Ep 2. Silent Voices

DCI Vera Stanhope is back in action at the start of the second season of this compelling British crime drama, and this time she's investigating a case that hits particularly close to home. In the second episode of the season, titled "Silent Voices," Vera is called to investigate the suspicious death of a young woman whose body has been found in a remote area of Northumberland. As she delves deeper into the case, she finds that the woman's death is linked to a previously unsolved murder that occurred years earlier - a case that Vera herself worked on.

As Vera and her team begin to unravel the threads of the new case, they quickly realise that the victim, a young student named Joanna, was no ordinary girl. Her intelligence, her musical talents, and her fierce independence set her apart from her peers, but they also created a complex web of relationships and motivations that could all be possible motives for her murder. As Vera digs into Joanna's life, she discovers a labyrinth of secrets, lies, and betrayals that threaten to overwhelm her investigation.

One of the main threads that Vera and her team follow in their investigation is the complex relationship between Joanna and her mother. Joanna's mother, Sarah, is a well-respected doctor in the local area, but her relationship with her daughter was strained at best. As Vera delves deeper into the family's history, she discovers that Sarah had a dark secret that she was desperate to keep hidden - a secret that could hold the key to Joanna's death.

As the investigation enters its second phase, the focus shifts to a group of young men who were closely connected to Joanna. One of the main suspects is Lenny, Joanna's boyfriend, who seems to have a troubled and aggressive past. As Vera and her team dig deeper into Lenny's background, they find that he was not the only young man with a motive for murder. As the detectives begin to piece together a complex web of relationships and betrayals, they realise that the key to solving the case lies in understanding the silent voices of the people who knew Joanna best.

Ultimately, "Silent Voices" is an intense and gripping episode that highlights the strengths of Vera as a series. The investigation is complex and multi-layered, but the team of detectives who are working on the case are always one step ahead. The relationships between the main characters - Vera, her team, and the suspects - are nuanced and well-developed, creating a sense of realism and depth that is often missing from other crime dramas.

Overall, "Silent Voices" is a must-watch episode for fans of crime dramas, and a great starting point for those who are new to the world of DCI Vera Stanhope. It is a gripping and suspenseful investigation that will keep viewers engaged from start to finish, and a testament to the strong writing and performances that have made Vera one of the best crime dramas on television today.