该剧是英剧《摩斯探长》的续篇，于2006-2015年在ITV播出，共九季33集，每集约90分钟，其中从2013年的第七季开始每集在ITV1首播时被拆分为上下两部分连续两周播出，然而在重播时以及在美国PBS电视台播出时依旧作为整集播出。该剧将背景设置在学术气息浓郁的牛津，剧中很多含有隐喻的诙谐对白在外国文学爱好者看来会别有趣味，同时延续摩斯系列侧重通过案件展示各色人生和命运悲剧的特色，凶手被揭露后通常会有一幕对手戏将矛盾推至高潮，尘埃落定后缓和而带有希望的片尾曲又形成鲜明映衬，让人感叹命运无常及人的渺小，同时又看到光明的希望。该剧多位编剧也曾参与ITV版大侦探波洛和马普尔小姐系列剧的改编。
Professor Jarvis is, as one student describes him, the most henpecked man in the world. When he catches Perry Hatch cheating on an exam, he informs him that he will not be reported to the university but rather to his father who, Prof. Jarivs hopes, will mete out appropriate punishment. Hatch is none too pleased and when he hears that Jarvis's wife has been gone for several weeks, starts to wonder if Jarvis may have gotten rid of her. He and a friend spy on him and find him throwing away some of his wife's belongings. They take their case to the police who decide to question him.
