Dark Autumn
In the remote hamlet of Goodman’s Land, local postman and Casanova Dave Cutler gets murdered whilst doing his early postal delivery. Barnaby and Troy, together with WPC Jay Nash start investigating. They discover that he had slept with many women in the village. A witness later recalls having heard strange 1940s dance music before the murder. When others become victims to the killer, they need to find a possible link to connect them before Jay gets into a perilous situation herself.
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- The Casanova: Postman Dave Cutler was having affairs with almost all the women characters in the village who had speaking parts (at least three) and it made a lot of people jealous. Troy thought he would be sleazy but when they investigate his home he seems to still be a gentleman. A lot of people still attend his funeral despite the jealousy of the husbands he was cuckolding.
- Cheating with the Milkman: Husbands go to work and then Dave the Postman got together with some of the wives in the village.
- Death by Looking Up: The third murder is conducted only when the character looks up and sees a heavy desk falling on to him.
- Fair Cop: WPC Jay Nash, as acted by Gillian Kearney is 29, pretty and a competent police officer.
- Machete Mayhem: The murderer uses a billhook for the first two murders, which nearly decapitates them.
- My Girl Is a Slut: Owen August knows his wife is having affairs with other men and allows it, provided he is allowed to listen while she's having sex.
- Office Romance: Troy tries to start a relationship with Jay, but she turns him down.
