Acorn DVD is a popular destination for those old school mystery fans who prefer to watch British crime and drama series offline. Being part of the RLJ Entertainment group (parnet of Acorn TV), the company offers many interesting titles from the United Kingdom, North American and Australian producers.
We have done the homework for you in terms of identifying the most exciting TV series on Acorn DVD and what follows is our take on 14 best shows that are available via this service.
Note: If you want to check our streaming picks on Acorn TV, our 2020 list is available here.
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But his luxury car and lavish wardrobe immediately rub the locals the wrong way, and once they get a load of his abrasive attitude and lack of bedside manner, he quickly alienates most of the townsfolk.
The new woman in his life is his assistant, Detective Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland, The Almighty Johnsons), a by-the-book investigator nearly 20 years younger than her boss’s car, who quickly has to get used to his lone-wolf ways.
As Shepherd adapts to the slower pace of life away from the city, he soon discovers that Brokenwood is a place of secrets and suspicions. Everyone and everything is connected, and the serenity of the countryside can easily be shattered by violence and death.
Based on the books “In the Woods” and “The Likeness” by American-Irish writer Tana French, this psychological thriller features a cast of mostly Irish actors, including Killian Scott and Sarah Greene as the leads. The series follows the detectives, who put their friendship to the test, as they are pulled deeper into the intrigue and darkness that surrounds the case.
Midsomer Murders. Based on the crime-novel series by author Caroline Graham, `Midsomer Murders’ follows the efforts of Detective Chief Inspector John Barnaby to solve crimes that occur in the wealthy, isolated English county of Midsomer, a picturesque and peaceful place on the outside but one filled with amoral and snobbish eccentrics with all kinds of vices.
Foyle’s War. As World War II rages on, criminals try to take advantage of the resulting chaos. In Hastings, they aren’t having much luck, thanks to Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle. As Foyle’s son Andrew, a fighter pilot in the RAF, fights the enemy at war, Foyle battles the black market, profiteering and murder on the home front.
Broadchurch. When the corpse of an 11-year-old British boy, Danny Latimer, is found bloodied and dirty on an idyllic beach, a small Dorset community becomes the focus of a police investigation and media madness.
Slowly, more members of the community of Broadchurch are drawn into the investigation, with a telephone engineer drawing great attention when he admits to a special connection to the case. While dealing with so much unwelcome attention, Danny’s family tries to cope with its grief. When a suspect is named and charged, the ensuing trial sees the defendant promising to expose more of the townspeople’s secrets.
The glamorous sleuth makes her way through the city’s alleyways and jazz clubs while she fights crime as part of a larger mission — making sure that Murdoch Foyle, who she believes is responsible for the disappearance of her younger sister, stays behind bars. She fights for justice for people who can’t help themselves, including exploited workers and missing girls.
Ripper Street. Jack the Ripper was a serial killer who butchered a number of women in and around the Whitechapel District of London in 1888.
While trying to keep order in the chaotic streets of Whitechapel, Reid is soon drawn into the seedy criminal underworld of Victorian London, where each new murder elicits fear that the Ripper may be back.
Gabriel and his partner, Elaine, form an unlikely duo, with Gabriel pulling out all the stops to track down the person that left him disfigured, and Elaine the bright yet eager-to-please sidekick.
London Kills. London’s best detectives take on its worst crimes in this sleek British mystery series from the creator of Suspects. Veteran DI David Bradford (Hugo Speer, Father Brown) heads an elite murder squad, but he’s been on leave following the unexplained disappearance of his wife.
Despite the tension, Bradford and Cole strive to solve complex crimes, along with DC Rob Brady (Bailey Patrick, Bodyguard) and Trainee DC Billie Fitzgerald (Tori Allen-Martin, Unforgotten).
The only case David can’t crack is the most personal to him—until one of their investigations uncovers evidence linked to his missing wife.
Marcella. This is a must-have DVD pack if you’re into atmospheric stories. Acclaimed writer Hans Rosenfeldt continues his first British drama following the international success of the Swedish/Danish series “The Bridge.” Anna Friel stars in the lead role of Marcella Backland, a British police detective working in contemporary London.
Set in Rosenfeldt’s unique style of “Nordic noir,” the body of a missing child is discovered inside a wall and a task force is assembled to catch the killer.
A complex set of characters from all walks of life and interweaving storylines take viewers on a dark and emotional journey with turns at every corner.
