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DCI Jane Tennison has paid her dues; she has risen through the ranks of the various branches of London's Metropolitan Police, attaining the heretofore unheard rank (for women) of Detective Chief Inspector. But, it is not until the heart attack and death of the popular DCI John Shefford that Jane gets to lead a murder investigation. She expects bad attitudes and bravado from colleagues (and superiors) but she is determined to do her job. In her first hour on the case, Jane demonstrates how DCI Shefford misidentified the murder victim and this enrages her new team; one accuses her of attacking the reputation of their dead comrade. A few of the "boys" try to sabotage their new team leader, but eventually, by doing her job and brooking no nonsense, Jane earns grudging respect from some of her officers. Like the murder inquiry, DCI Tennison is neither as simple nor as obvious as her detractors wish to think.

In the opening series, D.C.I. Tennison seizes the opportunity to head a murder investigation--something she should have done long ago, had she not been passed over by her male superiors time and again. With a suspect already identified and her own team openly hostile, she uncovers errors and conflicting facts that point to a cover-up within the force. Is this a single murder or the latest act of a serial killer? Tennison refuses to back off the investigation.