Midsomer Murders announces surprise spin-off as ITV series returns to screens this week
A MIDSOMER Murders spin-off has been announced as the hit ITV series makes a much-anticipated comeback on screens.
Eight months after the last series aired, a new season of the hit ITV series based on the novels by Caroline Graham will be hitting screens this Sunday on ITV1.
But before fans get ready to dive into the gripping four-part drama, an official spin-off project has been revealed.
Midsomer Murder fans will get a chance to see if they can survive the county of Midsomer in the first-ever interactive novel, which will be released very soon.
The blurb for the forthcoming novel reads: "All is not well in the beautiful county of Midsomer. On the eve of its first Villages In Bloom competition, a man lies dead, smelling of damson jam. Who could have done it? Well, that's where you come in.
“Step into the shoes of Midsomer CID's newest recruit, choose your own path and decide which way the story goes.
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“Will you get to the bottom of the mystery? Will you bring the perpetrator to justice? And perhaps most importantly of all, could you avoid an untimely, and possibly bizarre, death... will YOU survive Midsomer?
"Your task is to make the right choices, solve the case and - most tricky of all - stay alive!... Good luck."
On May 23, the paperback version of the novel will be available to purchase as well.
The first episode of season 23 is titled The Blacktrees Prophecy.
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The instalment will follow DCI John Barnaby as he investigates the murder of a survivalist, who is discovered dead in a bombproof shelter.
John continues to discover more about the case and unravels a "dark conspiracy to reveal how far people will go to escape the end of the world."
The rest of the synopsis for the new season reads: "One morning Warren receives the call he was been waiting for - nuclear missiles have launched - vindicated, Warren races to the bunker and radios for the other preppers to meet him there.
"But as dawn breaks over Blacktrees-on-Marsh, the sun rises over village green serenity, rather than a scorched earth.
"Warren's resentful wife Clodagh arrives at the bunker to tell him it was a hoax but discovers Warren dead.
"As Barnaby and Winter arrive to investigate, Fleur explains Warren was suffocated, someone tampered with the air filter and sucked the oxygen out – this is someone with technical skills.
"But even Barnaby must admit he is tempted by the outdoors life and stocks up on his own survival rations when Sarah reveals that her mother is coming to stay…
"Warren, who was part of a small doomsday prepper community in the village, had found much comfort being with like-minded individuals… until now.
"The duo must question if someone was desperate to get their hands on Warren’s shelter or if someone is trying to send a message. The pressure is on to work out who and why before the killer can strike again."
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ITV's Midsomer Murders has been a British TV staple since its debut in 1997, with over 22 crime-filled seasons.
Midsomer Murders returns on Sunday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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