The village of Midsomer Parva is dominated by the imposing and exclusive Devington School. So when the college's Pudding Club sets off a murderous chain of events, ranks begin to close against Barnaby and Troy. Without access to inside information, catching a killer who is obsessed by loyalty, finding the school's hidden secrets puts the two detectives to the test.

The church bell ringers at Midsomer Wellow are being picked off one by one by a gun-toting assassin the week before a big bell-ringing competition. Before he can crack the case, DCI Barnaby has to unravel the significance of a killing in 1840, when the Midsomer Wellow Vicar of the day was murdered and thrown down a well.

The ancient Setwale Wood has provided remedies for the people of Midsomer Abbey for many decades, now it is the subject of court action by villagers to prevent the impecunious owner of Abbey Farm, James Harrington, from cutting it down. However, when the body of Susan Bartlett is food in the woods, Barnaby and Troy are sent to investigate what at first appears to be suicide, but smells suspiciously like murder.

When the founder of the women's reading club is found murdered with her own walking stick, it soon becomes clear to Barnaby and Troy that the wealthy village of Midsomer Market is not the genteel and cultural seat it appears.