In 1857 Mary Ann Mowbray, nee Cotton, returns to Durham from Cornwall with husband Billy and a surviving child, her other four all having died and mortality will claim a further two, only daughter Isabella being spared. This spurs her stepfather George into taking out insurance policies on the family. When Billy falls ill Mary Ann poisons him, using a typhus outbreak as cover, and claims the insurance on him and her dead baby whilst starting an affair with lusty miner Joe Nattrass. Having poisoned a second husband, George Ward, Mary Ann starts work as a nanny for widower James Robinson, though his sister Helen mistrusts her. Mary Ann's mother works out her daughter's scheming, thus sealing her own fate, before Mary Ann chooses her next victim. Written by don @ minifie-1

Mary Ann is annoyed when James decides to put their wedding plans on hold so soon after his bereavement for fear of upsetting his children - so she sets about arranging for them to be ill. For appearance sake she includes her daughter Isabella but she dies with the others. The marriage goes ahead but when James discovers that she has been stealing Mary Ann leaves him and, several victims later, resumes her affair with Joe Nattrass - until he has served his purpose. But locals grow suspicious following her latest murder and before long the gallows is awaiting the Dark Angel. Written by don @ minifie-1