Breaking the Chain is the third episode of the eighteenth series of Midsomer Murders and originally aired 27th January 2016.
Cyclist Greg Eddon is killed after winning the local leg of a national race, beating team mate Mitch McCordell at the last minute. Mitch's father Des, who owns the DJM racing stable tells Barnaby the race is make or break for them but there are clearly factions as Mitch's brother Aiden had sent threatening texts to Greg after he was seen kissing Aiden's girlfriend Amber. Local environmentalist Gerry Bleacher opposes the races, claiming that people die because of them and organizer and pub landlady Mary Appleton receives messages accusing her of murder. Des admits that DJM's sponsorship depends on Mitch's continuing success as the company is cash strapped whilst Reece Dexter, who runs rival team Ravondale, accuses Des of corruption and persuades Aiden to cycle for his stable. Another murder follows before Barnaby is able to save a further victim and identify who, in the cycling world, was guilty of literally breaking the chain.
Tropes:
- Artistic License – Law: Barnaby tells Jez Oliver that a recorded confession cannot be used because it constitutes entrapment, but this is not what entrapment means. Entrapment occurs when a law official encourages someone to break the law, not when they secretly record a confession. It is true that secret recordings by legal officials are also frowned upon in some (but by no means all) jurisdictions, but in this case, as Jez was not a legal official, the recording would most likely have been admissible.
- Baby's First Words: John and Sarah Barnaby spend the episode trying to get their daughter Betty to say her first word. John wants it to be "Dada" and Sarah wants it to be "Mama" but eventually Betty says "dog" instead.
- Dead Animal Warning: Mary Appleton is sent a cow's heart in the post.
- Disconnected by Death: Barnaby is talking to Damien Lamerat, who is on his mobile phone to Des McCordell. Damien turns to Barnaby and remarks that he heard sounds of struggle and then the phone went dead. Barnaby hurriedly races to the scene and arrives in time to save Des, who has been left in a room that is filling with gas.
- Love Makes You Crazy: Kim Fosse sets out to eliminate everyone she sees as standing between her lover and success, including his brother.
- Troll: Pub cook Jez Oliver, who sent Mary Appleton a cow's heart, threatening letters and spray painted the monument she was due to unveil with the word "murderer" in an attempt to get her to confess that her mistake in the first cycle race meeting had led to the death of his wife years ago, and that she had covered it up save herself. He was even in a relationship with her as well at the time. It worked, he recorded the confession, and handed it over to Barnaby.
