Strangler's Woods is the second episode of the second series of the popular British crime drama Midsomer Murders and was originally aired 3rd February 1999.
Synopsis[]
Carla Constanza, a very attractive Brazilian actress and model for the advertising face of Monarch Tobacco, is found strangled with a necktie in Ravens Wood. It is similar to the killings in the wood nine years ago. Is the Strangler back?
Plot[]
At the Fox and Goose hotel, the milkman delivers milk to Leonard Pike. In the woods, George Meakham walks out in the road. Bill Mitchell passes and almost hits the milk truck. Anna Santarosa brings in the milk at the Merrill house. Kate Merrill pours milk on her son's cereal. Kate asks her husband John Merrill where his watch is. David Merrill leaves the table without eating and runs to the shed to get his bike.
Boys are playing in Ravens Wood and David rides his bike through them on the way to school. The boys chase a ball and find the naked, dead body of Carla Constanza with a tie around her neck.
At the Barnaby house, Joyce Barnaby is preparing to leave to go take care of her mother. Cully is home to take care of her dad, Tom Barnaby.
DCI Tom Barnaby and DS Gavin Troy arrive at the crime scene. Dr. Dan Peterson is filling in for Dr. Bullard, who is on vacation. The police find the victim's clothes with labels from San Paolo and a wristwatch. Barnaby realizes the Ravens Wood area is the place known as "Strangler's Wood." Back at the police station, Barnaby shows Troy newspapers from nine years ago where 3 women were strangled and left in the woods. A German backpacker, an au pair and a hotel maid were raped and strangled in the wood, which was subsequently referred to by the locals as Strangler's Wood. The detective who handled the case nine years ago is George Meakham, Barnaby talks to him at Lawn Bowling. George tells Barnaby he won't get the perpetrator.
George goes home and tells his wife, Emily Meakham. He says he didn't tell the police anything. Meakham goes upstairs and opens a drawer full of ties. He wraps one around his neck and pulls the ends.
The detectives take the watch to a jeweler's. He identifies the purchaser of the watch as Kate Merrill.
Kate is meeting with Liz Frances reading letters. They run a help column together..Kate reads the letter, " 'Dear Kate, I was cleaning the bedroom of my 17-year-old son, when I found a magazine hidden under his bed.' 'To my horror, the magazine is called Gay News.' 'And I don't know if I should confront him or pretend it never happened?'" Liz says, "He's 17, for God's sake. He's a man. Tell her to read the magazine herself and get a life."
DCI Barnaby and DS Troy come to the Merrill house. Liz says, "We work together." Kate says, "We write an agony column for the local newspaper." Troy says he thinks he's read Kate's column. Troy tells Kate about the Rolex watch they found. Kate says her husband put his watch in for repairs. John Merrill is in London. Kate tells them, "John is Marketing Director for Monarch Tobacco. He has a meeting with the advertising agency. He is staying overnight, but I can call him if you want." Barnaby tells her to have him phone when he gets back tomorrow. Troy gives Kate his business card. Kate tells Troy she knows his name. Barnaby tells Kate he found the watch in Raven's Wood (Stranglers Wood). As they leave, Barnaby asks Troy what sort of Agony Column Kate writes. Troy says he just glances at it. Outside, David watches the police drive off. Kate tells Liz that John lied to her about the watch. He told her it was being repaired. Kate calls John, but there is no answer.
At an office in Harley Street, London, someone pours gasoline over papers and the desk of an office. A match is lit. The office goes up in flames. A man's body is seen on the floor.
At the Fox and Goose Hotel, newspapers are delivered. Gloria Bradley takes them inside. An article about Stranglers Woods new victim- Carla Constanza is on the front page.
At home, Barnaby reads files. Cully says, "Dad you haven't eaten any of it! Eggs, bacon, sausage, fried bread. All your favourites. It's all cold now. (She throws them in the trash) So, what is it this time?" Barnaby shows her the paper. "It's a South American girl. Actress or a model, by the look of it. There she is. Strangled in Raven's Wood." "But that was nine years ago" Cully says, "So why has he started again?" Barnaby replies, "Why did he stop?" The phone rings. Troy has an ID on the girl. Barnaby puts on his coat to leave. Cully suggests that they go out to dinner that night. Barnaby agrees.
At the Fox and Goose Hotel, Gloria Bradley, maid, tells the detectives that she recognized the victim. She booked a room at the hotel a week ago. She was there one night and then never came back, although she booked the week. Her name was Carla Constanza. Her clothes are still in her room. Gloria was working when Carla checked in. She was out of breath as though she'd been running. She paid for the whole week by credit card and requested a downstairs room. Gloria heard her about an hour later having an argument with someone. She was shouting, but Gloria couldn't understand what she was saying. She had thrown an ashtray into the fireplace. In Carla's calendar, there is one entry for a Draycott.
Leonard Pike shows up and asks what is going on. Gloria tells him about the woman who's been strangled- "the South American lady in Room 15." Leonard asks if Gloria has taken the papers up yet. He doesn't want his mother upset. Barnaby and Troy interview Leonard. He says that one of the girls who was killed had worked there, Joan Chaplin. She was close to his mother. That's why he doesn't want his mother to know anything about any of this. He says his mother is ill- dying of cancer. Leonard says Carla made two telephone calls that Wednesday. Barnaby recognizes one of the numbers as Kate Merrill's.
Leonard brings morning medication up to his mother, Dorothea Pike, who is in a wheelchair. She asks who the men were she saw from her window. Leonard tells her that the policemen were there to warn him about false money in circulation. When Leonard asks how she is feeling, Dorothea says, "I'm in pain. If the Lord wanted me to feel better, he'd put me out of my misery. But he wants me to suffer. He's still punishing me." She gives her son a meaningful look. Dorothea says, "I haven't had my paper." Leonard tells her the paper didn't come.
Troy finds that the second number Carla called was Monarch Tobacco. The detectives go to Monarch Tobacco to speak to Bill Mitchell. He says, "Carla- Our biggest selling brand of cigarette in Brazil- they're the market leader. Carla Constanza was a gorgeous girl, the acting talent of a flea. We found her in some bloody old Brazilian soap and used her to promote Carla cigarettes. Just a coincidence they share the same name. We put her on TV and in posters. She spearheaded our advertising for two years. In that time, she became a star and the brand just rocketed." Bill goes on to say that he last saw Carla a couple of months ago in Rio. "Went out for a shoot. An ad we still haven't released. Do you realize how bad this is? Carla has a 22% share of the fifth biggest tobacco market in the world." Barnaby interjects, "We are talking about a young woman's death, sir." Mitchell responds, "Well, I'm talking about relaunching, repackaging, scrapping thousands of pounds worth of advertising. Maybe, maybe losing the whole brand. If that happens, I could lose the whole bloody shebang." Bill tells the police to talk to John Merrill. Troy asks Bill if he's heard of Draycott. Bill says he's never heard of him.
Kate Merrill asks her husband about Carla Constanza. John says, "You know Bill will blame me for this, don't you? He'll probably accuse me of killing her as well." Kate tells them the police were there- they found his watch near the body. John says it's not his watch. He did lose the watch about a week ago and was going to replace it and hope his wife didn't notice. There's a 3 month waiting list for a new one. Kate doesn't believe him. The door creaks. David was listening. John tells Kate to do something about David. He's always snooping and prying and listening.
The police arrive. Barnaby finds white clay on the tires of John's car. John tells the detectives that it is his watch. But he hasn't been near Raven's Wood. John says he last saw Carla in Rio a few months ago. He hasn't spoken to her since. Troy says Carla called the house last Wednesday at 5:00. John claims he never received a call- He never gets in before six. Kate says she didn't have any messages on the answering machine.
Anna, the au pair, comes downstairs. She denies a message on the answering machine. Kate goes up to say goodnight to David. She tells him not to eavesdrop. He says he heard Kate and John arguing.
Barnaby comes home late and calls for Cully. She is at the restaurant waiting for him.
The next morning, Barnaby apologizes to Cully again. He tells her he has a surprise for her- a play in Causton. He has two free tickets. Cully is thrilled. Later at Causton Playhouse, Barnaby tries to wangle two tickets to the play. He tells the attendant that he needs to see the play as part of an investigation. Barnaby and Troy try to speak to Anna, who they see in town, but she doesn't understand much of what they are saying.
The detectives watch a commercial featuring Carla Cigarettes and Carla Constanza. Barnaby says that there are two important differences between the murders nine years ago and Carla's murder. "The first three girls were attacked in the wood. Raped and strangled. Carla wasn't sexually assaulted at all. And looking at the body, I'd say she wasn't attacked in the wood. More likely she was strangled somewhere else and then carried there. To make it looked like the other deaths.
George Meakham shows up. Barnaby tells him to go home. Meakham persists, "Listen to me. Eva Hoffman. The 13th day of the month. Friday 13th, Joan Chaplin. A full moon. The classic serial killing. Judith Albiston. Just eight days after Joan. Today is the 13th. It's eight days since the last death. And there's a full moon tonight. Don't you see?" Barnaby says NO. George says, "There will be another victim."
Kate and Liz discuss what they want to put in the newspaper. Liz says, "So, what have we got? We're going to run with the man who's been seeing his secretary, the mother and her gay son, the nervous bride, and the letter of the week; the man with the non-existent sperm count. Letter of the week in more ways than one." Kate isn't paying attention. She is worried about John. Liz asks if she is alright. Kate doesn't want to talk about it. Kate goes upstairs and searches through the dresser. And the closet. She finds a shirt with lipstick on it.
Barnaby goes to talk to Leonard Pike. Barnaby asks him if he recognizes anyone in some photos. Troy, meanwhile, goes in a back door and goes to talk to Mrs. Pike. Leonard recognizes John Merrill. He rented rooms as "Mr. Jones." The woman he brought had blond hair. They used to come regularly. Troy tells Dorothea that they are investigating a death. A young woman found in Ravens Wood. Dorothea asks, "Strangled? With a tie??" She gasps and rises from her chair and then collapses. "Vengeance. Vengeance is MINE!" she says after Troy leaves.
Kate Merrill goes to talk to Bill Mitchell about John. She asks if John was involved with Carla Constanza in Rio. Kate tells Bill that John's watch was found in the wood. Bill says, "That's not possible." His car had clay on it from the wood. Kate calls Barnaby and says she knows who killed Carla.
Barnaby gives Troy the tickets for the play. Troy meets Cully and gives her the tickets. She invites him to the play.
George looks at the ties in his drawer. He tells his wife he is going out. Anna goes out for a walk. Leonard Pike takes empty wine bottles out to the trash.
Kate shows Barnaby the shirt with lipstick on it. Barnaby asks if Kate wants him to arrest John. Barnaby tells Kate that it seems planted. Like the watch. Kate tells Barnaby that John likes to strangle her during sex. He likes to put a rope around her neck. Kate thinks he is the killer and she is afraid of him.
Bill sees John in the parking lot. He asks him what is going on with him and Kate. John doesn't want to talk about it.
Anna is walking along the road at night. A car comes by and hits her. Then they back up, step out of the car and inject her with something.
At the lab the next day, Dr. Peterson tells Barnaby and Troy that Anna's cause of death was interesting. She was killed with liquid nicotine. Same as you get in cigarettes. All you need to do is extract half a pack and you have enough to kill. Barnaby and Troy go to speak with Bill Mitchell. He states that they have liquid nicotine. But the doors have electronic codes.
John is in a meeting when Bill goes to get him. John tells Barnaby and Troy, "You know, I was a research chemist once. Working in hyperactivity in children... the tyrosine metabolism. Maybe I'd have found a cure. But then my grant was pulled, and Kate got me a job with her Uncle Bill. Monarch Tobacco. I have an agony aunt for a wife and uncle for an employer. Do you think I killed her? Carla? And Anna? Kate does. She's moved David out of the house. She's avoiding me." Troy asks, "Can you tell us where you were last night, sir? Between seven and nine o'clock." John says, "At work. And then at home, on my own. I understand Kate was with you. Talk to Liz. Elizabeth Frances. She rang me. It must have been about ten o'clock. We talked for ten, twenty minutes. We were lovers. Past tense. It's over." They used to go to the Fox and Goose. Liz enjoyed the... ..".the sense of adventure. Sneaking in. Using false names." Barnaby says, "Mr Merrill, your watch was found at the scene of the crime, and it appears your car was there as well. We have one of your shirt smeared with lipstick, which we have positively identified as Carla Constanza's. You knew both the victims, and you have no witness, nobody who can tell us where you were at the time of either death." John says, "Why don't you just arrest me."
Kate and David are at Bill's house. She tells Bill she only stayed with John because of David. But David's more troubled than ever. Kate asks if Bill is OK with David staying the weekend. Bill says it's fine and they are planning to go out on the boat.
The detectives interview Liz Francis. She says she spoke with John last Wednesday for about 15 minutes. She says she and John were having sex, not really an affair. Liz admits that John like to put a rope round her neck. It was a fetish, but she didn't like it and told him to stop. Liz says, the affair ended because she "got drunk one night and wrote him a letter. The sort of letter you regret the moment it's posted. He didn't love his wife. We were great together. He wanted out, I wanted in, so.." She says she sent the letter about a month ago. "He denied ever receiving it. He said it was lost in the post. The truth is, of course, he didn't want to know." Liz telephoned him on Wednesday because she was missing him. "I telephoned a couple of times, left messages. Finally got him about ten. So, you see, he was in the house."
Barnaby says, "You realise she's told us why Anna Santarosa was killed. Elizabeth Frances left two messages on the answering machine at the Merrills' house. But do you remember what Anna told us? (Wednesday? No, there was no message. No message at all.) She hardly spoke a word of English, yet she was determined to make herself understood. Because she was lying. Carla was on the phone to the Merrills' house for 45 seconds. Just long enough to leave a message. And of course, the message will be in Portuguese. The one language Anna understood. Gave her ammunition to try a little blackmail."
At the Fox and Goose, Leonard Pike goes to take a bath. Someone comes up to the door with a knife. Leonard gets in the bath, humming to himself. ...He is surprised by the knife...
Cully made dinner for Barnaby. Cully says, "I thought we ought to celebrate. Mum rang. She said she's coming back tomorrow. Her mother's... ...finally decided she was getting better faster on her own. Anyway, she's on the two o'clock train. Dinner is roast lamb and potatoes, broccoli... and fresh peas." ( Phone rings ) Barnaby has to go...
Barnaby drives over to the Fox and Goose. Gloria found Leonard's body. Dr. Peterson says, "It's a full-time job being around you two. No wonder Dr Bullard needed a holiday. Repeated lacerations. None of them very deep. Chest... hand... Face. One of them got him in the throat. That's the one that killed him." Troy says, "I just don't get it. The connection. Carla Constanza, Anna Santarosa and now this." Barnaby says, "There's a bloody connection, all right. I can see it all too clearly. And all this, all this could have been prevented." Troy asks, "What, you know who did it?" Barnaby responds, "As a matter of fact, I think I do. Do you really want to know? I think it was you."
Barnaby and Troy go to the hospital to talk to Dorothea Pike. Barnaby says to Dorothea, "You killed your son. It was because you knew what he had done all those years ago. He killed three girls. Eva Hoffman. Joan Chaplin. Judith Albiston. And you found out about it." Dorothea says, "It was an abomination. Flesh of my flesh. I couldn't go to the police. I couldn't. But I warned him. It must never happen again. Never while I'm alive. Never." She turns her head and falls asleep. (or dies). Barnaby talks to Troy on the way out, "That's why the killer stopped after three girls. His mother found out. And she spent the next nine years watching him, protecting him. Remember when we told Leonard? About the killing?" (Leonard said, "No. That's not possible. I mean... Have you taken the papers up yet? To mother?"). "He knew there couldn't have been a fourth murder, because he himself was the killer. He didn't want his mother to see the paper. Because he knew she'd jump to the wrong conclusion." Troy says, "She knew nothing about Carla Constanza. Until I went into her room and told her."
Barnaby and Troy discuss the case- Did John Merrill kill Carla, or didn't he? Carla's death could bring down Monarch Tobacco. Ruin Bill Mitchell. John Merrill wouldn't mind that. But if he did kill the girl, why incriminate himself? And if someone did plant those clues, what did John Merill done to deserve that? And then there's Draycott. The mysterious Mr Draycott. All we know is that Carla arrives in this country and goes directly to a two o'clock meeting. Then she comes down here, books into a hotel, and at half past five, according to the maid she has an argument. But we still don't know who with. Maybe that was Draycott. As far as we are concerned, Draycott doesn't exist.
Barnaby goes to speak to George Meakum. He isn't home so Barnaby tells his wife, "I was going to tell him that we've found the man who killed those girls in Strangler's Wood. I'll be glad if you kept it confidential for 24 hours? It was a hotel manager, name of Leonard Pike. He was a local man. Lived in the area. Leonard Pike is dead." Emily Meakum asks, "Chief Inspector, can I show you something? (they go upstairs) After he retired, George became completely obsessed with the killings. That's why we moved here. He couldn't bear to be away." There are photographs of the girls who were killed that he stole from the police files. Emily shows Barnaby the drawer filled with ties. She says, "He used to put them on and go into the wood. Sometimes he spent the whole night there. He said he was trying to become the killer. To get into his mind. I started following him, you know. Because after that other girl was found, I even began to wonder if George..." George walks upstairs. Emily says, "It's over, George. We're selling this house and we're leaving this horrible, horrible place. It's over. We can finally go."
Bill Mitchell gets ready to go on a boat ride with David Merrill. David asks about a life jacket and Bill says he doesn't really need one.
Barnaby arrives home. "Joyce?" he calls. Cully says, "Hi, Dad. We've just carried her luggage upstairs. She's probably catching her breath." Barnaby says, "What did you say just now?" He runs off.
At the police station, Barnaby asks for the pathologist's report from Peterson and tells a police officer to look up Aycott. Not Draycott, but Aycott. Dr Aycott. Troy and Barnaby go to the lab. Barnaby says, "She was sick, wasn't she. She had some sort of illness." Dr. Peterson says, "Pulmonary emphysema- Smoking. A few more months, and she would be breathing out of an oxygen bag. A couple of years, she'd be dead. Whoever strangled her probably did her a favour." Someone brings in a message for Barnaby- "A Dr Ian Aycott was killed last week in Harley Street. A fire in his clinic. The police are still investigating." Barnaby says, "Carla Constanza came to this country because she was ill. She went straight to Dr Aycott. Just her bad handwriting made it look like 'Draycott'. And that was when she was told the worst. After that, she came to the Fox and Goose. What was it Gloria the maid told us? When Carla arrived, she was out of breath, as if she'd been running. But it was her illness! She was like that all the time. She requested a room on the ground floor because she couldn't manage the stairs and The Fox And Goose doesn't have a lift. She was shouting to herself. Shouting at the injustice of it all. (Sues cigarros estao me matando. Eu tenho uma doenca. Idiota. Voce va pagar. Merda.). And when she saw that ashtray full of cigarette ends... ..the very cause of her illness... She just threw it against the wall." Barnaby and Troy head to the Merrill's house.
At the Merrill house, John Merrill comes in the kitchen with a rope. Kate picks up a knife
Barnaby tells Troy, "Whoever took Carla Constanza into Strangler's Wood was trying to create a smoke screen. Trying to divert our attention. They wanted us to think she was just another victim like the others. At the same time, the lipstick on the shirt, clay on the car, the lost watch. Somebody was trying desperately hard to put the finger on John Merrill."
Out on the boat, Bill Mitchell says to David, "You don't like your dad, do you, David? Is that why you did it? Come on. You can tell your Uncle Bill. It had to be you who took that watch. And the rest of it. There isn't anybody else. You want the police to arrest your dad? So you found the body. And you went back with your dad's watch. Put clay on his car. Smeared his shirt with her lipstick. You're watching too much television, David. You've been a very naughty boy. And you know, if anything happened to you now, no one would ever know." David looks up at Uncle Bill.
Barnaby and Troy go to the Merrill house. Kate Merrill runs outside. Troy finds John Merrill inside with a bloody hand. He says his wife tried to stab him. Barnaby asks Kate where her son is.
Troy and Barnaby drive off. Barnaby says, "I always thought the evidence against John Merrill was crude, childish. I mean that Rolex watch, pure Agatha Christie." Troy says, "So David Merrill was trying to incriminate his own father?!" Barnaby says, "He must have stumbled across the body, on the way to school. He must have found out his dad was having an affair. And when, a month later, he chances on the body, decides to have his revenge." Troy says, "But if John Merrill didn't kill her, who did?" Barnaby says, "Bill Mitchell, of course. Carla Constanza made two telephone calls from The Fox And Goose. John Merrill wasn't in, so she left a message for him. But she must have got through to Bill Mitchell at Monarch. And she told him. And look at it from his point of view. Carla Constanza, the personification of smoking, dying slowly from a smoker's disease. He would have been ruined. That's why he took the gamble. She was dying anyway. But if she died in Strangler's Wood... He must have picked her up from the hotel and pretended to reason with her. But in fact he just wanted her on her own. He wasn't to know that Carla had already telephoned John Merrill. . Anna Santarosa heard that message. It was in her own language. And it must have told her enough for her to try a little blackmail. And that was her big mistake. Bill Mitchell was playing for higher stakes. He didn't hesitate. He killed her, too. Dr Aycott- He had to get rid of Carla's medical records. As a matter of fact, Draycott, or Dr Aycott, was what gave him away. Do you remember when you asked him about the name? Draycott? No. Never heard of him. The way he smiled. He knew we'd got it wrong. And he also knew that Draycott was a man. "Never heard of him", he said. We didn't tell him that. And now he's alone with David Merrill."
The detectives arrive at the dock, A police officer calls, "Sir! He's here!" Barnaby says, "Mr Mitchell. Where's the boy?" Bill says, "I couldn't kill him. He's a complete little sh¡t, but... ..he's a child. I couldn't do it." David comes out of the cabin of the boat.
Barnaby goes home and greets Joyce. The father-daughter bonding didn't go well. Joyce says Cully is out- she has a new boyfriend. Joyce thinks he is a policeman.
Cast[]
- John Nettles as DCI Tom Barnaby
- Daniel Casey as Sgt. Gavin Troy
- Jane Wymark as Joyce Barnaby
- Laura Howard as Cully Barnaby
- Peter Eyre as Leonard Pike
- Kathleen Byron as Dorothea Pike
- Frank Windsor as George Meakham
- Anne Stallybrass as Emily Meakham
- Trudie Styler as Liz Frances
- Jeremy Clyde as Bill Mitchell
- Phyllis Logan as Kate Merrill
- Nicholas Farrell as John Merrill (as Nick Farrell)
- Tom Eilenberg as David Merrill
- Debbie Chazen as Anna Santarosa
- Betty Romani as Carla Constanza (as Betti Romani)
- Toby Jones as Dr. Dan Peterson
- Cyril Shaps as Sebastian Renwick
- Katy Brittain as Gloria Bradley
- Neil Conrich as Police Constable Angel
- Frank Carson as Nick (as Frankie Carson)
- Anthony Howes as Milkman
- Elizabeth Tyrrell as Ticket Seller
- Tara Hugo as Ad Woman
- George Lane Cooper as Brazilian Bandit
- Rebecca Charles as Path Lab Assistant
Galleries[]
Body Count[]
Prior to the Episode
Stripped, raped and strangled with a necktie in Strangler's Wood 9 years ago.
In the Episode
Picked up in a vehicle, strangled with a necktie, then stripped and left in Strangler's Wood, to make it appear as yet another victim of the still uncaught serial killer.
Knocked unconscious and then burned alive after his clinic was set on fire.
Hit by a vehicle and then injected with a fatal dose of liquid nicotine.
Stabbed repeatedly in shower with a knife.
Supporting Cast[]
Episode Images[]
Arrests[]
- Bill Mitchell-
- Dr. Ian Aycott
- Carla Constanza
- Anna Santarosa
- Attempted murder- David Merrill
- Leonard Pike raped and strangled 9 years ago-
- Eva Hoffman
- Joan Chaplin
- Judith Albiston
- This is the 6th time a murderer has died before arrest. Previous episodes where the murderer died before being arrested are The Killings at Badger's Drift, Written in Blood, & Death's Shadow.
- Dorothea Pike-
- killed her son, Leonard Pike
- This is the 7th time a murderer dies before they can be arrested. Previous episodes where the murderer dies before being arrested are The Killings at Badger's Drift, Written in Blood & Death's Shadow.
Notes[]
The following actors and actresses who appeared in this episode have appeared in subsequent episodes
- Elizabeth Tyrrell - Death of a Hollow Man
- Peter Eyre - Picture of Innocence
- Nicholas Farrell - Drawing Dead
- Debbie Chazen - Midsomer Life
- Toby Jones - Dead Man's Eleven, Death of a Stranger, and Judgement Day
- Cyril Shaps - Blue Herrings
- Katy Brittain - The House in the Woods
- Rebecca Charles - Hidden Depths
Trivia[]
- The episode takes cues from the book and subsequent Hitchcock film adaptation Psycho. A serial killer lives with his mother and leaves women for dead in the same area, but while another woman was killed from being stabbed to death in the shower, by the killer posing as his mother, it's the mother in the episode who stabs the killer in the shower.
- The episode also alludes to Hitchcock film Frenzy, where a serial murderer rapes women and strangles them with neckties, but another suspect is set up to take the fall for the crime.
- Dorney Court is used as The Fox and Goose in this episode. It is also used in Bantling Boy, Secrets and Spies, Not in My Backyard and Drawing Dead.
- First appearance of Dr. Dan Peterson.
- John Nettles stated in an interview that this episode of Midsomer Murders was his favourite.
- Just before the scene where Mrs Merrill is meeting with Mr Mitchell, the location is established with a brief shot of a clubhouse for a golf course. This is the same course where James Bond played a round with Goldfinger.
The Trials and Tribulations of DS Gavin Troy:
- Troy indicates that he has read Kate's advice column. He gives Kate his business card and Kate tells Troy she knows his name. The obvious conclusion is that Troy has written to the column asking for advice.
- Troy asks, "You know who did it?" Barnaby responds, "I think it was you." Troy told Leonard's mother about the death of Carla Constanza. This was enough for her to murder her son. She knew Leonard strangled the first three girls and had made him stop. She assumed Leonard killed Carla so he had to be killed.
Quotes[]
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Goofs[]
- The newspaper posted a promotional photo of Carla Constanza when she was still unidentified. This was likely an error on the writers' part or unspecified perhaps to be a composite sketch of her so she could be identified.
- Barnaby notices a serial number on the back of the Rolex watch, from which the purchaser is traced. However, Rolexes do not have a serial number engraved on the caseback - it is engraved on the side of the case, between the lugs, where it would be impossible to see without first removing the bracelet.
- A body lying, uncovered, in the woods for a week would show signs of decomposition. The body shown was in remarkably good condition.
- When George Meakham visits Barnaby in his office he states "there's a full moon tonight." But, when we see Anna walking on the road, a 1/2 moon is clearly shown.
Videos[]
Midsomer Murders - Favourite Episode of all Time E07
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