Badminton Court, Amersham, Bucks, UK – Midsomer Murders, The Killings At Badger’s Drift (1997) - Movie Locations on Waymarking.com

Emilyn Simpson sees something untoward in the local wood and is found dead in her cottage shortly afterwards. Barnaby traces a call she made, shortly before her death, to a local help line. Apparently she said to the lady on the help line “just like Arabella”. Investigations show that Arabella is the dead wife of Henry Trace, who was killed in a shooting accident two years earlier. Henry Trace is preparing to marry his young ward Katherine Lacey.

Among the villagers are a particularly nasty mother and son, Dennis and Iris Rainbird. Denis is the local, rather creepy, undertaker, but the Rainbird’s wealth appears to derive from spying and then blackmailing villagers. When they are found murdered Barnaby finds Iris Rainbird’s notebooks. It becomes apparent that Arabella Trace was murdered and suspicion falls on Phyllis Cadell, Henry Trace’s sister in law. Phyllis confesses to murdering Arabella, but denies murdering the Rainbirds. She dies later in police custody.

With Phyllis Cadell out of the frame, Barnaby considers other possibilities. A witness had seen Michael Lacey, Kristine’s brother at the Rainbird’s house. On searching Michael Lacey’s house, which he shares with his sister, Barnaby finds the murder weapon and arrests Michael. Michael, however, has a watertight alibi for the time of the murder and has to be released.

A trip to Brighton to see a former housekeeper to the Lacey children opens the case up for Barnaby. The housekeeper reveals that Michael and Katherine had an incestuous relationship. That is what Emilyn Simpson saw and was killed by Katherine because of it, Further, whilst Phyllis Cadell did shoot Arabella, she only winged her. Katherine Lacey shot Arabella at close range after Phylis’s shot, so that she could marry the wealthy Henry Trace. The Rainbirds had latched on to the fact and Katherine decided to kill the Rainbirds to keep them from telling Henry Trace. Before Barnaby can arrest the Laceys they both commit suicide in the nearby woods.

Movie or TV Show: Midsomer Murders - The Killings At Badgers Drift Year Released or First Aired: 1,997.00 IMDB Link: [Web Link]

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