Murder Most English: A Flaxborough Chronicle

5.5

1977•50m

Murder Most English: A Flaxborough Chronicle (often referred to simply as Murder Most English) is a seven-part British detective miniseries based on Colin Watson's Flaxborough novel series. While Martin Lisemore receives billing on all episodes, he died midway through filming, and was replaced by Bill Sellars, who refused credit. Flaxborough, near the sea, near the countryside, seems such a nice town, so quiet, so charming. But underneath its placid surface, all kinds of scandalous things go on.

Production

Seasons

7 Episodes • Premiered 1977

Flaxborough, near the sea, near the countryside, seems such a nice town, so quiet, so charming. But underneath its placid surface, all kinds of scandalous things go on.

1. Hopjoy Was Here: Part 1

Travelling salesman Hopjoy has disappeared — to the relief of many husbands, the rage of innumerable creditors, and the alarm of two mystery men from London, who know him as a spy. Is he dead? Purbright investigates.

2. Hopjoy Was Here: Part 2 / Lonelyheart 4122: Part 1

After solving the mystery of the missing Hopjoy, Purbright turns his attention to a 'lonely hearts' killer, whose next victim might be the fragile-seeming Miss Teatime. But she's deceptive.

3. Lonelyheart 4122: Part 2

Miss Teatime and her mysterious suitor both get an unexpected comeuppance, but will the former escape being murdered? As Purbright appreciatively notices, she's tougher than she looks.

4. The Flaxborough Crab: Part 1

Several otherwise reputable sexagenarian Flaxborough men seem to be under the influence of a potent aphrodisiac in a series of assaults on local women.

5. The Flaxborough Crab: Part 2

Purbright traces the drug affecting the male senior citizens in Flaxborough to either a herb supplement or an experimental prescription drug.

6. Coffin Scarcely Used: Part 1

After the death of Harold Carobleat, his wife Helen is shocked to find that he's left his estate to a neighbour who is subsequently found electrocuted.