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Vera

E2 of 4
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Poster Child

Series 3 - Episode 2 Poster Child

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Review

The verdant byways of Northumberland appear to be wastelands of violent death, à la Midsomer, as yet another blameless citizen is shot dead in his own, rather lovely, home. But there’s a twist to this brisk and engaging mystery when the victim’s two teenaged daughters are abducted. Within minutes someone has couriered a framed picture of the girls to their distraught mother. What on earth is going on?

Leave it to grubby, lugubrious Det Chief Insp Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn) to find out as she chugs on to the murder scene like a vintage tractor, puffing and huffing as she digs into the sundered family’s background. What emerges is a heartbreaking story with its roots in war-torn Baghdad. We also ponder what it means to be a father as Vera thinks about her own glum childhood with a chaotic dad.

Summary

Respected surgeon Dan Marsden is shot dead days before his retirement and his teenage daughters Mira and Karen are abducted. Joined by a new addition to the ranks, Vera investigates a mysterious parcel and a connection to the Iraq War as she races against time to catch the killer and save the girls. However, the case soon takes a violent and unexpected turn, striking at the heart of the team. Guest starring Saskia Reeves (Luther) and Dean Andrews (Ashes to Ashes), with Brenda Blethyn, David Leon and Gareth Farr.

Cast & Crew

DCI Vera Stanhope Brenda Blethyn
DS Joe Ashworth David Leon
Billy Cartwright Paul Ritter
DC Kenny Lockhart Jon Morrison
Laura Marsden Saskia Reeves
Jonah Regan Dean Andrews
Celine Ashworth Sonya Cassidy
Robin Creavey Hugh Simon
Karen Marsden Amy Cameron
Dan Marsden Reece Andrews
Mira Marsden Shifaa Arfan
Judy Mann Lucy Black
Malik Saleh Amir Boutrous
DC Barry Kelman Gareth Farr
Lucia Webb Cheryl Marie Dixon
Meg Jade Knox Griffiths
Kyle Adam Long
Gary Webb Jamie Michie
WPC Collette Hughes Katharine Monaghan
Therese Joan Murphy
Nadim Danny Rahim
Jessie Ashworth Mia Wyles
Pharmacist Rachael Chisholm
Solicitor Bev Fox
Solicitor Ben Mars
Director Paul Cotter
Executive Producer Kate Bartlett
Executive Producer Elaine Collins
Producer Margaret Mitchell
Writer Paul Rutman
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