The following actors and actresses who appeared in this episode have also appeared in the following episodes: A Talent for Life" is one of the good solid episodes. At the same time it is just missing the extra missing that could have made it great or even a classic. "A Talent for Life" signalled the first time, and one of not many times, in the history of 'Midsomer Murders' where the identity of the murderer was not that surprising and easily guessable too early (personally suspected them very strongly before the halfway mark). Not necessarily due to suspects being too few, but there could have been more and the motives more imaginative than here. When two bodies are discovered by the side of a fishing stream, Barnaby and Troy have yet more murders to solve. Isobel Hewitt had A Talent for Life that some can only hope for. She loves to drive her red Jaguar at top speed and generally enjoyed the finer things in life. Although loved by many, there were those who were not quite so charmed by her. Margaret Seagrove was convinced that she was the member of the local fishing club using weighted lures in the local stream. Her nephew and his wife, with whom she resided, saw her as a burden now that she had spent most of her accumulated capital. The second victim is the local doctor, Duncan Goff, a well-known philanderer who had affairs with many of the local ladies. The police must first determine if both were intended victims, or if one was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Leo says, "I'm so sorry." Ruth says, "I don't feel anything. I made the wrong choice, marrying Keith. Why did we break up? It's all a mess now." Leo says, "If I can do anything." Ruth says, "I'm glad you're here, Leo. (He kisses her hands) Just give me some time. Please?"Meanwhile, the script is smart and thought-provoking with some nice humour and colourful characters. Nothing felt inconsequential, everything had a point, everything intrigued and any loose ends were tied together nicely. However, as always, the production values are top notch, with to die for scenery, the idyllic look of it contrasting very well with the story's occasional grimness, and quaint and atmospheric photography. The music fits perfectly, and the theme tune one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre. Quentin walks over to Isobel's and they drive off riding in her red Jaguar. The race past the mobile library, which Cully Barnaby is tending. Isobel enjoys racing around an old airfield ( cue old 50's Big Band music). Barnaby hears the car racing from a distance and identifies it as Isobel's Jaguar- straight 6, twin cam. Troy says, "Come on, sir. You can't tell that from here."

The solution is indeed disappointing with kind of obvious murderer and dull motives, which could have been much more compelling. I would go that far and name it underdeveloped. Rebecca rants, "Isobel had no comprehension of economy. As you can see we don't exactly live like lords. It severely stretched us, letting her live in that house, and we've had to scrimp to get by. Isobel, of course, continued to live the high life. I know she's family and you have to be loyal but the truth is, Isobel was a very manipulative woman. Men ran around after her and she did nothing in return." Troy asks, "Which men ran around after her?" Rebecca says, "My husband for one. And Quentin Roka for another. Her antique dealer playmate. God knows what was going on there." Melrose says, "Quentin runs the antique shop near Isobel's. He often helps her out..." Rebecca interrupts, "Wheedling his way into her confidence. With the finances." Melrose says, "Quentin paid the odd bill for her at the Post Office. I am the person who will benefit financially from Isobel's death in that I now have possession of my assets." A Talent For Life" takes place in the Midsomer village of Malham Bridge and the story starts when Isobel Hewitt slaps Margaret Seagrove in the face. Margaret wants to press charges and Barnaby and Troy come along to have a word. Isobel Hewitt brags about her slap against Mrs Seagrove and as she talks with her nephew, Melrose Plunkett and his wife Rebecca, they inform Isobel that they can not carrying on paying off her overdraft. Shortly after, Isobel Hewitt and Duncan Goff are found murdered by the river.

Dixie Goff tells her daughter Angela that she wants family only at Duncan's funeral. Angela says, "Mum, don't you think some of Dad's old friends and patients would like to come, pay their respects?" Dixie replies, "I will not have a procession of his old flames filing past the grave. I will not." The detectives ring the doorbell. Barnaby asks, "Mrs Goff, we've learned that Mr Keith Scholey came round here to speak to you on the night before your husband's murder." Dixie says, "What he told me was no surprise. My husband had always had something of a wandering eye and I tolerated it." There are some clever ideas spread out in the story. Especially liked the thought of Gavin Troy almost solving the case. Cully has returned! She now runs a mobile library of sorts. Glances between her and Troy indicate their attraction is still there. Her absence goes unexplained. It seems her parents bought her a cheap car, which they call Bert. The murder plot itself was interesting, confusing to follow since everyone's a suspect. But watching it a second time when knowing the identity of the killer, makes it much more pleasant to follow what is happening, notice all the red herrings, and enjoy the script as it is. The deaths are not too gruesome and the initial motives were tame by the series' standard as being a sudden crime of passion based on a broken heart. There was a funny bit about how Troy had pegged the killer early on but was talked out of it by Barnaby's doubts. Then Troy came up with a theory that faulted someone else and Barnaby agreed, celebrating Troy's success with Cully and Joyce. However, Barnaby realized Troy's theory was wrong and once again solved it all himself. Troy was embarrassed but Tom recalled Troy's initial gut feeling as correct, and walked off with his arm around the dejected Troy. The detectives leave the Plunketts. Troy says, "The Plunketts have the strongest motive. The house, the land, it's going to be worth a million or two. In the hands of a builder..." Barnaby says, "But if they'd planned it, they'd have known they'd be top of the list. I'm more interested in the windfall. The 20,000 coming just the day before the murder seems a bit more than a coincidence, doesn't it?" Barnaby and Troy stop by to speak to Cully. She is working on the photography exhibit. Cully tells them she heard something else about Doctor Goff. Keith Scholey's mother died of cancer last year. Apparently Keith blamed him, said his mother would've survived if he'd diagnosed it sooner. He made official complaints and they came to nothing. Keith said it was a cover up.