In "Destroying Angel," DCI Barnaby and Sgt. Troy are called to a Midsomer village to investigate the murder of Gregory Chambers, killed in the woods while out looking at specimens of mushrooms.
The case turns out to be fairly complicated because Chambers is part of a real hotbed of intrigue. He and three other people have just inherited a portion of a hotel upon his employer's death. His wife now gets his quarter.
His wife, Suzanna, is a cold, somewhat nasty woman. (When asked if the May pageant would still be held on the grounds, she says, "This is the last year. You'll have to find someplace else to stick your maypole.") She's been having a mad affair with one Tristan Goodfellow, the hotel chef, while her deceased husband was involved with a woman named Annie Salter. Annie is four months pregnant. Yikes.
Then Tristan is poisoned with "destroying angel," a type of mushroom, and not much can be done for him. Then there's another death. As the bodies mount up, Barnaby and Troy have to figure out whodunit.
Really good story with a good performance by Samantha Bond as the unpleasant Suzanne, and Rosemary Pope, as an elderly woman with health problems. A few twists in this, plus the gorgeous locations, make this one to see.