Plot Synopsis

Nicknamed "The Escape Artist" because of his ability to spring the obviously guilty, defense lawyer Will Burton is given a case that finally challenges him -- and may even end his career. Will is ranked as the top young criminal lawyer in the UK and he's destined for the honor of Queen's Counsel -- as soon as he finds the time to apply for it. He works by the simple mantra that everyone deserves a defense, allowing his genius to blossom without being impeded by conscience. Will's brilliance does however sometimes fall short in his private life. Even so, he loves his wife, Kate, and their young son, Jamie, more than anything in the world. As Will is leaving with his family for holiday, he's handed a case file for Liam Foyle, a reclusive bird lover who is charged with the torture killing of a female medical student. At their idyllic country retreat, Will pores over the gruesome details of the crime, searching for a weak link in the seemingly ironclad evidence against Liam. As usual, he puts his family life on hold for his work, and he finds himself at odds once again with his perennial rival, Maggie Gardner. PBS aired the U.S. premiere of THE ESCAPE ARTIST as part of its MASTERPIECE MYSTERY! program on Sunday, June 15, 2014 at 9pm ET/PT (check local listings), showing the second part one week later.