Breaking up with someone is difficult, but the challenge becomes even more intense when the person simply vanishes one day, leaving behind a bloody clue—a severed finger. This is the situation Elliot finds himself in at the beginning of Dead Hot, a British murder mystery on Prime Video.
However, when a charming and alluring stranger, Will, enters his life, things seem too perfect to be true, and as expected, it soon becomes clear that there’s more to this man than meets the eye. From there, Elliot gets caught up in a series of shocking twists, characteristic of the Cobens’ style, but this time, it’s Charlotte, Harlan’s daughter, taking charge of writing and creation.
As the puzzle pieces fall into place, Elliot’s world becomes more twisted (Photo: Dead Hot/Quay Street Productions, Amazon MGM Studios)The Journey to Uncover the Truth
Elliot, with his loyal friend Jess by his side, embarks on a mission to unravel the truth behind Peter’s sudden disappearance. As the story plays, Elliot faces strange events, like death, bizarre horse parties, and even a dolphin suit, which only add to the mounting confusion surrounding Peter’s fate.
The Shocking Revelation
In the fifth episode, Elliot’s grandmother confesses that Peter visited her the day he vanished. After Bonnie admits that she paid Will to pretend to date Elliot, it is revealed that the “Brutaliser” persona was just a ruse designed to expose Elliot’s sexuality to his gran, hoping that she would stop supporting him financially in favor of Bonnie. However, Gran had already suspected the truth, thanks to Peter’s final visit.
Before Elliot can fully grasp the meaning behind Peter’s disappearance, Jess uncovers a bombshell of her own in Ireland, where she is staying with Tina. Jess discovers that Tina and Peter were never related, and it turns out that Nico, Tina’s son, is actually Peter’s child from an affair. This discovery explains the DNA match, which wasn’t a match to Peter, but to her nephew.
The Plot Thickens
In the sixth and final episode, Elliot is thrown back in time, five years ago, to the day Peter first disappeared. Gran shares a painful truth: Peter sought money from her to help raise Tina’s child, and in return, Peter promised he would leave forever.
Gran believes Tina killed Peter but couldn’t tell Elliot due to the dangerous nature of Tina’s family. The shock is too much for Elliot, and he faints.
More Unraveling Secrets
Back in the past, Peter, while concealing his affair with Tina, confides in Jess about his doubts concerning Elliot. This awkward conversation happens while Elliot is just upstairs, oblivious to what’s coming to play. Meanwhile, in the present, Tina attacks Jess, tying her up to prevent any interference in the already tense situation.
Elliot, desperate to find Jess, uses a tracking app to pinpoint her location, while a corrupt cop named Danny tries to obstruct his efforts by issuing an arrest warrant for Elliot. Meanwhile, Aunt Bonnie is involved in some extra-marital affairs that don’t add much to the main story but do leave a strange impression.
The Undercover Mission and Unexpected Encounters
In a bizarre turn, one of Danny’s criminal associates plans to kill Elliot, but in a fit of desperation, Elliot steals a dolphin costume to escape unnoticed. His friends, including Jess’s boss Raphael, wait behind while Elliot heads to the Liverpool docks to catch a speedboat to Ireland. The fisherman, however, can only take one person, forcing Elliot to go on alone.
Tina’s Past and Peter’s Death
As the chase comes to play, Tina reveals the story of how she met Peter and how their affair turned into a violent confrontation. In her rage, Tina attacked Peter, cutting off his finger before disappearing from his life.
Tina later used a DNA app to search for Peter, but when the match led to Jess, she concluded that Peter must be dead. This realization sets the stage for a dramatic fight between the two women, interrupted by an old man with a message from Elliot. Sadly, he is shot before he can finish his warning.
More Family Secrets Exposed
As the drama plays, Danny’s twisted past comes to light. Not only did he cover up Peter’s death, but he also concealed the fact that Tina murdered their father to protect her scheme to inherit his wealth.
Eventually, Danny’s dark side emerges, and he plots to kill his sister and Jess to end his involvement with the criminal family. But before he can follow through, Elliot, disguised in the dolphin suit, arrives with backup in the form of an undercover cop, Benjamin Bubble, who has been monitoring Jess for evidence.
Revenge and a Disturbing Return
Upon returning to Liverpool, Elliot discovers that Raphael, his former boss, has been orchestrating events behind the scenes, including Marvin’s reappearance.
What seems like a perfect relationship quickly unravels into a web of lies (Photo: Dead Hot/Quay Street Productions, Amazon MGM Studios)Elliot confronts Raphael and uncovers that the cat Marvin, who was supposedly the same one from his past, was part of Raphael’s revenge scheme against Elliot for their brief fling. Furious at the deception, Elliot punches Raphael and walks off with Jess.
The Shocking Truth About Gran’s Involvement
At Gran’s house, the final pieces of the puzzle come together. Gran confesses to having killed Peter in a fit of rage after he betrayed her trust. She did it to protect Elliot, shattering his heart in the process.
Jess records the confession, and together, she and Elliot prepare to turn Gran over to the authorities. The season ends with Jess and Elliot sharing a laugh, trying to move on from the emotional chaos.
The Return of Peter and More Questions
As the story wraps up, flashbacks reveal that Peter’s body wasn’t truly dead after all. Gran’s servant, Honeysuckle, was ready to bury him, but Peter survived. In the present, Peter receives news of Gran’s arrest and contemplates reaching out to Elliot. However, as Elliot and Jess dance away their pain, Peter holds back and is left to wonder why he didn’t return sooner.
The series closes with more questions than answers, leaving viewers eager for a second season to unravel the remaining mysteries. Despite all the chaos, the show’s unique approach to a gay murder mystery stands out as a refreshing and bold addition to the genre.
Dead Hot is available for streaming on Prime Video.
