Eggs, tomato puree, onions, a scrape of garlic and a basil leaf... 'The art of a great recipe,' declares chef Gennaro, 'is to make the familiar seem exceptional.' He's talking about a dish called uova in purgatorio, which resembles two fried eggs in the fires of Hell. But it might as well be the formula for a tasty murder mystery.
The Ingredients of a Cosy Crime Drama
All the elements of an engrossing 'cosy crime' drama have to be inviting and unchallenging. We want death without bloodshed, a picturesque backdrop, plenty of improbable twists in the plot, and strong friendships between the cast of supporting characters. Extra points for classic cars, jazz or opera, sunshine, vintage wine, open-air dining, detectives with extraordinary accents, and a hint of romance.
A Taste For Murder delivers all the essentials and several of the garnishes. Warren Brown plays grieving Met detective Joe Mottram, on holiday on Capri with his teenage daughter Angelica (Beau Gadsdon), when he gets caught up in a murder investigation.
Pacing Issues in the Opening Episode
The pacing in this opening episode was a little off. For the first 20 minutes, it dragged, with too much emphasis on the recent death of his wife, Sofia. Since we're never going to meet her, except in flashbacks and dreams, we didn't need so much background at the beginning. As a result, the second half was rushed and confused, as Joe untangled a four-way feud between a married woman and her lovers, who were all mixed up in smuggling.
But the trickiest part - making us believe that Joe's involvement will be welcomed by local police - was handled deftly. He doesn't speak Italian, he's meant to be snoozing on a lounger, but instead he's chasing killers through the moonlit streets. The set-up works because he's incapable of relaxing. 'Work always comes first with you,' shrugs Angelica, after he hires a paddleboard to try and catch a closer look at a crime scene. His in-laws, Gennaro and Elena (Urbano Barberini and Phyllis Logan) know it too. They run a restaurant overlooking the sea, and Joe can't sit through a meal without springing from his seat and asking if he can assist in the kitchen.
A Clever Pairing of Detectives
Inspector Lara Sarrancino (Cristiana Dell'Anna) is glad of the help. She's a diligent cop, saddled with a pompous, interfering boss who regards local officers as 'glorified parking attendants', and she quickly recognises Joe as a competent detective. Like him, she's obsessed with the job, even sleeping in the cells to avoid going home. It's a clever pairing: two police officers, one off-duty and one in uniform. So far, there's just the smallest hint of romantic interest, no more than a smile held for a second or two longer than necessary.
With so much going on, Elena's character is barely pencilled in. But no one casts an actress of Phyllis Logan's quality and leaves her serving plates of spaghetti in the background for long.
