Market for Murder is the second episode of the fifth series of the popular ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders. It was first shown on 16th June 2002.
Synopsis[]
Called to the village of Midsomer Market to investigate someone's car being set on fire, Barnaby and Troy soon find themselves investigating the murder of Marjorie Empson who is found in her home bludgeoned to death. The focus of their attention is the Reading Club, a group of five women who meet regularly not to discuss books in fact, but to manage an investment fund they have established. Two of the members were hoping to cash out their investments, but were prevented from doing so by the others. There are several other suspects, all in one way or another connected to the financial and investment world, but when a second member of the book club is killed, the police realize they may need to look for an altogether different motive.
Plot[]
At the Proctor household, someone lights a towel above the tire of the car. Stock broker Selwyn Proctor tells his wife, Tamsin, that he has to go to town. On the way to his car, he places a call and says "We're on." Then he sees the fire in the back of his car. He struggles to get his seat belt off. is He gets away from the car before it blows up.
The next morning, Barnaby and Troy stop by a news agent on their way to the Proctor house. Troy picks up Investment Daily. The burned car was a 1963 Alvis that Selwyn spent a fortune on restoring. His wife, Tamsin Proctor, on her way to the Reading Club, says that James will be "very upset about his car." "It's not his car, it's my car, and I'm very upset," says Selwyn. He acquired the car from Lord James Chetwood. "Like everything else he owns, it was a complete disaster."
At the Chetwood Estate, Lady Chetwood is heading off to the Reading Club. She tells her husband to answer the phone as it may be the roofing people. Several buckets are filling with dripping water. At the doctor's office, Sandra Bradshaw is approached by Vera Hopkins. She says Marjorie has kindly asked her to help with the Garden Party this year. Sandra pulls a book from a drawer. "Isn't it time you lot started another book? You've been lugging that tome around for ages," says Rupert. Sandra asks if they received an invitation to Marjorie's garden party yet?
Ginny Sharp is on the phone with someone, "I left you several messages. Well, where the hell were you? I sat in the bar for two hours twiddling my thumbs." She then receives a package with bathrobes from the Feathers hotel.
At the Empson's house, Marjory Empson greets Ginny, "About time, too. Everyone else is present and correct." The Reading Club is actually about investing in the stock market. Marjorie says, "We are half way through their 4th financial market and their portfolio is beating the UK Index by 16%. Which means that we girls, who aren't supposed to know tuppence about money matters, are giving those overpaid analysts and fund managers a jolly good hiding. However, I must sound a note of caution. Gerald always said, spread the risk, so I propose we sell off some of our biggest winners and reinvest."Tamsin Proctor and Lady Lavinia Chetwood want to sell their shares. The group votes down selling any shares.
Barnaby finds a comic book, The Hawk, amidst the Investment Daily. It belongs to Troy. Troy has been collecting The Hawk. Barnaby is worried about his police pension.
At the Empson's house, Marjory asks if the Chetwoods and Proctors are coming to her Garden Party. Marjorie asks Ginny what she knows about the Feathers Hotel. Ginny says she's never been there. Sandra asks if Ginny is going to the Garden Party. Tamsin asks to speak to Marjory. She wants to leave the club. She wants to sell her shares. Marjorie says why the hurry? You're married to the richest man in the village. Later Marjory hears a noise and she goes to investigate....cue scary music. She is seen at the bottom of the stairs with blood splattered around.
Vera goes to the Empson's house, to talk to Marjory. She doesn't answer the door.
At the doctor's office, Sandra Bradshaw is a bit flustered to see Lord James Chetwood. He tells her to call him James. "For reasons of propriety we should stick to the formalities in public," says Sandra. She asks after Lady Chetwood. Lord Chetwood says she is same as usual. Obsessed with the roof. "Think it's grounds for divorce?" he quips. Sandra goes in to tell her husband, Dr. Rupert Bradshaw, that Lord Chetwood is here. "You've got to see him," she says.
Dr. Bradshaw sees the hypochondriac, Lord Chetwood. He has pressure behind the eyes. They hear police sirens passing by. Dr. Bradshaw says he heard Selwyn Proctor's car went up in flames. That's probably what brought this attack on- Post traumatic Stress Syndrome.
Tamsin Proctor is tearfully looking at a photo of a little boy. Harry Painter, the pool man, finds a wooden letter in the pool. Tamsin says it is just the kid's next door. She tells him to chuck it back into the pool. When Tamsin goes to answer the phone, Harry looks under the magazine at the photo she hid under there.
George Bullard is examining Marjory Empson. He says she received multiple blows to the back of the head. Probably with the walking stick. The house has been smashed up. Vera Hopkins had called emergency services when she saw a broken window. Mrs. Hopkins says that Marjory's silver is missing.
Ginny tells the other Reading Club members that the police will want to talk to them and they will have to come clean about the investing. Lavinia Chetwood tells her husband. She says it is her money and it's for the roof. Dr. Bradshaw says he thought Sandra was up to something. It doesn't take four years to read a book. Selwyn is furious. He could get arrested for insider trading. Tamsin says that day after day she sits in the house alone. Because Selwyn is never home. Ginny tells Barnaby that they kept the club secret because some of the men in the village are behind the times. Harry Painter drops by and says Ginny needs new filters. Ginny says the stock market is gibberish to her. Marjory and Sandra handle the numbers.
Troy goes to see the Chetwood's. The house is in seriously bad shape. Lord Chetwood is trying to repaper a wall. Lavinia Chetwood is on the roof dealing with roofers.
Barnaby goes to interview Tamsin. Selwyn asks why he is harassing his wife.
Lavina says James is not good with money. She joined the Reading Club so she could make some money so she could fix up the roof. Troy is feeling queasy as he is not good with heights.
Tamsin said she stayed behind to talk to Marjory about selling her shares. Tamsin says that Selwyn never talks to her about his work as a stockbroker. She only joined the club to make some friends.
Lavinia says poor old Marjory. She would put up a fight to protect her silver. Some of it was plate though.
Barnaby says he doesn't think it was a genuine break-in. The burglar ignored the money in the wallet and the camera.
Barnaby and Troy go to talk to Harry Painter. James is out walking his dogs. Selwyn is sneaking around. James is looking through the trees at Ginny Sharp sunbathing. Selwyn Proctor is talking to Ginny. He says he wouldn't have told her so much about his work if he'd known about the reading club's real purpose. She denies listening to him. They make out. James finds the missing silver.
At the lab, George Bullard says Marjory was killed by multiple blows to the head. But she also has fingermarks on her arms. He thinks there were two assailants.
Troy interviews Dr. Rupert Bradshaw and Barnaby interviews Sandra Bradshaw. Sandra tells Barnaby that Marjory didn't think Ginny was PLU. "People Like Us." Lord Chetwood walks into the interview with Troy. Sandra says Ginny was "going on about how rude Marjorie was and so on, then she said - and I remember this because I was quite taken aback - she said, "One of these days I'm going to tell that woman what I really think and she won't know what's hit her." The investments of the Reading Club are worth about 150,000 pounds.
Lord Chetwood leads Barnaby and Troy to the silver by Ginny's pool.
At the police lab the technician points out that there were remains of a towel used to light the car on fire. They can make out the word "Feathers."
Lavinia goes to meet Selwyn at the Boathouse Bar and Lounge, Feathers Hotel. Selwyn wants to buy Chetwood Hall. Lavinia says it will be a wrench for James. "Look, people like me come along, plenty of money and lots of ideas, and we keep the traditions alive. Chetwood House will prosper. There'll be trout in the lake and pheasant in the woods, and a roof that doesn't leak. And you'll have stacks of cash," Selwyn says. Then he propositions Lavinia.
Barnaby and Troy are reexamining Marjory's house. "How about the paperwork that was in the safe?" says Barnaby. "It's to do with the Reading Club investments. Statements and cheque books and, you know. Stuff to do with shares," says Troy. "I made a list of the companies they had shares in." Troy also shares that Harry Painter was arrested for embezzlement. Barnaby goes to his trailer. Harry admits that he was a currency trader. He played the stock market. Barnaby shows him the list of companies the Reading Club had invested in. "Lots of blue chip stuff, very conservative, plus a few wild cards. What does that mean? Small companies that suddenly went through the roof. A merger here, a buy-out there. It looks like the ladies timed it beautifully," says Harry. Harry shows Barnaby the letters he has found in Tamsin's pool. Barnaby tries to figure them out. Joyce points out that they spell MAUREEN.
Tamsin Proctor admits that she is Maureen. "Where I come from, if you don't get out young, you don't get out at all. And I almost blew it. I got pregnant. They took the baby away from me in hospital because I said I didn't want it. 'Cause I thought that it would hold me back. I learnt how to dress, how to talk. I learnt how to read a menu. I worked hard, and it paid off. I met Selwyn." Barnaby asks, "Did you tell him about your baby?" Tamsin says "God, no! He'd have never married me if I had. But... I wanted my baby back. It was like an ache that wouldn't go away. Then I got a letter about a month ago. Peter's foster parents wanted to adopt him legally. So suddenly there wasn't any time. That's why I wanted to sell my shares." Selwyn is a control freak. I have to negotiate for every penny.
Dr. Bradshaw says "I believe you found the silver outside Ginny Sharp's house. You've got to stop it, James. Everyone knows that Ginny Sharp likes to sunbathe in the nude and people are beginning to talk about your rambles along the bridle path." On his way out of the doctor's office, James stops to talk to Sandra. "Your husband no longer takes me seriously and my wife seems to have deserted me. She is either up on the roof or out cavorting I know not where. Sometimes, you know, I think I might be better off without her."
Ginny Sharp tells the police about the parcel she received with bathrobes in it. After the meeting Marjory asked Ginny about the Feathers. Ginny thought that Marjory was the one who sent her the package. So she went around to Marjory's house and got a chilly reception. Marjory said she didn't know anything about the bathrobe. She told Marjory that Gerald tried to put his hand up her skirt. Marjory tried to hit her with her walking stick. She hit everything in the house. She ripped a sleeve. But Ginny didn't kill her. Ginny says she wants to know who sent her the bathrobe and who has been spying on her.
Lavinia brings tea to her husband, James. She tells James that she met Selwyn and he made her an interesting proposition. He wants to buy it. James chokes. Lavinia says they will pay off their debts and buy a cottage. She asks James to pull himself together. They have a tour this weekend.
Barnaby asks Ginny where the bathrobes were from- the Feathers. And who was she meeting there? Selwyn Proctor. Ginny was the one passing inside information about the stocks. Selwyn told her he would leave Tamsin for her.
Barnaby and Troy go to look through Marjory's closet and find the dress with a ripped sleeve. Ginny leaves. Marjory gets ready for bed. Then someone else comes to the house and that is the killer.
At Ginny's house, she goes out to the pool. She sees things in the bottom of the pool. She dives in and brings up a ceramic ashtray from the Feathers. She sets the ashtrays on the side of the pool. Then someone smacks her over the head with an ashtray.
Barnaby and Troy find Ginny in the pool the next morning.
Tamsin gets a package of bathrobes from the Feathers. Bullard says she was only struck once. he will have to do a post-mortem to determine the exact cause of death.
Barnaby goes to talk to Dr. Bradshaw. Dr. Bradshaw said that he saw Ginny and Selwyn together in the Feathers. She said it was a terrible mistake and she was going to nip it in the bud. Troy talks to Sandra about the investment shares. He can't actually find them.
Barnaby tells Selwyn about Ginny's death and that they know about his relationship with her. Selwyn says that Tamsin would be devastated if she found out about he and Ginny. Lavinia asks Dr. Bradshaw to come see James. She told him about selling the house to Selwyn and things went downhill from there. "Tell him the move will do him good. I've got to get him out of the house." The roofing people are coming to finish their report for Selwyn.
At Chetwood Hall, James is giving a tour and someone sneaks up to the roof. Lavinia is on the roof. Next, Lavinia is pushed off the roof. James goes to bed. He blames Selwyn who had roofing people up on the roof. Dr. Bradshaw arrives. "She was a saint, that woman." There is nothing wrong with James. He is fit as a fiddle. But his medical records take up a whole shelf in the surgery.
Troy tells Barnaby that the roofing contractor has a call not to come. The pair go over to see Harry Painter. They have him review the investment shares. There are no actual records- the info would be all online. But Harry finds out the entire account has been converted to cash. The account was closed yesterday.
Tamsin confronts Selwyn. She shows him the package from the Feathers Hotel. "Someone sent me this. I thought it must be a mistake. So I phoned the hotel. Apparently, I called them and asked them to send me a bathrobe. They were only too happy to oblige such a valued customer. Oh, and they said they were looking forward to seeing us tomorrow. We can have our usual room. Isn't that nice?" says Tamsin. Selwyn says that particular situation is over. "Cheer up, Selwyn. There'll be another. And another. Only I won't be around to see it, thank God." Tamsin replies. Selwyn tells Tamsin that he doesn't let his investments to walk away. Harry Painter tells Selwyn to get his hands off her. Painter says Thank you for all the investment tips.
When visiting Dr Bradshaw, Troy discovers that the intercom between his office and the receptionist, who is the doctor’s wife Sandra, is fixed to remain on permanently.
Dr. Bradshaw tells Barnaby that James Chetwood confessed to him long ago that he had a crush on Ginny Sharp. Then he hears that James has been spying on her. Troy looks at the intercom in the doctors office. The switch has been bypassed. So Sandra can hear every conversation the doctor has. Dr. Bradshaw tells them that since moving there 10 years ago, his wife has wanted to sleep in separate rooms.
Sandra Bradshaw goes over to Chetwood Hall to find Lord Chetwood. She tells James she has moved out of her home and she brought money. "At long last, we can put our plan into action. You made your feelings clear to me 10 years ago when we first met. I know you care for me, James. Together we'll restore Chetwood House to its former glory and I can nurse you back to health, James. Let's face it, dear Lavinia wasn't up to much in the nursing stakes. Something had to be done and I was happy to do it. She was driving you out of your home. You said to me yourself, you would be better off without her ..We'll move into the east wing, I think. It'll be easier to keep warm in the winter." James runs away. The dogs have followed him so Sandra can find him. "I've been waiting 10 years for this, James. I'm not going to give up now." says Sandra.
Barnaby and Troy find her. "Sandra... ..you can come with me now," says Barnaby. "Is Lord Chetwood expecting you?"
At the doctors office, Bradshaw opens the invitation to the Garden Party and rips it up.
Barnaby says, "Let's start with the car, Mrs Bradshaw. Selwyn Proctor's car. You mean James's car. Selwyn Proctor cheated him out of it. Someone had to stand up for James, and I was only too happy to do it." "By setting fire to the car?" asks Troy.
"Tell us what happened at the meeting of the Reading Club," says Barnaby. "I did all the Reading Club donkey work and Marjorie Empson took the credit. And I had to endure Marjorie's endless jokes about my father being a bookmaker. Still, you have to rub along with people, that's what village life is all about. But that Reading Club meeting was the last straw. I discovered that I was the only one who hadn't been invited to Marjorie's garden party. I was left out for the first time in 10 years. After all the work I'd done for the village." Sandra went home and thought about it. She went to inform Marjory of her decision. She heard raised voices inside the house. She saw Marjory try to hit Ginny with her stick. Sandra let herself in through the French Windows. She told Marjory she was resigning from the Reading Club. "And when I move into Chetwood House, you will not be welcome there." Marjory laughs. Marjory falls down the stairs. Sandra picked up her stick and hit her. "She should never have said it. Bookie's daughter. She gave me no choice."
Ginny Sharp was flaunting herself in front of poor James. "Ginny Sharp was a wicked woman. I had to warn her off for James's sake. She came out while I was there. So I thought I might as well speak to her directly. What are you doing here? I want to talk to you. What about? Lord Chetwood. I'm warning you, Ginny. Stop pursuing him." Ginny laughed at her. So she hit her over the head. Lavinia came to the surgery and told Rupert that Selwyn Proctor had made an offer for Chetwood House behind James's back. Sandra cancelled the appointment with the roofing contractors. Sandra told Lavinia that she and James had plans to be together for some time. Lavinia asked her if she was feeling alright. Then Sandra pushed her off the roof. And as for Tamsin Proctor- Selwyn was going to install her at Chetwood House. "That frightful husband of hers was going to install her at Chetwood House. With her background. Can you imagine? But I think you'll find I've put a stop to that, too," said Sandra.
Harry Painter tells Barnaby that "when I said that I'd given up the stock market, well, I hadn't. Couple of years ago I got chatting to Tamsin and I told her what I used to do. She told me about the Reading Club and asked my advice. I just couldn't resist, could I?" Harry tells Barnaby not to worry about his pension.
Troy tells Barnaby that a collector wants to buy his copies of the Hawk.
Cast[]
- John Nettles as DCI Tom Barnaby
- Daniel Casey as DS Gavin Troy
- Jane Wymark as Joyce Barnaby
- Jesse Birdsall as Harry Painter
- Eamon Geoghegan as Barman
- Serena Gordon as Ginny Sharp
- Caroline Harker as Tamsin Proctor
- Barry Jackson as Dr. George Bullard
- Dilys Laye as Vera Hopkins
- Barbara Leigh-Hunt as Marjorie Empson
- Christopher Ravenscroft as Dr. Rupert Bradshaw
- Anton Rodgers as Lord James Chetwood
- Jay Smith as Police Technician
- Gerda Stevenson as Sandra Bradshaw
- Angela Thorne as Lady Lavinia Chetwood
- Rupert Vansittart as Selwyn Proctor
- Catherine Bott as Solo Voice (voice)
Galleries[]
Body Count[]
Prior to the Episode
Died of natural causes.
In the Episode
Bludgeoned to death with her own walking stick after falling down a flight of stairs.
Struck on the head with a large ashtray while in the pool.
Pushed off the roof of her manor house.
Supporting Cast[]
Episode Images[]
Arrests[]
Notes[]
The following actors and actresses who appeared in this episode have also appeared in the following episodes
- Catherine Bott - Death of a Hollow Man
- Jesse Birdsall - Small Mercies
- Eamon Geoghegan - Painted in Blood
- Serena Gordon - Midsomer Life
- Jay Smith - Murder on St. Malley's Day
- Rupert Vansittart - The Axeman Cometh and The Dogleg Murders
Trivia[]
- Braziers Park - near Ipsden, Oxfordshire, England - is the filming location for the Chetwood's country home.
The Trials and Tribulations of DS Gavin Troy:
- Troy has been collecting a comic book for years and checks Investment Daily to see it's value.
- Troy has a fear of heights.
- Troy has some technical skills and discovered that the switch on the doctor's intercom had been bypassed.
Quotes[]
| “ |
Sergeant Gavin Troy: Lord Chetwood put me on to this chap. He's a collector, he collects comics. |
” |
Goofs[]
- When Dr. Rupert Bradshaw is taking Lord Chetwood's blood pressure using a manual blood pressure cuff, he does not have a stethoscope.
- When the book club ladies are discussing the value of their stock holdings, one says it's worth £150,000. When the details are shown on the laptop at least twice, the value is over £1.8 million, with a profit of over £900,000.
Video[]
Midsomer Murders Series 5 Episode 2 - Market for Murder Preview
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