The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (TV Series) In the Blink of an Eye (2006) User Reviews

Dramatic ending to season 5

[blanche-2 · 9/10 · 29 December 2012]

"The Inspector Lynley Mysteries" only had two episodes in Season 6, its final year. The last episode in season 5, "In the Blink of an Eye," ends the season on a well-done downer, When a press photographer is killed in an alley, Lynley and Havers (Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small) investigate and soon learn that the man, Peter Rooker, led a complicated life. After working in Bosnia, he returned to England and decided he'd had enough and became a member of the paparazzi and did a great deal of work for a London tabloid.

The detectives find out that Rooker's ex-lover (Indira Varma) holds a high position at the paper, as she is now married to the owner (Danny Webb). Initially he is a suspect, but he has an alibi. Lynley and Havers also learn that Rooker has a ward, Ania (Nina Delic), who seems to have disappeared.

The plot thickens, with elements of the investigation going all the way back to Rooker's time in Bosnia, with an ultimately tragic conclusion.

This is a top-notch episode and story, with Parker giving an excellent performance, and he and Small share a lovely moment at the end of the episode. Also, some beautiful British countryside.

Hard-hitting episode with a twist I didn't see coming. Recommended.

A very strong end to the series.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 7 October 2021]

A once well respected war photographer turned paparazzi is shot, Lynley and Havers investigate, and begin looking into his bizarre home life.

Very enjoyable final episode of the fifth series, it's a really interesting, engaging story, and being the series finale of course, there's an unexpected and shocking twist. It doesn't perhaps develop or progress the way you expect it to, writer Ed Whitmore knows how to spin a yarn.

I like how they tried to recreate an old fashioned Soho.

It is really nice made, well produced and well acted, it looks so much better than the earlier episodes.

The acting is excellent, Parker is at his best here, I also found both Danny Murphy and Indira Varma impressive. Catherine Russell had really gotten into the role by this stage.

9/10.

Farewell Helen:(

[safenoe · 10/10 · 28 October 2017]

Helen has been played by three actresses in this fine series: Emma Fielding in the pilot, Lesley Vickerage in series 1-3, and Catherine Russell in series 5. We farewell Helen under tragic circumstances in this episode, and it's a shame the writers took this course.

Here Lynley and Havers investigate the murder of a photographer in London, in the City of London to be precise, and we see sights like the Night of the Iguana play billboard, the Dog and Duck Pub, and other London icons.

Indira Varma plays a newspaper editor, and Indira was fantastic in Bride and Prejudice.

The final scene was moving, where Havers attempts to console Lynley on top of a hill overlooking London.

This is the third last episode of Inspector Lynley, and it's a shame it got axed before its time. Ratings were high, and it didn't deserve to be axed. Why oh why do quality shows with high ratings get axed before their time? Inspector Lynley is a series I can watch over and over, just like DCI Banks, Rosemary and Thyme, The Coroner, The Last Detective, New Tricks (all these were axed before their time), and Vera (thankfully still standing).

Love the inspector Lynley mysteries: No chemistry with new Helen

[andersontracylewis · 6/10 · 9 October 2023]

I am a fan of the inspector, Lynley mysteries, particularly of the main characters: Inspector Lynley. Sgt Havers and now DC, Winston, as they've been giving him larger parts.

But bringing in a new actress to play the role of Helen, the estranged wife of Inspector Lynley? A very bad choice. They would have done better just to write her off.

If you've been watching the inspector, Lynley mysteries the first actress, Leslie Vickerage, that played Helen came across as very fragile hence her separation after her miscarriage due to the horrible accident. The new actress that played Helen, Catherine Russell has absolutely no chemistry with Nathaniel Parker. And the way she portrays the character does not seem fragile at all but rather more like a friend that wants to have fun. Really bad casting.

Cinematography

[les_stringer · 6/10 · 19 January 2024]

I don't know who came up with the ridiculous depth of field shallow focus shot when they were interviewing the subjects of inquiry, but they did it twice. One shot shows the two people across from each other, and the next shot, one is left in the frame, and the other is right in the frame but VERY out of focus. So, 4 or 5 feet down the table, staring into space. I think even an untrained eye would know something is wrong, but maybe they wouldn't know why. I can't believe a professional cinematographer would do such a shot or that a Director would suggest it. Other than that, it was an interesting episode, and the cinematography was as good as I have come to expect.

Out of his depth?

[davyd-02237 · 4/10 · 10 June 2021]

In my view the duo are completely out of their depth as this has nothing whatsoever to do with a photographer sleeping with his married lover. The BBC seem unable to put on film the truth about the "war" in Bosnia which caused the deaths of many thousands including those who died because of their religious beliefs. This is about THAT. Two people on opposing sides in the conflict who both manage to get to live in the UK where one, at least, continues to enjoying killing! At a huge cost to the duo. Given the ending, which Im trying NOT to spoil, I found this quite "astonishing" and if it were real life, there surely would be cause for concern?