DCI Barnaby's new partner, Sgt. Dan Scott, arrives in Midsomer and is thrown straight into the mysterious murders of two members of the Midsomer Mallow Residents Association. But when the death toll unexpectedly rises, Barnaby becomes concerned for Cully, who is in the midst of organising a 10-year reunion with her old school friends.

Midsomer's highbrow literary community is turned upside down when one of their prize-winning young authors, Richard Rackham, is mysteriously murdered on the eve of the 12th Annual Midsomer St. Michael Literary Festival.