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Inspector Steine

By: Lynne Truss
Narrated by: Michael Fenton Stevens, Jan Ravens, Matt Green, John Ramm, Samantha Spiro, full cast
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Summary

All four series of Lynne Truss's comedy thrillers set in 1950s Brighton - plus Christmas special

Brighton, 1957: a sunny seaside resort with a sinister underbelly. This den of villainy is policed by the touchingly innocent Inspector Steine, who naively believes he wiped out all the hoodlums in the Middle Street Massacre six years earlier. Can long-suffering Sergeant Brunswick and keen Constable Twitten persuade him that a criminal mastermind is at large - and that the station's charlady, Mrs Groynes, might bear investigation?

Inspector Steine - A headless corpse on the ghost train, a murdered theatre critic, a bank robbery and a beautiful fish-and-chip-shop owner spell trouble for the hapless Inspector. Meanwhile, a deranged criminal escapes from Broadmoor seeking revenge...

The Casebook of Inspector Steine - A matinee at the Hippodrome gives Mrs Groynes an idea, a day out in a vintage car proves eventful, Brunswick organises a police open day and goes undercover in a girls' school, and Steine meets a shady aristocrat - and finds his life in danger.

The Adventures of Inspector Steine - When his chance to shine is scuppered by Steine, Brunswick wants to kill him. But is he behind the attempts on Steine's life - or could it be the Unknown Villain, or old adversary Mrs Vine? Events are further complicated by a criminal convention and the reappearance of Brunswick's old flame, Doris...

The Return of Inspector Steine - Second World War bomb disposal hero Captain Hoagland limps into the station, with an award for Sergeant Brunswick and a head in a box. The latter is a warning that Adelaide Vine is back - and sadistic criminal Terence Chambers is heading for Brighton too, hell bent on havoc.

Christmas for Inspector Steine - It is December 1957, the year of the Queen's inaugural Christmas broadcast and Mrs Groynes' first seasonal celebrations with new husband Captain Hoagland. But only Twitten has the festive spirit...

Michael Fenton Stevens stars as Inspector Steine, with John Ramm as Sergeant Brunswick, Matt Green as Constable Twitten and Jan Ravens and Samantha Spiro as Mrs Groynes.


Production credits
Written by Lynne Truss
Produced and directed by Karen Rose and Marilyn Imrie
Original music by Anthony May
Sound design: David Thomas
A Sweet Talk Production for BBC Radio 4

Starring Michael Fenton Stevens as Inspector Steine, John Ramm as Sergeant Brunswick, Matt Green as Constable Twitten and Jan Ravens and Samantha Spiro as Mrs Groynes

Cast
Maisie - Carla Mendonça/Rachel Atkins
Georgie/BBC announcer/Chaplain/Albert/Bobby/Cecil/Pierre/Diamond Tony - David Holt
Boy - Cameron Cleaver
Stanley/Bouncer - Michael Roberts
Cook - Allan Corduner
Johnnie - Jason Hughes
Ruby - Carolyn Backhouse
Ventriloquist Vince/Warder - Kim Wall
Adelaide Vine/Gloria's mother - Janet Ellis
Brian the Brain/Mystery guest/Terence Chambers - Ewan Bailey
Rudi - Ethan Brook
Doris - Rachel Atkins
Roy - Will Keen
Hinge - Nicholas Le Prevost
Phyllis - Michelle Tate
Female panellist - Sophie Dearlove
Lord Melamine - Mark Heap
Jupiter - Philip Jackson
Unknown Villain - Adrian Bower
Roy - Douglas Hodge
Captain Hoagland - Robert Bathhurst

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 January-2 March 2007 (Inspector Steine), 4 April-9 May 2008 (The Casebook of Inspector Steine), 2 September-30 October 2009 (The Adventures of Inspector Steine), 17 October-21 November 2011 (The Return of Inspector Steine), 23 December 2013 (The Christmas of Inspector Steine)

©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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Critic reviews

"Delicious fun." (Sunday Times)

What listeners say about Inspector Steine

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wonderful

lynn truss is a genius comic writer of radio dramas and this one is sheer joy.

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perfectly silly

all very unbelievable and silly, but keeps you wanting to know what happens next! Not exactly laugh out loud but gently amusing and occasionally daft. I have listened to all Inspector Steine and the Constable Twitter books. barmy!

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Rather silly.

It helped me sleep as story was not a piece that holds your attention. Rather silly in places but if you like comedic stories then give it a try.

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really good fun

loved this book all the characters it's well written voices are fabulous and the story lines are great x

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  • Overall
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Love these!

They’re just great fun, really pleased to have all 4 series together now, Inspector Steine series are a go to favourite for me

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Great fun

Loved it. My only regret is that they didn’t make more series. Great performances all round.

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  • Overall
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Inspector Stiene

Excellent so funny thoroughly entertaining , full of nostalgia and tongue in cheek japes.👌Excellent cast of Actors and actresses.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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Love Lynn Truss, but this is dire

I was so sure this was going to be good and am so disappointed. I downloaded it as something for us to listen to on holiday, but the quality of Life at Absolute Zero just isn‘t here and we gave up on it. I‘m not sure I‘ll ever listen to all of it.

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not for me

gave up not funny, interesting, or a good story line couldn't get into it

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4 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Rubbish

Only managed to get to chapter 3. Couldn’t get any further than that. Wasted a credit.

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