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Updated 10/11/09

Wire in the Blood

Caution!! Of all the series I have highlighted, this one is the most graphic and contains stories about some fairly gruesome murders. Dr. Tony Hill is a clinical psychologist working at a local university. He is often called upon by Detective Inspector Carol Jordan when the killing seems to be pathological or serial in nature. He develops psychological profiles of the killer and often is very involved in the pursuit and capture of the offender. Tony himself seems to have numerous personality quirks. The relationship between Carol and Tony is very interesting. This series may not be for everyone. Hill is played by Robson Green while DI Jordan is played by Hermione Norris.

1st Season - 2002

"The Mermaids Singing - Part 1 & Part 2"

In the northern English town of Bradfield, three men have been found tortured and mutilated. Convinced that these deaths are part of a serial pattern, the ambitious and driven Detective Inspector Carol Jordan asks Clinical psychologist Dr. Tony Hill for his help profiling the killer even though Tony's off-beat methods cause others to dismiss him.

"Shadows Rising - Part 1 & Part 2"

When the body of a teenage girl is found in a mountainside lake, Dr. Hill and Detective Jordan are called to the scene. Carol, however, is promplty reassigned to investigate a series of death threats made against TV celebrities. Back at the lake, the discovery of another body convinces Tony that a serial killer is at work.

"Justice Painted Blind - Part 1 & Part 2"


The abduction on an 11-year-old-girl and the strangulation of a young woman bring back memories of the murder of a young girl three years earlier. A known pedophile was acquitted, but police and locals fear he is killing again. Tony is convinced the attacks bear the hallmarks of a different killer, until a bizarre link suggests more deaths will follow.

2nd Season - 2004

"Still She Cries"

Clinical psychologist Dr. Tony Hill persuades the police to reopened investigation of his long-standing patient, a serial killer Maggie Thomas, in order to recover the bodies of her victims. Carol, however, believes that Tony made a mistake in bringing his pretty, young student Laura along on the search. When Laura's best friend is kidnapped and murdered, loyalties begin to fray and Tony finds more than just his judgment called into question.

"The Darkness of Light"


When a 500 year old body is discovered at Norton Hotel during the digging of new foundations, Carol is sent in to oversee the investigation to see if there is anything suspicious or just a legacy of the hotel's previous incarnation as part of the local Abbey. The discovery of two more bodies coincides with the hotel being burned to the ground and Carol realizes that she's got a very current case on her hands. She calls Tony in when it becomes apparent that someone is killing people in a way that Norton hasn't seen since it burned witches back in the middle ages.

"Right to Silence"


A murder takes place with all the hallmarks of Bradfield gang boss. Carol needs Tony to work out whether he thinks this second murder is connected to the one the gang boss has already committed. Could he really be controlling it all from behind bars?

"Sharp Compassion"

Bradfield is in panic as someone preys on its most vulnerable hospital patients. MI5 get involved when Islamic terror becomes one of the lines of inquiry. Carol must juggle how to warn the public and how to keep a predatory MI5 official at bay. There is very little to go on, even for Tony Hill.

3rd Season - 2005

"Redemption"

Tony suspects a serial killer is luring dejected children to their deaths when the bodies of three young boys are found in different places in Bradfield. Each of the victims had suffered maltreatment. As it becomes more obvious that these victims are being placed at very specific sites, Tony comes to realize that the killer is trying to tell police something about their past.

"Bad Seed"


When a series of vicious murders sends the town reeling, Tony becomes consumed with the notion that they are the work of killer William 'Mack the Knife' MacAdam. Newly-released back into society after being educated during his long sentence, MacAdam is now enrolled as a Ph.D. student in Tony's university class and seems overly keen to take his place as media pundit on serial killer cases.

"Nothing But The Night"


The brutal murder of a woman, beaten to death with a steam iron, brings Tony back from a publicity tour for his latest book to join in on Carol's investigation. More bizarre but completely different deaths follow, and Tony is bewildered, unable to create a profile for a seemingly schizophrenic killer.

"Synchronicity"


In the beginning, Tony gets hit in the head by a suspect. In the hospital for tests, it's discovered he has s brain tumor. Meanwhile, a snipe appears in Bradfield, killing apparently randomly, leaving deck cards in every spot he chooses to fire from. Tony has to deal with his own mortality, as his illness progresses awfully fast, and Carol has to deal with him and the sniper, and the kind of feeling it brings out of people in town.

4th Season - 2006

"Time to Murder and Create"

Tony returns after his brain surgery to find that Carol has left and she has been replace by a new woman detective inspector, Alex Fielding. When a body if found in a field, Tony offers to help in the investigation but is rejected by Alex. She believes that her predecessor, Carol Jordan, was damaged both professionally and personally by her working relationship with Tony. As the case becomes more complex and it becomes clear that serial killer my be at work, Alex realizes she needs Tony's help. The investigation leads them into the world of sadomasochism and bondage.

"Torment"

Several prostitutes are found murdered. They are tortured and allowed to bleed to death. The manner in which they are killed matches exactly the way a number of women were killed several years before, but the man found guilty of those crimes is in prison. Tony is certain the key to solving the current murders involves finding out why the man in prison committed those other killings years before.

"Hole in the Heart"

Alex asks Tony to assist in the investigation of a number of bizarre murder suicides. Tony is concerned that the crimes were motivated by some type of cult lead by a charismatic leader who gains absolute power over cult members. Tony believes additional killings will occur if the leader is not found.

"The Wounded Surgeon"

Tony attends a parole hearing for a man he helped send to prison many years ago. He is certain the man is still a danger, but he is overruled by the rest of the board and the man is set free. Shortly after, a young woman is murdered and Tony is sure the man committed the crime. He is determined to convince Alex. A young reporter gets interested in the case and attempts to discredit Tony and believes that man was innocent of the first crime that sent him to prison. Tony has to deal with inner conflict. On one hand he is certain the man committed both crimes, but he begins to question his abilities.

5th Season - 2007

"The Color of Amber"

A woman witnesses a young black girl apparently being abducted by a middle aged white man. She immediately calls police and the clock starts. An "Amber Alert" is issued. Statistically, they have three hours to find the girl. After that the chances of finding her alive drop significantly. Tony is called in immediately. During the investigation a young friend of the girl, a white boy, is also found to be missing. Tony is puzzled. The profile of this type of crime does not fit the facts of this case.

"Nocebo"

The body of a young girl is found near the river. She appears to be the victim of a ritualistic killing. DI Fielding asks Tony to help in the investigation. A second victim is found and Tony determines that the killer is following a mix of African and Celtic ritual practices. The investigation is hampered by DI Fielding's emotional state. The pressures of the job and her responsibilities as a single mother have brought her almost to the point of a breakdown. Tony is determined to solve the crime and help DI Fielding resolve her personal issues.

"The Names of Angels"

The episode begins with a young woman being killed in Copenhagen and the then moves to the present. A young woman's body is found in a field. She had been raped and strangled. Upon further investigation, she appears to be wearing the clothes of the earlier victim and is carrying the other victim's identification cards. Because of the bizarre findings, Tony is asked to join the investigation.

"Anything You Can Do"

An elderly woman is found murdered. She was suffocated with a plastic bag that had been pulled down over her head. When a second murder is committed in the same fashion, DI Fielding calls on Tony to help stop what appears to be a serial killer. While Tony is working to solve the case, he is also entertaining a person he considers his mentor. Unexplainable, his friend appears to be doing everything possible to discredit Tony and destroy is relationship with DI Fielding.

Special - 2008

"Prayer of the Bone"

Tony travels to Texas to serve as an expert witness in a murder trial. A man has confessed to murdering his family and the prosecution wants to prove that the Gulf War veteran is not suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome. They called on Tony because he has had dealings with the defendant before in England when he was accused of the rape of a 15 year old girl. Tony does not think the defendant is suffering from the syndrome and begins to believe the man did not commit the crimes. However, there are people in the town who want Tony to go home and the man executed. Tony does leave.

6th Season - 2008

"Unnatural Vices"

Two suitcases are found burning in a field. They contain the dismembered body of a young woman. The victim is identified as a Kurdish woman and when the family is interviewed this appears to be an honor killing. However when more bodies are found, Tony is not so sure. What is the connection between the victims? Why such brutality?

"Falls the Shadow"

DI Fielding is investigating the murder of a prostitute and would like Tony's opinion. Tony is away attending a seminar with fellow sociologists. Before Tony can get back to her, he finds himself the prime suspect in the murder of one of the people attending the meeting. When a second prostitute is found murdered in the same manner, DI Fielding is certain she will need Tony's help. However, he will have to provide his analysis from a jail cell.

"From the Defeated"

A body is discovered in a shallow grave. The victim has apparently been beaten, strangled and shot. In addition, it appears he was also malnourished. DI Fielding asks Tony to review the case. Tony is mystified by the brutality. Soon a second body is found in the same condition. Evidence is found that indicates the second victim may have been involved in the murder of the first victim. To add to Tony's stress, a criminally insane (similar to Hannibal Lector - see episode "Unnatural Vices") prisoner has escaped. A prisoner he had been treating.

"The Dead Land"

Homeless men are being found murdered. Each is killed by a single knife wound to the heart. There are other things about the killings that lead Tony to believe that the killings are part of some sort of ritual. While Tony is absorbed in finding the killer, he himself is being stalked by a criminally insane prison escapee.

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Wire in The Blood

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Based on the characters created by Val McDermid

Wire in the Blood

BritishMysteries.com

Wire in the Blood