SINS OF COMMISSION

First Broadcast: January 18, 2004

The villagers in Midsomer St. Michael are celebrating the 12th Year Midsomer Literary Festival at Maplin Hall. The festival started ever since Conor Maplin, husband of Grace Maplin, who owns the all, died. But on the eve of the festival, local woman Kay Settingfield finds a prize-winning author dead at the bottom of the stairs, the name of Richard Rackham. Apparently his neck has been broken. Barnaby and Scott meet down at the cottage with Bullard.

They chat briefly with Kay, who tells them Richard once won the Maplin Prize. Apparently his publisher was Sam Callaghan. Bullard then gives his verdict - apparently it is definitely murder, and not just a straightforward fall down the stairs. They find some magazines in the house which doesn't suggest he is a ladies man - and then Barnaby witnesses Kay stealing a postcard from the mantelpiece.
The news spreads around the village quickly. At the pub, one of the judges - 'Jezebel Tripp' - has arrived to sign some autographs. She writes historical novels which are rather popular. Though she is not grateful with friend Neville Williams organising a pathetic audience. Jezebel was hoping for more than a few villagers.
Barnaby and Scott visit Maplin Hall where Cully is helping with the preparations. Also there is John Denton - Barnaby knows him, he used to be a troublemaker but apparently he's reformed, even being short-listed for the Maplin Prize. Barnaby has earlier discovered how John Denton had a row with Richard the night he died at The Quill Inn. John denies having anything to do with the murder.

When the evening of the festival arrives, a power cut which gives opportunity to commit a second murder crops up. It is the publisher's wife, Helen Callaghan, who finds Neville Williams dead on the terrace.

 

DCI Tom Barnaby

John Nettles

DS Daniel Scott

John Hopkins

Joyce Barnaby

Jane Wymark

Cully Barnaby

Laura Howard

Dr. George Bullard

Barry Jackson

Grace Maplin

Stella Gonet

Tim Settingfield

Donald Sumpter

Kay Settingfield

Margot Leicester

Neville Williams

Mark Umbers

Jezebel Tripp

Emma Buckley

Sam Callaghan

Tom Mannion

Helen Callaghan

Victoria Wicks

Camilla Crofton

Susan Engel

John Denton

Robert Whitelock

WPC Julie

Alex Belcourt

Brenda Hunnicut

Rachel Bell

David Lowry

Damien Lyne

Travel Agent

Caroline Lintott

---

---

Screenplay

Elizabeth Anne-Wheal

Director

Peter Smith

Producer

Brian True-May

Episode Guide

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1