Town on Trial

Molly Stevens moves through the posh Oakley Park club, drawing both interest from the men and animosity from the women. Her flirty charm creates a buzzing, tense atmosphere that hints at trouble ahead. The club's social maze sets the stage for later revelations.

Shortly after the night at the club, Molly Stevens is found dead, strangled with a stocking. The murder shocks the close-knit community and triggers a formal investigation. The scene shifts from social intrigue to a police inquiry.

The local police chief asks for help from Scotland Yard, and Detective Superintendent Mike Halloran is dispatched to lead the inquiry. He encounters hostility from locals who resent an outsider meddling in their affairs. The investigation pivots from gossip to methodical police work.

A book of love poems is found in Molly's flat, including an inscription from Peter Crowley. The find hints at intimate connections and possible suspects among Molly's circle. The discovery broadens the scope of the investigation beyond surface motives.

A photograph shows Molly among a group including Fiona Dixon, a young woman from the prominent Dixon family. The image exposes social ties that complicate loyalties and potential motives. Halloran notes these relationships could influence how people respond to the murder.

Mark Roper, the club secretary, denies involvement and claims he gave nurse Elizabeth Fenner a lift when Molly was murdered. Fiona Dixon's father, a powerful figure in the community, resists Halloran's attempts to question his daughter about Molly, adding pressure to the investigation. The alibi and family pressure complicate the case.

The coroner confirms that Molly was two months pregnant, which heightens the stakes and potential motives. Halloran questions Dr. John Fenner about why this detail wasn't reported earlier, and Fenner explains he wanted to avoid a scandal for Roper and the club. The revelation unsettles the town and reshapes suspects' incentives.

Elizabeth Fenner initially confirms Roper's lift, but her statements later reveal a lie used to protect her uncle's reputation. Her testimony exposes a web of Toronto past secrets and a misdiagnosis tragedy that locals are unaware of. Roper uses these secrets to manipulate those around him.

Halloran reveals that Roper has no wartime heroics to boast about and was a lowly ground crew member who was dishonorably discharged after theft. He is revealed as a man in debt who uses lies to maintain appearances. The club's confidence starts to crumble as the truth comes to light.

The club demands Roper's resignation as tensions rise. He attends a party, becomes intoxicated, and starts a fight, displaying a volatile side that undermines his exculpatory alibis. The social circle's machinations intensify as accusations mount.

Fiona is ambushed and strangled, her body later hidden in the boot of Dr. Fenner's car. Halloran pieces together the timeline, linking the night’s events to the broader network of secrets. The crime escalates the stakes and tightens the investigation's grip on the club's insiders.

Peter Crowley, a man with schizophrenia, flees to a church and climbs to the top of the steeple, threatening self-harm. Halloran climbs after him, risking his own life to prevent a tragedy. A fire brigade rescues them just as they are about to fall.