Ep 1. A Talent for Life

A Talent for Life is the first episode of season 6 of the British television show Midsomer Murders. The episode follows the investigation of the murder of the president of the Midsomer Worthy's Art Society, Sir Simon Fletcher, who is found dead in front of a painting during the opening night of an art exhibition.

The main detective in charge of the case is Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby, who, along with his colleague Sergeant Gavin Troy, sets out to uncover the motives behind the murder. As they interview the artist who created the painting, the victim's family members, and the members of the art society, they begin to uncover a web of secrets and lies.

One of the key suspects is Sir Simon's brother-in-law, Timothy West, who stands to inherit a considerable amount of money as a result of Sir Simon's death. Additionally, Sir Simon's daughter, Miranda, and her boyfriend Matt, have been embezzling money from the art society's accounts, which gives them a motive for wanting Sir Simon out of the way.

As Barnaby and Troy delve deeper into the case, they discover that the victim's life was not as pristine as it appeared on the surface. Sir Simon had a secret life, which involved frequenting brothels and engaging in several extramarital affairs. One of the women he had been seeing, a local publican, becomes another key suspect in the case when her fingerprints are found on the murder weapon.

Meanwhile, Barnaby's wife, Joyce, is dealing with her own problem as she is in charge of organizing a charity auction for the art society. The art world is rocked when the star painting of the auction, a work by a renowned artist, is revealed to be a forgery.

As the investigation continues, Barnaby and Troy race against time to find the killer before they strike again. They are aided in their investigation by forensic evidence and the testimonies of witnesses, but they also encounter many roadblocks as the suspects lie to cover their tracks and protect their own interests.

Ultimately, the true murderer is uncovered, and Barnaby and Troy reveal their identity to the shock of everyone involved. A Talent for Life is a thrilling episode that keeps the viewers guessing until the very end, with its many twists and turns, and clever plot.