Considered an immigrant, common and plain, Catherine de Medici is married into the 16th century French court as an orphaned teenager expected to bring a fortune in dowry and produce many heirs, only to discover that her husband is in love with an older woman, her dowry is unpaid and she’s unable to concieve. Yet, only with her intelligence and determination, she manages to keep her marriage alive and masters the bloodsport that is the monarchy better than anyone else, ruling France for 50 years.

London Metropolitan police detective Colin Sutton tracks down a serial killer.

Jack Chambers and his wife move into their new house on the Hadleigh corner estate, only to become embroiled in a tangled web of sexual relationships and secrets involving their neighbors.

Alison Woods, deaf caterer, works to support her mother, and herself. Alison is asked by the police to lip-read conversations with dangerous criminals. Alison starts to fall for one of the suspects, but will not abandon the investigation.

Femme fatal/con artist Bridget Gregory travels to Barcelona and targets another businessman to scam him of his money while a relentless private investigator tries to track her down.