Midsomer Murders – Death by Persuasion

It’s been a long time since the last episode of Midsomer Murders hit our screens, and it’s somewhat sad to say that it wasn’t worth the wait. ‘Death by Persuasion’ is a gorgeous and well-acted instalment of Midsomer, but it suffers far too much with a script that is equal parts stupid, boring and under-developed.

During a Jane Austen weekend at a country house owned by Kitty and James Oswood (Claire Skinner and Samuel West), a young woman dressed in period attire slips away – she is later found murdered in the nearby woods, stabbed to death with a poisoned quill. Although the village seems in thrall to Austen fever, Barnaby learns that there is also an ongoing trial for a healthcare drone delivery system, which is used by James’ stepmother Mary (Georgie Glen). When the service’s premises are broken into and their records destroyed, Barnaby must work out whether the murder is linked to the drones or Jane Austen, or whether there is another secret hidden away in the past.

Even in its weaker episodes, I normally praise Midsomer Murders for providing enjoyable and interesting kills – it sounds grisly, no doubt, but it’s a huge part of the show. The opening quill murder sets up an interesting episode, but we have a subsequent death that is so ludicrous, even by the standards of this show, that I couldn’t buy it in the slightest. There’s a necessary suspension of disbelief that makes Midsomer work, and ‘Death by Persuasion’ shatters it, pulling the rug completely from an episode that is already struggling.

This run has been a good one so far, so it’s a shame to produce such a dud

‘Death by Persuasion’ isn’t even salvageable on the strength of its mystery, which begins in an interesting fashion but very quickly loses its way. There’s a lot thrown in that is forgotten or just doesn’t go anywhere, and most of what we see is hideously under-explained. This is particularly obvious in regards to the identity of the murderer – there’s essentially no evidence pointing to them nor any hint of a motive, and it all feels rushed at the last minute. There was so much potential here, and it’s really poorly utilised – this is most evident in the use of drones, which are supposed to be a ubiquitous presence in this village by barely feature. I was excited to see how drones would factor into the mystery but, like so much in ‘Death by Persuasion’, I shouldn’t have been.

There are some strengths here, and they’re the ones most typical of Midsomer Murders. The episode looks lavish, really capturing the feel of a Jane Austen, and it would be entirely possible to mistake the opening for a period drama. ‘Death by Persuasion’ also boasts a fine supporting cast – Skinner and West shine as a couple suffering restrainedly with secrets at the heart of their marriage, and they get the most to work with. Also of note is Anamaria Marinca as Dr Petra Antonescu, a replacement pathologist while Kam is still away (thank goodness!). She’s flirty good fun, a marked step up, and I wouldn’t grumble if she became a more permanent fixture in the show.

‘Death by Persuasion’ is one of the weakest episodes of Midsomer that we’ve had for a long while, and that’s almost entirely down to a script that ought to have received far more polish. Some shining guest spots and a clear affection for the works of Austen aren’t enough to carry this limping instalment anywhere near the finish line. We’ve only one more episode to series 19 of Midsomer, and I hope that it is far stronger than this one – this run has been a good one so far, so it’s a shame to produce such a dud.