Tuning into some small screen suspense stories

They say that we're getting an early spring this year(if the majority of recent groundhog reports are to be believed) and while the promise of warm weather is inviting, a number of rainy days are also included in that bargain.

So, if you're in the mood to curl up with some book based mystery shows during those washed out weekends, there are a trio of small screen delights to sample soon.

First up is a new adaptation of Agatha Christie's The Pale Horse , set to stream on Amazon Prime next month that stars Rufus Sewell as Mark Easterbrook, who finds himself on a hit list that includes a recently murdered priest.

 Having no idea what this is all about, he and a good friend decide to check out a few leads on their own, bringing them to the small town of Much Deeping and to the local inn where the weird sisters trio of owners might have the answers he needs. However, will Mark get that information in time to keep himself from being permanently crossed off?

This Christie story is not part of her regular detective tales from Poirot or Miss Marple(although it was adapted for a Miss Marple series some years ago) but her stand alones have proven to be even more chilling there. From the trailer, this version has a bit of a Wicker Man/Midsommar vibe to the mysterious proceedings that should add quite the extra eerie edge:

 Meanwhile in May, HBO will airing a limited series called The Undoing whose cast features Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant and Donald Sutherland.

Based on the novel You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz, Kidman plays Grace Fraser, a therapist that seems to be living her best life with the publication of her first book and a happy family in the upper echelons of New York City.

That blissful existence is shattered as her husband Jonathan(Grant) vanishes and news of a shocking nature that has him at the center of it is hitting Grace from all sides. Wanting to know what's been going on herself, she  decides to ask a few questions that lead her to making some hard choices that will determine not only her fate but that of her young son as well.

 This does sound intriguing and Nicole Kidman has been having great luck with HBO adaptations lately, so this certainly ought to be one to watch for:

If you don't want to wait that long, NBC has a new show on Friday nights that you might like to catch up on. Lincoln Rhymes: Hunt for the Bone Collector is based on the popular detective book series by Jeffrey Deaver , which was also a 1999 film adaptation starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie.

This time around, Russell Hornsby plays the title character, a brilliant criminologist who was severely paralyzed while searching for the elusive serial killer. His extreme injuries put him into early retirement yet Lincoln is still consulted by the NYPD on certain cases. His assistance is reluctantly given due to bitter resentment about his situation, not to mention that the Bone Collector escaped justice.

Years after the Bone Collector's last kill spree, a potential copycat brings Lincoln the chance to get back in the game with the help of promising rookie police officer Amelia Sachs(Arielle Kebbel) who becomes his eyes and ears in the field. Their work together has caught the interest of the Bone Collector, who wishes to take down his nemesis and his allies once and for all.

I've been watching LR:HFTBC since it first aired and it's a good ,smartly done crime drama there. The actors have a nice chemistry on screen and there are episodes that focuses on cases other than the Bone Collector's(who we see living his twisted secret life as a doting husband with a gruesome addition to his wine cellar) that allow for further character development.

Since this is a midseason debut, I'm not sure if it'll get a second season but it certainly deserves to. Do check it out, it's a fun thrill ride in more ways than one:

As much as I like to see more good thrillers on TV and/or streaming, it would be nice to have a cozy mystery or romantic suspense series back on the air as well. I'm probably not the only one who would like something along the lines of Murder She Wrote, Castle or Bones around, that's for sure.

Then again, we do have Agatha Raisin(still waiting for S2 from Netflix!) online with a third season, so that is a small comfort indeed. Still, let us hope for new crime solving capers in our entertainment future: