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Homepage ► Inspector Lynley Mysteries

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries series is built around the police duo Detective Inspector Thomas “Tommy” Lynley the 8th Earl of Asherton played by Nathaniel Parker and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers played by Sharon Small. In addition to the pressure to get good results investigating murder cases, the two clash because of their different backgrounds - peer of the realm and working-class copper

Six series.

There have been six series and a total of 23 90-minute episodes. The first episode aired on 12th March 2001. Episodes can often be seen on cable/satellite channels but it is unlikely that the BBC will make any new shows. The episodes of the first two series and part of the third series were based on the novels written by the American author Elizabeth George but with significant alterations. Lynley has had an impressive range of cars including a Peugeot 607, Jensen Interceptor and a Bristol 410.

“Tommy” Lynley

Nathaniel Parker sums up his character in this way on the BBC website:

"Lynley's someone who listens and understands people and it’s been one of his traits as a copper that he can get all elements of society to talk to him."

He and his partner in crime solving, the working class DC Havers (Sharon Small), are, on the surface, as mis-matched a pair as you could get.

"Everyone thought that the partnership would be the break of them," admits Nathaniel, "But, in fact, they are a very well-matched duo. Although they come from completely different angles of society, they both have that attitude of calling a spade a spade and both like getting in there and getting dirty."

Over the course of the series we've also been given an insight into Lynley's personal life. In the pilot episode, A Great Deliverance, he was devastated when the woman he loved married his best pal. In later series, he turned to old friend Helen (Lesley Vickerage) for comfort, and soon discovered there was a fine line between friends and lovers. In the 2003 story, A Suitable Vengeance, the pair married. But the couple were hit by tragedy in the 2004 story, If Wishes Were Horses, when Helen's car is shot at and their baby dies.

Lynley faced further trauma in the 2005 series. As well as being separated from Helen, he ended up being arrested and suspended for threatening a suspect.

Photograph of Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small

BBC’s The Inspector Lynley Mysteries

“Tommy” Lynley (8th Earl of Asherton) investigates crime with DS Barbara Havers

Starring Nathaniel Parker & Sharon Small

Photograph of Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small