With Ben Jones promoted to inspector in Brighton, Barnaby is joined by new sergeant Charlie Nelson, to investigate the murder of Conor Bridgeman during a ghost hunt at a house in Morton Shallows. Though married, Conor was using the hunt as a cover to meet his girlfriend, had fallen out with the impoverished owner of the house, Simon Fergus-Johnson, who had refused to sell it to him and was disliked by local historian Brendan Pierce, whose daughter Bridgeman had seduced. Whilst the murderer is clearly human, mysterious pamphlets circulate the village, warning not to disturb the spirits, who will wreak revenge, and a second ghost hunt leads to another murder, that of pub landlord Ross Clymer, lover of Simon's wife and enemy of army deserter Ollie Tabori, the former boyfriend of Simon's put upon sister Valerie. Ultimately Barnaby discovers the reasons for the slayings are family based, using for their cover the superstitions surrounding the Christmas hauntings. Written by don @ minifie-1

Nancy Dewar's hooded corpse is found in a river, having left her alcoholic husband Michael to live with art historian Philip Hamilton. Her death resembles that of a woman in a fresco Hamilton is restoring at a local church. Michael names shopkeeper Ewan Evans as his alibi and whilst Ewan is perturbed that his art student son Noah has a book depicting medieval tortures, the reverend Martha Hillcott hopes to sell a cottage on church land belonging to previous vicar, the ailing Arthur Gould and his daughter Ava, to raise money to save the frescoes from rising river water. On the night she died, Nancy, as one of the church council, was about to sell her vote to Martha to support the sale of the cottage. But then two more murders occur, both styled after pictures in the frescoes. As the river bursts its banks and villagers take refuge in the church, Barnaby works out that the killings were not based in religion but perpetrated to keep hidden a shameful secret, a case less of Let Us Pray ... Written by don @ minifie-1

After hearing shots in the night, 60s model turned herbalist Lizzy Thornfield discovers the body of Martin Strickland. The wealthy Midsomer Wyvern landowner has been tied to a tree and mauled to death. Martin's second wife Camilla tells Barnaby that he had fallen out with the tenants of Wyvern House, his former family home, now a restaurant run by tyrannical celebrity chef Ruth Cameron and her husband Johnny Linklater. Martin was also angry about £10,000 worth of truffles stolen from his land. The dead man's last phone call was to Angela Linklater, landlady of the Stag and Huntsman and ex-wife of Johnny - she's also his lover. Camilla put up with the affair, but she is very angry to learn Martin left his substantial estate to his daughter Amy, ambitious commis-chef at Wyvern House. The police confiscate shotguns from farmhand Jamie Weston but the post mortem reveals that Martin was covered in truffle oil and eaten alive by wild boar. Ruth's protégé and whipping boy Nick Iver, sous chef ... Written by Adam Taylor

Bernard King, owner of Finchmere airfield, is knocked unconscious and dropped to his death from a plane. The wrench used to hit him belongs to elderly mechanic Duggie Wingate, who has long been in a feud with Molly Darnley, whom he claims sent his sister Ellie to her death when both women were in the Air Transport Auxiliary in World War Two so she could marry Ellie's lover Henry. Molly's weak son Perry, Bernard's business partner, is being taken to court by a local protest group, led by Eddie Rayner, who blames the Darnley family for the death of his wife. The Darnleys also have financial problems and Molly is shocked to discover that Perry, goaded by his cynical wife Miranda, hopes to sell Finchmere. Nelson then discovers that the airfield is being used for smuggling and wonders if smugglers killed the two victims to keep them quiet. An air display is held, featuring young pilots Alex, Perry's son, and Duggie's great-nephew Gavin Hopkirk, who are love rivals for Eddie's daughter ... Written by don @ minifie-1

Midsomer biscuit tycoon Eric Calder is poisoned by one of his own biscuits whilst in Copenhagen to seal a contract with businessman Albert Toft. As the goods were sent from Midsomer, detective Birgitte Poulsen asks Barnaby to investigate. He finds that Eric's son Harry had no interest in the family firm but had recently rowed with Eric whilst his wife Penelope has been having an affair with his brother Julian. Also in the frame is chief baker Armand Stone, a man with a good knowledge of chemistry. Julian is also murdered, drowned in whisky, but Barnaby and Nelson fly to Copenhagen from where a floral tribute was sent to Eric's funeral, paid for by a credit card stolen from Pastor Thomas Madsen. They find that Eric has been involved for many years with Ingrid Madsen, by whom he has a daughter. Whilst Barnaby works out the identity of the daughter there are more deaths back at Midsomer and he must link them with the killings of Copenhagen. Written by don @ minifie-1