As this episode opens we learn that there are tensions at Causton Rugby Club; it has recently turned professional and is heading for the top flight of the sport... at the expense of the previous amateur players. Its star player seems arrogant and annoys other team members. After this introduction the team owner turns up dead; frozen solid in the club's cryogenic treatment room! Barnaby and Winters are soon on the case and various suspects emerge; a former club member who was suing the new owner; the owner's wife, who also runs the local chocolate shop; the star player, who according to rumour might be transferred and the coach whose playing career was ended by a bad tackle some time ago. Added to that somebody is taking photographs of various characters to blackmail them.
I really enjoyed this episode; the deaths were inventive and there were plenty of suspects and motives to keep the viewer guessing. Some clues were fairly obvious... always good to let the viewer solve some mysteries before our detectives to help us feel smart! As usual with this series the guest cast, which contains several familiar faces, does a solid job; the regulars are on good form too. The deaths are moderately unpleasant but as they aren't exactly common methods of murder they are entertaining rather than disturbing. The way we are shown the blackmailer's activities may have been a little cliché but it was effectively creepy. There are also quite a few moments of unforced humour... many the result of a squash game between Barnaby and Winters. Over all a fine episode that is likely to keep the viewer guessing till the end.