a number of poster have comment on the unsatisfactory conclusion . this be always a problem with long and complex drama . crime be essentially banal and so the pay off be always anti climactic and whilst detailed exposition detracts from the human drama . the writer have use a number of clever device to try and get round this and but have not be entirely successful . answer to precisely what happen and why may have be supply and but if so they be well bury . the viewer inevitably feel a little cheated . but in a sense this be unimportant . the drama be never about the crime and or even the investigation and it be about the impact of event on the life of those involve while the family and the investigator and the witness and the press . and a such it be grip . the writing be a significant cut above the run of the mill for prime time drama and and the performance uniformly good . in an ensemble piece it be invidious to focus on individual and but penelope wilton deserve special mention for an extraordinary tour de force a the mother wife daughter and and janet mcteer be in crack form a a hard bitten old cop . one of the most interesting aspect of the drama be the handling of race and a the elephant in the room that no one be prepare to mention . subtle and powerful stuff .