Fortitude

Coming across a polar bear attack, wildlife photographer Henry Tyson tries to shoot the bear but hits geologist Billy Pettigrew instead. Environmental scientist Charlie Stoddart also seems to have died from a bear attack. The man had recently told Fortitude’s governor that a prehistoric discovery meant he could not back her plans to build a hotel into a nearby glacier.

Sheriff Dan Anderssen begins his investigations and extends a chilly reception to an unwelcome visitor from London. Town doctor Margaret Allerdyce believes a local boy is suffering from severe frostbite and suggests experimental treatment at a nearby research center. However, young Liam Sutter’s condition is worse than anyone realizes.

Stoddart has left behind a voice message about finding “something incredible” in the ice that’s going to cause “a lot of trouble.” But as new-arrival DCI Eugene Morton discovers, the message has recently been deleted. Morton’s relations with Anderssen start to thaw.

Anderssen and search-and-rescue specialist Frank Sutter travel up the coast in pursuit of a suspect. As tensions mount between the two men, the recovery of bloodstained clothing back in town throws suspicions about Stoddart’s killing in a new direction.

Frank Sutter is brought in for questioning by DCI Morton, who has now taken charge of the investigation. As Sutter protests his innocence, failings in other areas of his life emerge. Morton’s conclusions are upset when Anderssen discovers additional bloodstained clothing.

Forensic evidence—and a confession—points to 10-year-old Liam as Stoddart’s killer. Morton expands his focus to the earlier death of geologist Billy Pettigrew but refuses to believe Anderssen’s account of what happened.

Henry Tyson realizes he took photographs of the scene that might shed light on how Pettigrew died. Meanwhile, Dr. Allerdyce’s daughter finds herself increasingly incapacitated by a mysterious illness—one that will result in two more fatalities.

Fear and suspicion mount as locals learn that Allerdyce has been attacked and her daughter has gone missing. Desperate to prove his son’s innocence, a frustrated Frank Sutter takes the law into his own hands.

DCI Morton continues to ask questions about the events leading up to Pettigrew’s death. However, Anderssen believes the detective is really targeting him. Elsewhere, a possible link emerges between dead polar bears and dead humans.

Out in the wilderness, Morton catches up with his quarry, who is armed and dangerous and has a startling revelation to make. As other answers begin to come from the lab, the governor imposes a quarantine on the town.

Anderssen and Sutter find a badly wounded Morton. The sheriff finally tells him the truth about what happened to Billy Pettigrew.

A comatose Dr. Allerdyce lies on a bed at the medical center—and something appears to be wriggling beneath her skin. As the horrifying truth about the deaths in Fortitude becomes clear, the hardest of choices have to be made.