DCI Banks

Xun Li, a hard-working and devoted husband, makes a speech at a rally for Lanternlight – a charity supporting Chinese nationals like himself who fled persecution only to find themselves at risk from ruthless protection gangs in the UK. After the rally he finishes some work at his property rental business, calling wife Rachel as he walks to his car to head home – but he never makes it as a masked figure pepper-sprays him, bundles him into a car and speeds off.

The murder of Xun Li hits the team hard. This case is more complicated than they first thought, and it's not necessarily connected to the kidnapping. Given there are no indications of forced entry, all early signs point to Xun knowing his murderer. But Xun was also targeting protection gangs and so their boss, the formidable Wendy Xiao, is a prime suspect. And then there's Xun's property rental business – a disgruntled tenant may have an axe to grind.

Banks and the team begin the painful job of finding out exactly who was responsible for the incident that has affected all their lives.

Following dogged police work, they locate and close in on a suspect, only to be thwarted when it's proven there's no way they are to blame. While Chief Superintendent Anderson puts pressure on Helen to reign in Banks and close the case, Banks becomes increasingly certain that this is all down to one man – crime boss Steve Richards. Banks' obsession with nailing Richards sends him over the edge, resulting in Anderson exiling him from the station and making Helen acting DCI in his stead.

Having been thrust into a dark place from where it looks like there is no coming back, Banks' mission to solve Annie's murder is made all the harder by the fact he has been taken off the case and sent on gardening leave – but that won't stop him. While his old team struggle, Banks operates for the first time on the other side of the law, using his years of experience, wits and wisdom to secure the all-important break-through. It finally looks like Banks has done the impossible and is on the verge of bringing crime boss Steve Richards to justice when the case takes an unexpected twist, sending Banks and the team back to square one. Will Banks be able to come out on top after an explosive confrontation with Richards – he needs to try and begin to rebuild his shattered world.