Whitstable Pearl

I checked the library website for months to see if Whitstable Pearl was anywhere in our county library system. It is usually pretty good at getting the Acorn Original TV shows once they are available on DVD. That is why I was surprised no one in the system had this one.

Except they did. For months I was leaving out the first “t,” a mistake I kept with me because I had read the title too fast when I first saw it. It’s funny how things like that can stick with you. Every time I saw the title afterwards, I removed the first “t.” Thankfully, I eventually saw my mistake and was able to watch this show.

Whitstable Pearl
Series 1
Kerry Godliman and Howard Charles

You never know what people know

Restaurant owner and private detective Pearl Nolan (Kerry Godliman) is the unfortunate person to find her friend Vinnie dead. Pearl becomes the immediate suspect and is questioned by the police repeatedly. The final officer to question her is DCI Mike McGuire (Howard Charles).

Pearl lets Mike know what she thinks about the intelligence of the police force. It is not highly. After this, Mike lets Pearl go, but their business with each other is not done.

As the police investigate Vinnie’s death, so does Pearl. Except, unlike other mystery shows and books I have experienced, Pearl does not keep the information she finds to herself. She lets Mike know what she finds, which is not appreciated. At least it isn’t until Mike finds out Pearl was once part of the police force herself. It is then Mike realizes Pearl knows what she is doing with her investigating. She isn’t simply a nosy citizen.

From then on, Pearl and Mike work together. Sort of. Pearl goes to Mike with cases she is working on, seeking either his assistance or information. Even when Mike is on vacation Pearl tries to get Mike to help her. As a result, they become friends. A friendship that slides to romance, which may be why Mike is willing to help Pearl so often, even though he complains about it.

Together at last

The romance between Pearl and Mike is slow moving. Pearl has been single for a long time. For years most of her life has been about her family. Her son, Charlie (Rohan Nedd), is at the age where he is looking at colleges. Dolly (Frances Barber), Pearl’s mother, is always up to something. Ruby (Isobelle Molloy), not technically a relative, is an employee Pearl cares about greatly. These people have been her life for quite some time, with no romance in sight.

Mike is pretty much alone. He is newly from London and recently widowed. He is still devastated over his wife’s death, which makes him very reserved. He is reluctant to socialize, something his partner, DS Nikki Martel (Sophia Del Pizzo), encourages him to do. It also makes him hesitant to become romantically involved.

Nikki is a really good person. She cares about Mike. She cares about the community. She is kind to people even when she’s questioning them. While it would be easy for the writers to try and make a love triangle between her, Mike, and Pearl, they don’t. Instead, Nikki sees Mike as a friend and encourages him to pursue something with Pearl.

Dolly is the one to encourage Pearl into the relationship with Mike.  Or any man. She simply wants her daughter to be involved with someone. Dolly herself certainly is. Her boyfriend is not much older than her grandson. Something she does not bat an eye about.

Pearl and Mike do get together for a short while. It is Pearl’s decision to split after an incident involving her deceased father. The breakup, in my opinion, was understandable but unfair.

Do as I say, not as I do

While Pearl and her family were telling stories about her father, Mike listened, taking in all the information for the case. When Pearl finds this out, she becomes upset. She thought Mike was with her family as a friend, not a cop. I understand why she would be upset about this. To think everything said could possibly be used against someone she cares for is horrible. However, her anger is hypocritical.

When the community gathers to honor her father, Pearl takes the opportunity to listen to their conversations. She uses the information she overhears to conduct her own investigation into what happened to her father. These were people telling stories not as suspects, but as friends. Yet, Pearl took these moments and used what she learned—not unlike what Mike did. Pretty much their behavior was one and the same.

Despite how coldly Pearl, Charlie, and Ruby treat Mike over this incident, and how rudely Dolly treats Nikki, Mike still makes sure everything turns out all right. But that’s not enough for Pearl. She tells Mike she needs time and he should not wait for her. With this being where season one ends, it will be interesting to see what happens between them in season two.

What's a Heart to Do?
Kate Dorsey

Don’t forget, there are cases to solve

With all the personal situations going on, it is easy to forget there are mysteries too. But then each mystery is personal in some way. The community Pearl and Mike live in is very connected. Most everyone knows everyone in some way. This can make it hard for Pearl to not take the cases personally. Someone she knows is most likely guilty.

Even though I do believe Pearl treated Mike unfairly, as a whole I consider Pearl a good person. She greatly cares about the people around her and wants to make sure they’re all okay. In fact, all the characters are good and fun to watch. The only one I had any problems with was Dolly. She can be very pushy and secretive. Some of her secrets are revealed in the first season, but I have a feeling there are plenty more waiting. And I highly suspect it will be Pearl who has to clean them up.