It seemed like such a simple task to set myself. It all started when I was writing another hub about a tv show challenge to write the title and 25 word story starter for a crime and/or mystery story. I love mysteries, a good murder, whodunnits and anything to do with crime. I decided to choose 10 (yes, just 10) of my all-time favourite tv shows. I listed all the shows that I could think of. It kept growing and as it grew I realised that I had different favourites for different occasions. Some shows are like Mills and Boon - you can read them, enjoy them and not need to put much time, effort or concentration into the task. Other shows require you to watch intently and to think. Other shows have the smile factor - they amuse and entertain. A few have the chill factor, they enthrall or perhaps at times, scare.

My simple task is no longer so simple. I am going to have to think and classify and reason. It is also going to take longer than I had ever envisaged - why? Due to the fact that I'm having a blast trawling through memories of tv shows long dead (I was a child and so much younger then - the past always looks more rosy! and long-dead tv shows always seem so much better). Behind the scenes I've been finding pictures, editing, reading, laughing and remembering. My boys think I have been taken seriously ill as I spout on about shows they have never heard of or have seen and wish they hadn't. More categories pop into my mind. This hub could be in danger of remaining in draft form forever.

So having pondered awhile I decided I'll do a part I and come back another day for a part II. OK guys I don't drool over the ladies so I shall research with my boys the best femail cops to drool over and list those in part II. I think it will be fun to think about theme tunes too and that gives me an excuse to trawl the web and download lots of naff music that will annoy everyone here;)

So what follows, in no particular order, is my personal opinion. Health warning: I love crime and I am not particularly discriminating in what I watch! Although, there are some that do require that I sit and watch with my eyes and brain actively engaged.  I must also point out that I have included shows like Chuck which are not actually detective shows but satisfy my desire for action, mystery and thrills (my oldest son insists that I include this note!)

1. Diagnosis Murder - easy going, doesn't require much thought and can be quite amusing.

2. Murder, She Wrote - rolls along quite nicely and doesn't require much thought or effort.

3. Hawaii Five 0

I can iron, wash up, leave the room and re-enter, type, read or do many different tasks whilst watching any of the above. Often without detracting from my viewing enjoyment! These are great to pass the time away.

Honourable mentions in this category go to: Perry Mason, Starsky & Hutch, Ironside, Jake and the Fat Man, Murder 101 (series of films) and The Bill.

Some cop shows are great if you feel you need to be cheered up. You can guarantee you are going to crack a smile and laugh out loud.  NOTE: one of them is not actually a crime show but I have to include it here as it's as good as in terms of action, adventure etc. plus I just love it.  Guess which one I'm referring to!

Here are my top 3 choices that I choose when I fancy a bit of criminal behavoiur together with a laugh:

1. Psych - Shaun and Gus are outrageously funny. I love the silly things they say and do. They have a great rapport.

2. NCIS - Ok so this show could feature in any number of categories but I love the dry humour of Gibbs, the witty remarks from DeNozo, the quirky characters. This show never fails to make me smile. The plots are pretty good too.

3. Chuck - I just love the characters in this series. They are so quirky. Yep, Chuck makes me chuckle:)  Yes, I do realise that it is not a crime show per se!  My oldest son wants me to point this fact out as he is outraged that I've included it here!

Honourable mentions in this category go to Monk (I love that character, he makes me laugh and smile, great characters and relationships) and The Mentalist (great script, characters and plot). Oh and I mustn't forget Life - great humour and scripting. Perhaps I should just have done a top 6?

Let's get serious. Some crimes aren't funny, the cops may be quirky but the shows are serious and possibly even hard hitting.

1. Wire in the Blood - Tony Hill is quirky with his blue carrier bags and odd behaviours but the plots are enthralling and compelling. I need to think when I watch this one.

2. Inspector Morse - I cannot multi-task whilst watching this show. I miss so many clues and often can't guess the plot.

3. Taggart - the original series was the best. This drove me nuts as I found it almost impossible to solve the crime before our detectives.

Honourable mentions in this category go to The Inside and the Messiah series.

 Ok so this section isn't very cerebral and has nothing to do with intelligence or anything else that matters.  Sometimes you just want to look at a gorgeous face or listen to a sexy voice.

1. NCIS - Mark Harmon as Gibbs is just so attractive.  The voice, the humour and the character.  Gibbs does it for me.

2. Poirot - strange choice I know but in the vein of A Fish Called Wanda - it's the accent that does it for me.

3. The Mentalist - Don't you just want to gather up Patrick Jane and cuddle him?  He can make you laugh and cry.  Of course, he isn't bad on the eyes either!

Honourable mentions in this category go to Dempsey (from Dempsey and Makepiece) - love the accent.  Not bad looking either.  Gus in Psych - love his personality and good looking too.  Agent Hotchner in Criminal Minds - so serious!  Derek - in Criminal Minds, pure hunk!  Booth in Bones - need I say more?

I'm a romantic at heart so if a crime show can add in a touch of romance along with murder and mayhem then I'm in my element. Here are my top 3 of partnerships that I'd love to see go further.

1. Bones - Bones and Booth should get together. They are SO good together. I love their rapport.

2. Dempsey & Makepiece - great screen rapport and I was so pleased to learn that in real life they are actually a couple. Great duo with great chemistry.

3. Chuck - Chuck and Sarah. They are so meant to be.

Honourable mentions in this category to The X-Files for the chemistry between Mulder and Scully and Torchwood for the relationship between Captain Jack and Ianto! CSI Las Vegas - Grissom and Sarah were a match made in heaven.  OK so maybe X-Files and Torchwood aren't strictly crime but they have mysteries to solve.

 Some shows seem to be more realistic than others.  Characters, plot and clothes!

1. The Wire

2. Hill Street Blues

3. Morse

 Ok so what next?  Well, I figure that I need to pander to all you guys who watch the detectives for the chicks.  The top 3 hottest female detectives will be coming your way soon.

Most memorable theme tunes?

Least memorable series?

Detectives who should be buried in the vaults and never resurrected?

Shows that should never have been axed - figure that may be quite a long list!

The 10 essential tv crime shows for fans of the genre.

I'm on a roll, see you in part II!  After all I need to get in somewhere all the shows I've not yet mentioned.  For example: Jake and the Fat Man, Harry O, Bergerac, Z Cars, Softly, Softly Task Force, Van der Valk...