Ep 4. The Blanket Mire

In the fourth episode of season 7 of Vera, titled "The Blanket Mire," detective Vera Stanhope is called to investigate the death of a young wildlife ranger, Gemma Wyatt. Gemma was found dead in the Blanket Mire, a desolate and boggy stretch of land on the Northumberland coast. Her death is initially ruled as accidental, but Vera believes there is more to the story than meets the eye.

As Vera begins to dig deeper into Gemma's life, she discovers that the young ranger was working on a project to reintroduce red squirrels to the area, which had been facing extinction due to competition from invasive grey squirrels. Gemma had also recently ended a tumultuous relationship with her boyfriend, Jack, who is initially suspected of the murder.

However, as the investigation progresses, Vera's attention turns to other suspects, including Gemma's coworker, who may have had a motive for wanting her out of the way, and a group of local activists who are opposed to the squirrel reintroduction project.

As Vera and her team navigate the treacherous terrain of the Blanket Mire, they must untangle the web of lies and secrets that surround Gemma's death in order to bring her killer to justice.

The episode also delves into Vera's personal life, as she struggles to come to terms with her father's declining health and the realization that she may not have much time left with him. This adds another layer of complexity to the episode, as Vera must confront her own mortality while also trying to solve a difficult case.

Overall, "The Blanket Mire" is a thrilling and emotionally charged episode of Vera, which explores themes of loss, grief, and redemption, and showcases the talents of its talented cast and crew.