Midsomer Murders is a long-running British show. It’s filled with captivating murder mysteries in a made-up county called Midsomer. Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby and later his cousin John, tackle some seriously gruesome crimes in this pretty but dangerous rural setting. With twisty plots, quirky characters and gorgeous English countryside views, Midsomer Murders mixes classic whodunits with fresh twists. Each episode keeps you guessing, always wanting more. So, buckle up for a ride through this delightful chaos!

Meet the characters from Midsomer Murders

Ben Jones

Okay, Ben is that annoyingly observant young copper who always spots the beat-up tricycle no one else even remembers — you know the type, sharp eyes, quieter than he looks. He’s earnest as anything, tries to be sensible, but will also leap into a hedge to follow a hunch and then apologize to the hedge afterward (like, what?). Has this weirdly comforting blend of empathy and dogged logic; he’ll ask the awkward question but bring you a biscuit while doing it. Sometimes he seems like he’s still learning the social manual and other times he acts like he’s got ten years’ experience in village politics. Also he collects teabags for reasons he can’t adequately explain and I love that about him.

Tom Barnaby

Oh Tom — the archetypal steady DCI, calm as a pond and twice as deep, the sort of man who makes you explain everything twice and somehow makes you feel less ridiculous for asking. He’s patient, methodical, has this gentle, dry wit and an infuriatingly precise mind for timelines (he will remember the exact time someone lied to him). Loves his garden more than he pretends to love people sometimes, and also reads poetry? Yes, poetry. He’s a dad in a trench coat: quietly authoritative but prone to small, knowing smiles that reveal he’s been three steps ahead the whole time. And somehow he never seems to misplace his glasses even when they’re on his head — it’s a superpower.

Sarah Barnaby

Sarah is like the quietly solid heart of the village; warm, practical, but with these flashes of sharpness that make you rethink underestimating anyone. She runs things with a soft hand — charity fairs, bake sales, awkward relatives — and will also quietly deliver a blistering rebuke if someone crosses a line, which is very satisfying. She hates gossip yet knows everyone’s business (how? who told her?) and has an unexpectedly wicked laugh when the paperwork finally gets done. There’s this delightful contradiction where she claims to hate drama but will show up to the scene with a thermos and two cookies like she’s planned it forever.

John Barnaby

John is the younger, slightly more modern Barnaby — still got the family’s patience and moral center but with a few newer gadgets and darker jokes tucked in his pockets. He’s calm and oddly sly, uses humor to defuse things but can flip to razor focus when the evidence lines up; don’t mistake his easy manner for lack of backbone. Likes a tidy desk and a messy mind, if that makes sense; he’s all about order but his phone camera roll is chaos (mystery flowers, random cats, parking signs). He’s less sentimental than Tom — maybe — though he will absolutely keep an old note from someone he met once, in a shoebox, because of course he will.

Gavin Troy

Gavin is the lovable, slightly bumbling sergeant who is loud, proud, and genuinely trying his best, which is why you can’t help but root for him even when he leaves his helmet somewhere tragic. He’s chatty, fond of cycling (and probably of an ill-advised cycling hat), and has this tendency to misjudge a room but then fix everything with a goofy grin. He’s loyal to a fault, fiercely devoted to his boss, and will shout a bad joke in the middle of an inquest like it’s part of the evidence. Also, strangely into paint swatches? Don’t ask, it’s a thing.

Cully Barnaby

Cully is this delightfully prickly, clever woman who balances being no-nonsense with an unexpectedly tender side — sort of the daughter who will help you with a flat tire and then roast you for misusing a semicolon. She’s competent, quick-witted, and not afraid to call out nonsense, yet she’ll also show up with homemade soup when the parish falls apart (contradictions, I tell you). Sometimes she’s all professional armor and sometimes she’s very much just flustered and human — which is why she’s so very real. Pro tip: never challenge her to a pub quiz unless you’re ready to lose and then be lectured for three hours.