The most genteel-looking fictional county in England may also be its most murderous — and DCI Barnaby has spent decades untangling the homicides hidden behind Midsomer's chocolate-box cottages and flower shows. Wildly inventive in its methods of dispatch yet utterly cozy in tone, it's the ultimate comfort mystery: pour a cuppa, settle in, and try to spot the killer before the credits. Midsomer Murders streams on Acorn TV in the US; compare BritBox and Acorn TV to see which fits your watchlist.
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Is This Series for You?
Fans of Gentle, Puzzle-Box Whodunits
Viewers who like a traditional village mystery, eccentric suspects and a body count that is part of the fun.
A Very Long Run
Each case runs about 90 minutes, and 144 episodes have been released since 1997. Dip in anywhere, or settle in for years of viewing.
Cozy in Tone, Inventive in Method
Murders are frequent and sometimes outlandish, but the violence is rarely graphic and the mood stays light. British TV Hub's verdict: essential comfort viewing, and a natural first stop for anyone new to British mysteries.
Where to watch in the US
Acorn TV
Series 1–25 · Subscription required · Check current price at signup
Watch via Acorn TV on Prime Video → Buy Season 1 on DVD →Streaming availability in the US can change. Check the linked service for the current season and episode selection. Checked October 2026.
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BritBox, Acorn TV and PBS Masterpiece can all be added as Prime Video channels, so every series sits on one watchlist.
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About the Show
From Caroline Graham's Novels to 148 Mysteries
Based on Caroline Graham's novels, the television series quickly expanded beyond the original books. John Nettles led the series as DCI Tom Barnaby for 13 series before Neil Dudgeon took over in 2011 as his cousin, DCI John Barnaby. Series 26 has been commissioned for four new feature-length mysteries, which will bring the series total to 148 episodes.
New Viewer's Guide
The Pilot, The Killings at Badger's Drift (1997)
Adapted from Caroline Graham's first novel, the pilot introduces DCI Tom Barnaby and DS Gavin Troy and sets the template the whole show is built on.
Death in the Slow Lane (2011)
DCI John Barnaby's first case as lead is a second natural way in. The episode handles the handover itself, so no knowledge of the Tom Barnaby years is needed.
Tom Barnaby or John Barnaby?
John Nettles led as DCI Tom Barnaby for the first 13 series; Neil Dudgeon has played his cousin, DCI John Barnaby, ever since. British TV Hub's beginner's guide covers where to start with each era.
Best Episodes, Ranked
The Killings at Badger's Drift
An elderly woman's death looks accidental until Barnaby and Troy start asking questions. The pilot adapts Caroline Graham's first novel and sets the template for everything that follows.
Ring Out Your Dead
A bell-ringer is shot in the belfry, and it is only the first death to strike the village ringers. Church bells, old rivalries and a wedding make it a showcase for the show at its most Midsomer.
Hidden Depths
A solicitor's apparent suicide is followed by a neighbour's disappearance and a sum of money missing from a client account. The threads come together in one of the show's most satisfying puzzles.
Written in Blood
The chairman of a village writers' circle is found dead after an evening with a visiting novelist. Adapted from Caroline Graham's novel of the same name, it shows the early series at full strength.
Dead Man's Eleven
A woman is found beaten near a disused quarry after her morning walk, in a case wrapped up in village cricket. Barnaby and Troy's partnership is in fine form.
The Green Man
Skeletons uncovered during a canal restoration lead back to old village secrets. It is also the final regular appearance of Daniel Casey as DS Gavin Troy.
Ghosts of Christmas Past
A family Christmas at an ancestral hall, nine years after a relative's death, turns deadly after a cracker carries an ominous message. First shown on Christmas Day 2004.
Blood Wedding
A maid of honour is murdered at a wedding reception, and a familiar face returns for a guest appearance. One for viewers who remember the early years.
Small Mercies
A body is discovered staged among the miniatures of a model village. The setting is pure Midsomer, playful and sinister at once.
Death in the Slow Lane
DCI John Barnaby's first case as lead, built around a vintage car rally and a girls' school. A natural starting point for the second era.
Main Characters and Cast
John Nettles
The original DCI Tom Barnaby, grounded by home life with his wife Joyce (Jane Wymark) and daughter Cully (Laura Howard). His final case, Fit for Murder, closes Series 13.
Neil Dudgeon
DCI John Barnaby, Tom's cousin, who first appears in the Series 13 episode The Sword of Guillaume before taking over as lead. His wife Sarah is played by Fiona Dolman.
Daniel Casey
DS Gavin Troy, partner to Tom Barnaby from the pilot until The Green Man in 2003, and the first of several sergeants.
Jason Hughes
DS Ben Jones, the only sergeant to work alongside both Barnabys.
Nick Hendrix
DS Jamie Winter, John Barnaby's sergeant since 2016.
Annette Badland
Dr Fleur Perkins, the county pathologist in the show's recent series.
What Makes the Series Special
Chocolate-Box Villages, Very Dark Deeds
Midsomer's appeal lies in the contrast: thatched cottages, village fetes and flower shows hiding an astonishing number of murders, many of them gloriously inventive.
That Eerie Theme
Jim Parker's theme tune, with its haunting theremin melody, is one of the most recognisable openings in British television.
Barnaby Off Duty
Scenes at home with Joyce and Cully, and later with Sarah, give the detectives a life beyond the case and keep the show warm even when the murders pile up.
Setting and Filming Locations
Real Villages, Fictional County
Midsomer is invented, but the show films in real towns and villages, mostly across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Thame and Wallingford supply much of the market town of Causton, and Warborough and Turville are among the villages that appear.
Books Behind the Series
Caroline Graham's Chief Inspector Barnaby
The series grew from Caroline Graham's seven Barnaby novels, published between 1987 and 2004, starting with The Killings at Badger's Drift. The early episodes adapted several of them before the show moved on to original stories.
Watch the Trailer
More Trailers on British TV Hub — Trailers & Previews →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Midsomer Murders still being made?
Yes. ITV has commissioned Series 26, four new feature-length mysteries, with Neil Dudgeon continuing as DCI John Barnaby.
How many episodes of Midsomer Murders are there?
144 feature-length episodes have been released since the pilot in 1997. Series 26 will add four more, bringing the total to 148.
Are Tom Barnaby and John Barnaby related?
Yes, they are cousins. John Barnaby takes over as lead detective after Tom retires at the end of Series 13.
Do I need to watch Midsomer Murders in order?
No. Each episode is a self-contained mystery. Watching in order adds context around family life and changes of sergeant, but it is not essential.
Is Midsomer a real place?
No. Midsomer is a fictional county, filmed in real towns and villages, mostly in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The Midsomer Murders filming locations guide covers the main ones.
Where can I watch Midsomer Murders in the US?
Acorn TV carries Series 1–25, including through the Acorn TV channel on Prime Video. Pluto TV currently offers Seasons 1–24 free on demand, plus a dedicated Midsomer Murders live channel. Availability can change.
Is Midsomer Murders based on books?
Yes, on Caroline Graham's seven Chief Inspector Barnaby novels, published between 1987 and 2004. The show adapted them early on and has told original stories ever since.
Fact-checked and streaming availability checked October 2026. Spot an error or an outdated streaming link? Send a correction to info@britishtvhub.com.
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