CalledtothevillageofMidsomerMarkettoinvestigatesomeone'scarbeingsetonfire,BarnabyandTroysoonfindthemselvesinvestigatingthemurderofMarjorieEmpsonwhoisfoundinherhomebludgeonedtodeath.ThefocusoftheirattentionisthetheReadingClub,agroupoffivewomenwhomeetregularlynottodiscussbooksinfact,buttomanageainvestmentfundtheyhaveestablished.Twoofthememberswerehopingtocashouttheirinvestments,butwerepreventedfromdoingsobytheothers.Thereareseveralothersuspects,allinonewayoranotherconnectedtothefinancialandinvestmentworld,butwhenasecondmemberofthebookclubiskilled,thepolicerealizetheymayneedtolookforanaltogetherdifferentmotive.