A Macabre Trail of Clues Unravels in 'The Chemistry of Death' on Paramount+

A Macabre Trail of Clues Unravels in The Chemistry of Death on Paramount+

The adaptation of Simon Beckett's popular psychological thriller is in production now.

the chemistry of death on paramount plus — Photo Credit: Eilis Garvey/Unsplash

In 2006, British journalist and author Simon Beckett published The Chemistry of Death, the first in his David Hunter Thrillers series. The novel follows forensic pathologist Dr. David Hunter. Three years prior to the start of the story, he tragically lost his wife and daughter. He gave up his work in criminal forensics to leave London and settle down with a simple life as a doctor in the rural Norfolk village of Manham. But when a woman is found dead in the wood, decorated with a disturbing calling card from her killer, David struggles to stay out of the investigation. Until his involvement becomes necessary, as his status as a newcomer colors him with suspicion in the village.

Before long, a third victim disappears—a victim which makes the case all too personal for David. The missing woman is someone who, against all odds, managed to get close to David and touch his heart. Now as the countryside erupts in a flurry of fear, David feels the darkness creeping in around him. He's left with a killer's twisted methods, the ghastly trail of clues, and a quickly-ticking clock marking the end of the young woman's life.

Now Paramount+ is bringing this psychological thriller to life on the small screen.

While there's been no release date confirmed for The Chemistry of Death series, filming on the project began in early May in Glasgow and Norfolk. Scheduled for 15 weeks of shooting, early reports suggest audiences can expect to see the finished project sometime in 2024. Each of these initial six episodes will have a runtime of roughly 60 minutes—with the first series featuring the characters and storylines of Chemistry of Death and Written in Bone.

While details on the series are sparse, we know that BAFTA-winning screenwriter Sukey Venables Fisher is in charge of the script, which Richard R. Clark—known for Outlander and War of the Worlds—is the director. The cast has been revealed to include Harry Treadaway (Penny Dreadful), Katie Leung (The Peripheral), Jeanne Goursaud (Barbarians), Nick Blood (Close to Me), Amy Nuttall (Downton Abbey), David Hayman (Top Boy) and Hardy Krüger Jr. (Uppercut).

As we all await more news on this exciting adaptation, catch up on Simon Beckett's heart-pounding David Hunter series, including his new release, The Scent of Death.