Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda

True crime shows are my favorite genre. I've watched almost every show on ID. Some are better than others (much better) and Homicide Hunter is one of my favorites. The reason I call Lt. Joe Kenda the anti M. William Phelps is that Kenda is everything Phelps isn't: He is an excellent investigator, he is free of ego, and he doesn't exaggerate the story for dramatic effect (or to sell more books). He discloses the important details without getting bogged down in the trivialities of each case. The only criticism I have of this program is that ID doesn't seem to air many episodes. Maybe it's just my timing, but the network reruns the same three or so episodes repeatedly. I even set my DVR. I will set it again for the upcoming season, and hopefully I can catch more.

Yes, I'm old enough to have watched the original "Dragnet" series, starring the late Jack Webb, with great interest and understanding. That's why I only needed to watch a couple of episodes of "Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda" to become a dedicated fan. Much like the deadpan Friday of "Just the facts, ma'am," real-life Colorado Springs, CO, detective Kenda approaches the worst murder cases with a keen eye for detail and a steadfast dedication to speak for the victim.

Since "Homicide Hunter" is produced for Investigation Discovery, one of the Discovery cable networks, Kenda has the freedom to share most of the gruesome clues with which modern mystery afficionados are passionately familiar. Even better, Kenda reveals great insight into the twisted psyches of the most vicious killers as he leads them into interrogation traps that force them to confess to their crimes.

I confess, I hope to continue watching "Homicide Hunter" for years to come. Since he's solved over 400 murders since the 1980s, Lt. Joe Kenda has a lot of 'war stories' to share with dedicated--and addicted!--fans like me.

I came across this show completely by mistake one night, and became my #1 Crime Show!

The almost dry humor quotes from Joe: My my my, I like crazy and much more is what caught my attention to this show Homicide Hunter.

Ambition and curiosity molded this 70's College Graduates after starting with the CSPD as Lt Joe Kenda. Taking several years he quickly rose in the Homicide Department. The candor of Lt Joe Kenda who's work for over 20+ years solving over 400+ cases reminds us when a life is taken they will never be back.

Fighting the network, he did not want a show you read the words of the show's writers. Unscripted and in his own words, you get the real now retired "Joe Kenda".

I've been waiting for new episodes featuring Joe Kenda, so hope there are more being filmed. This is one of my favorite shows. I particularly like the real Lieutenant Kenda's matter of fact style, and find myself quoting his "Well, my, my, my" observation quite frequently. As noted in a previous review, Kenda gives an excellent view into real police procedures, observations, and attitudes.

Every episode gives the viewer an accurate picture of how police act when a crime has been committed, from the hours of actual leg-work, to the questioning of witnesses and suspects. Lt Kenda's supreme goal is for justice, and his sympathy for the victims and family of victims is welcome. Too often shows depict police as hardened officers instead of human beings. This show provides views of the police as officers who care about the victims even when forced to cajole suspects into telling the truth.

Please, give us more episodes!

..You'll find it with Lt. Joe Kenda. He recounts the investigations while deadpanning it to the camera. His voice does not become overtly emotive to make the story more than it is. He simply in an almost monotone (not negatively) voice explains how he and his team methodically worked each case. Like with any vocation taken seriously, he proves his years of deduction, singling things out which obviously during his career he developed an inane ability to profile a killers motive and if they're a one off or will be a repeat offender. I find it difficult not to like this man; I doubt he changes for anyone. After a couple episodes you can tell that steely detective heart really cared about his victims and how he loathed those responsible. With Kenda you could be president or pauper; a life has been taken and he would be your voice as he has been for approximately 400 murder cases.