😱📺 Above Suspicion: ITV’s Mini-Crime Thriller Attempts to Capture the Spirit of Prime Suspect 🔥

For crime drama fans in the UK, ITV has long been the go-to channel for compelling, gritty storytelling. Over decades, it has delivered classics such as Prime Suspect, Cracker, Wire in the Blood, and The Bill. While the BBC often gravitates toward period pieces or light escapism like Jonathan Creek, ITV has consistently provided modern, hard-hitting crime narratives that linger in the public imagination. Into this lineage steps Above Suspicion, a two-part mini-series adaptation of Lynda La Plante’s 2004 novel, carrying the promise — and the burden — of echoing the iconic Prime Suspect.

The story follows rookie Detective Constable Anna Travis, played by Kelly Reilly, as she tackles her first major murder investigation. A string of gruesome killings has haunted her local precinct for eight years, targeting drug users and prostitutes. The tension rises dramatically when a seventh victim is discovered — a young student, diverging from the usual victim profile and signaling an escalation in the killer’s methods.

Determined to prove herself, Anna is keen to earn the respect of her male colleagues and her brusque superior, Detective Chief Inspector Langton (Ciaran Hinds). The investigation centers on Alan Daniels (Jason Durr), a rising star in the acting world whose charm and public popularity make him an unlikely suspect. Arresting Daniels would ignite a media frenzy, and failure to prove his guilt threatens to destroy Anna’s nascent reputation.

La Plante, known for crafting gripping crime dramas like Prime Suspect, Trial and Retribution, and The Commander, brings her trademark style to the screen: meticulous attention to procedural detail, tense pacing, and a moral complexity that challenges viewers’ assumptions about guilt, innocence, and the power dynamics within law enforcement. In a press statement, La Plante expressed excitement over this adaptation, noting it was the first time one of her books had been brought to UK television — a milestone for the veteran crime writer.

So, how does Above Suspicion fare? The series is undeniably competent, benefiting from La Plante’s experience and a solid cast. Kelly Reilly embodies Anna Travis with a mix of determination and vulnerability, while Jason Durr and Ciaran Hinds provide sturdy support. Director Christopher Menaul, who previously worked on Prime Suspect, ensures the visual and narrative style echoes that iconic series, with darkly lit scenes, meticulous attention to procedural detail, and pacing that maintains suspense.

However, the series struggles under the weight of familiarity. The plot is heavily reminiscent of Prime Suspect: a female detective must overcome skepticism from male colleagues while tracking a seemingly charming male suspect. While this formula has proven effective, here it can feel repetitive. The two-part structure exacerbates this problem, compressing narrative development and limiting the gradual buildup of tension that made Prime Suspect so compelling. Viewers may find themselves wishing for a third installment, as some narrative threads appear unresolved or rushed, leaving character arcs feeling underdeveloped.

One area where the series falters is the realism of its protagonist. While Reilly’s performance is solid, Anna Travis can come across as inexperienced to an implausible degree. A particularly problematic scene involves her attempting to coerce a disabled witness into a swimming pool to extract information — an incident that strains credulity and risks alienating viewers. These moments, while more reflective of writing than performance, highlight how the series sometimes prioritizes dramatic tension over realism.

The supporting cast faces its own challenges. Accents occasionally slip, creating moments of distraction, though the actors’ overall performances are competent. Menaul’s direction includes innovative, if somewhat gimmicky, imagined flashbacks inserted into photographic montages to externalize Anna’s thoughts. While visually interesting, this device occasionally disrupts narrative flow rather than enhancing it.

Despite these flaws, Above Suspicion retains significant appeal. The story is gripping enough to hold attention, and the familiar crime drama tropes provide a comforting framework for viewers. Male colleagues quickly accept Anna in ways that contrast sharply with the systemic misogyny depicted in Prime Suspect, reflecting both the evolution of policing culture and the desire to streamline tension toward plot and mystery rather than institutional critique. Civilians, rather than colleagues, provide most of the antagonism, subtly signaling that the societal context around gender and authority has shifted.

One of the series’ strengths lies in its exploration of the public persona versus private reality. Alan Daniels, the suspect, is a celebrated actor whose fame shields him from suspicion — a commentary on celebrity, media influence, and the often arbitrary perception of trustworthiness. This thematic element, while familiar, resonates in today’s culture, where public image and private behavior frequently clash in both entertainment and real-world contexts.

Ratings suggest the series has found an audience. Early viewership of approximately seven million indicates a strong start, and the network is likely considering further installments. With adjustments to the protagonist’s credibility and careful handling of predictable plot beats, Above Suspicion has the potential to evolve into a more distinct, long-running crime drama.

Critically, the series’ reception will hinge on how it differentiates itself from its predecessor while retaining the taut, suspenseful quality viewers expect. La Plante’s reputation and Menaul’s direction provide a solid foundation, but originality remains the key challenge. The juxtaposition of procedural accuracy, the dark underworld of crime, and the psychological exploration of both perpetrator and investigator will determine whether the series becomes a memorable addition to ITV’s crime drama canon or fades into the shadows of more iconic predecessors.

In summary, Above Suspicion is a commendable, if imperfect, effort. It delivers competent performances, polished direction, and a familiar, gripping narrative. While it cannot entirely escape comparisons to Prime Suspect, it demonstrates that ITV remains committed to producing high-quality crime drama capable of engaging contemporary audiences. Fans of procedural thrillers, morally complex mysteries, and character-driven tension will find it worth watching, if only to witness Kelly Reilly stepping into the challenging role of a rookie DC navigating both the dangers of a serial killer and the pressures of a male-dominated profession.

As ITV continues to build its slate of modern crime drama, Above Suspicion represents both the promise and limitations of adapting literary crime for television. Its strengths lie in atmosphere, casting, and the procedural backbone that underpins La Plante’s storytelling, while its weaknesses — familiarity and occasional lapses in character plausibility — serve as reminders of the difficulties in balancing homage with innovation. For viewers willing to suspend disbelief and immerse themselves in the tension, it is an engaging watch — a series that may not redefine the genre but certainly reinforces ITV’s dominance in British crime television.

Above all, Above Suspicion exemplifies the enduring fascination with the intersection of gender, authority, and morality in crime fiction. It reflects a television landscape where female detectives, celebrity intrigue, and psychological tension continue to captivate audiences, ensuring that ITV remains a home for modern crime drama — a tradition spanning decades from Prime Suspect to today’s evolving narratives. Whether it will spawn sequels or simply stand as a two-part testament to La Plante’s storytelling skill remains to be seen, but it is undeniably a noteworthy addition to the British crime drama canon.