A commercial decision to turn Midsomer Deverell's memorial garden into a tea shop proves to be a fatal mistake for some members of the Inkpen family. The Bennetts are particularly enraged, as Gerald Bennett was responsible for the garden's creation. When Fliss Inkpen is found brutally murdered in the garden, Barnaby launches an investigation that unearths more than mere local hostility. Upon the deaths of Elspeth Inkpen, Cynthia Bennett and George Bennett, Barnaby's discoveries reveal a tumultuous trail of ruined dreams, scandalous love affairs and vicious blackmail that lead straight to the killer. Guest Star: Sarah Alexander (Coupling) and an early Midsomer appearance by Neil Dudgeon in a different role before joining the series as DCI John Barnaby.

The town of Causton's detective chief investigator and his detective sergeant investigate the scandals and deadly deeds that lurk just beneath the well-manicured surface of the county of Midsomer. The series is bolstered by a rotating cast of investigators and many special celebrity appearances.