Elizabeth George (Novels) & Steve Thompson (Showrunner)

CAST
Leo Suter
Sofia Barclay
Daniel Mays
Michael Workeye

Review

I love a good detective duo as much as the next person, and 2025 brings us a fresh take on Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley novels. Not that I’ve read any, but I’m aware of them and the series that came before. This time, we’ve got Leo Suter as DI Thomas Lynley, Sofia Barclay as DS Barbara Havers, and Daniel Mays as DCI Brian Nies. On paper, it’s a familiar setup: a posh inspector paired with a working-class sergeant, solving crimes while navigating all the tension their differences create. But how does the new series actually kick off?

The first thing that threw me was Daniel Mays. Don’t get me wrong, he’s great as DCI Brian Nies, but I’ve seen him playing a cop so many times that I almost rolled my eyes. I just saw him in The Thursday Murder Club, as another cop! I couldn’t help but think, “Wait, didn’t I just see you doing this exact thing?” He’s one of those actors who always delivers, but here it took me a minute to settle in.

On the flip side, Leo Suter really sells the Lynley look. He’s posh, no doubt, but as someone who isn’t from the U.K., I have to admit the effect isn’t as strong on me as it might be for a British audience. Still, his presence fits the part, and I’m curious to see how his dynamic with Barbara Havers develops.

The episode is a bit long and, at times, dry. I wasn’t especially invested in the case of the week, but weirdly enough, I didn’t mind. The vibes carried me through. The tone, the character dynamics, the slightly moody atmosphere all worked well enough that I ended up enjoying myself. I can’t say I’m fully sold on the show yet, but there’s something there. I just can’t quite put my finger on it… and that’s enough to bring me back for another episode.

One thing I kept thinking about while watching is how different this story lands now compared to what I’ve heard about the previous version. A huge part of the Lynley/Havers tension came from their class differences: Lynley, the Oxford-educated elite, versus Havers, who very much wasn’t. But does that dynamic feel as sharp today? Oxford is a lot less “untouchable” than it once was, and modern audiences (especially younger ones) may not get that same sting of class antagonism. I’m not saying that it doesn’t exist, just that it’s different.

It’s also worth noting that some longtime fans are already grumbling about Havers being “too pretty” in this version (or too tan). Historically, she’s been depicted as a fried-food-loving, working-class Cockney who was the complete opposite of Lynley’s polished world. I get why the change is controversial, but honestly, I think Barclay brings a spark to the role that makes it work.

Lynley (2025) doesn’t blow the doors off with its first episode, but it does manage to carve out a compelling vibe. The pacing could be tighter, and the case wasn’t especially gripping, but the character dynamics have promise. For me, it wasn’t about the murder mystery at all, I just wanted to hang out with this new Lynley and Havers duo. And honestly, that’s probably a good sign for a show like this.

Am I hooked? Not yet. But I’m interested. And sometimes, with mystery dramas, that’s exactly how it starts.

If you’re enjoying the content, you can help by leaving a like, a comment, or by getting me a coffee: