The deadliest county in England

3. THE FISHER KING
David Heartley-Reade, the son of a local Archaeologist, has written a book which tells of a golden chalice and ritual spear found in Midsomer Barrow. David is also eager for a festival of summer solstice to be held at The Barrow. The landowner, Anne Heldman, will not allow the celebration to take place and Anne's son Gareth points this out to David at a book signing. Later, when David finds Gareth's lifeless body by the riverbank, Barnaby and Scott investigate.

4. SINS OF COMMISSION
The Midsomer Literary Festival is being held in Midsomer St. Michael and is being supported by Sam Callaghan's publishing company. Each year a prize of £20,000 goes to the most worthy unpublished author. A writer is found dead at the bottom of his stairs. The dead man was depressed after an unsuccessful novel for which he blamed the publisher, Callaghan. The detectives investigate and discover the writer's neck has been expertly broken, also that another writer short-listed for this year's prize is a former member of the SAS and local troublemaker.