The BEST episodes of Barnaby Jones
Every episode of Barnaby Jones ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Barnaby Jones!
Barnaby Jones was a retired private investigator, but quickly came out of retirement after his son Hal, who had taken over Barnaby's job, was murdered. Hal's widow, Betty, helped Barnaby try and find her husband's murderer. The murder was solved, but Barnaby decided he wanted to return to investigating full-time and Betty decided to join him.
#1 - Death on Deposit
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/3/1974
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.
#2 - Dark Homecoming
Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/19/1974
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.
#3 - False Witness
Season 8 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/29/1979
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.
#4 - Homecoming for a Dead Man
Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/8/1979
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.
#5 - Indoctrination in Evil
Season 8 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/1/1979
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.
#6 - A Desperate Pursuit
Season 8 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/11/1979
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.
#7 - Nightmare in Hawaii (Part 2)
Season 8 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/27/1979
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.
#8 - Echo of a Distant Battle (Part 2)
Season 7 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/11/1979
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.
#9 - Stages of Fear
Season 7 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/23/1978
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.
#10 - Deadly Sanctuary
Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/12/1978
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.
#11 - Final Judgment (Part 2)
Season 6 - Episode 19 - Aired 1/26/1978
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.
#12 - Final Judgment (Part 1)
Season 6 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/26/1978
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.
#13 - A Ransom in Diamonds
Season 6 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/12/1978
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.
#14 - Child of Danger
Season 6 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/29/1977
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.
#15 - The Damocles Gun
Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/20/1977
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.
#16 - Shadow of Fear
Season 6 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/24/1977
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.
#17 - Web of Deceit
Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/10/1974
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.
#18 - Bond of Fear
Season 3 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/15/1975
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?
#19 - Flight to Danger
Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/31/1975
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.
#20 - Double Vengeance
Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/7/1975
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.
#21 - A Taste for Murder
Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/4/1975
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.
#22 - Final Burial
Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/11/1975
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.
#23 - Dead Heat
Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/1/1976
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.
#24 - Silent Vendetta
Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/29/1976
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.
#25 - Dangerous Gambit
Season 4 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/26/1976
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.
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