Murder in Mind

The symptoms are distressing; the diagnosis is a shock and the future a lingering, undignified and distressing death. How many of us would rather make a quick, painless exit? The vexed question of euthanasia is at the core of Mercy as Dr Collins , a country doctor married for thirty years helps his wife Margaret with a so-called assisted suicide. After suffering from what they assume to be a bout of flu, the Collins' world is turned upside down at the devastating news that Margaret Collins has been diagnosed with a rare degenerative brain disorder. With the only prospect being a long slow painful death, Margaret takes the decision to end her life, turning to her husband for his assistance. To the police, he is potentially a criminal. To the public and to the community that know him, Dr Collins is a hero. But what is the truth?

When close friends Liam, David, and Jack read in a newspaper that there is a paedophile living on their estate, they decide that it is their duty to protect the community. After a few drinks in their local pub, they pay the man a visit, with the intention of ""giving him a friendly warning"" and persuading him to leave town. But their plan goes horribly wrong when David delivers a fatal blow and, to the amazement of the three friends, the man falls dead at their feet. It is an accident, but the friends panic. Liam quickly organises a cover-up, eliminating all traces of forensic evidence from the house. He seems to be an expert in forensics. The three men arrange their alibis and go their separate ways—Liam to his nightshift as a police officer. The following day, PC Liam Taylor is assigned to assist DCI Colin Duggan in the investigation of the same suspicious death. Liam sees it as a way of keeping one step ahead. Jack's name comes up as a possible suspect and Dave is beginning to crack

Deborah is a history postgraduate student, living with three flatmates, one of whom is her long-term boyfriend James. The relationship becomes increasingly fractious as Deborah's finals draw near. Her fitful sleep is punctuated by inexplicable bouts of sleepwalking; James seems less than sympathetic. After seeing a psychologist, Deborah realises that the cause of her unease is the fact that James is having an affair. After a blazing row, he storms out and, the following morning, Deborah wakes up next to a blood-spattered claw hammer. What has she done? Could she have attacked someone in her sleep? Is she really going insane? Or has someone taken advantage of her affliction?