The Dark Lake follows Detective Gemma (Tonkin) as she is forced to confront the secrets of her past when she is charged with the murder of her high school rival in her small and close-knit hometown.
The series is based on Sarah Bailey's debut novel and is produced by London and Sydney-based Brouhaha Entertainment, which also directed Netflix's Australian drama Boy Swallows Universe.
Tonkin (pictured) is best known for her appearances in The Vampire Diaries, The Originals (both from The CW), the Australian miniseries Safe Harbor and guest roles in HBO's Westworld and Showtime's The Affair. In Netflix's recent Boy Swallows Universe, which launched in January, she plays a mother and recovering drug addict.
Brouhaha was created by British producer Gabrielle Tana, founder Troy Lum, founder of Australia's Hopscotch Features, and Andrew Mason, executive producer of The Matrix.
The Dark Lake is the first book in the Gemma Woodstock series. Bailey is currently writing the fourth volume. It won both the 2018 Davitt Award for Best Crime Debut and the 2018 Ned Kelly Award for Best First Crime. The two other books in the series are titled Into the Night, set in the dark alleys of Melbourne, and Where the Dead Go, set in a small coastal hinterland community.
Brouhaha will work closely with Bailey to bring her novel to the small screen, with screenwriter Becca Johnstone also on board.