Series One (the first two episodes) sets up the premise of Cordelia inheriting a decrepit detective agency (complete with secretary cum personal assistant) from former policeman Bernie Pryde, who, upon learning he has terminal cancer, commits suicide. The first two episodes find Cordelia struggling with her new ownership, establishing a relationship with her assistant, the spunky elder woman Edith Sparshott, and finding herself embroiled with two rather sordid families and their attendant mysteries.

Episode One, after setting up the premise of the series, finds Cordelia investigating the maybe-maybe not suicide of a young man, having been hired by the man's father, a noted research scientist played with his patented creepiness by "Evil Emperor Palpatine" Ian McDiarmid. The mystery in this episode is not particularly hard to solve for any astute viewer, especially when Diarmid's secretary is so obviously distraught over her employer's son's death.

Episode Two finds Cordelia going undercover at a plush country hotel ostensibly to catch the hotel's owner committing sexual harassment, Cordelia having been hired by his wife in order to facilitate divorce proceedings. Cordelia soon finds herself knee deep in various family peccadillos that result in murder (naturally). Again, the culprit in this exercise is not particularly hard to ferret out.

Series Two finds the show straying rather far from James' original conception, based largely on the fact that star Helen Baxendale (Ross' erstwhile wife Emily in Friends) had become pregnant, and that was written into the show, something that James aficianados find extremely uncharacteristic of this closed off, emotionally unavailable woman. That said, the second series actually is more compelling, mystery wise, than the first.

The first episode has Cordelia hired on short notice to tail a man she has been told is planning a child abduction in a custody case. To say much more would involve spoiling the many twists and turns this episode takes, but suffice it to say that custody has nothing to do with the case that soon involves classic cars, art thieves and a "bad guy" who turns out to be something of an emotional compatriot for Cordelia.

The last episode is easily the best of the bunch, with a nicely developed story involving some unscrupulous doctors, Gray's nemesis Detective Chief Superintendent Fergusson and his daughter, and illegal adoptions. Gray's pregnancy actually plays into the storyline in unexpected ways in this episode and may help to appease real James fans who otherwise might feel the series has strayed too far from its literary roots.

An Unsuitable Job for a Woman is anchored by fine performances by Baxendale and especially Annette Crosbie as lovable sidekick Edith Sparshott. The repartee between the two characters is always enjoyable, with Edith taking on added "den mother" duties as Cordelia increasingly finds herself over her head both with her professional and personal responsibilities. The series is also interesting in that it focuses a bit more on the working class elements of London, rather than the gentrified populace that usually inhabits the works of Christie, Dorothy Sayers and others of this genre. Gray's office is in a dilapidated, apparently largely Indian part of London, and her clients tend not to be the higher classes.

Though the series lacks some of the charm of Marple and Poirot, it is certainly an enjoyable and properly complex addition to the Mystery pantheon and should be enjoyed by all lovers of sleuthing.

The DVD

Video:
Strangely, Series One is unenhanced 1.78:1 and Series Two is full frame. Both series are pretty much what you would expect of relatively recent vintage television: nothing spectacular, but nothing egregious, either. Image is sharp for video and color and contrast are fine.

Sound:
The soundtrack is also fine, if nothing to write home about. No outstanding separation exists, but at the same time, all dialogue is clear, so you probably won't have any complaints.

Extras:
None really aside from a DVD-ROM link to Mystery's website.

Final Thoughts:
If the recent "revisals" of Marple have left you cold, this could be a nice diversion. If one woman detective is your cup of tea, the two featured in this series make for a flavorful brew that should keep any mystery fan engaged.

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"G-d made stars galore" & "Hey, what kind of a crappy fortune is this?" ZMK, modern prophet