New Apple TV+ Mystery Series: Down the Cemetery Road

Apple TV+ has introduced a new mystery series titled Down the Cemetery Road, which interestingly shares a connection with the widely acclaimed spy thriller Slow Horses. Both series are adaptations of books penned by author Mick Herron.

Mick Herron is a well-regarded British novelist known for his captivating mystery and spy thrillers. His career began in 2003, and Down the Cemetery Road serves as the basis for the new show featuring Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson. The story follows Zoe Boehm (Emma Thompson), a uniquely quirky private investigator, who is drawn into a troubling case that hits close to home. Local art historian Sarah Tucker (Ruth Wilson) enlists Zoe’s husband Joe Silverman (Adam Godley) to look into the disappearance of a young girl, the sole survivor of a devastating explosion. This leads them into a complex and perilous conspiracy waiting to be uncovered.

Herron would later bring Zoe back in three more novels: The Last Voice You Hear (2004), Why Do We Die (2006), and Smoke and Whispers (2009). He eventually shifted his focus to the Slough House series, starting with Slow Horses in 2010, which quickly garnered a devoted fan base and inspired the award-winning Apple TV+ adaptation of the same name.

If you’re curious about the relationship between Down the Cemetery Road and Slow Horses, it’s understandable given their shared author. But are they set in the same universe? Here’s what you need to know.

What is Down the Cemetery Road About?

The series is set in contemporary Oxford, where Sarah Tucker, an art restorer, navigates life as a discontented suburban wife. Following a devastating explosion that destroys a nearby house, Sarah becomes increasingly fixated on Dinah, the lone survivor. Soon, she uncovers a darker plot aimed at erasing the girl’s existence and enlists the help of private investigator Joe Silverman. As events spiral, shocking developments pull Zoe further into this web of intrigue.

With its emphasis on conspiracy, is there any overlap with Slow Horses and its protagonist, River Cartwright (Jack Lowden)?

Are Down the Cemetery Road and Slow Horses Connected?

It appears that Apple TV+ hasn’t created a linked universe for these narratives—at least, not yet. Down the Cemetery Road is not directly tied to Slow Horses, despite a similar tone; the plots don’t intertwine.

This distinction also holds true in Herron’s written works. His characters in Slow Horses and a newer independent novel like Secret Time exist separately, although a collection of short stories showcases tales about Zoe Boehm and Joe Silverman alongside those of Gary Oldman’s character, Jackson Lamb. However, the characters themselves do not directly cross paths.

To sum up, as it stands, Down the Cemetery Road and Slow Horses do not share a connection.