Case file · Series 24, Episode 4 · Season 24, Episode 4
A Climate of Death
Midsomer's self-declared greenest village is bought by a Texan oilman, reopening arguments about land, identity and who belongs there.
Verified filming locations
Every filming site currently documented in this Casebook file is listed here. The published evidence does not establish a complete production itinerary.
- The Barn · Turville Heath, Buckinghamshire
The barn provides the setting for Goodman's Land's chilli competition.
Location guide → Filming source ↗
Map lookup by place name. A private house’s exact address is not marked.
Selected episode credits
A Climate of Death cast
These selected cast entries link to their published profiles. They do not include every name shown in the end credits.
Julie Graham
Nathaniel Parker
Melissa Johns
Eve Austin
Corey Johnson
Helen Lederer
Takayuki Suzuki
Tim Cullingworth-Hudson
Nigel Betts
Robert Akodoto
Tony Jayawardena
The 60-second case card
Should I watch this one?
A topical village dispute works best when the environmental slogans give way to a much older argument about ownership.
- Best for
- Green village · Climate policy · Land ownership
- Mood
- Eccentric
- Team
- DCI John Barnaby with DS Jamie Winter
- Spoiler guidance
- Read the premise freely; open the marked sections only after watching. Check the linked provider advisory for further viewing information.
Why it matters
A topical village dispute works best when the environmental slogans give way to a much older argument about ownership.
Goodman's Land has rebuilt its public identity around climate-conscious living, but the sale of the entire village to American oilman Rooster Harlin divides residents over whether its principles can survive new ownership. The deaths of two members of a farming family move that argument from protest into homicide.
A chilli competition, local food businesses and the history of the Havergal family all become part of the evidence. Barnaby and Winter discover that the apparent clash between green campaigners and an outsider conceals a competing claim to the village itself.
Break the seal: reveal the finding
Who was the killer in A Climate of Death? (spoiler)
The killings lead past the public environmental dispute to hidden parentage, overlapping relationships and a concealed claim to Goodman's Land.
More episode detailsProduction, cast, deaths and filming information
Credits, context and checked facts
Production and cast
- TV series
- Series 24
- Episode number
- Episode 4
- Written by
- Maria Ward
- Directed by
- Leon Lopez
- Listed transmission date(s)
- 25 December 2023
- Reported filming period
- June–July 2023
- Detective
- DCI John Barnaby
- Partner
- DS Jamie Winter
- Pathologist
- Dr Fleur Perkins · Annette Badland
- Principal setting
- Goodman's Land
- Casebook tone
- Eccentric
Sources accompany the production credits and filming links.
Fictional settings and real filming places are listed separately. Filming links include 1 mapped area; 1 exact site.
Credits and archive connections
- Writer credits4 episodes credited to Maria Ward
- Director credits2 episodes directed by Leon Lopez
- Release positionCase 140 of 144
- Story characterEccentric · Green village · Climate policy
- Location evidence1 exact screen-use match
Goodman's Land previously appeared in the Tom Barnaby case Dark Autumn, although this story gives it a markedly different public identity.
The Barn at Turville Heath supplies the setting for the chilli competition around which part of the investigation unfolds.
Sources for the production file
Published episode chronology and credits ↗Official ITV programme page ↗Filming-location reference index ↗Credits follow the linked chronology. Dates can differ between territories. Consult original credits for story, teleplay and adaptation wording. External synopses may contain spoilers.
The performers behind this case
Core cast
Follow the cast links for full actor and character guides.
Neil Dudgeon
John Barnaby · Detective Chief Inspector- Messiah
- Life of Riley
- The Mrs Bradley Mysteries
Nick Hendrix
Jamie Winter · Detective Sergeant- Black Mirror
- Marcella
- The Crown
Annette Badland
Dr Fleur Perkins · Police pathologist- Ted Lasso
- Doctor Who
- EastEnders
Image credits identify the licence used. No programme publicity stills are reproduced.
Forensic team
Dr Fleur Perkins
- Credit
- Resident pathologist
- Played by
- Annette Badland
Spoiler-controlled deaths
Deaths recorded in this case
3 people die in this case, according to the linked death record.
Break the seal: reveal the list of deaths
- Danny Tarleton
Murder · Other recorded death
Performer check- Danny Tarleton: Tim Cullingworth-Hudson
- Liam Tarleton
Murder · Other recorded death
Performer check- Liam Tarleton: Nigel Betts
- Aldo McLean
Murder · Poisoning
Performer check- Aldo McLean: Tony Jayawardena
Break a second seal: reveal the verified killer
Who was the killer in A Climate of Death? (spoiler)
Harper HavergalHarper killed Dougie 'Duke' Harlin years earlier and concealed his body, then killed Danny and Liam to prevent the racetrack excavation and competing title claim exposing her. Aldo ate poisoned chilli intended for Rooster and was an unintended victim; Brian Havergal falsely confessed to protect his daughter.
Verified motive
Harper killed Dougie after her first love rejected her for Lana and revealed that the Harlins—not the Havergals—owned the village, destroying the future and status she wanted. She later killed Danny to prevent his racetrack exposing Dougie's buried body, killed Liam when his title research threatened the same secret and tried to poison Rooster before he could investigate; Aldo was the unintended victim.
Real place → fictional identity
Where was A Climate of Death filmed?
The Barn
Used as: The barn provides the setting for Goodman's Land's chilli competition.
Representative photograph of the real filming location; the exact camera angle or building may differ.Sources accompany the identified filming places.
Wider filming areas