‘A Crime Drama for Shetland Fans’: Why From Darkness Is the Perfect Four-Part Thriller to Binge-Watch

Fans of Shetland looking for their next gripping crime drama may have found the perfect replacement. With a haunting Scottish setting, a complex female lead and a killer who seems determined to reopen old wounds, From Darkness delivers a tense, twist-filled mystery that keeps viewers guessing until the end.

Starring Anne-Marie Duff, the four-part crime series follows a former police officer whose attempt to leave a troubled past behind takes an unsettling turn when a decades-old missing persons case resurfaces. Blending a chilling investigation with complicated relationships and buried secrets, the drama offers plenty to keep crime fans hooked.

Originally broadcast on the BBC in 2015, From Darkness is available to stream on U this week. Here’s everything you need to know about the story, cast and where to watch it.

What Is From Darkness About?

At the centre of From Darkness is Claire Church, played by Anne-Marie Duff, a former Greater Manchester police officer who has traded the pressures of her old career for a quieter life in the remote Western Isles.

A keen runner, Claire has moved away from Manchester with her daughter and her partner, Norrie Duncan (Richard Rankin), hoping to put a painful chapter of her life behind her. For a while, the peaceful surroundings offer the fresh start she has been looking for.

That tranquillity is shattered when human remains are discovered on a building site in her former police area. The bodies are connected to a 1998 investigation involving the disappearance of several women, a case that has haunted Claire for years.

Her former partner, DCI John Hind (Johnny Harris), contacts her as the investigation gathers momentum. Claire must now decide whether to return to the world she left behind or remain on the island with her family and try to protect the life she has built.

The stakes rise dramatically when the elusive killer strikes again. In a particularly sinister move, the murderer leaves Claire a message by writing her old police badge number on the victim’s body, making it clear that the past is far from finished with her.

As Claire becomes increasingly involved in the hunt, the mystery grows more personal. Her unresolved feelings for John complicate matters, while a shocking revelation about her own past leaves him reeling.

With another murder to prevent and old secrets threatening to come to light, Claire faces two pressing questions: can she and John finally bring the killer to justice, and will she ever escape the memories that have followed her for so long?

Anne-Marie Duff on Playing Claire Church

Anne-Marie Duff, known for her roles in Shameless and Bad Sisters, brings a compelling mix of vulnerability and determination to Claire. Rather than portraying a conventional hard-edged detective, the series presents a woman struggling with the emotional consequences of her past.

Speaking to the BBC about the role, Duff explained that she was drawn to the idea of playing someone who was constantly trying to escape something within herself.

She described Claire’s struggle as an internal pursuit, with her unresolved troubles never quite letting her go. The character’s running, in particular, became a powerful reflection of that ongoing battle.

Duff also found the psychological idea of repressed experiences returning to the surface especially interesting. For her, Claire’s constant movement captured the sense of someone who could run from her demons but could never entirely outrun them.

That inner conflict gives the series an added layer of tension, making Claire’s personal journey just as absorbing as the investigation itself.

Who Is in the Cast of From Darkness?

Alongside Anne-Marie Duff, From Darkness features a cast of familiar television faces, with the central mystery unfolding through a mix of professional relationships, family ties and complicated personal histories.

The main cast includes:

• Anne-Marie Duff as Claire Church (Bad Sisters, The Virgin Queen)
• Johnny Harris as John Hind (Legends)
• Richard Rankin as Norrie Duncan (Burnt)
• Luke Newberry as Anthony Boyce (In the Flesh)
• Caroline Lee Johnson as Lola (Chef!)
• Lyndsey Marshal as Lucy Maxley (Restless)
• Ben Batt as Chris Templeton (Toxic Town)
• Naomi Ryan as Rosanna Templeton (Doctor Who)
• Jim Cartwright as Roy Marsh (Road)
• Cora Tsang as Megan Duncan (Outlander)
• Leanne Best as Julie Hind (A Woman of Substance)

Is From Darkness Worth Watching?

If Shetland is your kind of crime drama, From Darkness is well worth adding to your watchlist.

The series captures much of what makes the Scottish crime genre so appealing, from its atmospheric landscapes to its emotionally complex investigation. Claire Church is a particularly engaging lead, with an empathetic quality that recalls DS Tosh from Shetland.

Duff’s performance is a major part of the show’s appeal. Instead of relying on the familiar image of a gruff, hardened detective, she portrays a woman whose professional instincts are complicated by personal pain and a deep desire to move forward. Claire is determined to escape her past, yet the investigation forces her to confront the very things she has tried hardest to forget.

Her relationships add another compelling dimension to the story. Norrie, her current partner, represents the security and stability she has been seeking in her new life. John, meanwhile, is tied to the turbulent history she hoped to leave behind. The contrast between the two men creates an emotional dilemma that runs alongside the murder investigation.

With its four-episode format, tense cat-and-mouse storyline and secrets that gradually come to light, From Darkness is an appealing choice for viewers who enjoy crime dramas with as much emotional depth as mystery. Its combination of suspense, atmosphere and complicated characters makes it an especially strong recommendation for Shetland fans.

Where Can You Watch From Darkness?

You can stream From Darkness on U.

Originally shown on the BBC in 2015, the four-part series is a convenient option for anyone looking for a complete crime story to settle into over a few evenings.

What Other Crime Dramas Should You Watch?

If you’ve already watched From Darkness or simply want another mystery to get stuck into, there are other crime dramas worth exploring, depending on how dark you like your viewing.

Mrs Sidhu Investigates

For something lighter and more comforting, try Mrs Sidhu Investigates, the Channel 4 series starring Meera Syal.

Syal plays Mrs Sidhu, an accomplished caterer who turns her attention to solving mysteries in her local town. Combining everyday community life with intriguing cases, the series offers a gentler alternative to the darker atmosphere of From Darkness.

The Marnow Murders

If you prefer your crime dramas with a darker edge, The Marnow Murders is another series to consider.

Set in Schwerin, Germany, the atmospheric drama follows detectives Lona Mendt (Petra Schmidt-Schaller) and Frank Elling (Sascha Alexander Geršak) as they work together to investigate murder cases.

With its sombre setting and focus on criminal investigations, the series offers a fitting alternative for viewers drawn to the more unsettling side of the genre.

Whether you’re drawn to the emotional complexity of From Darkness, the cosier mysteries of Mrs Sidhu Investigates or the darker investigations of The Marnow Murders, there’s plenty to explore once you’re ready for your next crime drama.