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Vera
E2 of 4
About
Episode Guide
Series 3 - Episode 2
Poster Child
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Review
by
Alison Graham
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 (first shown in 2013) 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
see more
Drama
Full Episode Guide
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