Cold River

There was a moment where Vera is standing on the Quay looking at the Baltic Centre. I realised, hold on I have stood at that exact same spot as her.

Vera stays on the Newcastle beat in this episode. A party on the Tyne ends in death.

Lisa Varsey is a successful businesswoman who runs a beauty salon business. The lavish party thrown on a boat leads to the discovery of the body of her sister, Dani in the river. Initially it looks like an accident but the forensic evidence indicates that she was murdered.

Vera at first suspects that something might be rotten in the tight knit family. Lisa's husband Ross has paid people off in the past for being a sex pest.

Then there is the boat company that organises the parties. It was bought out by a new owner who expected the money to flood in.

An insurance company that does not seem to exist but offers well paid jobs, makes Vera think that money laundering might had been involved. Something the dead woman had found out about.

Vera makes a breakthrough with a fingerprint from another unsolved murder.

There are a lots of twists and turns here, some very good location shooting in Newcastle. I think this episode worked much better than the previous stories in this series.

This is one of the best written and best directed episodes ever. The entire police team works together on this one. every character plays a part. I thoroughly enjoy able from beginning to end.

I remember Elizabeth Berrington from a guest starring role in an episode of New Tricks, and here she shines in a murder mystery which kept me guessing until the end. Elizabeth Chan plays a crucial role which puts context to the murder. However I was kind of expecting a deus ex machina towards the end, with some kind of Vera-esque reveal that turned all assumptions on its head. But not to be, and the ending was kind of procedural. Still, any Vera is better than none.

Series 9 finally gets started. A strong cript and good acting engages with audience The usual smoke and mirrors leaves the viewers all at sea until the closing scenes

Series 9 thus far has been terrific, and Cold River is another brilliant episode, three in a row, let's how The Seagull is a fitting send off to the series.

I loved the story, I loved the dramatic opening scenes, really got me hooked immediately. The story was compelling and deep, I really had no idea what was going to happen, until the end.

Very well produced, slick direction, the scenes aboard the ship looked really good, some terrific characters, Vera's scenes with new mortician Malcolm Donahue were awesome, he has been a fabulous addition, and I hope he stays on. Vera's scenes with the eventual killer were terrific, she has so much gravitas in the role. Elizabeth Berrington and Patrick Baladi were terrific, the show seems to be opting for more high profile actors, possibly.

I would have to question why everyone's solicitors are so quiet, never in the real world would they sit in sheer silence, they do need to address that in the future.