Do not walk into watching this series thinking that you’ll
be privy to some new information concerning the legendary Loch Ness monster
we’ve all come to know. Instead the series uses the location to tell a tale of a
serial killer on the loose and those trying to find him/her before he/she can
kill again.
Local Detective Sergeant Annie Redford (Laura Fraser) is the
first on scene to discover the body of Niall Swift, a music teacher who at
first seems to be the victim of an accident. When it is realized that a part of
his brain is missing and that he was murdered the case is passed up the chain
to DCI Lauren Quigley (Siobhan Finneran) who arrives all straight laced and
serious. She brings with her psychological profiler Blake Albrighton (Don
Gilet) to assist on the case much to the consternation of the police chief DCI
Frank Smilie (John Sessions).
The six part series moves along slowly but never gets
boring. While watching it I kept thinking back to TWIN PEAKS where characters
were introduced and as each episode moved forward they all seemed to have a
motive for being involved in the death being investigated. And there is no
short supply of suspects involved here.
The first and foremost is Dr. Simon Marr, a man we saw fire
Swift early on in the first episode. Marr wasn’t pleased with the pop music
Swift had given to his daughter feeling it was full of filth. In response Swift
made a comment to him about his actions involving another young local girl
making it clear Marr was not the pillar of society he might pretend to be. Add
to that the fact that it was Marr that discovered the body and his innocence is
in question.
But then it could also have been Leighton Thomas, a local
tourist operator who consistently tries to debunk the legend of Loch Ness. With
a criminal past the police immediately place him at the top of their suspect
list. More suspects round out the list including a local butcher and teens
involved in a prank concerning the legendary monster which include Annie’s
daughter.
The thought that this was a single murder starts to change
when another piece shows up, a heart. More victims appear. Suddenly the town is
caught in the grip of fear knowing that a serial killer has taken up residence
in their town. Or it could be that one of them is the serial killer they are
seeking.
The series is an interesting one that places us in a
location unfamiliar to most. This isn’t the hustle and bustle of London but a
quaint lakeside village instead, a town where occurrences like this are rare
and not the norm. The fact that Annie is placed in her first investigation or a
murder shows that. And it’s not a simple murder but a particularly gruesome one
at that.
Add to the mix the familial aspects of the story as well.
Annie’s husband Alan (Gary O’Brien) has an interest in the area as he is
another tourist guide, one that supports the idea of the monster. His recent
purchase might also lead to a clue that’s missing. From the first episode on
the viewer is provided a glimpse of a victim chained at the bottom of the lake
and Alan’s purchase of an underwater camera might yield an image that will
help.
Annie’s daughter is a handful as well. Independent and with
a grudge against Marr she constantly inserts herself into predicaments that her
mother must pull her from. The first of these results in Annie being removed
from the case. It is only when her abilities are realized that she is brought
back on.
As I said the show reminded me a lot of TWIN PEAKS but
without the stranger of the characters around. The small town setting, the
killer on the prowl and the family ties, both literally and figuratively, add
to the makeup of the show. Just who the killer is will take some time to figure
out and for many that won’t be until the reveal. And that’s what makes a solid
mystery, a story that keeps you guessing, that provides plenty of suspects and
clues and that holds your interest until the summation.
Will this lead to a second series? Possibly but doubtful
which is sad. In looking into the series I read that it wasn’t a huge hit. But
then again never say never. Perhaps we will see these characters rise again to
deal with yet another crime in the area. Now Loch Ness has more to be said for
it than a legendary sea creature.
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