'The Investigation of Lucy Letby' Review: The Case That Won’t Stay Closed
- Romey Norton
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Romey Norton- February 9, 2026
Netflix’s The Investigation of Lucy Letby revisits a case that has already carved a deep and unsettling mark into Britain’s collective memory. Lucy Letby, a former neonatal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital, was convicted in 2023 of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more while in her care between 2015 and 2016. The crimes, carried out in a place designed to protect the most vulnerable, shocked the nation not just for their brutality but for the apparent ordinariness of the woman at their centre. Letby was sentenced to multiple whole-life orders, meaning she will spend the rest of her life in prison with no prospect of release. She continues to deny the charges, and it is this unresolved tension between legal certainty and lingering doubt that gives the documentary much of its quiet propulsion.
Where the film becomes more complicated, and arguably more interesting, is in its aftermath. Since the documentary’s release, attention has turned not just back to Letby herself but to her family, who have been pulled once again into the public eye. The inclusion of intimate material, including footage filmed in private spaces and moments of raw emotional distress in the Letby home, has sparked renewed debate about how much access is too much. Is this an invasion of her privacy, and should we respect it? Even if the respect is something small, like letting the family know this footage will be published
Letby’s parents have reportedly described the experience as deeply distressing. The ethical parallel is hard to ignore: true-crime documentaries often position themselves as seekers of truth, yet they frequently extract that truth from the lives of people who did not consent to becoming characters in a global narrative. The film doesn’t answer this dilemma, but it certainly exposes it.
Stylistically, The Investigation of Lucy Letby is calm and restrained. Interviews with journalists, investigators, medical professionals, colleagues, victims' families, and close friends are interwoven with courtroom material and archival footage, allowing the audience to follow the case step by step. Something is exciting and legitimate about watching body-cam footage - it can’t be faked. Watching Lucy be arrested for questioning is quite saddening. Lucy does appear remorseful, confused, and unable to process. Crying whilst saying goodbye to her cat could be interpreted as both innocence and guilt. This is why this case is being covered so much - it really allows for the audience to be the investigators and judge. The documentary talks through the evidence, including the notes written by Letby saying: “I AM EVIL I DID THIS” and “I killed them on purpose because I am not good enough”, but doesn't delve into which ones are the most credible. The prosecution relied upon these notes as amounting to a confession, Letby has never formally made one. The defence brought no expert witnesses which isn't explained, leaving a lot of unanswered questions. Throughout the whole one hour and thirtty-one minute documentary there is no talk of her motive - which is unsettling. There was also no psychological background that matched a serial killer, and so her reasoning needed developing and exaplaining. And, there is no mention of the jury not being told about six other deaths in the period with which Letby was not charged. They were omitted from the table.
In revisiting contested medical evidence and highlighting voices that question aspects of the prosecution’s case, the documentary risks being interpreted by some viewers as reopening settled conclusions. For others, this will feel like responsible storytelling, acknowledging that the justice system is not infallible and that complex cases deserve continued examination. The documentary does not declare Letby innocent, nor does it undermine the suffering of the victims’ families, but it does ask viewers to sit with ambiguity. The documentary doesn’t feel biased, but does suggest Letby’s innocence. Especially when The New Yorker wrote an article that flipped the narrative to ask the questions if the unit fit for purpose.
The Investigation of Lucy Letby is less about uncovering new facts than about exploring how narratives are built, consumed, and sustained. As a documentary, it is measured, absorbing, and ethically thorny. As a piece of true-crime storytelling, it reminds us that investigations are deep, thorough and yet not black and white and concrete. You’ll leave with thoughts, opinions, and a lot of questions.
'The Investigation of Lucy Letby' is available to watch on Netflix now.
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