Silk

Having just won an important case, Martha Costello is given two new cases for the next day, with a chance of getting a good reference for her Silk application. Under huge time pressure, she has to prepare overnight. But will she be able to satisfy both the personal and the professional demands placed on her? Or will she be forced to sacrifice one case in order to win the other?

In an effort to boost her application, Costello accepts a rape case, against her better judgement. Even worse, Reader is prosecuting her client and delights in riling Costello. As the case draws to a close, Costello begins to realise that things aren't always black and white, especially when she makes a startling discovery.

Costello defends a vulnerable teenager and the pupils are given their first opportunity to stand up in court, taking on a low-level magistrates' case. However, as the cases progress, both Costello and protégé Nick Slade find themselves in challenging positions. Can Costello defend her client without endangering not only her Silk application, but also her career?

Costello is now a QC, but she learns fast that it can be lonely at the top. At Shoe Lane Chambers, times are tough, and senior clerk Billy Lamb struggles to keep things afloat while Reader tries to be stoic about his unsuccessful Silk application. Costello is defending Brendan Kay, a member of one of London's biggest crime outfits, accused of blinding a man who allegedly disrespected their 'number two'. Costello's job is further complicated as Kay's solicitor, Micky Joy, is an old school player of the system who walks both sides of the line. Also up against notorious QC Caroline Warwick, nicknamed Lady MacBeth for her uncompromising approach, Costello feels herself pulled by the various political forces around her, and realises to win she will need an all or nothing defence. Meanwhile, Reader undertakes a sensitive case with new solicitor George Duggan.

Costello represents Captain Ed Ryan in a court-martial. He's accused of disobeying direct orders, resulting in the death of a 19-year-old private. Under the watchful eyes of a distraught family who want answers, Costello navigates the army's legal system with the help of Captain Cassidy, Ryan's unit defence officer. Doggedly seeking the truth, Costello slowly peels back the layers of past and present wounds, revealing the shocking reality of modern combat. Meanwhile, temptation is never far away for Reader, who is warned by Lamb to keep his relationship with Duggan purely professional.

Reader is in Oxford, prosecuting three students accused of sexually assaulting a waitress. Up against an intimidating defence counsel, he begins to waver, but a chance encounter with an old friend helps him discover a passion for prosecuting he didn't know he still had. When the case is in danger of collapsing, Reader is faced with one of the biggest decisions of his career. Meanwhile, Costello defends Ricky Armitage, who trashed his local mini-mart and attacked the shopkeep. His level of violence and lack of remorse is astounding, yet Costello tries to divert the self-destructive path that the young man was fated to walk.

Now a QC, Reader celebrates with friends and colleagues but festivities are paused when Cowdrey's son is arrested on suspicion of a policeman's murder, while Costello hits the bottle after an Inspector lies in court to frame her client.

Costello defends footballer Jordan Sinclair, who has attacked fellow player Dean Trent on the pitch in front of thousands – with Reader prosecuting. Just before court, Costello learns that Sinclair has recently fallen afoul of smug manager Ben Madden, who appears to have coached Trent into needling him.

Costello is engaged by euthanasia campaigner and solicitor Aisha Wiseman to defend Sarah Stephens, accused of helping her tetraplegic daughter to die. Reader is prosecuting and brings in Sarah's ex-husband and their teensge son as witnesses. Whilst two expert witnesses appear to endorse this and Sarah's defensive attitude towards her family make her less than cooperative, Costello realises that she may be covering for somebody else.

A small gang of serial killers catches and kills very young and lonely women, records the actual killing on video-tape, and posts these videos to snuff-addicts.

Even if the leader of the serial killer has lost his very most active gang member he cannot stop his urge to kill.

The local leader of the Mob, Donnie 'Dogs' DiBarto, asks Rita Lance to have dinner with him and his father as his fiancée to make his death-sick and law-abiding father a happy man.

A novelist's assistant is murdered. Chris and Rita encounter the deceitful world of publishing when the novelist, Jackie McMillan, and her drunken husband become prime suspects.

A model is murdered. At the request of Paul Clifton, the model's ex-husband and photographer, Rita meets with him at his home. He puts her in a compromising position when he makes her lunch and takes a picture of her. When this picture is delivered to the police department, Chris and Captain Lipschitz begin to question Rita's ability to be objective.

After a pimp is murdered, two of his employees become suspects. Chris becomes involved with one of the suspects, Maddie, a hooker who is raising her teenage brother. Rita begins to doubt Chris's objectivity as he becomes closer to Maddie.

A woman's split personality gives life to a murderous ventriloquist's dummy.

Tom and Cassy' s investigation into the murder of a TV news director leads them to suspect both a prominent reporter and her assistant.

Tom and Cassy pursue a well known romance novelist who they suspect in a string of murders.