Silver Spring, MD — Offering seventeen contemporary, stand-alone mysteries from the top-selling British mystery franchise, Midsomer Murders: Barnaby’s Casebook arrives on DVD from Acorn Media nationwide on January 5, 2010 and is available now at select retailers. Continually reaching new heights of popularity, Midsomer Murders counts Johnny Depp and even the Queen among its ardent fans. According to Britain’s Daily Express, Her Majesty never misses an episode, and Depp became a fan while shooting Sweeney Todd. Millions of fans agree; the cleverly conceived mysteries and subtle humor make it one of Acorn’s top-selling titles, year after year. This 19-disc collection includes seventeen feature-length mysteries and two exclusive bonus discs ($159.99, www.AcornOnline.com).

Following 2008’s release of The Early Cases Collection, Barnaby’s Casebook includes the episodes from 2001-2004; previously released on DVD as Sets 4 and 6-8. Since Acorn Media received the DVD rights out of order, Set 5 included the pilot and first episodes and was included with the first collection.

Inspired by the characters of novelist Caroline Graham, modern master of the English village mystery, Midsomer Murders combines quirky characters and surprising mysteries with postcard-perfect English village settings and the ever-charming John Nettles (Bergerac) as DCI Tom Barnaby, a dogged investigator and devoted family man, unflappable in the face of the macabre crimes and eccentric characters he encounters on the job.

These 17 mysteries see the promotion of Barnaby’s earnest assistant, Sergeant Troy (Daniel Casey, The Wingless Bird), and the arrival of his brash replacement, Sergeant Dan Scott (John Hopkins, Love in a Cold Climate). Guest stars include Hugh Bonneville (Iris, Bonekickers), Gemma Jones, Honor Blackman, John Standing, Freddie Jones, Susan Wooldridge, Phoebe Nicholls, Stella Gonet, and Henry Ian Cusick (ABC’s Lost).

The Mysteries: Tainted Fruit, Market for Murder, A Worm in the Bud, Ring Out Your Dead, Murder on St. Malley’s Day, A Talent for Life, Death and Dreams, Painted in Blood, A Tale of Two Hamlets, Birds of Prey, The Green Man, Bad Tidings, The Fisher King, Sins of Commission, The Maid in Splendour, The Straw Woman, and Ghosts of Christmas Past

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE: John Nettles interview, essays by star John Nettles and co-creator Betty Willingale, Midsomer map, production notes, Caroline Graham biography, and cast filmographies. Plus two exclusive bonus discs: Map of Midsomer Murders, a behind-the-scenes documentary hosted by John Nettles, and Super Sleuths, a documentary about the show’s first decade.

Midsomer Murders premiered in the United Kingdom in March 1997. Since then, more than sixty-five feature-length episodes have aired with new episodes still in production. In the U.S., the series has been seen on A&E and The Biography Channel. Acorn Media previously released Sets 1-13 with three to five mysteries per set. Each set ranked in Acorn’s top 10 best-sellers for its year and sales of each new set consistently gain momentum.

Available now at select retailers (www.AcornOnline.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble)
Nationwide Release Date: January 5, 2010
DVD 19-Disc Collector’s Edition: 19 discs (including bonus programs); approx. 28 hours, plus bonus
SRP: $159.99

Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., Acorn Media distributes distinctive home video releases to the North American market with a special focus on the best of British television. Acorn’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn Media at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.