Midsomer Murders

An elderly woman is discovered dead in her cottage, prompting DCI Tom Barnaby to suspect foul play rather than a natural cause.

Gerald Hadleigh, a secretive secretary of a writers' circle, is found brutally murdered the day after a tense meeting with renowned novelist Max Jennings, who had been a controversial choice to join the group. As Barnaby investigates, he uncovers that Gerald's past is shrouded in mystery, with no official records of his identity, and that Gerald had a mysterious female visitor on the night he died. Soon after, Max Jennings disappears and is later discovered dead.

Agnes Gray's body is discovered in a river, though she did not drown, and her cousin Esslyn Carmichael dies by apparent suicide during an amateur performance of the murder mystery *Amadeus*. Barnaby investigates a web of clues involving adultery, artistic ambition, stolen religious art, and charitable donations to animal causes, ultimately uncovering a deranged killer. Meanwhile, Cully Barnaby begins to develop feelings for Nico Bentley, a member of the *Amadeus* cast.

A struggling craft center in Morton Fendle leads to accusations of fraud against Alan Hollingsworth, who becomes a suspect when his wife disappears. Barnaby investigates a possible kidnapping, but after a series of suspicious events and deaths, Hollingsworth is found dead and Simone reappears unharmed. Barnaby suspects the kidnapping was staged but lacks conclusive evidence.

William Carter is discovered dead at the bottom of a staircase with a broken neck at the Lodge of the Golden Windhorse, a New Age commune, prompting Barnaby and Troy to investigate whether his death was accidental or the result of foul play.