Midsomer Murders

In a dimly-lit village hall, ROSETTA PRICE is seated with her eyes closed, watched by an eager audience. She enters a trance-like state, summoning her spiritual guide. She is the medium of the Sprit of Friendship group, and issues a warning of pending sorrow for someone that evening.

The villagers of Midsomer are soaking up the sun at the Midsomer Regatta. The tranquillity is shattered, however, when the Veteran's race is interrupted by a body in the water. It is Guy Sweetman, Chairman of Midsomer Rowing Club. He has been knocked unconscious by a blow to the head and then drowned.

JIMMY FONG and MADELINE VILLIERS battle through the jungle in Borneo, searching for a rare Orchid, the Yellow Roth, worth at least a hundred thousand pounds. They find it and MADELINE smuggles it back to Britain, relishing the excitement and adrenalin of the operation.

Bruce Hartley is the owner/trainer of Midsomer's favourite racehorse, Bantling Boy, which is owned by a syndicate of Midsomer villagers. Bantling Boy was bequeathed to them by Bruce's father, Colonel James Hartley of Bantling Hall, for their loyalty to him during his terminal illness - Joanna Craxton was his nurse; Dr. Osgood, his doctor; Trevor Machin, his gardener, and Dan, his son.

John Ransom is murdered with a blunt instrument, with suspicious burn marks to his head. On being thrown out the pub, ironically named 'The Luck in the World", following a drunken brawl John Ransom collapses to the floor. Big Ben Kirby has administered the final punch in the fight and flees in fear.

Solicitor Nick Turner falls to his death from his roof in what looks like a murder, however, Barnaby and Scott speculate whether the death is really a suicide. Nick had financial problems and they ponder as to whether the suicide has been dressed up as a murder so that Felicity (Nick's wife) will receive the life insurance payout.

The day begins with the usual tours around the relish factory led by Sam Hardwick, a loyal employee of Plummer's. It is also the day of the Plummer's annual general meeting. At the meeting, the family argues over what to do with the failing family business.

Arthur Leggott sneaks out of the Cedar's care home searching for the precious Joan Alder manuscript. Instead of finding the manuscript, he unearths a stranger in his house. Arthur is battered to death with a torch and his house is left in a state.