When Dr. Edwin Lorrimer, a forensic scientist working at a private laboratory is found killed, Detective Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh is sent to investigate. Dalgliesh had been in the area a few months previously investigating the murder of a young woman found in an abandoned car. There are several suspects: Lorrimer's subordinate, Clifford Bradley, who despises him; the new head of the laboratory, Maxim Howarth, who is jealous of his sister's relationship with him; a colleague, Paul Middlemass, who had a fight with Lorrimer. There is also a gruff and likely unethical policeman who was on the grounds of the laboratory at the time of the killing and a local pathologist who is raising his two young children after his wife leaves him for another man. When one of the suspects is also murdered, Dalgliesh learns a key piece of information.
CreatorP. D. James
Episode 1
Apr 8, 1983
A woman is found strangled in the back of a car, left parked in a field. Dr Lorrimer of the Hoggits Laboratory is at loggerheads with D.I. Doyle for the slowness of his results. Lorrimer singles out Clifford Bradley to take the blame.
Episode 2
Apr 15, 1983
Dr. Maxim Howarth is promoted as director the Hoggits Laboratory a head of Dr. Edwin Lorrimer. There is no love lost between the pair due to his wife Domenica. Commander Dalglish takes over the murder investigation of the strangled girl.
Episode 3
Apr 22, 1983
Dr. Edwin Lorrimer is found murdered in his laboratory having argued with Paul Middlemass over his bullying of staff. Dalgleish is suspicious that cleaner Mrs Bidwell was told not go to the laboratory making it a premeditated murder.
Episode 4
Apr 29, 1983
Clifford Bradley cracks up under questioning about Dr Lorrimer's murder. A mysterious woman telephones Lorrimer's father quoting several numbers, to him, including 1840. He believes Stella Mawson has stolen documents from him.
Episode 5
May 6, 1983
Domenica confesses to Dalgleish that she had an affair with Dr Lorrimer. Stella Mawson confides to Angela Foley that she knows who the murderer is and plans to write it in a book believing it will pay off their mortgage.
Episode 6
May 13, 1983
Stella Mawson's body is found hanging in the chapel. Dalgliesh informs Angela that Stella was once married to Dr Lorrimer. He is also convinced that she was blackmailing the murderer but Angela denies she would even if it was a woman.
Episode 7
May 20, 1983
Dalgliesh and Massingham spot that the numbers on the hymn board match those given by Mr Lorimmer Snr. Angela confronts D.I. Doyle when she finds a note that he destroyed evidence. Nell Kerrison holds vital information.
