If you’re after a twisty crime thriller to add to your watchlist, look no further than ITV’s The Only Suspect, which is based on Louise Candlish’s novel of the same name.
There’s nothing like a suspenseful, propulsive thriller to keep us teetering on the edge of our seats, especially when it’s a story written by British author and queen of crime Louise Candlish, who has penned titles like Our House, The Other Passenger and A Neighbour’s Guide To Murder.
Now, the award-winning writer’s bestselling novel The Only Suspect is due to be adapted for screen by ITV – and it promises a tense plot where sinister secrets lie underneath the surface.
Fresh off his turn in Grey’s Anatomy, actor Kevin McKidd is hanging up his scrubs and stepping into the starring role of Alex, while Simon Ashdown (Trigger Point) has adapted the script from Candlish’s original novel.
What is The Only Suspect about?
The show is set in a leafy London suburb and follows Alex and Beth, a devoted couple whose picture-perfect suburban life hides a devastating truth.
Moving between the present day and mid-90s Camden (at the height of Cool Britannia), the story opens during the sweltering summer of 1995, where we find a young man burying a body during a violent storm – cue the sinister music now. The identity of the victim and how they met their end remains a mystery, but it’s the tantalising thread that finds its way through the narrative as past and present collide.
Jumping ahead 30 years later, another heatwave grips a very different world. The abandoned railway track where the body was hidden, which runs behind Alex and Beth’s street, is being transformed into a nature trail – a project that is spearheaded by none other than Beth herself. What is considered a triumph for the neighbourhood instead threatens catastrophe for Alex – because Alex is the young man who buried the body.
The synopsis continues: “Having spent decades living under an assumed name, Alex now faces the unravelling of everything he has built. As diggers prepare to break ground on the very spot where his secret lies, his carefully constructed life spirals – and he must decide how far he is willing to go to keep the truth buried.
“A gripping, twisting thriller, The Only Suspect explores obsession, deception, betrayal, the consequences of the recklessness of youth and secrets that refuse to stay hidden. Based on the novel by bestselling author Louise Candlish, Simon Ashdown’s script is packed full of Candlish’s trademark whiplash plot twists and turns that keep viewers enthralled, delivering an intoxicating blend of emotional punch and edge-of-your-seat tension, highlighting two starkly contrasting eras.”
What have the creatives said about The Only Suspect?
Speaking about his upcoming role, Kevin McKidd said: “Working with ITV on The Only Suspect feels like coming home for me. As an actor, the complex and multilayered role of Alex is exciting to explore and I can’t wait to collaborate with [director Farren Blackburn], the whole team at Red Planet Pictures and an amazing ensemble of great British actors.”
As for what viewers can expect? ITV drama commissioner Huw Kennair-Jones added: “Simon Ashdown has woven a thrilling story from Louise Candlish’s bestselling novel that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Brilliantly produced by the team at Red Planet, The Only Suspect promises to deliver a gripping story full of shocking revelations and twists. It promises to be a real treat for the ITV and ITVX audience.”
Filming for the series began in London this spring, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed for an early 2027 release.