TVNZ+ Adds Fraudster Thriller

New to the TVNZ+ August slate is fraudster thriller The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies.

“This is the story of two very different women and the conman they have in common; a dark, funny, and unpredictable thriller about three remarkable characters trapped in a tangled triangle of complexly layered half-truths and lies of epic proportions,” reads the logline for the BBC series that will stream from August 30.

Alice is a formidable, though underestimated PA, who lives in a cramped bungalow with her entire family. Cheryl is a bestselling author, who lives alone in a sprawling mansion, and Dr Robert Chance is a celebrated ecopreneur, who has apparently fallen for her. Or has he? Actually, Rob is a sociopathic conman who cheated Alice out of everything she had and is about to do the same thing to his new mark. For Alice, this is a chance for justice – but how far will she go to convince Cheryl of the truth?

Rebekah Staton, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Alistair Petrie star.

“This unique thriller should be applauded for its audacity, even if some of its intentions don’t quite come off,” reckons Radio Times.

“Right from the outset, the show takes on a big challenge – present a fun and engaging look at the workings of a con artist, while also stressing the harrowing, life-ruining experiences of the victims … Tonal and pacing issues aside, Pack of Lies offers a new angle of a well-worn story and does so with both style and intellectual integrity.”

Concurred the Evening Standard: “Despite its darker side, this show is a ripping good yarn; before you know it, it’ll have tricked you into watching it all.”