STRANGLER'S WOOD

First Broadcast: February 3, 1999

A Brazilian model and star of a cigarette company, Monarch Tobacco, is found dead in a wood. Carla Constanza was strangled with a neck tie and her body dumped naked in Raven's Wood. Though this might be Barnaby's first visit to the wood, it is not long before the history of the wood comes back to haunt the villagers and be acknowledged by Barnaby. Nine years earlier, there were three girls found strangled by neck ties and sexually assaulted in the wood. Ever since, the scene of the crimes has been named Strangler's Wood.

A Rolex watch found by the body alongside bits of clay might be a shortcut to finding the killer. Barnaby and Troy find out that the watch belonged to John Merrill, part of the Monarch Tobacco company. Unfortunately for the detectives, he is away on business and they have to wait longer to talk to him.
In the meantime, they visit The Fox and Goose Hotel where the victim was staying. According to Gloria Bradley, who works at the hotel, Carla only spent one night in her room and never came back. She also heard raised voices in the room the day she booked in. Gloria takes Barnaby and Troy there and they find a diary, the most recent entry saying 'DRAYCOTT.'
The investigation continues for several days, but a new piece of evidence comes through when Kate Merrill, John's wife, finds one of his shirts smothered with lipstick stuffed in the wardrobe. The next body turns up when their housekeeper is ran over and injected with liquid nicotine. Do all of the current events match the recent fire at a Harley Street surgery?

 

DCI Tom Barnaby

John Nettles

DS Gavin Troy

Daniel Casey

Joyce Barnaby

Jane Wymark

Cully Barnaby

Laura Howard

Kate Merrill

Phyllis Logan

John Merrill

Nick Farrell

David Merrill

Tom Eilenburg

Bill Mitchell

Jeremy Clyde

Anna Santarosa

Debbie Chazen

Leonard Pike

Peter Byre

Dorothea Pike

Kathleen Byron

Liz Frances

Trudie Styler

Gloria Bradley

Katy Britton

George Meakham

Frank Windsor

Emily Meakham

Anne Stallybrass

Carla Constanza

Betti Romani

Nick

Frankie Carson

Pathology Laboratory Assistant

Rebecca Charles

Brazilian Bandit

George Lane Cooper

Milkman

Anthony Howes

PC Angel

Neil Conrich

Ad Woman

Tara Hugo

Dan Peterson

Toby Jones

Ticket Seller

Elizabeth Tyrrell

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Screenplay

Anthony Horowitz

Director

Jeremy Silberston

Producer

Brian True-May and Betty Willingale

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