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Midsomer Murders series…

Midsomer Murders, Series 1 (Reissue) I have put off writing this review because most people who visit the Cozy Mystery Site are already aware of this deliciously fun, long-running ITV mystery series: Midsomer Murders. The episodes are based on (inspired by) Caroline Graham’s Inspector Barnaby Mystery Series.

Nope, it is not “mid-summer murders”>>> the Midsomer in the title refers to the county area in which DCI Barnaby (John Nettles) and his loyal sidekick sergeant (Daniel Casey in the first several seasons, John Hopkins in the middle seasons, and Jason Hughes in the last few seasons to date) are charged with keeping the peace and solving the crimes. And, lucky for us, we get to meet Barnaby’s wife (Jane Wymark) and daughter (Laura Howard) and watch as they both evolve.

The scenery is phenomenal>>> I love all of the different cozy village settings they show in the episodes. Since Midsomer is a county made up of several villages, we are treated to many quaint villages with the traditional cozy mystery characters— including a few totally eccentric busybodies! And, even luckier for us, Barnaby has a civic duty to perform, so we see him officiating/participating in several fêtes>>> More cozy village ambiance for us to enjoy!

Midsomer Murders is now in its eleventh season (I think!) although we (in the USA) are no longer having the privilege of watching this truly cozy mystery show. (A&E stopped showing the series several years ago.) I wish A&E hadn’t decided to change its line-up years ago. It was truly one of my favorite television channels back when they showed us shows like Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett, Miss Marple with Joan Hickson, and Poirot with David Suchet.

If you’re looking for the ambiance of a truly cozy British mystery setting… you might want to introduce yourself to Midsomer Murders. That is, if you aren’t one of its many fans already!

If you would like to see more TV and Movies suggestions, click here.

Comments

  1. Hi Tori!

    I wonder how many more of us anglophiles are out there who are not happy about A&E’s decision to become the official “repeats only” channel… CSI (from any major USA city!), Crossing Jordan, The Sopranos (with all the adult content cut out… leaving what? … the credits?), The Dog…

    Now that you mention it… I guess I’ve been “holding a grudge!” (I actually was going to blog about the new and improved A&E but thought I was the one of the few who was so disappointed… So, I guess it’s a green light on that particular blog!)

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  2. Oh, man, do NOT get me started on A&E/Biography’s decision to stop airing British mystery shows. I’ve been holding a grudge about that for what seems like eons!

    Reply

    • Join ‘Netflix’ they have many of the MIdsomer Murders episodes dating back to 1998. I get one every weekend and kick back to enjoy them .
      I agree I never watch A & E any more. Although sometimes a PBS station runs them.

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  3. Hi Danna I too was an A&E tv watcher then as well but not anymore. Luckily I recorded all those shows so I can watch them when I want to watch. Would love to get the Midsomer Murder shows on DVD but they are a little pricy for me and with only 4 movies per set not too good. One good thing for me right now is my PBS station out of Sacramento is carrying the Hercule Poirot mysteries on Saturday night from 9 to 11 barring pledge drive so I can watch them again. TV sure isn’t what it used to be. I have select shows I watch and then there is not that much I want to see anyway like you. Well take care ok.

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  4. I have pretty much stopped watching A&E lately. They took all of my favorite shows off the air, Nero Wolf, Midsomer Murders, etc. I love a show and it gets yanked. Thank goodness for BBCAmerica and DVD!!! I plan to one day get each season on DVD. I love and miss Midsomer Murders.

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  6. Hi Vickie,

    I just checked BBCAmerica hoping that they had reverted to their old scheduling which included some good mystery shows. All I could find was shows like Bargain Hunters, How Clean is Your House?, Cash in the Attic, ETC. They seem to have gone the way of A & E.

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    • Let’s not forget the ever lovable Duck Dynasty! I agree with the angliophiles. I am part British also and love the British series and I agree that A & E taking those off is a gyp. I haven’t watched A*E for years. I don’t mind Duck and Co. cause I love Ducks. But cutting us out of the delightful works we used to watch was not fair.

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  7. hi all

    Does anyone know a way to get seasons 9-11?? Buying the DVDs is a bit too expensive…..I have seasons 1-8 on DVD currently

    I really miss my Sundays with A & E what are they thinking??…

    thanks

    Reply

    • Diane: Try your local library. I’ve found that if it is part of a co-op with other library systems, you can order free of charge, what the other systems offer as well and renew them for another 2 weeks if you can’t view them in the 2-3 week window that you normally get for renting.

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  9. I dropped cable when they stopped showing Midsomer Murders. With the money I save I buy the DVDs. It’s still less than $10 per 90 minute episode which is cheaper than most movies on DVD.

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  10. Hi Karen,

    Shame on the networks when they stopped showing Midsomer Murders, Poirot, Miss Marple, Sherlock Holmes, and the rest of the shows we all loved! I guess that the reality shows are so cheap to produce that the networks figure they can cut costs and (probably) raise their audience numbers.

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  11. I love cozy mysteries!! Since it is not on cable anymore I try the local library here in NY. I have so far finished 9 out of the 11 season DVDs. Your local library is the best place to look for these.

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  12. I agree with all of you on A&E–and have also observed that BBC America is also getting pretty crummy in it’s programming. I also agree that Midsomer Murders is an absolute delight. Because I love watching my favorite BBC mysteries over and over and over again, “Midsomer” is another series that I’m compiling in my library–over time. (Thank heaven for the Amazon wishlist!)

    It will be a sad day for all of us when John Nettles (Tom Barnaby) retires–although he certainly has earned the right to relax. I understand they do intend to continue the series after that event occurs. I suspect the character (and actor) who will replace the Tom Barnaby character will itself remain a mystery until the eleventh hour! Until then, let’s all continue to enjoy this quirky and unique series, WHEN we can get it!

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  14. I found an online site that has all the 12-13 seasons of Midsomer Murders!!! It’s free for the first 4000mb (which translates to 4-7 episodes!). Then they charge but not really too much actually, I’m just too cheap so I’ll wait till my next month’s worth of 4000 mb! It’s called graboid. They have every episode available!! Even if you choose to pay, like Karen pointed out, still pretty cheap per episode.

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  16. I have to totally agree with everyone here that I was so disappointed when A&E/Biography took off Midsomer Murder, Poirot, Miss Marple and Sherlock Holmes. That channel hasn’t been the same for me since. I would love to see BBCAmerica broadcasting some of these plus some of their classic shows (Are You Being Served, AbFab, Keeping Up Appearances, etc….) instead of so much Gordon Ramsey, Top Gear, You Are What You Eat. I do love Antiques Roadshow though! They have a huge catalog of shows that they are always trying to sell to all of us, broadcast some of them on a “Classic” or “Mystery” night then maybe we would all buy some of their dvd’s.

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    • If your cable or tv provider in your area carries a PBS station, I’ve found that I can see Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple and Poirot on those occasionally. They usually accompany a fundraising drive to bring them but that isn’t too painful.

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  17. I agree with all of you. I used to look forward to every episode of Midsommer. Now I do get them on netflix but they are about 3 years behind. Better than nothing. What happened to a good old fashioned murder? The brits are great at doing this and yet we can’t get them. I also hold a grudge against A&E.

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  18. I started buying Midsomer on Amazon as well. They’re not cheap but we enjoy them so much. I got 2 sets for Christmas and the latest set that they just released this month is on the way. Next season is released June 1.

    I agree with everybody that we used to spend every Sunday watching the British mysteries on the biography channel. I know we haven’t watched bio or A&E since then. Our local PBS shows the same 4-5 1hr episodes of Poirot over and over but nothing else. They used to show Rosemary & Thyme, but not anymore. I love the new Inspector Lewis but found Wallender a bit slow.

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    • We have the BBC channel in Michigan (which is still, last time I checked, in America and they carry the “classics” on occasion. You need to look up your local listing but I’ve also found such gems on
      Lifetime and Sunday night mystery movie as Public Broadcasting channels. You might try those. ln order to hide our favorites to keep a channel from canceling them, they “hide” our favs in other places. We
      regulars that like such shows can usually help each other find them.

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  19. We love watching the Midsomer shows… Truly “Cozy” atmosphere…

    Lately, I am finding that PBS airs the same shows over and over, changing the actual production companies and actors. I mean, how many different ways can they do “Emma”?!? And this latest “39 Steps”!!! I have to be honest and say upfront that I didn’t watch it, but can it possibly top the Alfred Hitchcock classic?!?

    As for A & E… What can I say!?!

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  20. For several years now I have been wondering why lovely British programs like Midsomer Murders stopped airing on A&E. For some reason those responsible for programming decided that A&E needed to “dumb-down”a bit for the sake of popularity? There are a few new shows that I can deal with, but the quality is lacking greatly. I do hope that someone will again air Midsomer Episodes and other Brit Mysteries again, to include more from PBS.

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  25. Hi there – can anyone help with this crazy notion? In the Hidden Depths Episode near the beginning, two women are having morning coffee when one of the husbands appears to have jumped off the roof.

    Never mind the murder, does anyone know the name of the exquisite tea set? The pot appears to be yellow with willows on it and the teacups blue with a bird on it.

    The same set I think appears in the last scene of “Down Among the Dead Men.”

    Ideas appreciated!

    Carolyn

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    • That’s great, Carolyn. Kind of like saying “other than the incident, Mrs. LIncoln, how did you like the play”? I love that! I am a tea fancier too!

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    • Carolyn: I have the same question about that tea or coffee set shown in two episodes. It’s stunning! (I found this thread when I Googled for information about the set. So far no luck.)

      Reply

    • I’m going the series now through Netflix and am looking for the same tea / coffee set. The cup is maize yellow with a blue bird on it.

      I agree…it’s beautiful.

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      • Hi Julie! I tracked down the teaset designer – but the set is no longer made, and impossible to find through ebay, etc. Mary Engelbriet, in her old magazine, showed the set, that she owned!! I have the cups in rust, with yellow birds….I signed up at Replacements for the pattern, “L’Oiseaux” but I have never heard back from them…..so we can just enjoy seeing those cups on Midsommer!!

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  26. I’m with everyone else, I used to watch BBC-America and Bio Channel all the time and now I never turn them on. I get the DVDs from my local library, but they are several years behind..but I love to watch them over and over again. These new “detective” shows are too graphic and violent for me. My local PBS station is airing 4 new episodes (new as to actors) each of Poirot and Miss Marple this summer and I am making a point of watching them.

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  28. Hello there all! I became disgusted with BBCAmerica about 3 years ago when they started playing all the junk reality shows-I never turn it on now-The only thing they have is Dr. Who that I might watch occasionally. I started years ago watching Are You Being Served? and Keeping Up Appearances. I eventually took 2 trips to England and Scotland just because of the shows! Then they all just went to heck-even my PBS station, in Columbia,SC only shows Brit. shows on Saturday night. I can’t figure who the demographic is that they are attempting to appeal to!

    Reply

  29. One more thing- you can watch many UK films on YouTube, although you have to watch them in 10 minute sections! It’s not bad though. You get used to it. There is a site put together by someone termed The Victorian Lady. She has compiled the greatest 30 films,etc. She has a wealth of things to watch. The only problem is where to start! This is a great website that I just stumbled onto. I read most all the mysteries on the list and find it to be the highlight of my day. I can’t believe there are other eccentrics out there like me! I have a degree in Lit. from SUNY.

    Reply

  31. Does anybody think the theme music is cool? I can’t decide if it’s whimsical and eerie at the same time or lighthearted and creepy but either way it gets my attention and keeps it. Netflix is my source and I’m only 22 episodes into the 62 available. It reminds me in some ways of “Murder She Wrote” especially in it’s longevity. The greatest benefit of dvd’s of Midsomer is the continuity without commercial breaks that would have been on BBC and A&E.

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  33. Thanks for all the great suggestions. I tend to get things through the library, and I am currently waiting for set 16 of Midsomer Murders. Try also Vincent with Ray Winstone (excellent, but only one season available here in the US) and A Touch of Frost is also good (there are lots of them). Also, Doc Martin with Martin Clunes is very entertaining. It is not a mystery but very good and gorgeous scenery.

    Hope these help you survive in TV Wasteland!

    Reply

  34. I feel so much better now after reading all these comments. When I first discovered that A & E changed their program, I was completely disappointed I called my cable company to take this channel out of my program. Unfortunately, I was told it is part of the package that we bought. The next thing I knew, even BBC followed the way of A & E. The anger (for that is the only word that I can use to describe my feelings) that I felt was overwhelming. It is not just because I lost all these beautiful and truly delightful shows – for I was not only thinking of myself – but because it dawned on me that these channels are now feeding their viewers mostly stupid, even violent, shows. They have completely dumbed down their channels. A & E and BBC America used to have integrity. Now, they mostly have crappy programs to show for their efforts. One thing I can say about those people making the decisions: They have the mentality of greed and stupidity!

    Reply

  35. Anne, it looks like you watch the very same British series that I do. Your library video section sounds phenomenal!

    Eveline, it is a shame when you think that a whole generation of television viewers no longer have access to some of the best television series…

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  36. I agree with all of you.I loved Midsomer Murders. I don’t know who the demographic BBC is aiming for is.I thought it was supposed to be Brit shows not Star Trek! I have seen a couple of episodes of BBC Law and Order ( Friday Night 9:00 EST)which are quite good but I do miss those Brit shows that are so well done.

    Reply

  37. I’ve been lov’n Midsumer Mysteriess for ever so long.
    Getting Netflix’s mailed movies has kept me going with the new series and some of the past..
    BBC does a great job, once in awhile, with their mystery series usually on Sunday nights.
    Today was my first read of this site and blog.
    Thank you for all the wonderful Cozy Mystery recommendations.
    Elizabeth

    Reply

  39. I love Midsomer Murders! I get my Midsomer fix from Netflix.The most current ones offer subtitles for us English-accent- impaired Americans. I wish Acorn would provide subtitles for the earlier series as well.

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    • Laurie, I don’t have a problem with Midsomer Murders’ accents, but my husband and I have had to drop at least two mystery shows that we simply could not understand. When I have to rewind over and over so that I can understand what is being said, he just says it’s not worth it.

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        • PJ, my husband and I have had to use the subtitles for a few shows we have watched recently. One was from Ireland, and the other from New Zealand. My husband insists that we didn’t “have to” but I will say that it certainly helped a lot. I didn’t have to keep rewinding to try to catch everything they said.

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  40. I am Midsomer Murders ignorant. I do know that my wife loved this show and hasn’t been able to watch it since A&E stopped airing it. Does anybody know what shows were aired on A&E? I want to buy the DVDs for the shows she hasn’t seen as a surprise. Thanks for any assistance

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  41. Mike…I have tried to figure out the same thing and as best as I can figure out, the last episode shown in the US was ‘Four Funerals and a Wedding’ from set 9 of the DVD series. I did find a comprehensible episode list on the web once, but have since lost it and can’t find it anymore.
    Hope this helps…also…wouldn’t hurt to email A&E on a regular basis to mention our wish for the Brit series. My friends and I do once in a while with hopes that they will eventually see the light.:-)

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  42. I’m in the UK so have no problem seeing Midsomer Murders. I love the show and watch it whenever I can, at present it’s being repeated a lot. The bad news is that they recently showed Tom Barnaby’s last ever case and I’ve not heard anything about whether the show will carry on. I can’t tell you anything about the episode as I didn’t watch it! I really don’t like watching episodes that I know are the last, it’s just so… final! I’m sure the internet will have some information. One other thing, Midsomer is not a BBC show, its made for and shown by their main commercial rival, so BBC America will have to pay their rival if they show it. The BBC is having to make substantial savings at present and that may be why their programming is changing in America.

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    • Thank you, Sheila, for the information. I hate hearing that Tom Barnaby has solved his last case. (And, thanks for letting me know about it not being a BBC show.)

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  43. My remote has not even clicked on A&E since they quit airing BBC mysteries so many years ago. And it’s a shame they replaced great programming with who knows what.

    But back to Midsomer 😉 my family and I powered through all that were available on Netflix. What a treat!!! Then I got the the last two box sets. I really can’t wait to see the ending episodes. I just read that the series might continue with another lead character? Does anyone know if that is true? That is just a great series, they got everything right! I wish it could go on forever!

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    • Kim, the A used to stand for Arts and the E for Entertainment… That was years ago>>> I have no idea what they stand for these days!

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  44. Does anyone know when season 18 will be released! I live in the United States, and I’m almost done with season 17! I’m in a panic now, and find myself wondering if I should watch one, or put it off to make them last longer!!!!
    Please help lol!

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    • I don’t know when that will be Rebeccah, but I can tell you that you aren’t the only one who paces yourself. I don’t just do that with my favorite authors’ books, I also do that with series I know won’t be available for a “long” time… (I know this is a sort of “misery loves company” response!)

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  46. I never watch A&E now. I loved Midsomer I was hoping it would get picked up by one of the PBS stations and added to its Masterpiece Mystery series but I do not see that happening. I guess I will just have to buy the DVD’s

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  47. I live in Kings Langley in England and it is just like the villages in Midsomer Murders. It is true that a new series is in production with ITV (not a BBC production). I must say on British Telly we are inundated with US programmes which is okay but you are all really missing out on some GREAT British programmes.

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    • You are so lucky, Jeanette! I would love to live in an area that is similar to the Midsomer Murders villages.

      (And, thank you for letting me know to correct the BBC to ITV…)

      Reply

  48. I just finished the last episode available on Netflix, and look forward to seeing the rest of the series when available. I probably will start reading the books, as well.

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    • Aren’t these Midsomer Murders a treat to watch, Dave? Did you know that they actually “lost track” of one of the corpses in one of the episodes? Yep, it’s true! There was actually an extra body in one of the episodes that they apparently forgot to edit out of the show, since they didn’t include it in the show’s investigation/plot. (I wish I could remember in which episode that happened.)

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  49. I watch all the British shows on the New Jersey PBS Channel. [23] They have Midsomer Murders; Doc Martin; Ballykisangel; Rosemary and Thyme; Keeping Up, etc. They are on several times per week, repeated at a variety of times. I love them all. I remember when Inspector Morse retired, so I anticipate Inspector Barnaby will follow in his steps some day.

    Reply

    • JoAnn, your PBS channel sounds wonderful! I wish ours would show those British shows.

      Reply

  51. I just finished watching 13 seasons of Midsomer Murders on Netflix, and I loved it. The last two seasons aren’t on Netflix yet, but I doubt I will watch them, because the wonderful John Nettles was no longer in them.

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    • Mary R, I’m very sorry to see that John Nettles is leaving Midsomer Murders, but I remember Neil Dudgeon (Tom Barnaby’s replacement & cousin, John Barnaby) so fondly from The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries that I’m going to stay with the show.

      Reply

      • Well, if you liked him in that show, I guess I will watch when they put the new ones on Netflix! Thanks, Danna!

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  53. Can anyone tell me the pattern and maker of the bird tea set used in the HIDDEN DEPTHS MIDSOMER MURDERS SHOW ?
    THANKS, VERONICA

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  55. to add a quick note: Midsomer Murders are still showing on the East Coast – Parts of WV and MD on the Public TV stations.

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    • Lucky you, IreneM! Our PBS station stopped running the older mystery shows a while back.

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  56. I’ve just started watching Midsome Murders on Netflix. I am enjoying it, but it is a bit more graphic and suspenseful than say Rosemary & Thyme. Still, I enjoy the settings in the series and thank you for this site!

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  57. Danna – it should not be “Arts ” and Entertainment – just Entertainment! I am not entertained by many of their shoes. But I will give A&E credit for “Longmire “. That is a good mystery program. “The Glades ” used to be good but I guess it kind of went downhill and was canceled. Those were the only 2programs I could stand. The Hallmark Channel occasionally runs the “Jane Doe”, “Mystery Woman “, and other cozies as marathon’s.

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    • Marla, my husband and I are still making our way through Mystery Woman and McBride. (We DVR-ed them a while back when Hallmark was running a marathon. I had seen all of the shows when they aired – years ago, and thought he might enjoy watching them. (The McBride music is a little odd, but other than that, we are enjoying them.

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  58. Looking at Veronica’s question about the teaset shown on “Hidden Depths”….does any one have any ideas about how to find out what the beautiful pattern is? Thanks to all!

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  59. I discovered Midsomer Murders on Netflix and have been binge-watching for over two weeks, as many as ten episodes in a single day. Not getting much else done. I’m now into the 13th series, ep 3. I have been amused at the recycling of the supporting cast but disappointed that Freddie Jones has only been in a single one. One of the ladies was in two consecutive ones, one as a murderess. Also counting how many times particular pubs show up more than once. Three for the Green Man, I think and the Feathers Hotel twice. I wonder if anyone else is keeping track of these things.

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    • Yow, John B! As much as my husband and I enjoy those Midsomer Murder shows, I know there is no way we could have watched ten episodes in just a day! That’s got to be some kind of Guinness record!

      It will be interesting to see if anyone else is keeping tabs on the characters/settings of the shows…

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  60. **********SPOILER ALERT**********
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    It’s all over for Netflix at season 13, ep 8. Tom retires on his birthday and announces that his cousin had transferred from Brighton. I’m glad. it was taking too much of my time.

    Reply

    • I’m sorry to tell you, John B, but it’s not all over.
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      His cousin Tom takes over…

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      • No, it’s only over as far as Netflix coverage is concerned. Again, as far as recycling is concerned, the actor portraying John Barnaby appeared AFTER that show with the visit to Brighton as a bad guy before again showing up as Tom’s replacement.

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  61. Here in central Maine, I’m able to watch Midsomer Murders on Ovation on Thursday mornings beginning at 8 a.m. I enjoy watching them even when the episodes are repeats. Because I enjoy reading actual books, I’ve just ordered the entire series. It will be fun to compare the t.v. versions to the books to see how close they match. I also enjoy the Miss Fisher series on Ovation Wednesday mornings and I’m in the middle of the three-part book by Kerry Greenwood. Cozies are my absolute favorites. Guess I should just sign up for Brit Box or Acorn t.v.

    Reply

  62. For those of you who get the OVATION channel, Midsomer Murders are a Thursday morning staple.

    Reply

  63. I started watching Midsomer Murders on Prime Video (I think) or maybe it was Netflix. I totally flipped for the series. Britbox has all 21 seasons. I started again from Season 14.

    Reply

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