DCI Ellis is the last hope for failing investigations; she takes over tough cases across northern England, often with resistance from local police; her formidable demeanor disguises deep empathy fuelled by her complicated past.
After two newlyweds vanish near a dangerous stretch of river, intrusive internet sleuths descend on the area and overwhelm the local police; when it becomes clear the pair met with foul play, Ellis and Harper delve into the village's tangled past.
Ellis takes charge of a police station in turmoil; the head of a major crime gang has been arrested, the DCI is on leave for stress and a female detective has disappeared, days before she is to submit a complaint of bullying against her colleagues.
After a murder and a disappearance, the police call in DCI Ellis to take over the case and assign DS Harper to keep an eye on her; Ellis soon realizes that the parents in this town know little about their kids' lives.
