The Brokenwood Mysteries
The Brokenwood Mysteries comprises 30 two-hour murder mystery stories set in a seemingly quiet country town where the town’s newest resident, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea), finds that murder lurks in even the most homely location. Each telefeature in the series is a standalone story which sees the show’s team of police officers trying to solve a murder case.
- 2014-2026
- 12 seasons
- Acorn TV
- Suspense, Drama
- TV-14
The Brokenwood Mysteries comprises 30 two-hour murder mystery stories set in a seemingly quiet country town where the town’s newest resident, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea), finds that murder lurks in even the most homely location. Each telefeature in the series is a standalone story which sees the show’s team of police officers trying to solve a murder case.
Season 1 Episode Guide
4 Episodes 2014
Episode 1
Blood & Water
Sun, Sep 28, 2014 88 mins
When two fishermen find the body of a local farmer in the river, Detective Inspector Mike Shepherd is sent to the small rural town of Brokenwood to investigate the death. Is this the suicide of a man guilty of his own wife's murder or is he the victim of foul play? As Mike uncovers a family's tragedies and secrets he also learns that Brokenwood is a place where shadows lurk just beneath the surface.
Episode 2
Sour Grapes
94 mins
The annual Brokenwood wine show is a major event and having bought a 10-acre block with maturing grapes, no one is looking forward to it more than Detective Mike Shepherd. But when a guest judge and wine critic is found dead inside a fermenting vat, the show takes second place to the murder investigation.
Episode 3
Playing the Lie
86 mins
A group of erstwhile members of the Brokenwood Golf Club, committee members no less, have gathered for their regular Wednesday morning round. They are playing their approaches to the first green when a zombie-like figure lurches from the early-morning gloom, coming towards them. It takes the golfers a moment or two (apparently) to realise this is actually Alison Stone, one of the 5 members of the Golf Club Committee - her face red and blistering; gasping desperately for breath. Then she falls from sight, into a greenside bunker. By the time the guys get to her, Ms Stone is very much dead. And so Mike and Kristin are called to investigate what appears to be homicide by poisoning.
Episode 4
Hunting the Stag
91 mins
Three close friends go hunting in the bush on a stag trip. But the groom-to-be never comes back - he was shot through the head. Initially this would seem to be just another tragic hunting accident amidst picturesque New Zealand bush. The only problem is neither of the remaining two friends own up to pulling the trigger that fired the lethal bullet - yet all three had discharged their rifles - with no deer to prove it. The question is - who shot Hayden Renner? Was he mistaken for a real stag or was there something more sinister at play?
