After his private detective son Hal Jones is shot, retired Barnaby Jones decides to solve the murder with the help of Frank Cannon. They find out that Hal was working for Terry McCormack, who seeks a career in politics but is blackmailed now.
Wealthy married Philip Carlyle persuades unwitting Mike Hartney to sail his cabin cruiser with a time bomb aboard. After the explosion Phil is believed to be dead and can begin a new life with his mistress Diane. Julie hires Barnaby to search for her friend Mike.
Just released Howard Lee meditates revenge on Barnaby Jones who put him into prison. He sends a funeral wreath, predicts Barnaby's death on Sunday and is constantly watching him. When Betty finally finds out who threatens Barnaby she falls into Lee's hands.
When caught stealing exam questions Paul accidentally kills George Enright. His friend Charles Lomax makes it look like a drunken George stole money and fell to death. When Barnaby is hired to investigate, Charles drops false clues that point to Ron Fannon.
Tony Bloom accuses his associate Steve Kingston of a theft and of having an affair with his wife. Steve kills Tony pretending an assault by two hippies. Barnaby is hired to find Christie and her hippy friend Eric who will be arrested under suspicion of murder.
Barnaby travels to Baja California with Eleanor to find her father. Way back his car is damaged in an accident. Unwittingly he has been used as heroin courier. He calls Eleanor to account and they let themselves in for a dangerous gamble with the dope pushers.
While working on a revealing book Harry Doyle is killed. Looking for the missing writer and his manuscript Barnaby meets Harry's friend Nancy. Finally he spots the missing pages in the doll's house of Craig Woodridge's aunt. Does Craig have a shady past?
When rock music star Rick Michaels accidentally falls into his empty pool his girl friend April thinks he is dead. Rick's managers Rooney and Paige believe the same and fearing for their salary they feign a kidnapping. Barnaby searches for April, who disappeared.
Harry Warren is shot by Stanley Lambert, the seemingly blind pianist at "The Offside" club. Barnaby finds out that larger amounts from Warren's account did not go to his mistress Jenny. He tries to expose Stanley as a person with eyesight and a blackmailer.
Nick Gorman, who tries in vain to meet Johnny Arthur, is killed in a hit-and-run accident. Barnaby poses as a man on a fishing trip to investigate. The townspeople Flory, Johnson, Spake and Rile draw lots on who should kill Barnaby. They all acquired sudden wealth.
Alex Chandler kills his mistress Denise during a quarrel, because she talked to his rich wife Hazel hoping to encourage a divorce. A disappointed Hazel leaves home and as she does not return her brother hires Barnaby to find out whether Alex murdered Hazel.
Gloria overhears aging movie star Jason Craig's involvement in drug smuggling. Her blackmail threat leads to her death and Jason pushes her car over a cliff. Her daughter Doris hires Barnaby, who is put out of action. Jones tells Doris to disguise as Gloria.
During a TV talk show presenting his memoirs former jewel thief Tony Neill plans to steal a diamond necklace unnoticed during a break. He succeeds, but kills the butler. Barnaby is hired by an insurance company to find jewelry and asks Neill for advice.
While watching something terrible happen to her room mate Michelle college student Amy steps back, falls down the stairs and is left blind and cannot recall the events. In search for Michelle Barnaby talks to Amy, who is plagued by a mysterious visitor.
To get money for his gambling loans lawyer Peter Harris masterminds a gem robbery. To distract the police he hires high-wire artist Roy Hason who pretends to jump from a roof in a suicide. When Roy unexpectedly falls to death, his girl friend asks Barnaby for help.
Gil Atkens is accused of murdering his wife as several people saw him quarrel with Claire in a boat and striking her with the oar when she fell into the water. Although Barnaby gets a film that proves Gil's innoncence, he discovers a clever insurance fraud.
Liza Mills, a former student of Barnaby's, asks for help when her father is killed by a snake bite and the suspicion falls on her adopted brother Kevin. Barnaby gains Kevin's confidence and finds out that Liza's fiancé Jim Howard has something to hide.
Curt Fowler discovers his brother-in-law, race car champion Mark Landy, kissing Lori Wright. As he threatens to tell his sister, Mark kills him and tries to fake a trial run accident. When Barnaby comes on to scene, Lori wants to make profit from being a witness.
Shortly before discovering the identity of the long sought ""Butterfly Killer"" Eddie Wheelock commits suicide. His friend and colleague Barnaby tries to prove it was murder. The killer leaves puzzling clues for Barnaby including a Greek typewriter.
Knowing his rich wife Linda wants to divorce him, Charlie Cord hires Wilson to kill Linda on a parking lot, while Charlie shoots ""the mugger"" as an unwanted witness. Linda's aunt Mrs. De Roche hires Barnaby to investigate. Mrs. Wilson blackmails Charlie.
Hollister is killed in the harbour by the dropping load of a crane. Barnaby investigates for an insurance company and uncovers the smuggling of a precious small emerald Buddha in a thermos, with one of Hollister's associates trying to kill the two others.
Medic Marshall Briggs watches his wife Ellie leaving Gary Denning's boat. He kills the assumed rival and fakes a boating accident. When Barnaby discovers that Ellie's lover is tennis teacher Victor and Marshall wants to correct his mistake, he tries to help them.
After meeting psychic Jason Matthews on Kay Rogers' party Byron Colling is killed in a strange car accident. Byron's son hires Barnaby to investigate the cause. Kay hopes to find her child - kidnapped years ago - but fraud Matthews only wants her money.
As a defense counsel Edward Brendon clears Doug Anthony of stealing precious jewels. When Anthony digs out the hidden jewelry he is shot by Brendon, who is assisted by Anthony's wife Gail. She gives him an alibi. Barnaby has to recover the jewels for the owner.
Theodore Gordon is killed in a plane crash when trying to transport important documents for an international company. Another member dies in a parachute jump. Barnaby finds out Gordon had a love affair. He sets a trap by repeating the flight with the documents.
Going by motorcycle Mason witnesses the secret burial of a murdered girl in the dunes. He is chased to death into an abyss by a helicopter. Barnaby, searching for Mason, traces wealthy Charles Manly Wheeling, whose girl friend tried to force a marriage.
After killing Margery, the disabled wife of her lover Larry, to accelerate a marriage Brooke is bitten by the family's dog. Margery's father doubts a suicide and hires Barnaby. Brooke tries to hide the bite in a cast, but Barnaby resorts to a ruse.
After several boyfriends of rich orphaned Jenny Sutherland have been killed or crippled, the housekeeper Kathy Revere asks Barnaby to investigate. Jenny believes she is a jinx, but Barnaby tries to find out whether these were accidents or murder was involved.
When platinum manufacturers Nate Turner and Mitch Mitchell fake a robbery to collect money from the insurance company, Nate is killed by Mitch. Employee Mary Dwayne becomes witness of the fraud and joins a Mr. Smith in blackmailing Mitch with a secret video tape.
Pretending to get the birthday present for Emily, Chuck leaves the restaurant and rings up Emily's father at the company. By computer he activates a gear that kills the man. Barnaby investigates, meets young genius Brian and learns about ""Charlie"", the computer.
When his 'ghost writer' Ray wants the proper credit for his songs, rock star David Colton kills him with a drug overdose. David tries to get rid of his manager Gil, who knows about Ray's songs. Barnaby, hired by Ray's parents, finds out about David's secret.
Betty becomes Barnaby's new client when Susan, her college friend, mysteriously falls to death after trying to seek his help. Barnaby finds the key for a locker filled with heroin and Betty has to cope with the fact that Karen, another friend, smuggled the drugs.
Juan DeVarga, a terminally ill Latin American leader, wants Barnaby to locate his son John Revez as he needs an heir. Barnaby finds out that Revez is also Javier, leader of a terrorist group opposing DeVarga. Jones arranges a meeting, but there is a traitor.
During his honeymoon Paul Barringer falls to death from a cliff. Barnaby investigates for his widow Marilyn and finds out that there is one heir who wants to inherit the Barringer family fortune, killing the others. Marilyn waived, but learns she is pregnant.
When Leila Evanston dies after a plastic surgery following a serious car accident doctor Danvers talks his mistress Karen into posing as Leila in order to save his career. While Mr. Evanston doesn't notice the change, Leila's lover does and blackmails her.
Angie McClaine hires Barnaby to find her husband, who has disappeared and in reality is a marriage impostor that takes the identities of successful men. He marries rich Vanessa and poses as a doctor. Two people who try to unmask him are killed.
Sanderson, the manager of a basketball team, kills the brother-in-law of his star player Frank Hampton, when he is blackmailed due to Frank's foul play. Sanderson also kills Tony, an unwanted witness. But the blackmailing continues and Sanderson's team loses again.
Whit Brewer sells lots at Shadow Lake Estates, but the construction works did not start yet. Claude Meecham discovers the fraud and is killed in a car accident. When Whit tries to get rid of his associates, the two rivaling women Madge and Irene ally.
Lloyd Kellner fakes a fatal car accident so he can disappear with the money he embezzled from a firm of stockholders. With his wife Bernice he wants to leave the country in a boat and $4 million in diamonds. But Bernice prefers to join a third associate, Stayman.
Private eye Frank Cabot blackmails unfaithful husband Arnold Moore for whose wife he works. During a quarrel Moore falls from a roof top. Barnaby has to match wits with his criminal colleague, who already has another victim and is assisted by a pretty secretary.
Terminally ill John Riley took the blame for killing Sheffield's wife, as Sheffield promised to provide for Riley's wife. But Riley gave an interview to Terrence who is murdered thereafter. Working for Terrence's publisher Barnaby traces Sheffield and Long.
The car pool sharers Don, Mel and Steve assault Mel's boss on a trip to San Diego. But during the robbery the man is killed. Barnaby traces Mel who gets nervous and wants to leave to Mexico with his wife Lorna. When Mel is accidentally killed she joins Don.
Young law student Jim Wayburn makes common cause with defendant Ross Kemper who stole jewels and forfeited a large bond from the company of Jim's employer Roxy Morgan, an old friend of Barnaby's. But when Kemper cheats, Jim kills him and tries to sell the jewels.
Insurance man Clete Larkin is pushed into an elevator shaft by his colleague Camp. Clete's wife, doubting an accident, hires Barnaby. He finds out that Gina, Clete's mistress, gave away a stolen jade bracelet and that Clete provided the plans for the security system.
Jonathan Yeager, a motorbike manufacturer, is killed in a bike test. Barnaby investigates for California Meridian Insurance Company and searches for the mysterious motorcyclist with a black helmet who was seen pursuing Yeager and smokes small cigars.
After becoming a famous country singer Ruby Deems returns to her home town attracting her ex-husband Cliff again. When she slays a jealous Cathy in self-defense her manager Shine makes her believe Cathy is dead. Later Shine kills the presumed dead.
After a party host Colby Lassiter advances the clock unnoticed and gives George Weatherly a narcotic. Then he disappears to steal a precious diamond from the house of his guest. But everything goes wrong: First he kills a guard, then a treacherous diamond cutter.
When customer Sturmer wants to withdraw a large amount of money from his account, bank president Ellen Blazeford, who ravaged trust accounts for years, kills him by letting loose a bull. But Barnaby, hired by Sturmer's nephew, and two bank employees are on her trail.
While Larry Colter distracts Hillary, the maid of the Tatums, Adam Montgomery photographs secret memos that will expose Tatum's boss J.E. Brock. When Tatum surprises him, they kill him arranging a suicide. Barnaby is hired by the widow and Hillary is imperiled.
After marrying Vicki Clay Wakefield wants to quit his career as a professional killer, much to the dismay of his younger brother Lester. When Lester tries to shoot Barnaby, who is looking for the runaway Vicki, the girl gets the bullet and is seriously injured.
Football player Mark Rainey borrows the key of the apartment of his colleague Feather to have a rendezvous with Marsha. When she feels harrassed, Mark kills her accidentally. Marsha's husband hires Barnaby. Feather advises Mark to give himself up to the police.
When her rich father-in-law R.B. Catlin repudiates her, Melissa kills him in a boating accident. His sister Meg hires Barnaby. When the family reunites at the opening of the will, Arthur, Melissa's brother-in-law, recognizes her as party girl Melinda.
Lured to the courthouse by a false subpoena, Greg Albin suddenly becomes prime suspect in the murder of a judge. He forces Barnaby to help him, but is injured by Biddle in an attempt to escape. Trying to uncover a conspiracy Barnaby is pursued by a hit man.
When Chris, Warren, Toby and Michelle rob $200,000 from the company of Chris' wealthy stepfather Thurston, Toby is shot. Barnaby is hired by Toby's father to find the missing son. Medical student Warren fails to save Toby, panics and is killed by Chris.
Director Darrin Addison kills aging film star Chambers, who ruined the production with his drunkenness, to get the money from the life insurance to save the project. Barnaby investigates for the insurance company. Witness Mitchell requests the title role.
One year after the death of her daughter Sandy, Kay Lewiston is haunted by a mysterious call from a little girl. She also finds Sandy's pet panda bear and hires Barnaby to clear the mystery and to prove that she is not mad. But the haunting continues.
Vince Barrett hires look alike Rick to have an alibi when murdering Mason and throwing him into the sea. Rick, who does not know he has been used in a plot, falls for Vince's girl friend Shirley. When Vince wants to get rid of Rick one of them is shot, but who is it?
Betty poses as rich widow Miss Enright to get access to the ""Center for Female Consciousness"" in order to clear up the death of lawyer George Lockman. When she finds proof of embezzlement committed by comptroller Robert Travis she jeopardizes her life.
Della Madison is a decoy who talks customers into buying large amounts of copper. When Jim Archer discovers he has been cheated, Della's associate Darnell kills him. While Archer's wife hires Barnaby to find Jim, Della falls in love with her next victim Wade.
Colonel Redford, a British intelligence agent, seeks Barnaby's help to trace double agent Raven who stole the famous Habsburg Porcelain Collection and sells the pieces at the Jennings Art Gallery. Raven /Jennings kills his associate Sinchek and nearly strangles Redford.
Shortly after a quarrel with his wife Florence Harold Armstrong is pushed over banisters and killed. Russ Madden hires Barnaby to prove Florence's innocence. Nora, Harold's mistress tries to blackmail her. Who is the mysterious person disguised as Florence?
Frank Cannon and Barnaby Jones investigates the rape and murder of a young woman who was about to blow the whistle on the company she was involved. But they are investigating for different clients and from totally different angles.
Cannon and Jones try in vain to convince Lt. Biddle that Bud McKenna's death was murder. Betty occupies Gordon's secretary Alice Parks, while Cannon searches her apartment. The detectives uncover an international conspiracy and escape two attempts on their lives.
Shirley Evans, a former theater star, had to stop her career due to blows of fate, a fatal car accident and alcoholism. Now she plans a comeback, but is harassed by telephone calls and pursued by a prowler. Is it Lloyd Kilgore, who is found dead in Shirley's pool?
Wealthy Tim Landis spent two years at a hospital for the criminally insane but cannot remember the murder he was accused of. After another person is killed he hires Barnaby to find out his guilt or innocence. The murderer always leaves an orchid with the victim.
Arlene James hires Barnaby to investigate the 'accidental' death of her fiance Larry in a lumberyard. Barnaby traces Tally Morgan, a karate expert who killed three people trying to uncover a black market business with heavy equipment salvaged in Vietnam.
On a fishing trip Barnaby is hired by Dwight Kincaid, whose bride Vickie disappeared just after being married. Barnaby discovers that she is held captive in the house of wealthy Stu Fannon. She once was his secretary and Stu thinks she hides a financial ledger.
Two teams Alpha and Bravo compete in the development of missile designs. When a man of the Bravo team is killed by a misdirected missile, Barnaby is hired to find out whether it was an accident or sabotage. Or is it a jealous husband who kills Alpha marksman?
When stewardess Rachel discovers she has been unwittingly used by her boy friend Mark to smuggle heroin from Hong Kong, she is killed by a drug overdose. Barnaby, hired to clear Rachel's name, traces Mark Seagert and Ken Morley, who make an attempt on his life.
Brina Douglas kills her older husband in a buggy accident at Dryers Canyon as revenge for her father's death, whom he ruined. Barnaby investigates for the insurance company. Brina also wants to get rid of Ray Greenwald. Gil, a third associate, fakes Ray's murder.
Impaired by a skiing accident young Kathy watches Dr. Melford quarreling with neighbor Mrs. Rickers, then killing her. Barnaby is hired by Melford's lawyer. Kathy's credibility is doubted as after her accident she has been suffering from hallucinations.
Joe Beecher is killed by the white Alsatian of his stepson Colin. Barnaby investigates for California Meridian Insurance as Beecher had a life insurance with double indemnity. Did Joe's wife Laura train the dog, as he had an affair with his ex-secretary Claudia?
Kelly Anderson, an adopted young heiress, hired Marvin Kates to search for her real mother. When Kates is killed Barnaby takes over. He traces the mother Mary Willson. But there is also her sister Anita, who tries to prevent Mary from meeting Kelly.
On her 21th birthday Allison Clark gets an emerald necklace, that is stolen. Barnaby investigates for the insurance company. The accomplice of the thief is Kathy Cooper, Allison's friend from the Riding Academy, who romances Alison's wealthy widowed father.
Barnaby is hired by Evelyn to find bigamist husband Harold Murphy. Lisa, the second wife, romances Todd Ballinger. Harold discovers them, is killed by Todd in a scuffle and they get rid of the corpse. But the faked death is part of a scheme to blackmail Todd.
Abby Reinhart and her lover, restorer Tony Barrer, plan to cheat her older, wealthy husband Gutherie with an art forgery. When Gutherie overhears the plot, he dies from a heart attack. Abby and Tony try to conceal the death until the paint of the fake is dried.
Ray Dixon exchanges the hay fever medicine of swimmer Andy Cavanaugh, a competitor of his son Norm, for amphetamines. Andy dies of an allergic shock and Barnaby is hired to clear his name. Ray puts the blame on coach Sid and kills Gwen who gave him the drugs.
At a rendezvous with Ann marriage impostor Frank is recognized by his former victim Laura and pushes her from a roof. Sheila, a victim trying to blackmail him, is also killed. Barnaby finds out that the companies where Sheila and Laura worked were robbed.
Betty is abducted by Corey Doyle. He demands Barnaby to prove the innocence of his brother Joe, who was sentenced for having murdered his wife, a case Barnaby rejected before. Jones, fearing for Betty's life, is given only 48 hours to find the real murderer.
When writing the revealing memoirs of ex-crime boss Al Felix his ghostwriter Gideon is killed. Felix escapes and hides at the home of his friends Karl and Lottie to continue writing and wondering who betrayed him. Barnaby locates Felix, so does mob head Redmon.
Lyle Harrison discovers the affair between his wife Ginny and Rod Cursey and gets furious. In a quarrel he is thrown from his horse and Cursey lets the horse stamp on him. Cursey diverts suspicion to Carlos Rojas, a supposed witness, who is feeling guilty himself.
When the owner of a restaurant, Rick Lorenzo, is found drowned by the sea, Barnaby is hired to investigate. Betty hopes to prove the innocence of murder suspect Vince Bradford, Lorenzo's successor, as Vince once was her boy friend before he married wealthy Nora.
While Frank Dunlap distracts the bank manager, clerk Joyce Elkins hides $250 000 in a false ledger and her colleague Angie locks it in a safe deposit box. Double crossed Jerry Kennedy pursues Joyce, who runs into a car. The driver asks Barnaby to find the witness.
Handsome, irascible Taylor Chappell slays Donna and throws her into the sea. When Herbie Webster discovers Taylor is a woman hater due to an unnatural love to his sister Anna Lisa, he is also killed. Barnaby finds out that Taylor and Anna Lisa moved several times.
A friend of Barnaby's, Dori Crandall, asks him to help Arlie Burke, a seemingly mentally retarded youth suspected of rape and murder. One victim shows traces of Arley's clay, but Barnaby also finds pipe tobacco and animal hairs, that lead him to the real murderer.
Stayley Kircher, a warehouse owner, hires Barnaby to find out who tried to kill him. Barnaby poses as long lost brother Harry Kircher with Betty as his Girl Friday. They discover that several employees of unwitting Stayley are involved in a munition contraband.
Barnaby's cousin, Monroe Jones, a Chicago police sergeant, gets a tip from an informant (Tony Ritter) that the man (Walter Cahill) who murdered his partner six years ago is living in Los Angeles. When Sgt.Jones arrives in L.A. to meet up with Ritter, he is murdered at the airport by the same killer. Monroe's son, Jedediah Romano (J.R.) Jones, arrives in L.A. to track down his father's killer and to avenge his father's death. J.R. goes to Barnaby for help in finding Tony Ritter hoping that Ritter can lead him to Monroe's killer. Barnaby and J.R. follow various leads but it is a phone call that is made while Barnaby is out of the office that leads J.R. to a confrontation alone with his father's killer. Unfortunately for J.R., Cahill is well skilled in karate and easily knocks J.R. out. Just as he is about to kill J.R., Barnaby shows up and shoots Cahill, wounding him so that he can not harm J.R.
Ben Ross falls to death after telling reporter Larry Christopher about an ecological association that is a fraud. Barnaby and J.R. investigate for Ross' wife. Christopher spots Ross' informer Ruth Sorrell and becomes a murder suspect when she is killed.
In order to get the same recognition as his older brother, Danny Reeves robs laundered gambling money from his father, a syndicate man, and is responsible for the death of a pilot. Barnaby and J.R. investigate for the pilot's wife to find out what really happened to her husband since she does not believe it was an accident.
The members of Trident Diving School hire Barnaby to investigate the death of their colleague. Barnaby meets Carl Everett and his assistant Alice Caldwell who claim to be searching for a sunken treasure. J.R. who is certified in scuba makes dives and searches for clues underwater while Barnaby and Betty do the same on land.
Just before collecting the ransom for the abduction of Bentley's little daughter Cathy Ann, Doyle Egan was caught for robbery. After leaving prison ten years later he makes another ransom call and threatens his former accomplice Angie who has cared for the girl.
During a fishing vacation Barnaby and J.R. are hired by rancher Tim Carter to investigate a conversation overheard by Carter's daughter,Cassie, on her CB radio. Cassie believes that a hired hand, was the victim of foul play on his way out of town. J.R. uses his knowledge of the lingo used on CB radios to help Barnaby figure out that the disappearance is tied to a drug smuggling operation.
Barnaby investigates the murder of three people, a medic, a judge and the owner of a lodge. Shortly before their death they received phone calls from Cynthia, who after being raped was confined to a mental institution and was supposed to have drowned a year ago.
During an attempt to escape from prison, Hopper gets away, two people are killed and Watson is caught and facing a murder charge. Hired to clear Watson, Barnaby tries to find Hopper who is looking for money from a robbery that he committed before going to prison. Bounty hunter Kilgore is also hired to find Watson and get rid of him.
When Wayne Lockwood robbed a super market his girl friend was imprisoned. After her release Barnaby is hired to find her six-year old son Jody who accompanies his father Wayne on gun hijackings. Barnaby poses as a mercenary colonel and meets Wayne's orderer.
Roger, Al and Lester, three former college fraternity brothers want to solve their financial problems by stealing diamonds. During their preparations Lester is shot by a guard. Barnaby is hired by Lester's wife to try and find the missing man. During the investigation, Barnaby and J.R. uncover and foil the plans that Roger and Al have continued with after Lester's death.
When someone pulls the plug of comatose Marie's life support machine, her natural sister, a nun, is accused of murder. Barnaby and J.R. try to prove Sister Terry's innocence and find out that Marie was a prostitute involved in a blackmailing plot.
Paul Nugent kills his rich cousin Sandra, hurts himself and fakes a jewel burglary. Sandra had a $1000,000 life insurance policy and Barnaby investigates for the insurance company. Suspicion falls on Lassiter since he and his wife were separated. Meanwhile Betty is charmed and starts dating Paul. Barnaby and J.R. must come to the rescue when Betty finds herself in danger
Matthews and Ryan want to get access to an altered last will of billionaire R.C. Bradley. While holding Margaret Jason against her will, she escapes and falls to her death. Her daughter Linda doubts a suicide and asks Barnaby for help. J.R. becomes infatuated with Linda and he and Barnaby try to find out the connection between Mrs. Jason and Mr. Bradley.
Sheriff Bradden kills the lover of his young unfaithful wife Kitty by copying the ‘Colverton Hangman'. To clear the victim's name, his sister hires Barnaby, who is an old acquaintance of Rolly Bradden. Barnaby finds inconsistencies between this murder and the other murders and he and J.R. investigate to uncover the truth.
Since Vietnam Peggy Landry cares for her husband Tom as he suffers from a weakness of memory. Lee Wallace stabs Stevens and makes his friend Tom believe that he is the murderer. Barnaby is hired anonymously by Peggy when Stevens doesn't show up for work and she fears Tom may have something to do with it. J.R. goes undercover as a worker at the warehouse where the anonymous letter came from in an attempt to find out the facts leading to Stevens death.
During a Marathon Group Therapy weekend Ken Scanlan talks about his unfaithful wife Ruth. Lorraine, with whom he had a brief affair, slays Ruth to help Ken. As Ruth's life insurance policy had a double-indemnity clause, Barnaby and J.R. investigate hoping to stop any further murders.
The singing sisters Pearl and Ruby - prettier than talented - accidentally kill Harry Dunbar and Pearl steals his rare coin collection. Dunbar's widow hire Barnaby to find out if Dunbar did really drown or if he was murdered. While checking out clubs that Dunbar frequented, Barnaby is told that Dunbar left the club with the sisters and when they try to fence the coins it puts Barnaby and J.R. on their trail. After killing Pearl's boyfriend, Harley and framing his co-worker, Lester for the murder, J.R. poses as a friend of Harley and Lester's to trick the sister into confessing their involvement in the frame and murders.
After an attempt on his life Fritz Simon is reluctant to testify against Monte Kovell in a race track robbery. J.R. falls in love with pretty Laura and even gets her a job at the detective agency, not knowing she is spying for Kovell's accomplice Stroop.
Three young men from a carpet cleaning company, Tony, Vic and Casey, intrude in the house of Betty's friend Sharon and she is raped by Tony. Barnaby and J.R. manage to capture Casey, but Tony abducts Betty and demands to receive Sharon in exchange.
Barnaby has to investigate the apparent suicide of instructor Kemper from Rutledge University. Barnaby and J.R. discover that Kemper and Doris Carson were former members of an underground revolutionary cell, and planned to write a revealing book.
The ""Valentine Murderer"" already has killed three women after sending them letters and candy. When Betty, who has just moved into a new apartment, also receives a Valentine gift everyone assumes she is next on the killer's list. While Barnaby and J.R. search for the killer, Betty is assigned a police body guard whom she dated briefly. Barnaby and J.R. find the killer but Betty turns out to still be in danger.
The singing sisters Ruby and Pearl Connors from the episode ""Duet for Dying"" join a prison escape and seek Lester Gibson's help to travel to Nashville. His bride Mary Beth asks Barnaby to find Lester. When Ruby and Pearl try to cheat club owner De Marco he forces them to distract gambler Kingston. Eventually Barnaby and J.R. must come to the rescue of Lester and the duo.
When Ralph Alcott foils an armored car robbery he is celebrated as a hero and befriends Chris, the daughter of his boss. Barnaby is hired to find a possible inside man, who turns out to be Ralph. As Alcott kills one of his accomplices, the other one abducts Chris.
Barnaby is hired by wealthy Mr Enright to find his daughter Julie who ran away from home. While waiting outside a parking garage for her boyfriend Steve, Julie hits a man coming out of the garage and not knowing her boyfriend had shot the man, Julie thinks she has killed the man. With the help of her friend, Gloria, Julie tries to hide out and find peace at the ""Garden of Elyseum"". Things are not what they seem at the garden and the leaders hold Julie hostage and demand ransom for her. It is up to Barnaby and J.R. to find and rescue Julie.
When Jim Anders jumps from a bridge a priest is dragged along and killed. Jim's girl friend Wendy, watching the event on Devitt Robinson's TV report, hires Barnaby as she doubts a suicide. Barnaby finds out that Robinson works with manufactured news.
In his first big undercover assignment J.R. Jones tries to locate his friend Danny Corman, who joined a private army of mercenaries in order to pay the doctor for his ill wife.J.R. joins the same group of mercenaries and with the help of ""Lobo,"" J.R. and Danny foil a plot to assassinate a Near East dictator.
Pat Halston seeks the help of her friend Betty as she is repeatedly beaten by her drunken husband Glenn, who is reluctant to consult a psychologist. When Pat's boss David Conrad is slain suspicion falls on the jealous Glenn, who protests his innocence.
Frances Dunslay, married to a successful husband, is confronted with her past as a call girl when Cal Green blackmails her. She steals bonds from her husband's company and even hires Rudy Markham to kill Green. Barnaby and J.R. investigate to find the missing bonds.
When Peggy Giroux meets her brother Neal at a restaurant he mysteriously vanishes after being injured by a hit-and-run driver. Peggy hires Barnaby to locate Neal and he and J.R. find out that Neal is a professional killer who hides a gun proving his boss murdered a man years ago.
J.R. is abducted by members of the juvenile gang ""The Scorpions"" and forced to solve the murder of their co-leader Marco within 2 days to prevent a gang war with the rivaling ""Hawks"". He finds out that ""Hawks"" leader Max has a secret romance with Marco's sister Tina.
While call girl Felice dines with André LeClair her boss,Harry burglarizes LeClair's home and shoots and kills a security guard. Barnaby and J.R.investigate for the insurance company and it turns out Harry and his partner Lorette Gray, run an answering service that is a front for a call girl service. While the girls are out with the clients, Harry rips them off.
Attempting to locate Gloria, a runaway wife, Barnaby goes to the small town of Las Mesas, which is deserted due to the fair at Colverton. Earl, Ritchie and Tom plan to rob an armored car transport. They hold Gloria, the remaining townspeople and Barnaby as captives. It is up to J.R. to rescue Barnaby and the others when he can't convince the local authorites that something is wrong in Las Mesas.
Barnaby and J.R go to Lake Crystabol to investigate the death of Dr. Welker for the insurance company. Dr. Welker was killed by a dropping flower pot while outside at Diane Magnus' party. Diane thinks that David, the boy friend of her niece Gwen, is the reincarnation of her husband Thomas, murdered 20 years ago.
While repairing the small cottage inherited from her aunt Betty is injured. She is treated by sympathetic doctor Paul Tierney. Paul is pursued by three men who seek revenge because he abandoned them in Vietnam. Betty becomes fond of him and tries to repay the help.
Barnaby investigates the fatal accident of an insurant with double indemnity clause and meets twelve-year-old Julie Tyler, who predicted the death. When Julie tells Barnaby that missing Ferris is also dead, her mother suspects she is in league with the devil.
Barnaby is hired solve the death of Jack Crandall who had an affair with Tracy Wilder. Barnaby finds out that Jack suspected Tracy's considerably older husband Godfrey to be involved in the death of Tracy's wealthy father during a fire twelve years ago. Tracy has a habit of convincing men to feel sorry for her and then they end up dead, she tries to make J.R. her latest victim.
Barnaby and J.R. go to San Leone to help out an old friend of Barnaby's, Carmine Sandell. Carmine asks Barnaby to find out why his son Joe was killed. When Joe's brother Nick is killed a few days later, Tomás Aguilar becomes the prime suspect. His sister Linda, who has just returned to town, was once drugged and raped by the young Sandells and has spent the last 3 years in a sanitarium because of it.
Don Hopkins, a friend from college, invites Betty for lunch and then suddenly disappears, leaving his son Charlie in her custody. Two ex-fellow prisoners, Jim and Nick, force Don to join them in robbing a coin exchange.
When discovered while robbing a coin collection Dewey Lassiter, a cocaine addict, kills June. Prime suspect is J.R.'s law school class mate Walt, June's boy friend. To protect his guilty son, famous attorney Gordon Lassiter offers to defend Walt, but frames him instead, leaving it up to J.R. to help Walt prove his innocence.
Warren Christie, manager of a jewelry store, steals several diamonds to ransom his abducted wife but when Stan Donaldson tries to deliver the gems they are robbed. Barnaby investigates for the insurance company and offers his help for a second delivery.
Working under cover J.R. tries to befriend Maggie Revell, a young woman just released from prison. Barnaby and J.R. hope she will lead them to her boy friend Jack and to $400 000 from a robbery. But Jack's betrayed accomplice is also looking for the money.
Shortly before leaving for a fishing trip Barnaby gets a telephone call from a desperate Jennifer Rhodes, whose husband was convicted of kidnapping the Sayers's child eleven years ago due to Barnaby's testimony. Barnaby can rescue her from an attempted suicide. Feeling guilty, he tries to locate a witness for the defense but when the girl Hayley is murdered Barnaby is shattered.
Feeling guilty, Barnaby tries to locate a witness for the defense but when the girl Hayley is murdered Barnaby is shattered. He finds out that Gates, a former police detective, covered up for the kidnappers. During a shooting Gates is seriously injured by Barnaby, but his current boss Kingman doesn't show much efforts to help him.
A desperate mother, Verna Davis, requests Betty's help to find her missing son, Duane. Betty does not know that he is an escaped criminally insane killer. She locates Duane, who is seriously injured by a bullet. Verna abducts a doctor and forces him to help.
Amy Vickers is harassed by rejected admirer Mitchell Grady II. She comes to Barnaby looking for help and since Barnaby is busy with another case, J.R. takes the case. Amy needs to take some medical records to her father who is in an out of town hospital so J.R. drives her there. The two of them are followed by Mitch and two of his lackies and they are forced to seek refuge in a cabin. While at the cabin they are terrorized by Mitch and his friends.
Barnaby and Betty go to San Diego to help Glen Wilcox who suspects that several yachts that disappeared in the ""Coronado Triangle"" were hijacked. Dawn, the only survivor of a recent disaster, claims to have seen a giant whirlpool. She covers for Lloyd, one of the highjackers. J.R. goes undercover as a rich playboy to try and be the next victim of the hijackers.
Mrs. Russell hires Barnaby to locate Jenny Hastings, who witnessed a murder that Mrs.Russell's husband is about to go on trial for. Barnaby thinks he has located Jenny in a motel a few miles outside of Colverton and while Barnaby is on the phone having Betty check out the license number, Jenny is abducted by men who are working for Curt Phillips. Phillips wants to make sure that Jenny is not around to testify at the trial. While following them into a forest area Barnaby is wounded by a bullet and left blinded. Escaped Jenny discovers him and both try to flee on foot, pursued by the men. Back at the office J.R. has become concerned since he can't reach Barnaby and he sets out to look for him. J.R. arrives in just the nick of time to rescue Barnaby.
While investigating for the insurance company whether Frank Auburn's death was an accident, J.R. falls in love with beautiful Scotty, who works for Vic Chambers as a model. She takes care of lonely customers and a hidden camera films it so Vic can blackmail the men.
During her vacation Betty visits her friend Phyllis. When a young woman whom she denied help is raped, Betty feels guilty and starts to investigate on her own. Once Barnaby and J.R. realize the danger Betty is putting herself in, J.R. goes out to help Betty. Together they question the previous victims and Betty then decides to pose as bait for the rapist to catch him.
When young Shelly hitch-hikes to L.A. the driver vanishes after an accident, leaving her with drugs in the car. As Shelly is arrested she claims that Barnaby is her father. Jones visits her at the hospital and tries to clear the girl, whose mother he knew years ago.
Frank Leeds, a real estate developer, is mysteriously slain with a spade after following Melissa Warren into the forest. In search of Frank J.R. encounters Emily and her nieces Melissa and Sarah at Big Cedar Lodge, who kill any intruder and J.R. will be their next target.
Jeff McKnight is kidnapped and his wealthy father Dan asks Barnaby to assist Paul Craig with the ransom payoff. When his friend Paul is killed after the delivery Barnaby feels guilty. He doesn't know that Paul faked his death to escape with the money and Ellie, Jeff's girl friend.
During a restaurant date with Drew Barber, the daughter of Barnaby's client, J.R.'s coffee is drugged, and he passes out on the drive home. He awakes in a strange room and is arrested with accusation of rape. Released on bail, he searches for the man who drugged him, but his attempts to speak with his accuser gets his bail revoked, and he finds himself on the run. Barnaby investigates Barber's past and links him to a murder in Cleveland and the reason for the frame of J.R.
Laura Harding, Betty's acting teacher from college, asks for help when Sybil Crawford, leading lady of a musical, is haunted by a series of threats. Betty poses as an actress to investigate. Sybil's boy friend is killed and the solution seems to lie in the girl's past.
Julia Schumacher, a girlfriend of J.R.'s from high school, divorced her violent husband Floyd recently. She travels from Chicago to L.A. to find a job and to withhold their son Danny from Floyd. J.R. tries to mediate when Floyd threatens Julia to force her to come back.
When driving her boyfriend Larry Reed to the airport, Betty is forced off the road by a car. Larry is killed and Betty loses her memory about the accident. While Betty recovers, Barnaby and J.R. investigate to find out who might have killed Larry.
To pay the debts of his girl friend Rita, Jimmy Collier gives brand new motion pictures to film pirates. Editor Ken discovers him, but is killed by Jimmy's accomplices. J.R. arranges a meeting with Francesca and Barnaby poses as a black market film buyer.
When several teachers of Westhaven Academy for Girls are afflicted by mysterious accidents, Betty goes undercover and finds out about a secret society that punishes not only strict teachers but also disloyal members. Her life is endangered when Olivia, the leader, discovers her identity.
Father Donovan hires Barnaby and J.R. to find his missing sister Julie and requests the help of the young psychic Cleo da Vinci. J.R. befriends Cleo, but at first she is reluctant to use her clairvoyant talent.
Barnaby is hired by Dorothy Warner to find out whether her missing husband Colby really was a deserter in Vietnam. Trying to locate Warner's war comrade Lee Henderson, Barnaby gets involved in a shooting and a ricochet shot from his gun kills a seemingly innocent bystander. Barnaby and J.R. continue to try and under cover exactly what happened to Colby Warner.
When an eager D.A. threatens with a charge of negligent homicide a shattered Barnaby wants to give up the case, but Dorothy asks him to continue. Barnaby uncovers that several soldiers robbed gold in Vietnam and then deserted. Barnaby and J.R. try to figure out how Colby Warner fits into that picture or if he does at all.
Investigating a fatal accident at the Suncrest House Sanitarium (an institution for addicts), Betty gets back in touch with her friend Peggy, now turned into an alcoholic. Betty poses as an addict and discovers that the ""vitamins"" wealthy patients receive are drugs to make them suffer a relapse.
When staying with her ex-roommate, disco dancer Penny, Felicia Norris is shot. Penny believes the attempt was meant for her, and fearing for her life she asks Barnaby for help. Barnaby turns the case over to J.R. While investigating, J.R. finds out that in fact Felicia's husband hired Penny's dancing partner Gary to get rid of his wife.
Two masked men threaten wealthy business man Charles Abbott. Once he escapes, he hires a highly modern security team called ""Counterforce"". Barnaby is investigating for the insurance company and the head of Counterforce asks Barnaby to help in solving the case.
Betty witnesses the quarrel of a neighbor with two women. On the next day one of them is dead and the man, Peter Kirkland, asks Betty to investigate the apparent suicide. He fears his jealous, unbalanced wife Virginia might have committed a crime.
Darryl Enders copies secret files from Veretex Electronics, where his wife Pauline works. She discovers the photos and is killed. Barnaby finds out that Darryl is a bigamist with another wife, Linda, secretary at a company cooperating on the same secret project.
Buoyant Foxey comes to visit her cousin Betty, and is dated by fellow passenger Arnie. She doesn't know that he hid the key to a locker in one of her pinching sandals, now sent to a shoe repair. Foxey is pursued by two men, who try to get the key after killing Arnie.
Shortly after lawyer Adams of Nettleson Corporation withdraws a commission from Barnaby, he is killed. In trying to solve the case, Barnaby and J.R. are assisted by Stephanie Capello, a young colleague of Adams, who tells he was searching for Diana Scott. Diana went to the ""Center for Spiritual Enlightment"".
During the course of their investigations Barnaby gets his license revoked due to a false accusation, and J.R. joins the ""Center"" to find Diana, who turns out to be the illegitimate child of Mimi Nettleson Chiles of Nettleson Corp. and the leader of the religious cult, Garrison, rejected by Mimi's family.
Barnaby visits his god-daughter Laurie for her wedding with Lester, but the murder of Laurie's uncle Tully, a prospector, casts a shadow on the event. Laurie falls for Blue Simpson, not knowing that he killed Tully and wants to marry her as she will inherit a gold mine.
To convict Rick Garrett of murder, Lt. Biddle tried to develop Rick's ex girl friend nurse Julie into a secret witness and fell in love with her. When a second witness is killed, J.R. investigates, finding clues that point to Biddle. Barnaby and J.R. try to help the framed one.
When designer and co-owner Chris Alden is killed in a fire at a company producing swimwear Barnaby investigates on Alden's life insurance policy. He meets his old friend, fire insurance agent Jim Parks, not knowing that in the need of money to help his ill wife Parks collaborates with arsonist Lucas Ives.
At the request of his friend Andy Spencer J.R. flies to Maui, Hawaii, and is immediately caught up in a nightmarish situation: At the meeting-place J. R. is found with a stabbed dope pusher and arrested for the crime. Believing his friend will help clear him, Andy is summoned to the police station, but Andy disavows him. Police Lt. Walt Abbott finds marijuana and money in J. R.'s bag, further incriminating him. Barnaby and Betty arrive in aid of the framed J.R., but due to an old grudge Abbott denies any help. In desperation, JR escapes from jail to try to solve the crime.
After escaping from prison, J.R. enlists the help of Andy's sister, Toni and tries to meet with Andy, but a trap has been set, and Andy is killed. Convinced that J.R. is innocent of her brother's murder, Toni takes J.R. to a small cabin on the property, where J.R. witnesses the harvesting of marijuana and realizes that Toni's older brother Michael is involved in the smuggling of drugs in pineapple boxes.
Shortly after Betty handed over some files to boxing promoter Vince Ferrari he falls to death from his balcony. Betty suspects murder and as a key witness she does not only meet reporter Tom Powers but is threatened by a blonde woman, whom the prime suspect saw at Ferrari's apartment.
Unbalanced widow Amy Cameron, Barnaby's niece, is suspected to have shot Clark Harrison, but cannot remember. After Amy's attempted suicide Barnaby analyzes her blood and finds traces of a hypnotic drug, producing black-outs. He uncovers a scheme involving Amy's house keeper Mary.
At the request of a former girlfriend in Chicago, J.R. tracks down her younger sister, Jennifer, who has run away to LA. While at a party, Jennifer makes a phone call from the bedroom and sees the drugged rock-star Randy March and the red dress belonging to March's dead girlfriend. Believing that Jennifer may have seen the dead woman, March's representatives try to track down the teen.
While trying to seduce and drug young Jeanny for the white-slavery market Les Harmon and Al De Paris accidentally kill her. Barnaby searches for her, but Mr. Adamson, owner of a lodge, seems to conceal information. Betty, working undercover at the lodge, finds out about a blackmailing.
At the Olympic gymnastic tryouts for young Kim Barnaby recognizes her father Richard Gibson, a man presumed dead after robbing the coin exchange ten years ago. While Barnaby is trying to find a ghost, accomplice Jordan orders Gibson alias Simmons to get rid of the private detective.
Betty's friend Leslie Jessup is raped near Webster House and identifies the first comer suspect, Eddie Tucker, as the culprit. As Betty believes Tucker is innocent she investigates, searching for more victims and witnesses. But the true rapist places more clues to incriminate Eddie.
When a counselor at the Fresh Start drug rehab is killed under suspicious circumstances, J.R. goes undercover as his replacement to investigate. He uncovers evidence that another counselor and a student may have been involved, but his life is in placed in jeopardy when his vehicle is searched and the killers learn that he is a private detective.
To warn their father Tom Avila masked Tony Sierra assaults Tina and Jimmy, resulting in Jimmy's death. Tom is an early retired cop, whose enforcement group hampers the extortion of the ""dominios"" street gang. His friend Barnaby prevents him from taking revenge.
Betty investigates as she cannot believe that her friend, theater agent Larry Collins, died from a heart attack while jogging. She finds out that Larry had an affair with his assistant Anita, but suddenly married actress Jessica. When colleague Krueger finds out about Anita's embezzlement, she kills him, and Jessica is the suspect.
J.R.'s law school friend Wes Carter supplements his government grant by driving taxi. When one of Wes' passengers is stabbed and leaves a coat with $100 000 in the taxi, suspect Wes flees, fearing racial discrimination. J.R finds out about illegal campaign contributions to a senator.
During his investigations to find millionaire Kirkland's girl friend Ursula P.I. Gannus is shot, because he ""knows too much"". He asks his old friend Barnaby for help. Ursula steals items from Kirkland's art collection and her accomplice Nick smuggles them. Gannus wants to get a piece of the action by extortion.
Fashion photographer Gwen Haywood is assaulted by a man who steals all the negatives of her photos taken at Rosewood Airfield and blinds her with acetic acid. Barnaby tries to restore a photo from a damaged frame that shows an airplane that crashed. He and J.R. uncover an insurance fraud.
Connie Hollister is a musician working as a waitress. Her ""manager"" and friend Billy goes to Singleton and Devine Promotions to get her songs published. When they try to cheat him, he is killed. Connie asks Barnaby to find Billy, while Devine needs Connie's signature.
On a cruise to Costa Grande Betty Jones fell for Steven McCarthy. When returning, she is told he was murdered, but the dead one is someone else. Betty finds out that ""Steven's"" real name is Frank Winslow, who sympathizes with people trying to overthrow the dictator of Costa Grande.
The appearance of comedian Lindy Powell, friend of J.R.'s, at the Caravan Club results in a big disappointment and a quarrel between him and club owner Chapman. When Chapman is murdered, Lindy is the prime suspect. Loan shark La Palma also had a motive for killing.
Being on hustler heading unwittingly young Susan Cooper tries to hitch-hike, is mistaken for a prostitute and accidentally killed by judge David Kingsley. Susan's father asks Barnaby to clear her name. During his investigations Barnaby meets ""Chronicle"" reporter Walt Di Angelo, a friend of Kingsley's.
Judy Corbett works at Radburn School to help her autistic child Jimmy. This dedication ruined her marriage with Roy. Shortly before she can meet her friend Betty she is murdered. The only witness is Darlene, another autistic child. Betty tries to get access to Darlene's world to find out about the murderer.
When writer Al Geiger at Luxor Publishing Company reports incriminating evidence against Luxor's niece Jackie, Steve Webber suggests him to hire Barnaby. After meeting Barnaby Geiger is found dead. J.R. investigates and finds out that Ralph Luxor's business advisor Wells Thompson posed as ""Barnaby"".
Betty's cousin once removed, Donald Forest, asks her to investigate the death of his father, but before they can meet he is killed. William Tarkington IV and V, private detectives, think Betty is the prime suspect, who wants the inheritance of her great aunt Emily. When Betty is also threatened they change their mind.
