Apple TV's crime series Down Cemetery Road, adapted from Mick Herron's 2003 eponymous novel, featured a tragic twist in Episode 7 "Lights Go Out", shocking even for Herron's seasoned fans.The penultimate episode featured the tragic death of Downey (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett), who sacrificed himself for the safety of Dinah. In the showdown at the beach, Amos brutally shot Downey in the leg and then finished him off before moving on to Zoe, Dinah and Sarah. However, thanks to Downey's heroic move, Dinah and Sarah safely reached the mainland and the martyred soldier achieved his higher purpose by saving his friend's daughter.Downey's death in Down Cemetery Road series was certainly a shocking moment for Herron's fans, as the character does not die in the book.More on this in our story.Down Cemetery Road Episode 7 featured Downey's shocking death View this post on Instagram Instagram PostDowney first debuted in the final moments of Down Cemetery Road Episode 3 as Sarah's stalker. However, the next chapter revealed that he shockingly saved Sarah from Rufus/Axel by finishing him off in her home. Thus began an unusual friendship and connection between Sarah and Downey after the latter 'kidnapped' her and they went on the search for Dinah.While Amos was hunting down Downey and Sarah to avenge his brother's (Axel) death, the two bonded and the former revealed his harrowing past in a secret government experiment and connection to Dinah.In Down Cemetery Road Episode 4, Sarah discovered that Downey is a fellow soldier and a friend of Dinah's father Tommy. Both Downey and Tommy were treated as lab rats in a secret military experiment that developed a rare and deadly neurological condition in them. While Tommy and the others tragically died due to the side effects of the experiment, Downey managed to escape and vowed to save his friend's daughter, Dinah.Downey, Sarah and Zoe's mission to save Dinah came to a head in the penultimate episode of Down Cemetery Road when they had an intense showdown with Amos. Downey heroically sacrificed himself to buy some time for the women and tragically died at the beach at Amos' hands. The final moments of Episode 7 saw Zoe flying in the air after Amos' gunfire detonated old landmines at the beach, leaving her fate hanging in the air.Why did Down Cemetery Road change Downey's fate? View this post on Instagram Instagram PostMick Herron’s readers were especially taken aback by Downey’s abrupt death in Episode 7, as this twist doesn’t occur in the Down Cemetery Road novel at all. However, since Downey developed the rare neurological condition, Herron reveals “there was never going to be any hope” for him even at the end of the book.In an interview with TV Insider, Herron breaks down their decision to kill Downey in the TV series:“A TV show probably demands more dramatic moments than a novel might. On the TV screen you really do need a couple of showdowns, especially towards the end of the run. And with a villain like Amos there being played so brilliantly, it made more sense from a dramatic point of view to show the death in that way.”While Nathan Stewart-Jarrett mourned his character's death, he felt content that Downey achieved his higher purpose by saving Dinah:“I felt like Dinah being safe is, Downey is now allowed to die. It didn’t matter what Amos said. As long as he’s talking, Dinah is safe. As long as he’s with Downey, Dinah is safe. … It’s a very heroic moment. He knows that he’s going to die. The whole point is that he loses and that she wins.”With Downey dead, Dinah and Sarah safely made it to the mainland in Down Cemetery Road Episode 7 but fans are still anticipating Zoe's fate. The usually grumpy PI steps up with unexpected courage, diverting Amos long enough for Dinah and Sarah to reach the waiting Captain unharmed.The final chapter in Down Cemetery Road titled "What Will Survive", scheduled to release on December 10, will finally reveal Zoe's fate.For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow SoapCentral.