It has repeatedly appeared in the narratives of numerous films and television programmes. Someone who works as a criminal investigator in a city may experience an unanticipated disaster. As a result, this person gathers their belongings and relocates far from the city to a forgotten tiny town in an effort to forget their tragedy and memories, only to find oneself inexorably drawn into yet another inquiry. It’s a standard setup for many crime thrillers.
With its storyline, gritty and relatable characters, and enough twists and turns to keep viewers interested and coming back for more each week, The Chemistry of Death, a new crime thriller streaming on Paramount+, tries to distinguish out from the crowd of other similar shows.
The Chemistry of Death: The Plot
The Chemistry of Death, a widely praised work by British crime fiction author Simon Beckett, serves as the inspiration for this new series. The show only focuses on the novel with which it shares its name, despite the author having authored further books in the series that feature protagonist David Hunter.
Dr. David Hunter, a formerly well-known forensic anthropologist who has served as a consultant for the police, is introduced to us in the first episode. David makes the decision to leave everything behind and flee to the little town of Manham when a tragedy claims his family. He accepts the position of village doctor, thinking it will allow him to live a more tranquil life.
But when brothers Neil and Sam Yates, two young boys, find the dismembered body of a woman in the woods, things swiftly take an unexpected turn for the doctor. Given David’s former employment, he soon finds himself unwillingly becoming involved in the inquiry. He is battling his own inner issues through flashbacks while attempting to concentrate on the current investigation.
When he meets others in the hamlet who play some traditional small-town roles, he is trying to adjust to his new life while also aiding the police in their investigation of the murder. As a kind of mentor for David on how to fit in with small-town life, the town’s former general practitioner also provides some background information about other people and, when appropriate, cautionary statements. Henry explicitly cautions David to exercise caution with Gary Yates, the father of Neil and Sam, who is rumoured to be aggressive towards his wife, Linda, and is known to have a very short fuse. When Jenny, one of the local teachers, asks David for assistance with the two lads who discovered the body, David also gets to know Jenny.
As other women start going missing and suspicions spread throughout the community, things pick up speed. David must then work quickly to investigate the crime and apprehend the perpetrator before another victim is claimed.
The Chemistry of Death: The Cast
There are undoubtedly some famous actors playing these characters in this new programme, even though the cast may not be as impressive as others we see on other streaming services. Harry Treadaway portrays David Hunter, the show’s protagonist and lead character (Penny Dreadful and Mr. Mercedes). Jenny Krause, a teacher in a small village, asks David for assistance with the youngsters who found the dead corpse in the woods. Jeanne Goursaud, who has been in earlier series such as Barbarians (2020) and Para – We Are King, plays this character. Actor Lucian Msamati portrays Henry Maitland, the former doctor for the little community (His Dark Materials and See How They Run). Every small-town crime tale features a budding investigative reporter eager to learn the truth. The journalist for this article, Maggie Cassidy, is portrayed by Katie Leung, an actor well known for playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter films.
Amy Nuttall from Downton Abbey, Nick Blood from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Amy Manson from The Nevers and Spencer, Neve McIntosh from Doctor Who, and David Hayman all appear in this series (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas).
Release Date and Everything Else We Know
Richard Clark, who has also directed episodes of popular series like War of the Worlds (2019), Versailles (2015), and Outlander, is the show’s director (2014). One would hope that this programme, which is being produced by Matt Carver (The Descent and The Social Network) and executive produced by none other than Simon Beckett, the author of the book, will be able to stay as loyal to the original plot as possible.
You are in luck if you enjoy fictional crime thrillers if this has caught your attention. The Chemistry of Death’s first episode debuted on Paramount+ on January 12 in the US and January 19 in the UK. The six episodes of season one will be made available each week on the streaming service, though there hasn’t yet been an official confirmation for further seasons.
