Manhunt is based on the true story of a police investigation in South West London between 2004 and 2006. We start in Twickenham on August the 19th of 2004. A woman in white is shown strolling down the street. Later that night, a man finds her on the ground. The man tends to the woman and goes for help. Paramedics arrive a short time later. The woman passes. There is no ID and no purse. A receipt with a few handwritten phone numbers are found on the receipt. DC Clive Grace (Stephen Wight) calls the numbers. He speaks with Olivier about the woman. The man says that the woman could be Amelie. DCI Colin Sutton (Martin Clunes) gets a call from David Cobb (Cornelius Booth). Sutton learns about the murder and is assigned the case. Colin tells his daughter Kat (Anna Burnett) to call him later to let him know she is okay.

Colin tells his wife about the case. We jump to the Barnes Police Station. We learn that the victim’s name is Amelie Martine Josette Delagrange. She is 22 years old. She has been in the UK for two months. Her parents live in France. She was two streets away from her home. The boss tells Sutton and the others that there is no reason to link the murder to the killing of Marsha McDonnell. Sutton introduces himself to the crowds. Clive and Sutton both believe there could be a link to the Marsha murder. Colin speaks with Jo (Katie Lyons). He learns that one of the officers has already volunteered for CCTV duties. Andy Murphy (Peter Forbes) offers his help. He promises that he is not muscling in. He wants Richard to be Colin’s number two. Colin wants Jo Brunt.

They speak about Chris Saunders (Jay Taylor). Colin learns that he has a few doubters. In the car, Colin listens to a news report about the murder. He travels to the scene and begins giving orders right away. He talks with DC Gary Cunningham (Steve Furst). Grace arrives and tells Colin about a woman named Edel Harbison being attacked back in April. She took several blows to the head. Grace is told to find out more about the orange juice carton found at the previous scene. It could have fingerprints on it. Colin speaks with the French police. He convinces them to tell the parents in person. A man tells Colin and Jo that he saw a man hiding behind the screens nearby. He had dark hair and stubble. He claims that the individual looked a bit like Maradona. The man believes the guy was spying on his kids. Colin seems skeptical.

The man was supposedly smoking roll-ups too. Jo and Colin look near the scenes. Next, Andy speaks to the press. Andy is asked about potential links to other murders. He doesn’t want to cause panic and denies that a serial killer is about. Colin gets a call from his daughter. She tells him that she is fine. He tells her not to walk home after dark. He agrees to give her money for the cab. Then, Colin meets with DI Richard Ambrose. Colin asks him about the suspect, Taylor, in Newcastle. Then, Rob Chapman enters. Jo visits the location where Amelie worked. She asks Vanessa (Vanessa Emme) about the night before. Vanessa and Amelie went out with two friends. The post mortem investigation begins. Rob says that the wounds are squarish in shape. Amelie could have been hit with a hammer. The police hold another briefing. Clive tells them about the previous assault.

Chris tries to argue with Colin. Colin says that identifying the man who looked like Maradona is a priority. Jo tells them about Vanessa. Many of Amelie’s belongings are missing. Colin request Chris draw a picture of Amelie’s handbag. Colin contemplates where Amelie would have been walking. Andy ridicules Colin after the briefing. Colin doesn’t deny that they have limited evidence. Colin and Jo share a drink. He questions his abilities. Clive tells Colin that it looks like someone had a little spring cleaning around the property store. The juice carton has been thrown away. Later, Steve Scott speaks with Louise (Claudie Blakley) about her open cases. Andy calls and tells Colin that he is going to have to attend a community meeting. Louise tells Colin about her boss. He admits he doesn’t have much to work with.

They speak about Louise’s work as an analyst. In the morning, Colin learns that Amelie’s parents are flying in. Jo shows him the flyer they’ve made. Colin learns about Amelie’s phone pinging two minutes after she was attacked. The phone was dumped at 10:23. The suspect was in a vehicle at the time. They search for the cellphone. Colin wants the nearby river searched. The river under Walton Bridge is searched. Jones (Steffan Rhodri) calls Colin and lets him know that CCTV footage has been found of Amelie getting on the bus. The footage shows that Amelie missed her stopped. That is why she went across the green. Chris wants to stop the river search. Before he can, Amelie’s keys and CD player are retrieved from the water.

Colin assigns more men to CCTV work in hopes of spotting the suspect and his vehicle. He attends the community meeting. The police are ridiculed for not linking the crimes. Colin tries to explain everything to the group. He does so satisfactory. Andy tells him that he did well. Colin prepares to meet Amelie’s parents. Gary and Colin meet with Jean-Francois (Stephane Cornicard) and Dominque (Michele Belgrand) a short time later. Colin asks if they want to visit where Amelie died. They would. Gary agrees to take them there tomorrow. Colin returns home to his wife. They’re having a tough time selling their house. Louise tells Colin that she wants him at her brother’s wedding. She wants to do stuff on the weekends when they actually move. The parents visit the murder scene. Colin watches them mourn.

He ignores a call from Jones. Moments later, Colin learns that Jones has plotted Amelie’s journey. The footage of Amelie ends at an accountant’s office. Jo invites him to lunch. Jo wonders if they have too many on CCTV. Colin doesn’t believe so. Jones gets a hit. A suspicious white van is identified as a potential suspect vehicle. Colin doesn’t believe he is a witness. He thinks he might be a suspect. Colin cruises down the street and checks out vehicles.

 

Manhunt Review

Manhunt started off a little slow. In fact, it was a little too slow for a show that really doesn’t last 50 minutes with only 3 episodes. Nevertheless, it got good pretty quick. The acting was very good and the story was intriguing. It is always best when real elements are thrown into the mixture. I will definitely continue watching to find out what happens. At this point, I am already locked in. For that, the episode deserves a 7 out of 10.