Based on the crime-novel series by author Caroline Graham, `Midsomer Murders' follows the efforts of Detective Chief Inspector John Barnaby to solve crimes that occur in the wealthy, isolated English county of Midsomer, a picturesque and peaceful place on the outside, but one filled with amoral and snobbish eccentrics with all kinds of vices. Chief Inspector Barnaby is the younger cousin of DCI Tom Barnaby who retired in 2011. His right-hand man is Detective Sergeant Jamie Winter, who is young, keen and smart as a whip. 'Midsummer Murders' is the UK's longest-running contemporary detective drama, having aired on ITV since 1997.