Douglas Henshall stars as DI Jimmy Perez in SHETLAND, a murder mystery set against the stunning Scottish backdrop of the Shetland Isles. This series was adapted from the Shetland Quartet of books by award-winning author Ann Cleaves.
EPISODE GUIDE:
"Raven Black" Part 1 of 2 repeats Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 at 10 p.m. - In this episode, 17-year-old Catherine Ross is found murdered on a secluded beach. DI Jimmy Perez rapidly preserves the forensic evidence before questioning local recluse Magnus Bain, whose cottage overlooks the crime scene. He is intrigued to discover that Magnus had recently forged an unlikely friendship with the victim.
Perez and his team - Detective Sergeant Alison 'Tosh' McIntosh and Trainee Detective Constable Sandy Wilson - begin piecing together the hours leading up to Catherine's death. Frustratingly, these events prove difficult to pin down as Catherine lived mostly alone while her father worked on the oil-rigs.
Perez questions Sally Henry, Catherine's timid best friend whose mother - local schoolteacher Margaret Henry - makes no secret of her dislike for Catherine. He follows up with Hugo Scott, Catherine's evidently obsessed teacher, and Alan Isbister, a local playboy philanderer, who admits to seeing Catherine at his open house party on Midsummer Night.
When Fiscal Procurator Rhona Kelly draws Perez's attention to the unsolved case of Catriona Bruce, a seven-year-old girl who disappeared from the same village 19 years ago, Perez realizes that the two 'victims' even shared an address.
When revisiting Magnus Bain (who also knew Catriona) he sees an aging photograph on the mantelpiece of a young girl holding a doll. Magnus reveals that this was a sister who died in childhood. Although Magnus's name continues to crop up regularly throughout the investigation, Perez refuses to commit entirely to a link between the death of Catherine and the disappearance of Catriona - fearing a 'witch hunt' around Magnus. But when the perfectly preserved body of a young girl is discovered in the peat bogs, clutching the same doll as in the photograph at Magnus's home, Perez is reluctantly forced to turn his attention to Magnus Bain.
"Raven Black" Part 2 of 2 repeats Thurs., Sept. 8 at 11 p.m. - The discovery of Catriona Bruce's body leads DI Perez to take Magnus Bain into custody for further questioning. However, Magnus becomes deeply distressed at the station and attacks Perez. While they await the results of psychological tests on Magnus, Perez re-examines the evidence from the Catherine Ross case. Informed that Catherine used her phone mostly to create portraits, Perez is desperate to find any photos that she may have downloaded onto her laptop. He is frustrated, however, to discover that all evidence has been wiped. Viewing CCTV footage of Catherine clutching her bag at the bus station, Perez wonders if its contents hide a secret.
When the postmortem results verify Cora's theory about Catriona's death, Perez reports back to Catriona's brother, who subsequently reveals that Catriona had a secret hiding place at their old home (where Catherine had lived). After digging through old police reports, Perez gleans why Magnus hates being in the police station and moves him to a place where he can feel safe. Magnus finally trusts Perez enough to reveal exactly what happened on the day Catriona disappeared: how the little girl saw something that greatly upset her - something that involved Margaret Henry. Magnus also reveals that Catherine knew Catriona had a hiding place... With another girl in imminent danger, the team finally find the last, vital, clue which leads them to the killer - and the biggest twist of all.
"Dead Water" Part 1 of 2 repeats Thurs., Sept. 15 at 10 p.m. - When Jerry Markham - an old journalist acquaintance of Perez - dies in a car accident, Perez believes the circumstances are suspicious. But the Fiscal Procurator, Rhona Kelly, decides to call in a forensic crime scene investigator from the mainland to ensure an objective view of the case. When Willow Reeves subsequently arrives, it's clear she is a force to be reckoned with - refusing to be intimidated by Perez into making a hasty decision about the case.
As they await the forensic results from Reeves, Perez and his team investigate the reasons for Jerry Markham's recent return to Shetland. Perez discovers that Jerry was chasing a story around the controversial planning permission being sought for a new gas pipeline. He also finds out that Jerry had treated Evie Watt, a young girl on the island, shoddily some years ago. When Perez speaks to Evie Watt he discovers that, although she is still deeply affected by her past relationship with Jerry, she is now to be married to fellow islander John Henderson. Perez is also intrigued to learn that Evie is running a campaign against the new pipeline, alongside her father Cameron Watt, which involves the fund financially supporting a local fish farmer (Joe Dalhousie) whose land is vital to the gas company's plans. He further discovers that Jerry had been in contact with all of these individuals in the days preceding his death.
At the wedding of Evie Watt and John Henderson, tensions run high amongst the guests as the proceedings are overshadowed by Jerry's death and the divisive issue of the pipeline. After the wedding party, when Perez realizes there's not enough forensic proof to support his belief that Jerry died in unlawful circumstances, he decides to re-visit John. But when he arrives at Henderson's house he is greeted by a gruesome sight and quickly calls Willow Reeves before she boards her flight to the mainland. He is going to need her help once more.
"Dead Water" Part 2 of 2 repeats Thursday, Sept. 15 at 11 p.m. - As the team examine the forensic evidence at Henderson's house, Sandy discovers the body of John Henderson by the roadside, brutally murdered. When Willow Reeves subsequently discovers paint at the site, similar to that found in Jerry's car, Perez decides to proceed on the basis that the two deaths are linked. While Reeves conducts the autopsy on Henderson's body, determined to find the type of murder weapon used, Perez is paid a surprise visit by a woman claiming to be Jerry Markham's fiancé. She gives Perez a memory stick sent to her by Jerry for safekeeping before his death. On it, Perez discovers anonymous emails that confirm potential corporate corruption by Storne Gas, as well as Jerry's own personal investigation into Joe Dalhousie's claims of foul play by the gas company to force him off his land.
Additionally, there are incriminating photos of John Henderson with Evie's best friend - Jenny Belshaw. While interviewing Jenny, Perez is intrigued to discover that Jerry desired John's help in some way, and was apparently trying to blackmail him to force his hand. Perez speculates if anyone else knew about Jenny's affair with John? Jenny denies this, but the spotlight shifts to Jenny's husband, Andy Belshaw - a man who disliked Jerry professionally and could potentially have a personal motive to get rid of Henderson.
However, lines of inquiry against Belshaw are soon closed down when he provides an alibi for the night that Jerry died. No closer to finding a clear lead, Perez decides that the answer must somehow rest with Evie Watt, as she was close to both victims. The investigation into Evie uncovers just how desperate she was to get away from her overbearing father, but she continues to deny any involvement in the two murders. Perez is running out of answers and time. When he re-examines some of the photographic evidence though, and Willow Reeves finally determines the murder weapon used, everything falls into place. A hidden past is uncovered. The true nature of Jerry's story revealed. And a motive to kill two men finally exposed.
"Blue Lightning" Part 1 repeats Thursday, Sept. 22 at 10 p.m. - After visiting scientist Anna Blake is found murdered in her lab, Perez is compelled to return to his childhood home of Fair Isle. The only suspects appear to be Anna's immediate family and Anna's fellow scientists. Perez and Tosh arrive just before the flights to and from Fair Isle are grounded, due to storms over Shetland. They will have to work in isolation, without access to a forensic team. Perez works quickly, ensuring the crime scene is sealed off. He sends photos of Anna's body to Sandy, who sends them on to forensics in Scotland in order to find a probable cause of death. Meanwhile Tosh is out searching for Peter Latimer, a resident scientist who has been missing since Anna's body was found. She finally apprehends him and brings him back to the center.
Perez decides to leave Latimer on his own for a while as Tosh searches his room looking for anything that connects him to Anna's death. Perez then interviews Anna's husband, Frank. Frank is distraught but increasingly agitated by Perez's questions, especially over the fact he and his wife slept in separate rooms. When Perez finally speaks to Latimer, rather than provide evidence to back up his alibi, Latimer instead demands a solicitor. Latimer has become the prime suspect, particularly when Sandy finds out that he and Anna had a secret assignation in Lerwick two weeks previously.
But when Finlay Caulfield is caught trying to damage a memory card from his camera, Perez quickly discovers that all of the pictures on it are of Anna Blake and that Finlay has form for harassment. Armed with this information, Perez goes to speak to him, but Finlay has disappeared from the Field Center. As Tosh searches for him, a huge explosion is heard nearby. Perez and Tosh swiftly drive towards the source of the blast. They are horrified to see a man on fire running from the burning bird hide. Perez uses his coat to put out the flames. It is Peter Latimer...
"Blue Lightning" Part 2 repeats Thursday, Sept. 22 at 11 p.m. - As Peter Latimer lies critically ill in hospital, Perez and Tosh examine the remains of the burnt out building. When they discover evidence that Peter was drinking that night, they wonder why he would leave the safety of his room at the Center to drink alone, outside? When Latimer then dies from his injuries, Perez urges Sandy to find answers as to why Anna and Peter visited Lerwick two weeks before they both died. As Sandy re-examines the CCTV footage of the two victims, Perez questions Finlay Caulfield about the photographs of Anna on his camera. It is clear that Finlay was obsessed with Anna, but there is still not enough evidence to charge him with murder.
Frustrated by so many unanswered questions, Perez decides to use the fact Finlay 'stalked' Anna and asks him directly if Anna was having an affair with Latimer. Finlay confirms she was - and that Frank knew about it. Sandy then reveals that the CCTV footage shows that Latimer was carrying a bag when he left Commercial Street in Lerwick - but not when he entered it. Perez believes the contents of this bag are the reason why Latimer disappeared on the morning of the murder. Its eventual discovery leads them to reveal a plot to blackmail Anna, but not a reason to murder her. It's not until Sandy comes up with a final piece of evidence - proof that one of the residents has been lying about his past - that finally leads Perez to the heart breaking truth.
