ITV drama The Loch has been winning praise from viewers for its gripping plot, dramatic scenery and string of unexpected twists. The six-part series, originally aired on ITV in 2017, is set in a remote Scottish village where the discovery of a body marks the beginning of a terrifying nightmare.
Murder mystery in the Highlands
The Loch follows local detective Annie Redford, played by Laura Fraser, as she takes on her first murder investigation after the body of Niall Swift is discovered at the foot of Carn Mohr Mountain. Things take an even darker turn when a human heart is found on the shore of the nearby loch. As the investigation unfolds, several people in the tightly knit community come under suspicion, leaving Annie to search for a killer who could be hiding in plain sight.
The case also begins to put pressure on Annie's own family, including her husband Alan and their 18-year-old daughter Evie. Siobhan Finneran stars as DCI Lauren Quigley, while Don Gilet, best known for his role in Death in Paradise, plays forensic psychologist Blake Albrighton.
Official synopsis and viewer praise
The official ITV synopsis reads: "In a community nourished and sustained by myth and bordered by untamed nature, the search for a serial killer becomes a matter of life and death for local detective Annie Redford who is trying to cope with her first murder case. When the body of local man Niall Swift is found at the foot of Carn Mohr Mountain and an isolated human heart on the loch shore, the town’s normality is shattered and the nightmare begins. Within the tightly knit community, several local characters will come under suspicion as the monster lurking in their midst begins to terrify and rock the village to its core."
The series has earned widespread praise from critics and viewers alike, with many describing it as a "gripping" drama that left them "hooked". Taking to the movie review site IMDb, one viewer wrote: "What a fabulous drama. I found the beginning was a bit slow but once I got into it I was hooked and watched it in one go. Such a good mystery to work out...I totally got the wrong person. An absolute delight and very overwhelming. I would definitely recommend this drama to anyone."
While another stated: "I absolutely loved it! Was completely gripping and every time we thought we'd figured it out something new happened and we were back to square one! Yes it's quite formulaic but the script is excellent, the acting is fab and the scenery is stunning." Meanwhile a third said The Loch had them "second guessing" everything, as they penned: "Suspenseful moments intertwined in a mix of both fast and slow moving plot points, if you are into British crime dramas, this needs to be added to your must watch list."
Streaming now
All six episodes of The Loch are available now to stream on ITVX.
