‘Dalgliesh’ Season 2 Episode 3 recap: ‘A Certain Justice – Part 1’

The new season of Dalgliesh continued in the UK tonight!

Based on the Dalgliesh stories by P.D. James, the 1970s-set crime drama series is back for a second run on Acorn TV and Channel 5,

Bertie Carvel (Doctor Foster) reprises his role as the show’s titular Detective Chief Inspector in six brand new episodes, with guest stars including Daisy Waterstone (The Durrells), Sorcha Cusack (Father Brown), David Bamber (Flesh & Blood), and Jeremy Irvine (War Horse).

If you missed the first season of Dalgliesh, you can catch up on Acorn TV with a free 7-day trial!

Watch the Season 2 trailer here:

The first part of ‘A Certain Justice’ premiered at 9pm on Thursday 4th May 2023 on Channel 5 in the UK and is streaming on Acorn TV in the US.

Here’s a plot recap:

Dalgliesh and Miskin attend the murder scene of Rita O’Keefe, whose nephew Garry Ashe emerges as chief suspect. At his trial, defence barrister Venetia Aldridge smoothly secures an acquittal.

At the partners’ meeting in Chambers, Venetia exchanges heated words with Desmond Ulrick, Drysdale Laud and Hubert Langton (Head of Chambers but close to retirement).

Next morning, receptionist Valerie Caldwell finds Venetia dead at her desk, covered in blood. Dalgliesh inspects the crime scene. Pathologist Kynaston suspects the blood was poured over Venetia hours after she died.

They discover that Old Ulrick regularly donates blood to his son, who is a haemophiliac, but that the store he kept in the fridge has gone. Dalgliesh also ascertains that a paperknife is missing from Venetia’s office.

Miskin recovers the missing paperknife. Dalgliesh questions Carpenter, Caldwell, Langton and Drysdale. Drysdale reveals that Venetia begged him to speak to Octavia, desperate to prevent her engagement to a highly unsuitable suitor.

Miskin and new recruit Tarrant impart the tragic news to Octavia, who gets defensive. The housekeeper confirms that both she and Garry were home all night.

Dalgliesh won’t permit Miskin to treat Garry as a suspect. Edgar Froggart – a former teacher at Venetia’s father’s boys’ school – presents Dalgliesh with his copious notes on Venetia’s cases.

Dalgliesh, Miskin and Tarrant home in on Janet Carpenter as a suspect: many years ago, Venetia helped acquit a murderer called Anthony Beale who went on to kill Carpenter’s granddaughter.

Dalgliesh is available to watch on Acorn TV with a free 7-day trial.