In Oxford, 1965, Endeavour Morse is a teetotaler and a classical music loving young constable who considers leaving the force after an unhappy affair but stays to join Inspector Thursday's investigation into the disappearance of schoolgirl Mary Tremlett. By deciphering a code based on crosswords in the local paper and Mary's poetry books, Morse deduces that Mary was meeting a lover and leads Thursday to the site of her murder. Following the suicide of Mary's boyfriend, student Miles Percival, Morse meets Miles' tutor, Dr. Stromming, the crossword setter who was seeing Mary but had an alibi for the murder. DS Lott, jealous of Thursday's regard for Morse's sharpness, attempts to incriminate Miles but then the police learn that Mary and other girls were paid to attend orgies by creepy car dealer Teddy Samuels, who has Lott in his pocket, as well as other worthies. As a result, both Thursday (a great mentor who also introduces the young constable to real ale) and Morse are carpeted. Morse... Written by don @ minifie-1

Oxford in the 1960s :- Shabby but sharp young detective constable Morse comes to work with the experienced D.I. Thursday and is perplexed by the death of twenty-year old Margaret Bell from a supposed heart attack. Then Dr Cartwright,partner of her G.P. Bill Prentice,is shot dead. The widow,Helen,and her father Professor Sloan have another problem with her younger sister,the unstable epileptic Pamela,whose child they mind. Morse also finds a connection between Margaret's boyfriend and his tutor,Sloan,who has been receiving letters terming him a murderer. Furthermore the latest victim of a spate of Post Office robberies seems to have been involved with Cartwright in supplying illegal drugs to the likes of Margaret. Reactionary chief superintendent Bright disapproves of Morse's maverick sleuthing and wants him off the case but Morse uses his love of puzzles and former experience with code breaking at the Royal Signal Corps to draw all the threads together and solve the case. Written by don @ minifie-1

Unfaithful housewife Evelyn Balfour and elderly botanist Grace Madison are both murdered in the style of operatic heroines with the words of the characters' final arias being left at the scenes of crime. Psychiatrist Daniel Cronyn is brought in and informs the police that they are dealing with a serial killer. He believes it might be Keith Miller, a former patient of his who was a musical prodigy. A third murder at the killer's apparent hide-out reveals a press cutting that suggests that Morse is one of several victims that have been lined up. Ultimately Morse and Thursday find themselves unwittingly re-enacting the second act of 'Tosca' on a roof-top as they bring the killer to justice. Written by don @ minifie-1

On the day an Arab trade delegation visits the Broom family's arms factory owner Henry Broom announces a proposed French merger,which his abrasive,estranged wife Nora opposes. Soon afterwards the corpse of unpopular workman Percy Malleson is discovered,the suggestion being that the Brooms used him to spy on the work-force after the suspension of employee Lenny Frost. Then Morse learns that Percy was actually Eustace Kendrick and he was investigating the disappearance of his girl-friend Olive Rix,who had been romantically involved with Harry,the now deceased elder son of the Brooms. However,following a second murder another suspect and motive come to Morse's attention. Written by don @ minifie-1

Professor Coke Norris is killed in a hit and run. At the same time Thursday is perturbed to learn that the new owner of the Moonlight Room night club is Vic Kasper,a London gangster with whom he has history. Morse finds proof that Coke Norris visited the club as well as discovering that he was opposed to the sale of college land to build a housing estate. The murder of a cigarette girl from the club used in a blackmail plot to expedite the sale leads Thursday to Kasper as Morse discovers the reason for his superior's hatred of the man and they combine to act when Thursday's daughter is endangered. Morse then works out the real reason for the professor's murder before sitting his sergeant's exams. Written by don @ minifie-1