Michael Polly (played by the talented and versatile British actor David Morrissey) is headmaster at an elite private school in Bristol. He’s a stickler for rules and pulls no punches when it comes to discipling a student. When he took the job, his predecessor warned him not to let the job define him. Michael listened, but never took that advice. The strict rules he laid down at school infiltrated his marriage, damaging his relationships with his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Alana, both who also teach at the school.

Coming home from school one day, Michael finds Sarah gone, her car keys still in the bowl by the door, her mobile under her bed. Alana becomes alarmed and wants to call the police. Michael resists, insisting that Sarah is probably just out for a walk and will return. But when Sarah doesn’t show up at the school, they notify the police. DS Annie Cassidy (Eve Myles) interviews Michael and is confused by his attitude. He treats the situation lightly, not showing any emotion. He insists on going back to work and keeping Sarah’s disappearance from the rest of the school’s staff.

Eve Myles as Annie Cassidy

That charade quickly ends when Sally’s body is found in the woods near the headmaster’s house. An accident is ruled out by the medical examiner who says Sally was strangled. Michael is now the prime suspect and even Alana begins to question her father’s innocence.

This case is the second Annie worked that began with a missing woman. That first case is still cold and Annie carries the guilt at failing to give the family closure. This time she has a body, but her superior, not trusting Annie’s instincts, assigns her the backseat role as the FLO – family liaison officer. Annie, however, continues to investigate while using her proximity to Michael and Alana as an opportunity to delve into the family’s dynamics.

Annie is under stress at work, but her personal life is a mess, too. She’s separated from her husband, Craig, also with the Bristol police. They’ve been getting together for dates, trying to explore whether their marriage has any hope of surviving. But whenever Annie has to cancel a date, Craig accuses her of playing games and becomes violent. Annie’s best friend on the force, DC Becky Hammond (Jennifer Macbeth) keeps warning Annie not to fall into Craig’s trap. Will she take Becky’s advice?

Another suspect soon turns up, the father of one of the boys at the school. Stephen Sedgwick (Elliot Cowan) was close to Sarah. Were they having an affair? Did he kill her because she wanted to end the relationship? Michael, however, is not in the clear. If he thought his wife was having an affair, would he have killed her?

David Morrissey as Michael Polly

Unfortunately, Stephen’s son, Dylan (an excellent Billy Barratt), the school’s best rugby player, gets dragged into the drama. His academic performance is suffering and he may not be able to play in the championship game. His teammates, rather than being supportive, are bullying him because of his father’s exploits. And Stephen’s wife is angry, too. The list of suspects grows.

The tough exterior Michael’s honed as a headmaster dominated his behavior at home. He keeps telling Annie he’s responsible for Sarah’s death because his cold manner drove her away. As the investigation drags on, he attempts to change course, apologizing to his daughter and to some of his students. Stage and screen actor Morrissey is brilliant as Michael, slowly transforming from the arrogant headmaster into a man searching for redemption. But is it too late?

Myles is a counterpoint to Michael. While Annie’s investigative skills are sharp, it’s her ability to relate to others, even someone she may suspect is a killer. This is the first time I’ve seen Myles in a series and will look for her other performances. She’s one to watch.

The six episodes proceed at a slow pace giving ample time for the watcher to identify the killer. The ending doesn’t disappoint.

Gone is now streaming on Brit Box

Photos courtesy of Brit Box