Midsomer Murders - Tainted Fruit

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Lucy Oliver, daughter to friends of George Bullard, disappears from a manor house being used by the Oblong Foundation, a New Age cult organisation. Bullard asks for Barnaby's help in finding out what happened to her. The Oblong Foundation is renting the manor house from Ruth Lambert, who inherited the house from her parents after they were killed in a boat explosion. DS Jones, who has recently returned from an undercover policing course, joins a group of Foundation inductees under an assumed identity. He becomes increasingly uncomfortable when one of the female inductees, along with Ruth herself, seem to be emotionally drawn to him. Meanwhile, Barnaby looks into the death of Ruth's parents, suspecting murder, and believing the events all to be linked. These suspicions seem to be confirmed when one of the Foundation leaders is found stabbed. When the case is finally solved, George Bullard announces his retirement.

Adam Asoba is found murdered, having been boiled to death in one of the vats at the newly opened brewery of the famously cursed abbey in Midsomer. Dr. Fleur Perkins, a new pathologist, tells Barnaby and Winter that Adam Asoba was living under a false name, and that he actually died three years earlier, under the name Adam Dumont. Adam’s widower, Kwame Asante, turns up at Adam’s house admitting the truth. It seems that he and Adam had big debts, and the only solution for them was for Adam to fake his death so that Kwame could start a new life by collecting a life insurance. The first murder seems to be the end of it, but when Emani Taylor, the woman responsible for the new brewery, is also murdered, Barnaby and Winter must look deeper to find the killer. When popular GP Dr. Alan Delaney borrows fellow Dr. James Kirkwood's new car for an evening call-out, he is mysteriously killed in a hit-and-run accident. Barnaby and Jones start investigating in Midsomer Market and discover that James may have been the intended victim. The case leads them to North Wales — the former home of Delyth Mostyn, James's fiancée, to delve further. The possible suspects for the attempted murder on Kirkwood include Delyth's children, who oppose the engagement, Delyth's husband, and other acquaintances of Doctor Kirkwood. They need to find the truth before another attempt on James' life during a walk at Mount Snowdon. The village doctor ( Ian McNeice) of Newton Magna involves the police after he accidentally hits a man in the road following a party. However, the injured man is nowhere to be found. The body of Robin Wooliscroft, who disappeared over a year before, is then found in a well, having been bludgeoned to death. DCI Barnaby and DS Troy come across suspicions and all the lies, disapproving families, resentments, and hidden secrets, before another victim ( Jane Lapotaire) is found and they get to the truth.Art historian Philip Hamilton is restoring a medieval fresco is unearthed in the church crypt of Midsomer St Claire. When his partner Nancy Dewar is found dead in a river, a series of murders commences that appear to be inspired by macabre illustrations in the fresco. As the village prepares for storms and flooding, Barnaby and Nelson realise that the motive for the murders is not religious but is connected to a hidden secret. After he finds Raif dead, Barnaby searches for Georgina and finds her asleep on her bed. Georgina is not really overwhelmed by grief. The production values are usually wonderful here with good direction from Peter Smith and magnificent music.

I don't think that girl could be more offensive if she tried," says Hugo Balcombe. He is an ex-botanist. His wife Cherrie Balcombe says Melissa knew about Neil's chest infection. She knew that the damp conditions were making it worse. " Joan would never send threatening notes. She's a member of the women's institute." New acting Chief Superintendent John Cotton plans a team-building exercise at a Territorial Army centre run by Colonel Matt Parkes. Barnaby and Jones are very reluctant to take part, and when an explosion at the Parkes family haulage yard occurs, the detectives see the investigation as an opportunity to avoid the team building event. It is not long after that a body is discovered in a trunk that resurfaces from the nearby lake. The victim is identified as Alec Grainger, who had been arguing with Colonel Parkes' son Jamie. When Jamie is also found murdered, the detectives are faced with an abundance of suspects and motives, as Jamie seemed to have been universally hated. Since 2011 the lead character has been DCI John Barnaby ( Neil Dudgeon), who permanently joined the show following John Nettles' 2011 departure. He is the younger cousin of DCI Tom Barnaby. Like his cousin, John Barnaby works for Causton CID. Barnaby and Troy go to interview Sally at Georgina's house. Georgina is hosting a party. She had been planning to have guests over for a Drinks Get-Together at her house. After Raif's death, she decided to have the party in memory of Raif. Barnaby asks about Sally's relationship with Melissa. She tells them it's none of their business. Sally says she may be a drunk driver, but she is not a murderer. Georgina walks in. Troy asks her to leave, but Barnaby tells her to stay. Barnaby presses Sally about not remembering any of the drive home the night she was drink driving. I do agree that the third murder did not feel necessary and is by now an overused plot point in murder mysteries.In this episode, I feel that Adrian Rawlins, Ellie Haddington, Eleanor David, Claire Price, Miles Richardson and Benjamin Whitrow, leave the best impression from the supporting cast. Peter and Caroline Cave are house-hunting in Midsomer Newton and view a tumbledown cottage in secluded woodland. The following morning they are both found dead in their car near the house. DCI Barnaby and Acting DC Ben Jones enter a world where crooked estate agents, property developers, and eccentric villagers all seem to be withholding information. It is not long before another villager is murdered. The detectives find out that a years-old armed robbery holds the key to the case. DS Dan Scott arrives in Midsomer as DS Troy's replacement. He is instantly involved in a case in the village of Midsomer Mallow, when a college secretary is found murdered. Soon after a retired doctor is also murdered during the village's annual garden open day. Barnaby and Scott investigate the connection between the two victims, and the murder of a homeless drunk give them the clue they need. Meanwhile, Cully organizes a reunion with a group of old school friends, with unexpected results. As the preparations are underway for Cully Barnaby's wedding, Ned Fitzroy and Beth Porteous are married in Bledlow village. At the reception at Bledlow Hall, the maid of honour, Marina Fellowes, is found murdered. With the honeymoon postponed, the newlyweds and their guests find themselves under investigation by the police. Evidence soon points to a connection with archery when a fletching is found at the crime scene. Barnaby and Jones uncover a long family history with many secrets, lies, deception, and an illegitimate son. These things become even more complicated when the estate manager and former cook are also found murdered. The villagers of Midsomer Deverell are angered by the Inkpen family's plans to convert the public memorial garden into a tea shop. When Elspeth Inkpen's daughter Fliss is found murdered in the garden, Barnaby and Troy believe that someone may be determined to stop its destruction. Elspeth ( Belinda Lang) moves to the vicarage where she too is murdered. As the investigation continues, the suspect list grows to include the daughter of the architect who designed the garden and a gardener ( Neil Dudgeon) with whom both Elspeth and Fliss had been having an affair. Barnaby and Troy realise that the case will only be solved when the garden gives up a sinister secret.

Barnaby and Jones attend the Midsomer Abbas spring fair, a celebration of the village’s friendship with Midsomer Herne. After sampling the local cider, Barnaby becomes unwell, and moments later the body of Peter Slim is discovered inside the cider vat. Peter had been a tax inspector searching for illicit alcohol. The investigation reveals two very insular communities wedded to ancient traditions and suspicious of outsiders. When the bloodied fingerprints of the local cider mill owner are found on a wooden staff linked to the murder, the case seems solved. But Barnaby has his doubts. Meanwhile, the local vicar, the Reverend Conrad Walker, is appalled at plans to revive an ancient fertility rite known as 'The Stag,' and soon afterwards is himself murdered. Upon discovering that a local girl had been married to Peter Slim, the detectives realise that the motive for the killings is far darker than they had imagined. Martin Wroath is found dead in his home in Midsomer Worthy. He had been shot with a shotgun using an elaborately rigged wire leading from his foot to the trigger. First appearances suggest suicide, but the autopsy reveals that he had been drugged. The police conclude he was murdered. The investigations lead to Dr. Jane Moore ( Isla Blair), an old friend of Tom's and a psychologist at a local mental health clinic who knew the victim. More deaths follow when one of Jane's colleagues is found hanging in the clinic grounds and the local marching band leader is strangled. Meanwhile a series of mysterious rope thefts occur around the village, and an attempt is made on Tom's life. Note: This episode was delayed until 2010: it finally aired on ITV one week before the episode, "The Made-to-Measure Murders" (Series 13, Episode 1).

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The body of Mahesh Sidana, butterfly collector and founding member of an elite IQ society, is found pinned to a wall in a manner akin to his treasured butterfly specimens. This is the first of a series of strange murders that evoke trapped insects. DCI Barnaby and DS Winter are thrust into a crime that impacts not only their community, but internationally. With the help of an old friend, they set out to catch the culprit before another victim is found. The story of this episode is very complex. Twists, turns, red herrings keep coming and there's even some humor to be found here, which is always nice. After a successful day at the races for the racehorse, Bantling Boy, it is not long before one of the horse's owners is found murdered in the horses' stables. The victim, Bruce Hartley, had been in dispute with the other owners of Bantling Boy, having had a heated argument with them over an offer to buy the horse. Things get worse for the other owners when a series of further killings follow, before a darker motive is revealed and the detectives bring the culprit to justice.