Painted in Blood (Midsomer Murders)

Joyce Barnaby joins a painting society, and finds the body of Ruth Fairfax, an elderly lady who is part of her art class. Almost as soon as she is identified, DCI Barnaby is pulled off the case replaced by members of the National Intelligence Squad (NIS). Her husband DCI Barnaby is relegated to Operation Pondlife, a local initiative designed to clamp down on bag snatching. Troy continues on the murder case, and at first is dazzled by the visiting detectives who take him under their wing.

Investigating unofficially since he has been taken off the case, Barnaby discovers that the murdered painter was in fact a member of the NIS disguised as an old woman. He feeds evidence to Troy, who gradually becomes disillusioned with the way the NIS conduct their inquiries - for instanece they attempt to frame a local house painter, and suppress his inquiries that might exonerate him.

Barnaby deduces that 'Ruth Fairfax' was murdered by the NIS investigating officer, who was in disguise as one of the watercolourists. This was because she was honest, whereas the other NIS officers are crooked. One of the members of a gang which pulled off a big robbery at Heathrow had given evidence against his colleagues and in return been given a new identity under the witness protection programme. He had hidden £5 million inside an old linen press in the security vault of the local branch of Shires Bank. The crooked NIS officers try to steal the money, but Barnaby and Troy foil them. The two junior NIS officers turn on their boss because he has murdered their female colleague despite having promised them there would be no violence. The 3 NIS officers are arrested.

There are several amusing subplots:

• The local woman who looks after Joyce after she discovers the corpse is dismissive of older men who trun to drink; when Barnaby comes home, he immediately pours himself a glass of wine;
• The NIS officers, who ape the FBI by wearing sharp suits and sunglasses, are derisive of the skills of their rural collagues, yet Barnaby and Troy out-detect them;
• The bank branch is to be closed, and the bank manager decides to steal some of the hidden money, but repents when Barnaby arrives. However he is consoled when the art teacher tells him the antique linen press is worth a lot of money.

The episode features amusing performances from John Sessions as the art teacher and Leslie Phillips as a retired major.

There is only one murder committed in this episode. However, throughout the episode, there are various crimes committed including 2 attempted bank robberies in the episode's conclusion, taking place within minutes of each other.[1]

Ruth Fairfax (also known as Angela Browning): Stabbed in the back on the village green with a chisel whilst painting.