Ep 1. Changing Tides

Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope returns for another thrilling season of crime-solving in the beautiful and rugged Northumberland countryside. In this riveting season 5 premiere, entitled "Changing Tides," Vera is called to investigate the mysterious death of a young man found on a remote North Sea island.

As the episode opens, we see Vera visiting a prison to inform a man named Johnstone that his son, Luke, has been found dead. Johnstone, a fisherman, is devastated by the news and insists that Luke wasn't involved in anything illegal. Vera promises to find out the truth and bring whoever is responsible for his son's death to justice.

Soon, Vera and her team arrive on the island of Elvet to begin their investigation. The island is home to a small community of fisherman and their families, and Vera realizes that it's going to be difficult to get information out of them. Despite their initial reluctance to talk, however, Vera is able to piece together a few key details about the victim's last moments alive.

It soon becomes clear that Luke was involved in some illegal activities, including smuggling valuable goods and working for a notorious criminal named Harry Fenton. As Vera delves deeper into Luke's background, she begins to uncover a web of lies and secrets that suggest his death was no accident.

Complicating matters is the fact that Luke's best friend, Owen, is also on the island. Owen claims to know nothing about Luke's death but it's clear that Vera doesn't fully believe him. Meanwhile, tensions on the island are rising, with the fisherman feeling the pressure of competition from larger boats and dwindling catches.

As the investigation continues, Vera and her team come up against one obstacle after another, including uncooperative suspects, a storm that makes it impossible to leave the island, and a mysterious woman who seems to be watching their every move. Despite all this, Vera is determined to solve the case and bring justice to Luke's family.

"Changing Tides" is a brilliant take on the classic murder mystery, with plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings to keep viewers guessing until the very end. The stunning Northumberland scenery serves as a backdrop to the gripping story, while Brenda Blethyn delivers another stellar performance as the sharp-witted, no-nonsense Vera. Fans of the show won't want to miss this thrilling season 5 premiere!