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'Mare of Easttown' finale: The seven questions that need answering

Kate Winslet stars in <em>Mare of Easttown</em>
Kate Winslet stars in Mare of Easttown

It’s the murder mystery the whole country is talking about.

After six weeks of twists, turns, suspects, revelations and shocks, Kate Winslet’s stunning detective drama Mare of Easttown is heading for a thrilling finale.

But with all kind of murky goings on to be unravelled in its final hour, audiences are desperate to know what’s really been happening in the tiny Pennsylvanian town.

Even though the disappearance of Katie Bailey was solved in that stunning episode five shoot out, the opioid-ravaged community is still reeling from the murder of teen mum Erin McMenamin, while kind hearted detective Mare’s (Winslet) personal life continues to fall apart around her.

Ahead of the seventh and final episode on Sky Atlantic, Monday, 31 May, here are the seven burning questions fans are desperate to see answered.

Did one of the Ross brothers kill Erin, and are either of them the real father of Erin’s baby DJ?

Starring Academy Award , Emmy and Golden Globe -winner Kate Winslet (HBO’s “Mildred Pierce”), from creator and writer Brad Ingelsby (“The Way Back”), with all episodes directed by Craig Zobel (HBO’s “The Leftovers”) This limited series stars Winslet as Mare Sheehan, a small-town Pennsylvania detective who investigates a local murder as life crumbles around her. MARE OF EASTTOWN is an exploration into the dark side of a close community and an authentic examination of how family and past tragedies can define our present.
Kate Winslet in action as Mare of Easttown

In episode six, John Ross’s wife Lori (Julianne Nicholson) tells her best pal Mare that increasingly unstable brother-in-law Billy (Robbie Tann) was the father and the likely killer. But big brother John, who had cheated on his wife before and is acting super shady, looks like he’s got a lot on his mind as he offers to take Billy fishing in the woods for old time’s sakes before he turns himself in.

Mare is on her way to arrest Billy, but who’s ending up in the cuffs or the river when she gets there?

What did Erin’s best pal Jess hand to police at the end of the episode?

Cailee Spaeny as Erin McMenanin & Ruby Cruz as Jess (HBO)
Cailee Spaeny as Erin McMenanin & Ruby Cruz as Jess (HBO)

After saving something from Erin’s journals before the suspicious ex-boyfriend Dylan burned them all, Jess (Ruby Cruz) presented something to the cops at the end of episode six that was shocking enough for them to try urgently but unsuccessfully calling Mare while she's en-route to the Ross brothers’ fishing hideaway.

Why is Dylan acting so suspiciously?

Jack Mulhern as Dylan Hinchey |& Debbie Campbell as Katherine Hinchey (HBO)
Jack Mulhern as Dylan Hinchey |& Debbie Campbell as Katherine Hinchey (HBO)

From the first episode, Erin's former boyfriend Dylan (Jack Mulhern), who thought he was the father of DJ, has been surly and aggressive, but in recent weeks, he's become increasingly agitated, especially as his alibi for the murder disappeared.

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He's been seen burning the journals, threatening Jess, and then trying to run her down. What does he have to hide and what significance does it have to the murder hunt?

What’s happening with Drew’s former addict mum Carrie?

One of Mare’s biggest battles is has been caring for grandson Drew following the suicide of her son Kevin. She's desperate to keep the child despite a custody battle with Drew's drug addict mum. Having unsuccessfully planted drugs on Carrie (Sosie Bacon) to sink her credibility, Mare's case is looking weak and she's been accepting the imminent loss of the boy. But after troubled Carrie passed out while giving the boy a bath, there are renewed questions over his safety.

Will Mare and daughter Siobhan sort out their issues?

Kate Winslet as Mare Sheehan & Angourie Rice as Siobhan (HBO)
Kate Winslet as Mare Sheehan & Angourie Rice as Siobhan (HBO)

Always at odds since the horrific discovery of eldest son Kevin’s body following his suicide, Siobhan is balancing her lovelife and new fling with her college dreams, while biting the head off her mum at every opportunity. Can Mare put her family back together while she’s trying to stop her town from falling apart?

Did Deacon Mark tell the whole truth about his involvement with Erin?

Currently in jail as the number one suspect for Erin’s murder after disposing of her bike in the river, clergyman Mark (James McArdle) is protesting his innocence even despite his previous accusations of inappropriate behaviour. But he and fellow parish priest Father Dan Hastings have been on the periphery of the action so far. Is there more to come?

Surely Guy Pearce must be up to something?

Starring Academy Award , Emmy and Golden Globe -winner Kate Winslet (HBO’s “Mildred Pierce”), from creator and writer Brad Ingelsby (“The Way Back”), with all episodes directed by Craig Zobel (HBO’s “The Leftovers”) This limited series stars Winslet as Mare Sheehan, a small-town Pennsylvania detective who investigates a local murder as life crumbles around her. MARE OF EASTTOWN is an exploration into the dark side of a close community and an authentic examination of how family and past tragedies can define our present.
Kate Winslet and Guy Pearce in Mare of Easttown (HBO)

Pearce’s dashing writer Richard has flitted around mysteriously around the edges of events as he and Mare have started to date. But surely he’s too handsome and just too... well... Guy Pearce not to be some kind of shader?

His whereabouts after he and Mare’s one night stand on the night of the murder are unclear…

WATCH: Look inside Mare of Easttown