The series is based on a series of detective novels from the "Chief Inspector Barnaby" series. The story revolves around Inspector Barnaby and his assistant, who investigate crimes in the picturesque countryside of Midsomer, an English county. From the outside, the peaceful provincial towns seem completely harmless, but in reality, there are intense passions simmering beneath the surface. Behind the neat fences, manicured lawns, and cricket matches, there is a society teeming with all kinds of human vices.