Murder in Reverse?

A Limehouse stevedore and devoted husband who fights to clear his name after a wrongful murder conviction. He is stubborn, resourceful, and single-minded in pursuing the truth behind Fred Smith’s fate. His arc centers on the tension between legal guilt and actual innocence, driving him to confront powerful figures to expose the miscarriage of justice.

Tom Masterick’s daughter who becomes entangled in the case and grows close to junior reporter Peter Rogers. She believes in her father’s innocence and is unaware of her true paternity, complicating loyalties as the investigation unfolds.

Tom Masterick’s wife who had an affair with Fred Smith. Her actions trigger the chain of events leading to Masterick’s conviction and the subsequent search for the truth. Her later poverty and separation add emotional weight to the case.

The man involved in the affair and the alleged victim of a fall that sparked the murder trial. Though presumed dead, his fate remains central to Masterick’s pursuit of exoneration and the unraveling of the case.

Tom Masterick’s close friend and newspaper editor who helped shape public opinion during the trial. He fears exposing the truth could harm Jill, illustrating the conflict between justice and protecting family.

A junior reporter who becomes involved with Jill and aids Masterick in investigating the case. His relationship with Jill and his investigative instincts connect the press to the pursuit of truth.

The prosecuting barrister at Masterick’s trial, later depicted as a judge at a dinner party. He embodies the legal rigidity and the obstacles a wrongful conviction faces when confronted with the truth years later.