Be warned that the Audience Network’s “Mr. Mercedes” — adapted from the Stephen King thriller — starts with a horrendous incident.

It’s 2009, and a crowd of the unemployed, including a young mother and her baby, is waiting in the predawn hours to get into an Ohio job fair.

Suddenly, a Mercedes that has been idling off in the mist revs its engine and roars into the defenseless crowd, causing mayhem and carnage with the deaths of 16 people. The man behind the wheel wore a mask, but he was able to escape.

Two years later, Bill Hodges (Brendan Gleeson), the investigator who was unable to solve the crime, has retired, haunted by his failure, but weird videos posted online by the killer taunt him.

“Our murders are unavenged,” cries one. It put him back on the case.

King’s novel was essentially a chess match between Hodges and the killer, Brady (played by “Penny Dreadful’s” Harry Treadaway). The series was adapted by David E. Kelley, and his writing team takes a broader scope.

We see more of the people in each of their lives. Brady works at an electronics store and has colleagues, including an obnoxious boss and a lesbian co-worker (Breeda Wool). Kelly Lynch is his overly affectionate mother. She thinks he can do better but lives a sad, alcoholic life herself.

The Irish actor Gleeson delivers a well-modulated performance, swinging from Hodges’ depressive nature — he watches videos of the victims — to sparks of insight when he catches a clue. The uneasiness of the game Brady is forcing on the retired detective grabs hold in the first episode.

The 10-episode “Mr. Mercedes” isn’t a horror story. King’s tales are generally known for capturing middle-class angst, and the series has creepily translated that to the screen.

‘Mr. Mercedes’

What: A killer and a retired detective play a dangerous game in this adaptation of the Stephen King novel.

Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Harry Treadaway, Jharrel Jerome, Mary-Louise Parker and Kelly Lynch.

When: 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Where: Audience Network.