The Midsomer Regatta is halted by the discovery of the body of the chairman of the Midsomer Rowing Club floating at the finishing line.

Barnaby looks forward, with reservations, to entertaining his in-laws for Christmas. Meanwhile, exactly 9 years after the suicide of Ferdy Villiers his family and their guests arrive at the somewhat dilapidated Villiers home to celebrate the festive season. However, not everyone present is imbued with the Xmas spirit and the already rather tense atmosphere begins to disintegrate even further when it becomes apparent that someone in the household is all too aware that certain family members have dark secrets to hide. When what initially appears to have been an accident is revealed to be murder Barnaby and Scott discover that they must first unravel what really happened in the past in order to resolve the present.

When a rare orchid is smuggled illegally into Midsomer Malham it releases the heady scents of passion, jealousy and death.

DCI Tom Barnaby and Sgt Dan Scott investigate the murders of a horse-racing syndicate.

John Ransom is found murdered with suspicious burn marks to his head. The investigation leads to two feuding families - one with the ability of second sight.

When local solicitor Nick Turner falls to his death from his house roof, it is not clear whether it was murder or suicide.

Barnaby and Scott investigate when the dead body of rival employee, Dexter Lockwood, is found in the Plummer family's factory steriliser.

When retired music teacher Arthur Leggott is battered to death with a torch, Barnaby and Scott investigate a web of family feuds and long lost love affairs to discover the truth.