Inspector Morse - Last Enemy

Rating:
Summary: Acrimony in Academia
Review: This mystery opens with the discovery of a body in the river, a body which is difficult to identify given the fact that the corpse is decapitated. Shortly after the body is found, Morse is contacted by an old acquaintance from his university days. Alex Reese, a not so friendly rival from Morse's past, now serves as a college master and has achieved a certain prominence by methods both fair and foul. Reese informs Morse that his college deputy (David Carridge) is four days overdue from London and asks Morse to make some discreet inquiries regarding the fate of his missing colleague. Carridge is apparently a homosexual; therefore, Reese is concerned that his associate might have mingled with some unsavory characters. Is the corpse from the river the missing deputy? This question becomes especially pertinent when it is determined that the corpse was clothed in a suit belonging to Carridge. By the conclusion of this mystery, two other homicides have occurred. This episode is characterized by a blend of non-edifying behaviors: revenge, adultery, alleged plagiarism, character assassination, unbridled ambition, and general malevolence. We are exposed to a recurring theme in the Morse mysteries--- the unscrupulousness of university elites who compete for recognition and reward. Several suspects have possible motives for having committed one or more of the homicides; but the possibility also exists that all the victims were murdered by the same perpetrator. Interesting clues (an apparent bit of flesh on a chopping block, an earing left at a murder scene, and vintage bullets retrieved from bodies) all help to add spice to this mystery. This entry in the series is another excellent portrait of human vices and the negative consequences experienced by those who create numerous enemies in their quest for success and gratification at any cost. Despite the serious themes, there are elements of humor in this episode. Morse is burdened with a toothache at the beginning of the mystery, a problem which causes him to display a certain helpless frustration and impatience when confronted with the demands of these challenging cases. In any event, this episode represents yet another excellent entry in the series of Morse mysteries.

Rating:
Summary: The Last Enemy
Review: This one has more humor than any of the others I think.Morse is really going for women in these one. He has a toothache and its pretty funny. So I suggest you get a sotch and enjoy this epiosde.