When the battered body of French student Amélie Delagrange is found on Twickenham Green, DCI Colin Sutton is appointed senior investigating officer, his first big case.
Sutton directs his team to prioritize the search for a white van, which he believes will lead them to the killer, but morale dwindles when the hunt proves daunting.
Sutton launches a complex effort to arrest the prime suspect, Levi Bellfield, and then his team races to compile enough evidence to convict him.
DCI Colin Sutton is tasked with reviewing Operation Minstead, an 11-year inquiry to catch the “Night Stalker,” a notorious serial rapist active in Southeast London. Colin questions the team’s focus on DNA but also realizes how inadequate their resources are for an investigation of this scale. When an attack that fits a lot of the criteria is screened out, Colin’s instincts yield a new lead.
Although disappointed the CCTV has not given a clearer image of their suspect, Colin plows on. He presents his review findings to DCS Hamish Campbell and suggests a strategy called “Minstead Lite,” to utilize their scarce resources to best effect. But Hamish wants Colin to stay on to see this new approach through. Will Colin be able to deliver on his promises?
Colin sets about convincing the Force Tasking Group to fund his high-stakes gamble. Not only is it expensive, but there’s absolutely no guarantee it will work. As the surveillance operation begins, several frustrating near misses point to new clues but might also prompt Minstead Man to go to ground again.
Martin Clunes
Colin Sutton
Stephen Wight
D.C Clive Grace
Christopher Fulford
Brian Marjoram
Claudie Blakley
Louise Sutton
Katie Lyons
DS Jo Brunt