Death's Shadow (Midsomer Murders)

"Death's Shadow (Midsomer Murders)"

For the novel by Darren Shan, see Death's Shadow (novel)

Death's Shadow is the first episode of the second season of Midsomer Murders and the sixth episode overall. It stars John Nettles as Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby and Daniel Casey as Detective Sergeant Gavin Troy.

Plot

Unpopular property developer Richard Bayly is diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour, but the next day he is found dead in his home, decapitated by an Indian sword.

Filming Locations

Death's Shadow was filmed from 29 July to 29 August 1998 in the following villages:

1. Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire

2. Bledlow, Buckinghamshire

3. Hyde Lane, Buckinghamshire

4. The Lee, Buckinghamshire

5. Rotherfield Peppard, Oxfordshire

6. Thame, Oxfordshire

7. Wallingford, Oxfordshire

Conclusion

Murderer:Rev Stephen Wentworth Motive:Bayly accidentally hanging his illegitmate son 40 years ago when they were children. Bayly thought he was going to die of the aforementioned illness and told the vicar about it. He didn't know who he was talking to [indeed, no-one did] and just thought he was getting it off his chest. David Whitely, Simon Fletcher and Ian Eastman where also involved. The methods were biblical - the sword, the flames, the arrow. He didn't care if he was caught; Fletcher's shooting at the fete in broad daylight: act of bravado. Despite Troy's attempts, the vicar throws himself from the church and dies. Additional information: Wentworth got himself an alibi by leaving the sword in Bayly's house, pretending to hear a burglar at his home, setting the clock back to before midnight [when Bayly was killed] and asked his wife what time it was, so she would remember it.

The Deaths

1. Felix Bryce - hangs himself accidentally

2. Richard Bayly - beheaded with sword

3. David Whitely - burns to death in caravan

4. Simon Fletcher - shot with arrow

5. Rev. Steven Wentworth - jumps from church steeple