Inspector Barnaby Volume 17 - DVD

Content: Whoever thinks that after more than a decade of successful investigations by Inspector Barnaby (John Nettles) in the picturesque county of Midsomer, word has finally gotten around among the residents that crime just doesn't pay here is sorely mistaken. Here, people continue to murder, scheme, cheat and steal for all they're worth. And so Barnaby and his colleagues DC Ben Jones (Jason Hughes, DVD 2-4) and Sergeant Dan Scott (John Hopkins, DVD 1) once again have their hands full trying to put a stop to the murderous goings-on in Midsomer.

This happens again in the four episodes from seasons 8, 9 and 12, which are included in the 17th DVD box set to the series, in a very entertaining way, with a mixture of typical British humor of the particularly dry kind, quirky characters and exciting stories. Even though the basic concept of the series hasn't really evolved since its first season in 1997, the whole thing still works surprisingly well after all these years. Because even if the big surprises are missing, Inspector Barnaby is still a guarantor for noble crime entertainment on a very high level.

And that's what the new episodes are all about:

DVD 1: THE LIGHT IS HOT (Season 8, Episode 8)

In the morning, a naked male corpse lies in the disinfection plant at Plummer's factory for fine preserves, ultra-high temperature. The company is flagging. Should they take out loans or sell? The Plummer family is hopelessly divided. The only thing they agree on is Barnaby and Scott: no information. When persistently questioned, security guard Keith Carter testifies that Anselm Plummer, the younger son, has been tampering with the safe at night. Was he trying to steal the famous prescriptions and sell them? Older son Ralph would rather hide in his bird-watching station than face the confrontations that are due. And both mother Amelia fibs to everyone that she has dementia. Finally Ralph's wife Helen, charming, extremely capable, but without voting rights in the family council, gives Barnaby insight into the confusing family relationships. (Text: ZDF)

DVD 2: PICANTE SECRETS (Season 9, Episode 6)

The village of Elverton-cum-Latterly is divided. Should they vote for or against the Goodfare supermarket and new housing development? Pub owner Danny Pigott (is in favour) and shopkeeper Gary Talbot (is against) are sometimes fighting out their arguments with their fists. Opponents gather at the mansion of Orlando and Ginny Lamington and try to persuade the reluctant Rose Sutherly, a widow living in luxury, to toe their line. The village gathers for the great dispute. Meanwhile, Rose's daughter, the snarky Dora, and the stalwart pub owner's son, Otis, are loitering in a shed with a few bottles of vodka and cigarettes and come across a dead body. It's Paul Hopkirk. The murder weapon is one of the knives Rose finds missing from her kitchen. Hopkirk, Barnaby investigates, worked for the Goodfare corporation and had contact with many women in the village. (Text: ZDF)

DVD 3: MURDER - FOR MEMBERS ONLY (Season 12, Episode 1)

A murder shatters the peace of the posh White Oaks golf club. At the infamous 13th hole, called Crisp's Folly, the filthy rich Alistair Kingslake is bludgeoned to death with a golf club. Barnaby's boss is also a club member and teases his Chief Inspector with instructions to investigate tactfully. But relentlessly, Barnaby uncovers the buoyant illegal money-lending operation of Eileen Fountain, who has defaulters beaten up by her diminutive but bear-strong son. But Barnaby is even more interested in the feud between the club members and the villagers who own the golf course. The villagers have the right to use it for a few hours a week, and some try to cajole their way up to regular membership. That's when another club member is beaten to death. (Text: ZDF)

DVD 4: MURDER IS ALSO AN ART (Season 12, Episode 2)

Felicity Law puts her most prized possession, a painting by the famous landscape painter William Hogson, up for auction. For a whopping £400,000, collector George Arlington acquires it. Felicity donates the proceeds to Mathilda Simms' art school so that she can continue the work of her famous painter father. The next morning, collector Alan Best's hogson is stolen, and Felicity is dead, brutally murdered. Patricia Blackshaw, chairman of the Hogson Society, registers a jump in interest in the Hogson from the art market, and an insurance investigator goes undercover. Barnaby acquires a great deal of art historical expertise for this case, ably assisted by Mathilda Simms. Joyce can already hear how attractive he finds Mathilda by the way her husband talks about her. (Text: ZDF)

Picture + Sound: Also in the technical realization of the four episodes there are no big surprises: Every now and then, especially in the darker scenes, slight blurring and image noise are noticeable, but overall the picture quality is on a good TV level in terms of sharpness, coloration and contrast matching, especially in the brighter outdoor scenes. Stereo sound is largely unspectacular, with the very centrally mixed dialogue and music dominating the proceedings. For a TV production, it's not stunning, but it's good!

Extras: Apart from trailers, there is unfortunately no bonus material.

Conclusion:This time, Inspector Barnaby has to deal with art forgers, murderous golfers, the owners of a cannery facing bankruptcy, and a dead corporate employee who must have broken a lot of women's hearts. The popular investigator does it in his usual way, which after more than ten years is perhaps not particularly surprising, but still extremely entertaining. Humour, suspense, the beautiful landscape of Midsomer and its rather quirky inhabitants also make these four episodes of the hit series a must for all lovers of fine British crime fare. Even if bonus material is again not present, there is also for this box a: Recommendable!

Source: Sebastian Betzold / ZDF (Summary)