently.

That somehow sets the tone, a gloomy and moody atmosphere that Carvel captures so perfectly. There is little jollity or relief in these stories or the performances, but there isn’t meant to be. These are serious cases tackled in a serious way by a serious thinker. And they happen to be seriously good.

Dalgliesh: Series 1-3 Box Set is out now