The Field of Blood (TV series)

Lore & Background

The first series of The Field of Blood adapts the novel of the same name, set in 1982, and aired in two episodes on 8 and 9 May 2011. The plot follows a young female reporter who sees an opportunity for a riveting story when a young boy is kidnapped from a Glasgow park and later found murdered. She connects the crime to a year-old prior murder with similar characteristics and is determined to convince the police. The second series adapts the follow-up novel The Dead Hour, set later in the same decade, and was commissioned by the BBC in 2012, airing in two episodes on 8 and 9 August 2013.

Reader's Guide

The Field of Blood received mixed to positive critical reception. Time Out gave the second series four out of five stars, noting it 'slipped under the radar somewhat when it first appeared in 2011.' Sarah Hughes of The Independent observed that while the television version lacks the human frailty of the books, its strength lies in the accurate portrayal of a distant, darker time. Sarah Rainey of The Daily Telegraph also gave the second series four out of five stars, praising the bleak but authentic depiction, clever camerawork, and witty dialogue. Hughes, writing for The Guardian, called the first series 'impressive' and 'a cut above the usual summer schedule-filling fare.' However, Lucy Mangan of The Guardian said the second series was 'a waste of David Morrissey's talents.' The series was released on DVD: the first series on 5 September 2011, and a box set of both series in the United States on 30 September 2014.

Did You Know?

• The first series aired on 8 and 9 May 2011, and the second series aired on 8 and 9 August 2013.
• The series adapts two novels by Denise Mina: The Field of Blood and The Dead Hour.
• The first series was released on DVD on 5 September 2011.