Jigsaw Murders True-Crime Book Optioned for TV

Tod Productions and STV Productions have optioned The Jigsaw Murders: The True Story of the Ruxton Killings and the Birth of Modern Forensics, a new true-crime book written by journalist and author Jeremy Craddock.

In September 1935, Dr. Buck Ruxton murdered his wife and their nanny before disposing of their bodies on the Scottish borders. Professors Sydney Smith and John Glaister in Edinburgh used groundbreaking forensic techniques to painstakingly piece together and identify the bodies. Set for release in 2021, the book sheds new light on this murder mystery.

Elaine Collins, managing director of Tod Productions, who identified the potential in bringing this book to the screen, said: “Jeremy Craddock is a hugely talented writer and journalist, who is not only determined to excavate this brutal story and the consequent scientific breakthroughs that still influence today’s forensics but to give an unprecedented voice to Buxton’s female victims. I’m excited to develop this complex and multi-layered crime story for television, to give presence to the victims, and to dramatize the characteristically brilliant scientists at work in 1930s Scotland.”

Craddock added: “I am absolutely thrilled that The Jigsaw Murders has been optioned for TV by Elaine Collins and Tod Productions. I am a huge fan of her work, especially Shetland and Vera, and I feel privileged that she has seen potential in my work. This is a story that has haunted me since I was a child, a landmark case that changed the way forensic pathologists help to solve murders. And yet it is a case that is largely forgotten today. Most previous accounts focus solely on the lurid aspects, ignoring the human drama behind it all. My book—and hopefully a TV drama—will tell the full story of the people behind the sensational headlines for the first time.”

David Mortimer, managing director of STV Productions, said: “We’re thrilled to have Tod as part of the STV Productions family and The Jigsaw Murders is a fantastic addition to their already strong development slate of distinctive, high-quality shows. There’s a real appetite for true crime based drama and we’re delighted Elaine Collins at Tod has seen the huge potential in this exciting new work, which we know will hold tremendous appeal.”