About the Book
Seven original radio dramas by award-winning crime writer Cath Staincliffe, featuring heir hunters, a genealogist and an undercover cop who must untangle family mysteries
Cath Staincliffe is best known as the creator of the hit TV series Blue Murder, as well as for her ‘Scott and Bailey’ books and ‘Sal Kilkenny’ crime novels. This full cast drama collection features the five gripping dramas in her ‘Legacy’ series, together with a standalone mystery and a three-part thriller, all specially written for BBC Radio.
These dramas feature a stellar line-up including Maxine Peake, Tony Mooney, William Ash, Claire Keelan, Jo Hartley, Suranne Jones, Ntombizodwa Ndlovu, Esh Alladi and Matthew McNulty.
Legacy – Ex-police officer Dan and his ruthless sister Rachel are probate detectives, tracking down the rightful heirs to unclaimed estates. As they delve into the past, they uncover long-buried secrets…
Legacy: Blood in the Mountains – When Henry Gaunt dies, Dan and Rachel trace his family tree back to the Spanish Civil War, where Henry’s father George died fighting alongside his cousin, Eric. Is Eric still alive, and could he be the heir they’re looking for?
Legacy: Eden – Digging into the records to find Gordon Willshaw’s kin, Jo and Rachel are led to 1950s Kenya and the terrible events of the Mau Mau rebellion.
Legacy: Suspicious Minds – The search for an heir to Petra Oster’s estate takes Dan and Rachel to 1980s East Berlin. It soon becomes clear that she escaped to Britain to erase her past – but what dark truths was she hiding?
Legacy: High Green Walls – Discovering that deceased 73-year-old recluse Susan Peller was once a successful artist with a twin sister, Barbara, Dan and Rachel travel to America to find her fortune and hunt for her heir.
Look Sharp – Genealogist Karen Sharp finds herself in danger – and forced to face her own fears – when she sets about untangling a family mystery.
Undercover: Close to Home – Hoping to find out what happened to Ben Curtis’s wife, who went missing a year ago, policewoman Grace goes undercover as a live-in nanny at the family home...
Credits
Written by Cath Staincliffe
Directed by Nadia Molinari
Legacy
Cast: Maxine Peake, Tony Mooney, Thomas Rolinson, Daniel Rogers, Lowri Evans, Eileen O'Brien, Fiona Clarke, Claude Close
Legacy: Blood in the Mountains
Cast: Claire Keelan, William Ash, Tom Hughes, Steven Hoyle, Russell Dixon, Eithne Browne, Russell Richardson
Legacy: Eden
Cast: Jo Hartley, William Ash, Alexandra Mathie, Olivia Cooke, Henry Devas, Yusra Warsama, Hugh Simon
Legacy: Suspicious Minds
Cast: Jo Hartley, William Ash, Conrad Nelson, Lisa Brookes, Fiona Clarke, Sarah McDonald Hughes, Jack Lord
Legacy: High Green Walls
Cast: Claire Keelan, William Ash, Russell Dixon, Kellie Shirley, Ellie Meigan Rose, Malcolm Raeburn, Jonathan Keeble, Fiona Clarke
Look Sharp
Cast: Suranne Jones, Jeff Hordley, David Hargreaves, Deborah McAndrew, Danielle Henry, Julie Westwood
Undercover: Close to Home
Cast: Ntombizodwa Ndlovu, Esh Alladi, Matthew McNulty, Bebe Massey, Tareq Al-Jeddal, Christine Bottomley, Emma Cunniffe, Kymberley Cochrane, Lula Marsh, Jessica Bellamy & Esh Alladi
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
About the Author :
Cath Staincliffe is a crime writer and author of the Sal Kilkenny private eye stories. She is also the creator and scriptwriter of Blue Murder, ITV’s hit detective drama starring Caroline Quentin, and writes the 'Scott & Bailey' books based on the popular ITV1 police series. Bill Ash was born in Texas in 1917. On the outbreak of war in 1939 he left America and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. From there, he went to England and flew Spitfires. He was shot down over occupied France in 1942 and became a PoW. Awarded an MBE for his wartime exploits, he joined the Communist party and was involved in sheltering Hollywood exiles in the '50s. He worked for the BBC as their India correspondent and subsequently as senior producer of BBC Radio Drama. At one time, Head of the Writers' Guild, he also wrote a number of plays. William Ash died on 26 April 2014.
