Roy Marsden returned once more as the gentle, poetry-writing detective Adam Dalgliesh in the latest PD James murder story to receive the TV treatment from Anglia Television.
Recently appointed to Scotland Yard’s newly-formed Sensitive Crimes Squad, the super-sleuth is called into action when Tory MP Sir Paul Berowne (Bosco Hogan) is found dead in a crypt at St Matthews Church in Paddington with his throat cut.
A homeless man is also dead in the room with him.
Berowne had been receiving poison pen letters which referred to the death of his first wife and to his shaky second marriage to Lady Barbara (Fiona Fullerton), who is having an affair with Stephen Lampart (Simon Ward). She is naturally one of the suspects, but about a dozen other suspects also have good motives, and Dalgliesh is baffled.
This time around, Dalgliesh is assisted by ambitious young Inspector Kate Miskin (Penny Downie).
The fine cast also included Dame Wendy Hiller as Sir Paul’s aristocratic mother, who will stop at nothing to protect her family. Derek Newark, Kate Buffery and Matthew Marsh were featured, as well as Avril Elgar as Emily Wharton, the lonely church worker who discovers the body and becomes a key witness in the case.
Commander Adam Dalgliesh
Roy Marsden Lady Ursula Berowne
Wendy Hiller Lady Barbara Berowne
Fiona Fullerton Inspector Kate Miskin
Penny Downie Emily Wharton
Avril Elgar Father Francis Barnes
Oliver Ford Davies Stephen Lampart
Simon Ward Darren Wilkes
Tat Whalley Ivor Garrod
Rob Spendlove Evelyn ‘Mattie’ Matlock
Gabrielle Lloyd Sarah Berowne
Kate Buffery Dominic Swayne
Matthew Marsh Gordon Halliwell
Derek Newark Theresa Nolan
Rebecca Saire Gran
Constance Chapman Insp. Nick Robins
Robin Marchal Sir Paul Berowne
Bosco Hogan Carole Washburn
Morag Hood Frank Musgrave
Geoffrey Chater
