Happy Families is the third episode of the twenty-second series of Midsomer Murders and first aired 3rd October 2021
DCI Barnaby and DS Winter are called in to investigate the death of Victor Karras, a manufacturer of exclusive board games, who appears to have been poisoned. His wife, Eleanor, believed it only seemed fitting to build that celebration upon a game, to arrange a murder mystery weekend on that special occasion. But the celebration only turns in an opposite direction, when Victor Karras falls down the stairs, poisoned by cyanide. Due to an issue with the ferry, Barnaby and Winter are trapped on the island and it is a closed room mystery.
Tropes:
- Amateur Sleuth: Somewhat subverted. One of the suspects played a detective in murder mystery games and tries to get solve the mystery before Barnaby. It gets him killed without solving the mystery, but he was killed because he was getting close to solve it.
- Beleaguered Assistant: Victor Karras' executive assistant, Joshua Kilbride, complains that he was treated like dirt and never appreciated by Victor, even though he was the one who was really keeping the company running. Of course, as he was Stealing from the Till and about to be exposed, how much of this was true and how much justification is unclear.
- Cellphones Are Useless: The remote location of the island combined with a heavy rainstorm means the detectives can't call anyone or use the internet to help solve the case.
- Closed Circle: Due to an issue with the ferry, Barnaby and Winter are trapped on the island with all the murder suspects.
- Declining Promotion: Barnaby starts the episode in a foul mood and he explains at the end it's because he's been offered a cushy promotion, but one where he'll be stuck behind a desk for the rest of his career. To his relief, Sarah tells him to let someone else have the job and stick with doing what he enjoys: solving murders.
- "Eureka!" Moment: Harry figures out how Victor was killed and jumps up, Barnaby said "[Victor] did everything but shout Eureka." A comment by Winter in response gives Barnaby his Eureka moment to figuring out how the main murder was done.
- Fingertip Drug Analysis: Winter tests a bottle of poison he finds in the kitchen by dipping his finger it and touching it to his tongue. It turns out to be a prop for the murder mystery game that was supposed to be played at the party.
- I Never Said It Was Poison: Barnaby says the type of poison but not how it was administered. The killer makes the mistake of revealing how the poison was administered.
- My God, What Have I Done?: The murderer's reaction when she realizes she killed her brother-in-law and the amateur detective for no reason, because she'd misunderstood what her sister had been saying.
- Shirtless Scene: Winter's clothes get wet so he has to wear borrowed pajama bottoms and no shirt. Winter also showcases he is not wearing underwear under the pajama bottoms.
- Stealing from the Till: Joshua has been committing fraud by charging extravagant purchases to Victor's corporate credit card, knowing that his boss never checks the statements. However, an insurance company check about why a purchased item was not showing up on the policy threatens to expose him, thereby giving him a motive for murder.
- Tainted Tobacco: Victor Kilbride is killed when the murderer spikes his vaping solution with a slow-acting poison
