Crime thriller Traces will be shown on BBC 1 early in 2021 (ie 4 Jan – 10 Jan). It promises an engaging story line set in Dundee

Traces is based on an original idea by best-selling crime writer Val McDermid (Wire In The Blood), written by Amelia Bullmore (Scott & Bailey, This Life) and set in the world of forensic science in Dundee. Emma Hedges (Molly Windsor) is returning to Dundee to start her new job as a lab technician. The night before she sets off, a fatal fire breaks out at a nightclub, Secrets. The club has been hired for a party, and the manager’s niece and another member of staff are unaccounted for.

Returning from the fire scene at the night club, Sarah Gordon (Laura Fraser), director of the Scottish Institute of Forensic Science and Anatomy (SIFA), and Kathy Torrence (Jennifer Spence), professor of forensic anthropology, meet Emma as she is leaving SIFA for the day. They hope she’s going to do the MOOC — Massive Open Online Course — designed to teach the principles of forensic science using a fictional murder case.

Emma isn’t far into the MOOC before she’s ringing her aunt Julie: it turns out that the ‘fictional’ victim in the course is her mum, Marie Monroe (Carly Anderson), who was murdered when Emma was seven. No-one has ever been convicted.

The story also involves childhood friend Skye (Jamie Marie Leary), dad Drew (John Gordon Sinclair) and Skye’s mum Izzy (Laurie Brett). You can find out more about Traces on the Alibi UK site (and we understand a second series is in the pipeline), including interviews with members of the cast. First impression is this may well be worth watching.