Murder by Magic is the second episode of the seventeenth series of Midsomer Murders and was originally shown on 4th February 2015.
Pub landlady Hannah Altman is crushed to death whilst assisting illusionist Gideon Latimer at a charity magic show to raise funds for Midsomer Oaks church. The trick was sabotaged, suggesting that Gideon was the intended victim. He had received hate mail linking his act to Satanism and a particularly vocal critic is zealous curate Andrew Maplin. Certain robed figures conduct midnight rituals in the grounds of Gideon's mansion, once owned by an eighteenth century pagan and one of them kills Andrew, leaving his corpse on a stone altar. Hannah was having an affair as is Gideon's wife Annabel, widening the list of suspects, whilst the vicar's wife Lorna Soane is revealed as a descendant of the eighteenth century pagan. There is another slaying before DCI Barnaby works out who committed murder by magic.
Tropes:
- Cacophony Cover Up: The killer uses the sound of a gunshot being used in a magic trick to mask the sound of the gunshot they used to kill Annalbel Latimer.
- Hollywood Silencer: Along with the aforementioned cover-up, the gun that killed Annabel is later stated to have had a sound suppressor on it to explain why no one heard the shot.
- Human Sacrifice: The killings ultimately center around an ancient human sacrifice, and someone's attempt to recreate in the present-day, although this is a misdirection.
- Joggers Find Death: The body of Andrew Maplin is discovered by Annabel out jogging in the woods.
