Suzie Colebrook is electrocuted by a roulette wheel sent to her house. She was the legal executor and supposed lover of thriller writer George Summersbee whose Jed Dagger novels she also illustrated. At the same time a newly discovered manuscript by George of an unpublished Dagger story is stolen from Suzie's home. A local crime fiction festival is going on, run by Maggie Markham, whose doctor husband Nick Summersbee has written his brother George's biography whilst George's daughter Bella, rather than estranged wife Jeanie, is his sole heir. Following a second murder Barnaby finds out that both were copied from killings in a Dagger novel though the victim was a stranger to Suzie. There are a number of people anxious for different reasons to locate the missing manuscript but there are also suggestions that it is a fake. Furthermore there are differing accounts of George's death. Barnaby has to resort to the printed page to solve the mystery of the Dagger club. Written by don @ minifie-1

Pub landlady Hannah Altman is crushed to death whilst assisting illusionist Gideon Latimer at a charity magic show to raise funds for Midsomer Oaks church. The trick was sabotaged, suggesting that Gideon was the intended victim. He had received hate mail linking his act to Satanism and a particularly vocal critic is zealous curate Andrew Maplin. Certainly robed figures conduct midnight rituals in the grounds of Gideon's mansion, once owned by an eighteenth century paganist and one of them kills Andrew, leaving his corpse on a stone altar. Hannah was having an affair as is Gideon's wife, widening the list of suspects, whilst the vicar's wife Lorna Soane is revealed as a descendant of the eighteenth century Satanist. There is another slaying before Barnaby works out who committed murder by magic. Written by don @ minifie-1

Folk festival organizer Toby Winning is found dead, his head held down in a bowl of water also containing eels and eggs. His estranged wife Alice seems unconcerned, unlike co-organizer Brian Grey, who, with Toby, had been planning to move the festival from Lower Crosby to London - to the annoyance of local businessmen including pub landlord Frank Wainwright and sound engineer Danny Carver. Danny is also angry when his daughter Melody takes to the stage playing the guitar once owned by his brother Johnny, a famous folk singer who shot himself. Visiting musician Jay Templeton seems keen to help Melody's career but was expecting something from Toby. Two more deaths follow, both in the manner of murders in a local folk song and to solve them Barnaby must discover the importance of Johnny's lost recording of the Ballad of Midsomer County. Written by don @ minifie-1

William Carnarvon's Midsomer Vinae winery is launching a new sparkling white in the presence of waspish critic Nadia Simons when several guests are poisoned, though not fatally. William's wife Diana tells Barnaby of the opposition to the vineyard by a local group led by nurse Elspeth Rice but Elspeth claims that the vineyard has caused pollution and was indirectly responsible for the death of little Jessica Tyler, killed by a hit and run driver after a wine-tasting. Nadia was a prime suspect and soon afterwards she is killed. The vineyard is in financial trouble and hotelier Lewis Paynton, who is in love with Diana, offers to buy it but he is the next victim. Crime of passion, revenge killing or means of keeping somebody quiet, there is further sabotage and an abduction before Barnaby discovers who committed a vintage murder. Written by don @ minifie-1