A series of murders in Midsomer Parva begins with the discovery of the naked body in the center of a mysterious crop circle in a field owned by Sir Harry Chatwyn. When local extra-terrestrial expert Lloyd Kirby interests himself in events, rumors abound that the vicious death could be the work of some alien force. Barnaby, however, has other ideas, particularly when the bodies of a local criminal and Sir Harry's adulterous son-in-law are found under extraordinarily similar circumstances. Barnaby's investigation reveals multiple motives and multiple killers who used the first murder as a model for their own deadly endeavors.