Midsomer Murders

The peacefulness of the Midsomer community is shattered by violent crimes, suspects are placed under suspicion, and it is up to a veteran DCI and his young sergeant to calmly and diligently eliminate the innocent and ruthlessly pursue the guilty.

Midsomer Murders (1997-present) is a British ITV crime whodunit series created by Anthony Horowitz and Caroline Graham. Its veteran detective, DCI Tom Barnaby (John Nettles), works alongside his younger sergeant, DS Charlie Nelson (Gwilym Lee), investigating murders in the picturesque rural county of Midsomer in England. Each feature-length episode runs about ninety minutes and is built around a standalone case: a peaceful village is shattered by violence, suspects are placed under suspicion one by one, and the detectives patiently work through alibis, motives and local secrets until the guilty party is exposed. Barnaby's family life, including his wife Joyce (Jane Wymark) and his daughter Cully (Laura Howard), gives the series a warm domestic counterweight to the killings. The show has run for 25 seasons and 144 episodes, making it a long-running case-of-the-week procedural in the British village mystery tradition. Its tone is cozy and amused, with the grisly crimes handled with a light, almost genteel detachment rather than grit. Fans of Agatha Christie's Marple, Inspector Morse and Father Brown will find the same blend of rural charm and methodical puzzle-solving here.

Viewers broadly rate the long-running village murder mystery as a reliable, cosy watch in its middle years, with ratings sliding noticeably in later seasons.

• Agatha Christie's Marplecozy English village murder mysteries, case of the week format, amiable detective pairing
• Inspector Morseveteran detective solving rural village murders with a younger partner, procedural tone
• Father Brownquaint English countryside crime, detective-led investigations, gentle lighthearted tone
• VeraBritish detective series with long-running case-of-the-week structure and melancholic village settings

Created by

Anthony Horowitz, Caroline Graham

Release Date

1997-03-23

Episode runtime

90 min

Rating

7.9 / 10 (377)

What is Midsomer Murders about?

A veteran detective and his young sergeant unravel a string of murders in the outwardly peaceful English county of Midsomer.

What is Midsomer Murders like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Midsomer Murders as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Midsomer Murders violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Midsomer Murders as moderate.

What did critics think of Midsomer Murders?

Viewers broadly rate the long-running village murder mystery as a reliable, cosy watch in its middle years, with ratings sliding noticeably in later seasons.

Which shows are like Midsomer Murders?

Shows with a similar feel include Agatha Christie's Marple, Inspector Morse, Father Brown, and Vera.

How long is Midsomer Murders?

Midsomer Murders: 25 seasons, 144 episodes.

Is Midsomer Murders still running?

Yes, Midsomer Murders is still running.

Where can I watch Midsomer Murders?

In United States, Midsomer Murders streams on fuboTV, YouTube TV, Acorn TV, AcornTV Amazon Channel, BritBox Amazon Channel, Spectrum On Demand, Acorn TV Apple TV channel.