So far, this is my favorite episode of "Vera." Adam, an 11-year-old boy, is found nearly dead by Vera when she arrives at the murder scene of his mother, Margaret Wilde. Following the footprints, she finds that the boy has fallen into the water, evidently while running away.
When the boy is well enough to talk, all he can say is that he remembers peacocks and nothing about the murder as he was "hiding." It looks as though Margaret and her son moved from place to place and were en route to Spain with 2000 pounds.
The investigation digs up Margaret's married boyfriend, Bobby, whom Vera believes is the killer. Then Adam points out Judge Patricia Carmichael as someone his mother knew. When Vera confronts her, she claims she has no knowledge of the Wildes.
It turns out that Margaret's real name was something else, and her record emerges. In that record is some information that leads Vera to the killer, and the surprising reason for Margaret's death.
Really excellent episode, with Vera's empathy for Adam making her more impatient for results than ever as she yells at her subordinates. That gruff exterior really covers up a marshmallow. Plus, Vera has health issues that she wants to brush aside, but her assistant, Joe (David Leon) won't allow it. In one humorous moment, Judge Carmichael tells Vera, referring to Joe, "If he were my assistant, I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off him." Vera replies: "Actually, it's the other way around." The Judge looks at her for a second, and then the two women burst out laughing.
Blethyn is a force to be reckoned with as Vera. This is a good quality series, but she really helps to set it apart.