Midsomer Murders

A closer look at the story

England's fictional county of Midsomer is full of tranquil villages that seem to have stepped straight out of a postcard. Friendly villagers give the impression of a place where life runs smoothly. That calm, however, is shattered the moment the first body turns up. Brutal crimes shake the community, and before long a whole host of people come under suspicion. Untangling the mess falls to a seasoned detective chief inspector and his young sergeant. Working in a calm, meticulous way, the pair rule out the innocent one by one and go after the guilty without mercy. As the investigation unfolds, secrets hidden behind smiling faces and the most unlikely methods of murder come to light. Created by Anthony Horowitz and Caroline Graham and airing on ITV1 since 1997, the series stars John Nettles as DCI Tom Barnaby and Neil Dudgeon as DCI John Barnaby.