SHE’S GOT A CASE THAT WILL HAUNT YOU… A Dark Welsh Crime Thriller Is Being Tipped as the Perfect Next Watch for Shetland Fans — With Three Gripping Series of Disturbing Murders, Unsettling Secrets and Twists That Keep You Guessing!

Fans of Shetland looking for their next crime drama might want to turn their attention to Hidden, a tense Welsh thriller packed with disturbing cases, complicated characters and twists that keep the investigations unpredictable.

Set against the rugged landscapes of North Wales, the series follows Detective Inspector Cadi John, played by Sian Reese-Williams, and her colleague Detective Sergeant Owen Vaughan, portrayed by Siôn Alun Davies. Across three gripping series, the pair investigate crimes that expose deeply unsettling truths about the people and communities around them.

Originally broadcast on S4C in 2018 before arriving on the BBC the following year, Hidden has built a devoted following among crime drama fans. Its combination of atmospheric locations, tightly paced investigations and emotionally layered storytelling makes it an appealing choice for anyone searching for a series to get lost in on a rainy evening.

While Shetland remains a familiar favourite for viewers who love atmospheric detective stories, Hidden offers a similarly dark experience with its own distinctive Welsh setting and a stronger emphasis on the personal lives of those caught up in each case.

Here’s everything to know about the series, from its unsettling central mystery to its cast and streaming availability.

What Is Hidden About?

The first series centres on a disturbing case involving a young woman who has been abducted and held captive for years in the mountains of Snowdonia. Her ordeal exposes serious failures by the police, raising troubling questions about how such a crime could have gone undetected for so long.

DI Cadi John leads the investigation alongside DS Owen Vaughan. Their task becomes even more urgent when the victim is identified as Mali Pryce, played by Greta James. Marks on her body suggest that she was kept shackled by her abductor for several years, and investigators begin to suspect that she may not have been the only victim.

The case becomes a web of interconnected stories involving the victim, her family, the detectives and the person responsible. Rather than focusing solely on identifying the culprit, the drama explores the lasting damage caused by the crime and the difficult realities facing everyone drawn into the investigation.

Cadi is far from a flawless detective. Her personal struggles add another dimension to the investigation, making her feel like a real person rather than a conventional television crime-solving hero. Working alongside Owen, she must navigate an increasingly disturbing case while dealing with the emotional weight of the discoveries they make.

Three Series of Dark, Unsettling Investigations

Following the success of its first instalment, Hidden returned for two further series, each introducing a new murder investigation while maintaining the show’s focus on the people behind the crimes.

Series two begins when the body of a former teacher is discovered inside a house on an estate in Blaenau Ffestiniog, a former mining town in North Wales. The discovery leads to another murky investigation, with the detectives attempting to piece together what happened and uncover the circumstances surrounding the death.

The third and final series centres on the murder of a local man whose body is found in a remote river. Evidence suggests he suffered a brutal, frenzied attack, setting the stage for another troubling case.

Although the crimes are often bleak, the series avoids treating its investigations as puzzles detached from the people involved. Each case has consequences that reach far beyond the crime scene, giving the drama an emotional dimension alongside its suspense.

The detectives’ lives also develop throughout the series. Cadi is coping with the death of her father, while Owen faces the demands of caring for his newborn baby. Their personal circumstances unfold alongside the investigations, adding further pressure to already difficult cases.

The result is a crime drama that balances the search for answers with a closer look at grief, family relationships and the ways people respond to extraordinary circumstances.

Why Hidden Is More Than a Traditional Whodunit

Sian Reese-Williams has explained that the series takes a different approach from the conventional detective formula, in which the central question is simply who committed the crime and whether the police will catch them.

Speaking to the BBC, the actress described Hidden as a more personal drama that explores the lives of everyone affected by an investigation, including detectives, victims, their families and even the perpetrators.

She also highlighted the show’s willingness to examine human behaviour and challenge viewers’ assumptions about the people involved. The storytelling explores the tension between nature and nurture, encouraging audiences to consider how a person’s circumstances and experiences might shape their actions.

That approach gives the series much of its unsettling power. The crimes are disturbing, but the drama is equally interested in the complicated emotions and relationships surrounding them. Viewers are invited to understand the people involved without necessarily agreeing with their choices.

Combined with its brisk pacing and unpredictable investigations, this character-driven approach helps distinguish Hidden from more conventional police procedurals.

Hidden Cast: Who Stars in the Welsh Crime Drama?

One of the series’ biggest strengths is its ensemble cast, led by Sian Reese-Williams and Siôn Alun Davies. Their performances give Cadi and Owen a grounded, human quality, even as the cases they investigate become increasingly disturbing.

The main cast includes:

• Sian Reese-Williams as Detective Inspector Cadi John, the central investigator whose professional responsibilities are complicated by her personal life.
• Siôn Alun Davies as Detective Sergeant Owen Vaughan, Cadi’s colleague and investigative partner.
• Nia Roberts as Dr Elin Jones.
• Lois Meleri-Jones as Lowri Driscoll.
• Rhodri Meilir as Dylan Harris.
• Gillian Elisa as Iona Harris.
• Gwyneth Keyworth as Megan Ruddock.
• Ian Saynor as Huw John.
• Owen Arwyn as Alun Pryce, Mali Pryce’s father.
• Greta James as Mali Pryce, the young woman at the centre of the first series’ investigation.

Series two introduces several additional characters, with appearances from Annes Elwy as Mia Owen, Lisa Victoria as Catrin Pritchard, Steffan Cennydd as Connor Pritchard, Siôn Eifion as Lee Williams, Bryn Fôn as Hefin Mathews, Lois Elenid as Beca Mathews and Owain Gwynn as Siôn Wells.

The third series features Justin Melluish as Glyn Thomas, Sion Ifan as Siôn Thomas and Elen Rhys as Hannah Lewis.

With new characters arriving as the investigations change, the ensemble helps each series develop its own identity while keeping Cadi and Owen at the heart of the story.

Is There a Trailer for Hidden?

Yes. An official trailer for Hidden is available on YouTube through Acorn TV.

The trailer offers a glimpse of the series’ dark atmosphere, crime-focused storytelling and the unsettling world inhabited by its central detectives.

Is Hidden Worth Watching?

For fans of British crime dramas, Hidden makes a strong case for moving beyond the usual familiar favourites.

The performances are a major draw, but the setting is equally important. North Wales provides a striking backdrop, with its rugged mountains, isolated locations and small communities adding to the sense of unease. The landscape feels closely connected to the stories rather than serving as a simple visual attraction.

The investigations are unsettling without losing sight of the people affected by them. Instead of relying exclusively on clues and last-minute revelations, the drama spends time exploring the motivations behind violent crimes and the consequences that spread through families and communities.

That approach also makes Cadi and Owen more interesting as central characters. Their work does not exist separately from their private lives, and the personal difficulties they face give the series an additional layer beyond its criminal mysteries.

Viewers who enjoy Shetland may find plenty to appreciate here: atmospheric locations, serious investigations and characters whose lives become increasingly complicated as the cases unfold.

Hidden is not a lighthearted mystery, and some of its subject matter is particularly grim. But for those who enjoy dark, character-driven detective dramas, its three-series run offers plenty to settle into.

Where Can You Watch Hidden?

According to the original report, viewers can stream the first and second series of Hidden on STV Player.

The report also lists the second and third series on Prime Video.

Availability can vary by region and change over time, so it is worth checking the individual streaming pages before settling down to watch.

The series was originally produced in both Welsh and English under the titles Craith and Hidden. It ran from 2018 to 2021, with the English-language version of its third and final series arriving in 2022. The complete drama comprises three series and 20 episodes.

What Other Detective Dramas Should You Watch?

If you finish Hidden and still want more crime-solving stories, there are two other series worth considering.

Touching Evil

Starring Robson Green and Nicola Walker, Touching Evil follows DI Dave Creegan and DI Susan Taylor as members of the Organised & Serial Crime Unit (OSC).

The drama explores particularly dark cases, making it a natural option for viewers who enjoy serious investigations and complicated detectives. Walker’s performance is another reason to give the series a try.

You can watch Touching Evil on ITVX.

Rose and Maloney

For something that approaches crime from a different angle, Rose and Maloney stars Sarah Lancashire and Phil Davis as Rose Linden and Marion Maloney.

The pair work for the fictional Criminal Justice Review Agency, investigating claims of miscarriages of justice. Rather than concentrating solely on catching offenders, the series examines cases in which the justice system itself may have failed.

That premise makes it a worthwhile choice for viewers who enjoy detective stories that question the evidence and circumstances behind a case.

Rose and Maloney is available on Prime Video.

For anyone looking for a new series with a dark atmosphere, compelling investigations and a strong central detective duo, Hidden deserves a place on the watchlist. Its three series offer a distinctly Welsh take on the crime genre, with stories that go beyond the question of who committed a crime to explore why it happened and how its consequences affect everyone left behind.