Case file · Series 21, Episode 2 · Season 21, Episode 2
The Miniature Murders
A disliked property owner is murdered during the unveiling of a dolls-house collection at a family museum.
The 60-second case card
Should I watch this one?
The tiny houses offer a neat visual counterpoint to a case driven by very real homes, landlords and broken relationships.
- Best for
- Miniatures · Property · Museum
- Mood
- Classic
- 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
The tiny houses offer a neat visual counterpoint to a case driven by very real homes, landlords and broken relationships.
Estate agent and landlord Alexander Beauvoisin is killed in front of a crowd gathered for a new dolls-house display at the Midsomer Museum of the Family. His record as a landlord and his separation from Fiona create no shortage of people with reason to resent him.
A second death complicates the apparent romantic triangle, while Alexander's new partner is revealed to have entered his life under a professional identity. Barnaby and Winter connect the victims through an earlier incident and the consequences of property decisions made by the same circle.
Break the seal: reveal the finding
Who was the killer in The Miniature Murders? (spoiler)
The killings lead back to an earlier incident in which housing, betrayal and official responsibility became inseparable for those involved.
More episode detailsProduction, cast, deaths and filming information
Credits, context and checked facts
Production and cast
- TV series
- Series 21
- Episode number
- Episode 2
- Written by
- Helen Jenkins
- Directed by
- Toby Frow
- Listed transmission date(s)
- 11 December 2019 4 February 2020
- Reported filming period
- May–June 2019
- Detective
- DCI John Barnaby
- Partner
- DS Jamie Winter
- Pathologist
- Dr Fleur Perkins · Annette Badland
- Principal setting
- Causton
- Casebook tone
- Classic
Sources accompany the production credits and filming links.
Fictional settings and real filming places are listed separately. Filming links include 1 mapped area; 2 exact sites.
Credits and archive connections
- Writer credits6 episodes credited to Helen Jenkins
- Director credits3 episodes directed by Toby Frow
- Release positionCase 124 of 144
- Story characterClassic · Miniatures · Property
- Location evidence2 exact screen-use matches
Locations include an Amersham building, Coleshill House as Fiona Beauvoisin's home, and Stoke Court as Maxine Dobson's house and exhibition venue.
Alexander is killed during an unveiling rather than in private, making the crowd, sightlines and museum display part of the opening puzzle.
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.
Selected episode credits
The Miniature Murders cast
These selected cast entries link to their published profiles. They do not include every name shown in the end credits.
Fiona Dolman
Isabel Shaw
Clare Holman
Karl Collins
Rohan Nedd
Roger Barclay
Joanna Page
Rosalie Craig
Thomas Dominique
Eleanor Bron
Katy Brand
Ami Okumura Jones
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
2 people die in this case, according to the linked death record.
Break the seal: reveal the list of deaths
- Alexander Beauvoisin
Murder · Gunshot
Performer check- Alexander Beauvoisin: Roger Barclay
- Jemima Starling
Murder · Other recorded death
Performer check- Jemima Starling: Katy Brand
Break a second seal: reveal the verified killer
Who was the killer in The Miniature Murders? (spoiler)
Carys NicholsonCarys shot Alexander Beauvoisin to stop him discovering Nicco Rainsford's body, then killed Jemima Starling after Jemima followed her while she moved it. Maxine Dobson had shot the intruding Nicco in self-defence; Carys concealed that death and killed the two present-day victims while trying to protect Maxine.
Verified motive
Carys acted to protect Maxine after Maxine shot the intruding Nicco in self-defence. She concealed the body, killed Alexander when his survey would expose it and Maxine risked prison, then killed Jemima in panic after Jemima followed the body move and discovered the secret; Maxine's original shooting remains separate.
Real place → fictional identity
Where was The Miniature Murders filmed?
Coleshill House
Used as: The property doubles as Fiona Beauvoisin's house.
Stoke Court
Used as: The manor becomes Maxine Dobson's home and the setting for the miniature exhibition.
Sources accompany the identified filming places.
Wider filming areas
