Apple TV+ will stream Down Cemetery Road globally starting Wednesday, October 29, 2025, with the first two episodes releasing on that date. New installments will drop every Wednesday through December 10 (Apple, FandomWire, 9to5Mac).
Series Overview
Adapted from Mick Herron’s debut novel published in 2003, Down Cemetery Road follows private investigator Zoë Boehm (played by Emma Thompson) and her reluctant partner Sarah Tucker (Ruth Wilson). Set in a seemingly serene suburb of Oxford, the plot is set in motion when a house explosion coincides with the disappearance of a young girl. Sarah, the neighbor, pleads for help from Zoë and what begins as a search rapidly spirals into a chilling web of conspiracy, where those presumed dead may still be alive and the living are vanishing one by one (Apple).
Cast & Creative Team
- Emma Thompson portrays investigator Zoë Boehm and also serves as executive producer.
- Ruth Wilson plays Sarah Tucker, the often absorbed neighbor who drives the investigation. Additional cast includes Adeel Akhtar, Tom Goodman Hill, Adam Godley, and other familiar British talents (Wikipedia).
Creative leadership:
- Screenplay and story adaptation by Morwenna Banks, known for Slow Horses and a frequent collaborator in Mick Herron adaptations.
- Directed by Natalie Bailey (Bay of Fires), with executive producers Thompson, Banks, Herron, and the 60Forty Films team (Wikipedia).
Plot Essentials
The plot centers on the uneasy investigation into the explosion and disappearance. Zoë and Sarah uncover unexpected dead people returning, hidden conspiracies, and unravel a story that suggests danger lurks beneath suburban calm. It’s a tension rich journey through grief, deception, and moral ambiguity, steeped in the atmospheric noir stylings Herron became known for with his Zoë Boehm novels (Apple).
Mick Herron’s Evolution
- Herron debuted with Down Cemetery Road (2003), the first novel in his Zoë Boehm detective series, predating his better-known Slough House (Slow Horses) novels.
- In 2025 he received the prestigious Diamond Dagger from the Crime Writers’ Association his earlier Down Cemetery Road paved the way for his later acclaim(Globedge).
Strategic Context
- This series further extends Apple TV+’s adaptation success of Mick Herron’s work following the acclaimed Slow Horses starring Gary Oldman. With Slow Horses recently renewed for its seventh season, Down Cemetery Road absorbs Herron’s tone and approach into a standalone suburban mystery (Apple, Wikipedia, Bleeding Cool News).
- Apple has embraced a curated slate of British thrillers in fall 2025, with Down Cemetery Road debuting on the same day Slow Horses season 5 wraps building a strategic bridge between Herron series (9to5Mac).
Summary Table
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Premiere Date | October 29, 2025 (first two episodes), weekly through December 10 |
| Episodes | 8 episodes (first two released at launch) |
| Based On | Mick Herron’s Down Cemetery Road novel (Zoë Boehm series, 2003) |
| Lead Cast | Emma Thompson (Zoë Boehm), Ruth Wilson (Sarah Tucker) |
| Creative Team | Screenplay by Morwenna Banks; directed by Natalie Bailey |
| Production | 60Forty Films with Herron, Thompson & Banks as executive producers |
| Genre & Setting | Suburban British crime thriller, Oxford setting, conspiracy mystery |
Why It Matters
- All star pedigree: With Thompson and Wilson leading and Herron’s literary credibility, the series brings high expectations from literary and TV drama fans alike.
- Deep conspiracies in cozy suburbs: The collision of ordinary lives with extraordinary secrets taps into a growing interest in domestic noir and flawed human stories.
- Expansion of Herron’s TV universe: Apple TV+ continues to cultivate Herron based adaptations, consolidating its position as a go-to home for cerebral, character-driven thriller content.
Final Takeaway
Down Cemetery Road represents a bold new addition to the Apple TV+ crime thriller catalog. Anchored by powerhouse leads Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson, and rooted in Mick Herron’s nuanced storytelling, the series promises a layered mystery where the suburban veneer peels away to reveal lethal secrets and people thought long gone may be the most alive of all.
Mark your calendar for October 29, 2025: that’s when Down Cemetery Road arrives to challenge what you expect from crime drama in the shadows of an Oxford neighborhood.
