Danish detective Dan ‘the man’ Sommerdahl (Peter Mygind) is back with four feature-length cases for crime fiction lovers who like the lighter side of Scandinavian crime fiction available to stream via Channel Four’s Walter Presents service in the UK from 12 June. And, it will be broadcast on More4 starting at 9pm on Friday 12 June. In the past, we’ve described the show as a bit like Miami Vice set in a Danish coastal resort, but in truth its plot lines run a little more like a soap opera and if you’ve watched previous seasons you’ll know how turbulent Dan’s life has been, with his detective partner Flemming Torp (André Babikian) partnering up with his now ex-wife Marianne (Laura Drasbaek).
But all has been amicable on that front and working relationships – even friendships – have been maintained. At the end of season three things were looking up for the rangy detective on his patch in Helsingør. Having finally brought a local drug trafficker to book, he’d also met a new love interest – Josephine (Maebritt Saerens) , who works for the local coast guard.
When a new homicide is called in, shade seems to fall across Dan Sommerdahl’s life once again. A woman has been found dead in the fermentation unit on a prosperous wine estate. It turns out to be the owner, Beatrice Werner, asphyxiated by carbon dioxide released as a byproduct of the winemaking process. Machinery is in place to remove the gas, but it’s been disabled so this is definitely a murder. There are no prints for forensics officer Marianne to trace.
Right away, suspects abound. Bea’s daughter Vigga – set to inherit the estate – is shifty and erratic, bullying her boyfriend into giving her an alibi. Bea’s ex-husband gatecrashed her birthday party, which took place the night before the murder ,and has a black eye. A French vintner at the party had a rape conviction, and he’s now gone missing. Then there’s Brian, who has known Bea all his life and is the winemaker on the estate.
Red herrings swim in every direction except into Dan Sommerdahl’s net. Two cars are missing, one electric, one vintage, but why would a killer require both to escape? It turns out the estate’s reputation is just a façade as well. The Brett bacteria outbreak last season led to the destruction of the entire vintage and the estate has serious debts, causing a rift in the family. Alcoholism, gambling debts, counterfeit wines, long simmering frustrations and more just add to the confusion for Dan and Henning.
Dan is starting to get cold feet with regards to his new relationship, and it’s a slap in the face for the detective when the head of the drugs ring from the last series is let off due to lack of evidence. Coming on the back of his divorce, he’s left feeling useless. Then… another body brings his focus back to the case.
Quite a bit of the story is delivered via dialogue as the police interview witnesses, travel to and from pertinent locations and receive phone calls from other team members as well as forensics. It works well though, as the principal detectives reason things through and take you with them on their journey. The story is more thoughtful than active. It feels a little like watching Midsomer Murders and even has a similar title, but with much more focus on the relationships between Dan, Henning, Marianne, Josephine and other friends and relatives. It’s mystery with love stories attached and is light on procedure. A bit more like Nordic Murders, and with a similar setting to the German production.
Dan still lives in his boat and you’ll see plenty of the marina in this series. More of the action seems to take place in the town itself, which reveals itself to be rather historic with a variety of vintage architecture on show alongside. The local lifestyle seems laid back.
After being baffled by the case of the wine queen, Dan and his team will also investigate a drug-related death at a rave, and face a mystery set in the world of Danish horse racing. The fourth story involves the strangulation of a woman connected to a group of religious fundamentalists and the case has connections going deep into the past.
Originally broadcast in 2023, season four of The Sommerdahl Murders consists of four 90-minute episodes. In the US, the show is available via Acorn TV and Apple TV+.
