Paramount+ delivers a gripping four-part series, The Serial Killer’s Wife, adapted from Alice Hunter’s 2021 novel. The story follows Beth Fairchild, a woman whose idyllic life is shattered when her husband, Tom, is arrested for murder. Set in an affluent English village, the narrative explores betrayal, deception, and the dark secrets hidden behind seemingly perfect lives. Despite some overly convenient twists, the series is a suspenseful, engaging mystery.
The series opens with Beth hosting a surprise 40th birthday party for Tom, a respected doctor and cherished community member. Their home is abuzz with friends and neighbors, celebrating the charismatic Tom. Beth, who runs a café inherited from Tom’s family, appears to be living the perfect life alongside her husband and their young daughter, Poppy. A close family friend, Adam Plummer, and his daughter, Jess, are constant presences, as Adam struggles to move past the loss of his wife, Marnie, who died a year earlier.
Annabel Scholey as Beth Fairchild and Jack Farthing as Tom (Photo: The Serial Killer’s Wife/Paramount+)The Arrest That Shakes Everything
The festive evening takes a shocking turn when police arrest Tom at his party, accusing him of murdering Katy Asquith, a young woman who worked at his hospital. The discovery of a ring with Tom’s initials on Katy’s body and his decision to fire her weeks before her death makes him a prime suspect. The arrest stuns Beth, forcing her to confront the reality that her seemingly perfect husband may have been hiding dark secrets all along.
As Beth processes Tom’s arrest, she begins uncovering unsettling truths about her husband. She finds hidden phones, revealing multiple extramarital affairs, and evidence that Katy had filed a lawsuit against Tom over her dismissal. Despite her heartbreak, Beth lies to the police, providing a false alibi for Tom to protect him. Initially driven by love and dependency, her loyalty begins to waver as her discoveries paint an increasingly troubling picture of the man she married.
While trying to piece together the truth, Beth notices a pair of earrings worn by Libby, an employee at her café, that belonged to Katy. Libby claims they were a gift from her fiancé, Ollie Turner. This discovery leads Beth to investigate Ollie, uncovering his troubling behavior. Ollie, who recently lost his job and turned to drugs, admits to stealing from Katy’s body but denies killing her. When confronted, Ollie panics and goes into hiding, raising further suspicion about his involvement in the case.
As Ollie’s mental state deteriorates, he crashes a children’s birthday party and threatens Beth, blaming her for his fiancée breaking off their engagement. The confrontation escalates when the police arrive, and Ollie takes Beth hostage. A Taser is used to subdue him, but he falls and dies from the impact. Before his death, Ollie claims he saw Tom at the scene of Katy’s murder, casting doubt on Tom’s innocence and leaving Beth more conflicted than ever.
Annabel Scholey as Beth Fairchild and Jack Farthing as Tom (Photo: The Serial Killer’s Wife/Paramount+)Unraveling Tom’s Past
Detective Inspector Aline Edgeworth refuses to close the case despite Ollie’s death. Her investigation reveals links between Tom and other unsolved murders, including one involving a woman named Phoebe Alderton. Evidence suggests Tom frequented an exclusive sex club, The Vault, where he met Phoebe and Beth years earlier. This discovery ties Tom to a pattern of suspicious behavior and potential involvement in past crimes, further complicating his case.
Beth uncovers a disturbing video showing Adam’s wife, Marnie, dying of an allergic reaction while someone films her without help. Beth suspects Tom was involved, but as she delves deeper, she discovers evidence implicating Adam. Driven by anger and jealousy over Marnie’s affair with Tom, Adam allows her to die. Further investigation reveals Adam’s role in manipulating events to frame Tom, including planting evidence and using his charm to deflect suspicion.
Beth’s search through Adam’s belongings uncovers photographs of murder victims and evidence of his long-standing jealousy toward Tom. Adam’s knowledge of Tom’s infidelities, including fathering Jess, fueled his resentment. His calculated actions to frame Tom for the murders and ruin his life reveal a chilling, sociopathic nature. Adam’s crimes make it clear that he is responsible for far more than Marnie’s death, creating a web of deceit that entangles everyone around him.
Rather than reporting Adam’s crimes to the authorities, Beth takes matters into her own hands. During a walk by the cliffs, she confronts Adam about his murders and pushes him off the edge, killing him instantly. This act of vigilante justice stems from her desire to protect her daughter, Poppy, and Jess from the dangerous men who have destroyed their family. Beth stages Adam’s death as an accident, ensuring she remains free to raise the children on her own terms.
Although Beth learns the full truth about Adam, she decides not to exonerate Tom. She destroys evidence that could clear his name, ensuring he remains in prison. Beth’s decision is driven by her anger over Tom’s years of lies and infidelity, as well as his role in the emotional devastation of their lives. In her view, Tom deserves to be punished for his actions, even if he is not guilty of the murders.
As the series concludes, Beth prepares to start a new life with her children, free from the chaos caused by Tom and Adam. A year after Tom’s disappearance, a mid-credits scene hints at the possibility of new developments. Jules, Tom’s ex-wife, visits him in prison, suggesting that she may have found a way to challenge his conviction. Whether this sets the stage for a second season or remains unresolved, The Serial Killer’s Wife leaves viewers with a haunting exploration of trust, betrayal, and the lengths people go to for survival.
