15th September

Episode four: Prodigal Son

D.C.I. Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn) and D.S. Joe Ashworth (David Leon) investigate a fatal stabbing outside a busy Newcastle nightclub. Identifying the victim as ex-Met Officer, John Warnock (Alan Westaway), the only clues are an empty flat and an unregistered car with six thousand pounds hidden in the boot.

With the help of her loyal team, D.C. Shepherd (Clare Calbraith) and D.C. Lockhart (Jon Morrison), they track John’s next of kin to a local farm run by his sister, Maggie (Jill Halfpenny). Having recently returned to Newcastle, John had been working at Finches, a large brewery run by Maggie’s fiancé, Sam Harper (Liam Cunningham).

Lisa Strachan (Christine Bottomley), John’s childhood sweetheart, admits to rekindling their affair in recent months. Her husband, Ross (Ralph Ineson), has a clear motive and a history of violence. But Vera cannot believe this is a simple crime of passion.

Delving deeper into John’s world, Vera uncovers a secret relationship with Sam’s daughter, Eva (Sophie Stuckey) and an under-hand plot to spy on the brewery for a multi-national company eager to buy out the family business. But lawyer Katrina Lennox (Jeany Spark) insists he was called off the case months ago. So why did he continue to spy on Sam Harper?

Vera must ultimately retrace John Warnock’s final steps to uncover the truth behind a web of lies spanning twenty-five years.


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