As noted by other reviewers, Unnatural Causes doesn't follow the book. This partly because the sequence has been shot out of order. The previous serial, Devices and Desires, had already killed off Aunt Jane, which removed the ostensible reason for Dalgiesh's presence.
For the first time, Dalgliesh is cut down to a single movie, an improvement on the six-part format of Devices and Desires, which was impeccably acted and intelligently scripted, but in which Dalgliesh bizarrely played no active part. Here, he is back in the centre of the action, leading the deductions as well as some very physical manoeuvres. Things move at a lick - and even better, unlike the previous serial, the plot hangs together and virtually (but not quite) everything is explained.
It's not all plain sailing, however. Roy Marsden's wig starts to develop its own independent characteristics, even hinting at a slight punk sensibility in the later stages. And Mel Martin is called upon to reprise her thankless role as the fruity but tedious girlfriend joining Dalgliesh in Suffolk - again going against the book - being menaced, finding bodies, having moods and generally getting in the way.
For the first time, Dalgliesh is cut down to a single movie, an improvement on the six-part format of Devices and Desires, which was impeccably acted and intelligently scripted, but in which Dalgliesh bizarrely played no active part. Here, he is back in the centre of the action, leading the deductions as well as some very physical manoeuvres. Things move at a lick - and even better, unlike the previous serial, the plot hangs together and virtually (but not quite) everything is explained.
It's not all plain sailing, however. Roy Marsden's wig starts to develop its own independent characteristics, even hinting at a slight punk sensibility in the later stages. And Mel Martin is called upon to reprise her thankless role as the fruity but tedious girlfriend joining Dalgliesh in Suffolk - again going against the book - being menaced, finding bodies, having moods and generally getting in the way.