Midsomer Murders - Dead Letters (DVD)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Good
Special Effects	Standard
How does it compare to similar films?	Good

Advantages:	Brill for all Midsomer Murder fans
Disadvantages:	none

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Season 9 - Episode 2

Original Air Date 26/02/06
Released 6/03/06

Directed by Penny Rye
Produced by Brian True-May
Writing Credits by Peter Hammond

Certified 15

Running Time 95 mins

Starring

John Nettles - DCI Tom Barnaby
Jason Hughes - Det Const Ben Jones
Jane Wymark - Joyce Barnaby
Barry Jackson - Dr George Bollard
Elizabeth Spriggs - Ursula Gooding

Based on a series of crime novels written by Caroline Graham, Midsomer Murders was first shown in the United Kingdom in 1987.

Set in the fictional county of Midsomer, Midsomer Murders deals with more murders in this small rural county than any other known to mind. John Nettles stars in each episode as DCI Tom Barnaby, although his sidekick has changed a couple of times during the series, this particular episode stars Jason Hughes who plays Detective Constable Ben Jones.
*********************************************************************
Scenario

Midsomer Barton is celebrating it's yearly festival of Oak Apple Week. As the children are playing down by the stream they find the body of Marion Slade floating in the water. The locals assume she has committed suicide as Marion has been severly depressed since the death of her daughter Bella 8 years ago. Bella who had been the Oak Apple's Carnival Queen died at the age of 16 from a severe bout of food poisoning. Since her death the Carnival Queen had been abolished, that is until this year.

Barnaby is called in to investigate the death only to find himself in turmoil when two local residents show up, Ursula and Alistair Gooding, this mother and son team are absolute identicals to two previous murder victims Iris and Dennis Rainbird whom Barnaby investigated at the town of Badger's Drift several years ago. ('The Killings at Badger's Drift episode). On further investigation Barnaby finds out that Ursula is actually Iris Rainbirds sister and the similarity of Alastair to creepy dead Dennis is something Barnaby finds hard to accept.

Barnaby begins his investigation into Marion Slade's death and finds from her post-mortem that she was full of tranquilisers this would go along with the assumptin of suicide but there are marks on her body which makes him begin to suspect that it was actually murder.

During Barnaby's investigations he comes along some likely suspects -

Grace and John Starkey - Grace is a very miserable Riding Stable Owner who bored with her husband take up the affections of local Doctor Wellard.

Mark and Heln Castle - Former travellers who have now settled in Midsomer Barton.

Rob Pride - Marion Slades gardener

Ruth Chalk - The publican of the local pub 'Heart of Oak' who has the constant flirtatious attention of John Starkey

During the ongoing celebrations, the tradition of collecting green oak boughs begins and Mark Castle heads off into the woods where he meets an untimely death, and is found with his throat cut against a tree. When the post-mortem reveals he too is filled with tranquilisers a link begins and Barnaby is now faced with a double murder, but who is the killer?

Dead Letters is the usual mixture of murder, adultery, revenge and contempt which we have all come to love from the Midsomer Murders episodes. As I said previously, if you love Midsomer Murders then you will thoroughly enjoy this one. And as usual you are left wondering to the last few minutes as to who the killer is going to be. Great viewing.

It is available from most retailers and ranges from £9.99 to £13.99).

Bonus Extras

Midsomer Map