Jigsaw

A woman's remains are found dismembered and incinerated inside a small furnace at Saltdean near Brighton. The scene also contains a knife and a hacksaw, indicating a brutal disposal of the body. This grisly discovery triggers a murder investigation by two local detectives.

Two local detectives investigate a minor burglary of leases at an estate agent's office, hoping it will illuminate the crime. As they chase the odd burglary pattern, the case widens beyond the scene and points toward a possible murder in Brighton and surrounding towns. The burglary pattern becomes a keystone linking to the dead woman’s fate.

The dead woman is initially unidentified, but a suitcase with the initials JS is found at the scene. Police speculate the victim could be Jean Sherman based on the matching initials, though confirmation is still needed. The case tightens around the possibility that Sherman is connected to the murder.

The main suspect is a man who used the alias John Campbell to rent the house where the woman was discovered. His false identity becomes a central thread investigators follow to uncover motive and opportunity. The rented residence anchors the link between the crime and the persons involved.

DI Fellows visits Jean Sherman's house to obtain a name and address for a handwriting sample. The sample turns out to match handwriting found at the victim's house, providing a concrete connection to Sherman. This breakthrough pivots the investigation toward her.

The film presents flashbacks about Miss Sherman, excluding the man John Campbell from view. She recalls a one-night stand with Campbell, hinting at a possible motive rooted in a personal history. The flashbacks complicate the trail and keep Campbell's identity ambiguous.

Investigators locate and arrest a suspect described by several witnesses as the man who occupied the house. He claims to be a door-to-door salesman who was with the victim but denies murdering her, and his story initially checks out. The inquiry must sift truth from a plausible alibi.

After the dead woman is positively identified, the veteran inspector must tell her parents of the loss. The identification sharpens the focus on suspects and intensifies the emotional toll on the family. This moment marks a turning point in the case.

The lead inspector develops a 'wild idea' about another suspect named Tenby and orders a standard procedure to test the theory. The method is non-standard, reflecting the detective's willingness to bend conventional rules to get results. The aim is to uncover a hidden link that explains the murder.

Tenby is interviewed and admits knowledge of the death, but claims it was accidental. He seems confident in that account until new inconsistencies emerge. His admission widens the conflict and keeps the case unresolved.

Detectives discover Tenby has lied about buying something on a Monday bank holiday, a detail critical to supporting his accident theory. The falsified alibi undermines his entire narrative and points to a deliberate involvement. The lie becomes the turning point that challenges his credibility.

With Tenby's credibility shattered, detectives close in on him as the likely killer. The combination of challenging alibis, investigative persistence, and cross-checking leads from Brighton to Lewes and Greenwich leads to a resolution. The case demonstrates the detectives’ methodical approach and how a single false detail can unravel a murderer.