Pilot episode - After witnessing something unsettling in the woods Emily Simpson is found dead in her cottage. Her old friend, Lucy Bellringer, isn't convinced that Emily's death is natural and consults DCI Tom Barnaby about her fears. All is not what it seems amongst the residents of Badgers Drift!

In the quiet rural village of Ferne Basset, an elderly resident is inexplicably found drowned after a violet attack and Barnaby and Troy are sent to investigate. Meanwhile, a local amateur dramatic production of Amadeus reveals a hitherto hidden backstage world of intrigue, passion and gossip, and a whole new meaning to corpsing.