A key factor in the show’s longevity, and a unique narrative device, is the regular changing of its lead character. Each detective has brought their own distinct personality and quirks to Saint Marie, allowing the series to refresh its dynamic while maintaining its core formula.
The main character, Detective Richard Poole (played by Ben Miller in the first three seasons), is a British detective who is killed in the first episode but continues to appear through flashbacks and occasional visits to the island. He is succeeded by Detective Jack Mooney (played by Kris Marshall), and later by Detective Neville Parker (played by Ralf Little). deathinparadises01all
Enter DI Richard Poole. He is flown in from London not because he wants to be there, but because the murdered man was a person of interest in a UK fraud investigation. Poole is hot, irritable, allergic to sand, and deeply attached to his suits, wool sweaters, and proper English tea. He has never solved a case without his laptop and London resources — which, of course, do not function ideally in the tropics. A key factor in the show’s longevity, and