THE PLOT - It's Christmas in Midsomer, but before DCI Barnaby (John Nettles) can relax and enjoy time with his family, he has a double murder to solve.

A prominent family in the district comes under investigation when their elderly aunt Lydia (Margery Mason) dies after a suspicious fall. Jennifer Carter (Haydn Gwynne), one of Lydia's nieces, denies any wrongdoing and claims that her aunt merely had an unfortunate accident. Her brother Ross (Philip Quast) doesn't seem to share her views.

But when Barnaby and Scott (John Hopkins) learn that Lydia nearly died the day before while trapped in the garage, their instincts tell them something's not quite right and warn the family to take extra care.

Foolishly, Jennifer ignores their advice and continues with her traditional Christmas shooting trip. The murderer strikes again and Jennifer dies in a well-disguised accident.

Who would want both Lydia and Jennifer dead and why? Barnaby and Scott find themselves delving into the family history to find a possible motive. They learn about the suicide nine years ago of Jennifer's eldest brother Ferdy (Kevin Doyle). Before his death, Ferdy was set to inherit the family fortune and was happily engaged, much to the disapproval of the rest of the family. Ferdy was devastated when Jennifer informed him of his fiancée's questionable past. He broke up with her and went on to kill himself.

But when Sgt Scott finds a videotape in Lydia's room, suspicions turn to Jennifer's son Aidan (Dominic Colenso). The tape contains incriminating footage of Aidan that could threaten his inheritance. Could he possibly be responsible for the murder of his own mother?

(Source: ABC Programme Guide)