Handlung

When a local thief and womanizer is killed with a pitchfork, the residents of Midsomer Mallow fear for their chances in the Perfect Village Competition.

The village of Midsomer Mallow is in competition for the title of the "perfect village". Joyce Barnaby has already won her own competition and is now one of the "perfect village" judges. Meanwhile, Barnaby and Troy are investigating a series of break-ins in the area. When the thief, Peter Drinkwater, is found murdered, there are no end of suspects: a jealous husband; a spurned girlfriend and her irate parents; one of the robbery victims who is not being entirely truthful with the police; and finally several members of the village committee whose only concern is how the death will affect their chances in the perfect village competition. In the end, Barnaby must establish the link between these most recent events and a murder some years earlier.—garykmcd

Midsomer Mallow hopes to win the Perfect Village competition on what is ominously called Judgement Day, but the village representatives are worried about their chances when a local young burglar and gigolo is found stabbed to death with a pitchfork. Barnaby and Troy are on the case. Meanwhile, Joyce ends up in Mallow, too, when she wins a contest to be one of the judges for the competition. Cully also has business there: interviewing a famous retired actor for her book about the theater.—J. Spurlin

Years after a spoiled-rotten brat butchered her family's housekeeper in Midsomer Mallow, it's one of the three finalists in a countryside magazine's 'Perfect village' competition. But it also experiences, preceded by an earlier wave of burglaries, several murders, starting with the one on gigolo Peter Drinkwater, the more daring burglary partner of butcher Ray's son Jack Dorset. After Barnaby and Troy trough several locals with various possible motives, the killer strikes again at and shortly after the village's grand party for the competition judges, who include Barnaby's wife, while their daughter interviews retired theatre celebrity Edward Allardice.—KGF Vissers