Canadian TV Mystery Series - Plus Some Ideas For New Ones?

I did a post back in January 2017 where I listed a number of excellent Canadian-made (click on the link to check out the shows) TV mystery series. As I wait for Deadline White House this afternoon I thought I might revisit this original post and add a couple of new ones and also give a shout out to producers out there in the Inter web with a couple of ideas they might want to check out for new series. (Not that anybody actually listens to what I say.... ;0))

Below are four Canadian mystery series and three mini-series you might like to check out if you can find them. Three are filmed in my birthplace of North Bay, Ontario.

Frankie Drake Mysteries (CBC). This is a historical mystery series is produced by Shaftsbury, the folks that brought you the successful Murdoch Mysteries. This series is set after WWI and features female PI Frankie Drake, portrayed by Lauren Lee Smith (also known for The Listener and This Life. The show also stars Chantal Riley, Drake's assistant, Rebecca Liddiard, a friendly morals detective (also known for Alias Drake and Houdini and Doyle), with many cameo appearances by the wonderful Wendy Crewson, a Canadian institution.

It's nice to have a female - centric show with such a group of talented actors. In some ways it reminds me of Australia's Phryne Fisher mysteries. For a first season, the show wasn't always perfect but it started to develop its chops as the season progressed and I'm happy to see that a 2nd season has been approved. It has many of the excellent qualities of Murdoch, the cultural references of the time, appearances by non-fictional characters of the period (note the many appearances by Ernest Hemingway as played by Steve Lund). There are also nice throwbacks to the Murdoch mysteries, with an appearance by Constable Crabtree in one episode. I'm looking forward to seeing how the series progresses in Season 2.

The Disappearance (CTV). This is a mini-series set in Montreal, Quebec, starring Peter Coyote and a bevy of excellent actors; Micheline Lanctot (Lt Susan Bowden), Camille Sullivan (Helen Murphy Sullivan), Joanne Kelly (Catherine Sullivan), etc.
The series is a tense, well-paced mystery centered around the disappearance of 10-year old Anthony Sullivan, who does not show up for his birthday party. The story moves from grandfather Sullivan's, Peter Coyote, past and a series of events from this past that might impact on the case to the present, the investigation by the police and the family members as they try to solve the mystery of the disappearance. Excellent series.

Alias Grace (CBC). Based on a true story as written by Canadian author, Margaret Atwood, this is the story, set in 19th Century Canada, of a psychologist who is investigating whether a murderess, Grace, should be pardoned due to insanity. The story stars Sarah Gadon as Grace Marks, a young Irish girl who emigrates to Canada and after a series of events is charged with the murder of her master and mistress. The story is told in flashback as psychologist, Dr Simon Jordan played by Edward Holcroft, is hired to discuss the events with Grace, currently held in prison for the murders. It is a truly fascinating, powerful story and Sarah Gadon portrays with such talent and emotion. I hope she gets more and more work on the back of this role. Excellent acting also by Rebecca Liddiard, Paul Gross and Anna Paquin.

Caught (CBC). Another mini-series based on a work by a Canadian author, in this case Newfoundland - born Lisa Moore. The series stars Alan Hawco (Republic of Doyle), Paul Gross (Due South), Greg Bryk (Bitten), Enuka Okuma (Sue Thomas, FB Eye & Rookie Blue) and Eric Johnson (Rookie Blue).
Set in Newfoundland and the Caribbean, Alan Hawco plays David Slaney, who was set up by his partner, Brian Hearn (Eric Johnson). Hawco escapes from prison, with the help of Paul Gross, a retired RCMP investigator, who wants to catch Johnson and recover stolen diamonds, to resurrect his career. He enlists the aid of Enuka Okuma, a US DEA officer and the story proceeds. Lots of action, a tense, exciting story and fine acting. I've since purchased the book and look forward to comparing it to the series.

Now, to the North Bay area shows.

The Flower Shop Mysteries (Kate Collins). This is one of a group of cozy mystery movie series filmed in Canada by Hallmark. The Flower Shop mystery series is written by American writer Kate Collins, currently 18 books, and stars Brooke Shields as florist Abby Knight who gets involved in a series of mysteries. This series uses North Bay, Ontario as a generic town in Anywhere USA and it's neat to see the sites of my old home town. Also starring in this series are Beau Bridges as Shields' father and Brennan Eliot as potential boyfriend (of Shields, not Bridges... ;0)). Other similar series include the Garage Sale Mysteries, filmed in BC, on the mainland and starring Lori Loughlin and Sarah Strange as owners of an antique store who get involved in mysteries. There have been 11 movies so far and two are being finished for release in 2018. The other series stars folk / pop singer Jewel Filcher  as a home designer involved in mysteries in the Framed for Murder series. The movies are based on the Framed for Murder book series by American writer Kate Carlisle. This series is produced in Victoria, British Columbia and also stars Colin Ferguson and Ron Lea. (There were two movies in 2017 and one currently in the mill). All are excellent, entertaining mystery movies and it's nice to see them being made in Canada.

Cardinal. This is an excellent mystery series based on the books of Giles Blunt and starring Billy Campbell as Algonquin Bay police detective, John Cardinal and Karine Vanasse, as his partner Lise Delorme. There have been two seasons released so far, based on the books, the first based on his book, Forty Words for Sorrow and the 2nd on Black Fly Season. The final season will combine two of the books, By the Time You Read This and Crime Machine. It's gritty, tough and shocking at times but an excellent series that must be watched.

Carter. This series is in its first season and is totally different in tone from Cardinal. Jerry O'Connell stars as recently fired actor, he plays a TV cop, who returns to his home town (North Bay) and ends up getting involved with the local police, becoming 'partner' to the lovely Sydney Tamila Poitier (daughter of Sydney Poitier). The series also stars Kristian Bruun, ex from Orphan Black. All are old school chums who had grown apart. The series, so far is funny, light and totally entertaining.Well worth checking out and enjoying.

Ideas for New Series.
I think that if the following book series were explored by some energetic TV producer, they might be worth turning into TV shows.

Saul Rubinek

Benny Cooperman Mysteries (books by Howard Engel). To be correct, two of the books by Howard Engel, featuring Niagara Falls PI Benny Cooperman, were turned into TV movies back in the '80s. They starred Saul Rubinek as the scruffy, Columbo - like detective. The movies were humorous, light and excellent. What I was considering is a reboot of the series starting with Memory Book. In 2000, author Howard Engel had a stroke which left him with alexia sine agraphia, a condition that prevents him from being able to read written words without a major effort, while not affecting his ability to write. In 2005, he was able to write a book in which Benny suffers a blow to the head, leaving him with the same condition and is about how he works with and around this condition to solve a case on which he was working. I think this would be a fascinating idea on which to base a detective series. Would Saul Rubinek be available to reprise the role? Is he too old now?

Karl Alberg Mysteries (books by L.R. Wright). L.R. Wright lived in British Columbia until her death in 2001. There were 9 books in the Alberg series and Wright had just written the first two books in the follow-on Edwina Henderson series when she died. Both characters are RCMP officers who run the detachment on the Sunshine Coast of mainland BC. The mysteries were all interesting and the characters were unique and created a great community. Add the locale and you had the makings of one of my favorite mystery series. I have always thought it would make a great TV series and have been very disappointed that nobody ever took it on. I've tried to think who might have made a perfect Sgt Alberg, and recently wondered if Barry Pepper, who happens to reside on Vancouver Island might be right. He's the right age. I think Jewel Staite of Firefly fame might make an excellent Edwina Henderson, especially as she's another BC'r.

Ellis Portal Mysteries (books by Rosemary Aubert). Canadian / American author Aubert wrote 6 books in her Ellis Portal series. Portal was a successful lawyer and judge in Ontario and when a tragedy struck he hit rock bottom. Homeless and living on the streets in Toronto, he becomes involved in a mystery that begins to put him on the road to recovery. I read 3 of the books when I first came to the West Coast and found the stories very interesting. It has the makings of an excellent mystery series; who doesn't like detectives with quirky issues. And the mysteries were all fascinating. It's a series that could be stretched out. Who would play Portal??? Victor Garber might be an interesting choice.

Silas Seaweed Mysteries (books by Stanley Evans). There are 6 books in the Silas Seaweed mystery series. It is set in Victoria and features Victoria police investigator and Salish Indian, Silas Seaweed. I've read the first book so far and enjoyed immensely; interesting cultural information (especially the spiritual aspects) and great local colour. I think Adam Beach might suit the role but maybe a Salish actor (I regret my lack of knowledge in this area) is available.

Fifth Business by Robertson Davies. Considering the success of the televising of Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace and The Handmaid's Tale, I thought of Robertson Davies' Deptford Trilogy, which also includes The Manticore and World of Wonder. The stories all had mystical elements to them and childhood mysteries. I'll provide the synopsis for Fifth Business below. See what you think. Might make an interesting TV mini - series?

"Ramsay is a man twice born, a man who has returned from the hell of the battle-grave at Passchendaele in World War I decorated with the Victoria Cross and destined to be caught in a no man's land where memory, history, and myth collide. As Ramsay tells his story, it begins to seem that from boyhood, he has exerted a perhaps mystical, perhaps pernicious, influence on those around him. His apparently innocent involvement in such innocuous events as the throwing of a snowball or the teaching of card tricks to a small boy in the end prove neither innocent nor innocuous. Fifth Business stands alone as a remarkable story told by a rational man who discovers that the marvelous is only another aspect of the real."

So there you go. Would you watch any of my suggestions?