The Suspect review: Aidan Turner's commanding performance anchors this uneven yet promising British crime drama

Based on Michael Robotham's bestselling 2004 novel, 'The Suspect', is a British whodunnit with psychological depth but some frustrating plot choices.

Viewers interested in crime thrillers have a special inclination towards British whodunnits, and the category deserves all the hype indeed! Its intricate plotting, atmospheric setting and psychological depth often set it apart from its action and drama-heavy counterparts, making it a go-to for the fans of its genre, especially after a lethargic day at work or on a cozy day-off. Keeping in line with this esteemed lineage, James Strong and Camilla Strøm Henriksen’s The Suspect delivers a decent series marked by mysteries, mayhem, and murders.   

Based on Michael Robotham’s novel of the same name, The Suspect is a police procedural drama starring Aidan Turner as Dr. Joe O'Loughlin, a respected clinical psychologist whose seemingly perfect life takes a fateful turn when he turns into a prime suspect in a case he was called upon to investigate.  

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The tightly packed five-episode series begins with the introduction of Dr. O'Loughlin’s efficiency as a senior psychologist treating his patients with a gentle tone and great care. He is then tasked to prevent a terminally ill teenager from jumping off a building, which he accomplishes with courage and conviction, earning him news headlines as a ‘rooftop hero’. With a loving family, successful career, and now a media profile, Dr. O'Loughlin's life appears picture perfect until an early-onset diagnosis of Parkinson's and a murder case change it all. As the police find the body of a young woman lying in a graveyard, they seek his consultation on the case, and the doctor soon finds himself entangled in the investigation and, chillingly, becomes the prime suspect when he reveals that the victim was a former patient. As a series of coincidences and mounting circumstantial evidence begin to point in his direction, Dr. O'Loughlin’s reputation, career, and freedom are put to stake, and he is compelled to race against time to uncover the truth and clear his name before it’s too late. 

The premise offered a twist on the traditional whodunit, and looked promising until the series progressed and the viewers were left with best, an average crime-thriller that lacked depth in its story and layers in its narration. After showcasing O'Loughlin as a doctor who puts his life on the line for the safety of patients, the series starts to sow seeds of suspicion in the minds of the viewers by showing signs that he might not be as noble as people think of him. The detectives DI Vince Ruiz (Shaun Parkes) and DS Riya Devi (Anjli Mohindra) handling the case, chance upon the CCTV footage of the doctor sneaking back into the morgue after the cops have shown him the corpse. He is seen caressing the victim’s arm and whispering something to her. The doctor gets in further trouble when he is confronted about withholding some information that could be crucial in solving the case. The detectives, therefore, decide not to share any more information about the case with him and in turn start suspecting him. The series of events and drama that follows next is a handbook on how not to act when you are a suspect, and how to handle an investigation as a detective. The episodes get slightly predictable and at times convoluted with other subplots that could have been easily avoided. While true crime drama fans will get a fair idea about who the culprit is by the third episode, the series still manages to hold your attention till the finale. 

The series is touted as a police procedural, but the detectives here make you question how people with such little competency were assigned such an important case. The detectives here are lazy and are rarely shown carrying out an actual investigation in the case, and instead seem to be more interested in framing O'Loughlin based on easily sourced evidence. The doctor does all the investigative work to save his life, which is stomachable, but his revealing the easy-to-access details of his connection with the victim and other aspects of the case at questionable points that deepen aspersions on his possible involvement with the murder makes the plot further unconvincing. A psychologist as sharp as O'Loughlin, who in fact understands criminal psychology would rarely make such errors in his judgement. The mistakes he commits are so frustrating that at a point you’ll feel criminals in our good’ol Crime Patrol know better than this decorated psychologist! 

This series has its flaws but it also handles themes of psychology like phobias, childhood trauma, and self-harm impressively well. It delivers just enough to be a one-time watch, and if you sit through all the episodes, it rewards your patience with a satisfying climax. The series is an out and out Aidan Turner show as he is brilliant as the troubled lead essaying a successful psychologist and a prime suspect. He portrays the two shades with so much conviction that you start questioning: Is O'Loughlin the kind therapist to criminals, or just a student of them for his illicit purposes? Shaun Parkes and Anjli Mohindra offer solid support as detectives, though their characters and purpose in the series were a tad-underwitten. Bobby Schofield, who plays O’Loughlin’s troubled patient, Bobby is impressive as well. 

Overall, The Suspect isn’t a genre-defining police procedural; it's a satisfying murder mystery packed with some interesting themes of psychology that is elevated by strong performances. 

The Suspect is now streaming on Lionsgate Play.

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