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Chief Inspector Barnaby #1
The Killings at Badger's Drift
Badger's Drift is an ideal English village, complete with vicar, bumbling local doctor, and kindly spinster with a nice line in homemade cookies. But when the spinster dies suddenly, her best friend kicks up an unseemly fuss, loud enough to attract the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby. And when Barnaby and his eager-beaver deputy start poking around, they uncover a swamp of ugly scandals and long-suppressed resentments seething below the picture-postcard prettiness. In the grand tradition of the quietly intelligent copper, Barnaby has both an irresistibly dry sense of humor and a keen insight into what makes people tick.
261 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 1987
About the author
Caroline Graham
36 books568 followersCaroline Graham is an English playwright, screenwriter and novelist. She attended the Open University, and received a degree in writing for the theatre from the University of Birmingham.
Series:
* Chief Inspector Barnaby
Series:
* Chief Inspector Barnaby
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,030 reviews
October 23, 2024
BUT IN HER WEB SHE STILL DELIGHTS
TO WEAVE THE MIRROR'S MAGIC SIGHTS;
FOR OFTEN THROUGH THE SILENT NIGHTS
A FUNERAL, WITH PLUMES AND LIGHTS
AND MUSIC, COME FROM CAMELOT...
OUT FLEW THE WEB, AND FLOATED WIDE,
THE MIRROR CRACK'D FROM SIDE TO SIDE,
'THE CURSE IS COME UPON ME,' CRIED
THE LADY OF SHALOTT.
- Alfred, Lord Tennyson
In the bucolic centre of Badger's Drift a Black Spider weaves her web of deathly duplicity, after looking into her glasses' magic sights - sharpened to a deadly focus on undetected sin. And often, a funeral follows thereafter, as foreseen by Tennyson.
But all evil has its just deserts, and even black spiders can be squashed mercilessly out of existence... And so is the Curse come upon the Black Widow of Badger's Drift.
And, so, once again, it is left to Inspector Barnaby to get us to the centre of the web.
Such, in symbolic poetical synopsis, is the drift of just one of the intricate and macabre plot lines of this exemplary whodunit.
In the rich, unplumbed underground of our suburban neighbourhoods are embedded multifarious not-so-rich veins of pure fool's gold.
Oh, the crazy things folks do to get to the top of the heap, to uncover undiscovered vistas of sensual delight, or just to scheme new scams for making underground lucre... by Blackmail. The list is extensive.
A great symboliste writer of fin-de-siecle gai Paris saw this all too clearly in the midst of Europe's nineteenth century decadence before WWI. His name was Stephane Mallarme.
To exorcise its demons from his spirit, he penned poetic jeremiads that would likely offend few of his confreres - as his poetry was veiled in mysterious, arcane imagery.
But just look a little more - believe me, it's all there!
That's why he's my favourite French poet. His work aptly presages the battle cry of the Northern Irish rock band, U2. Their words?
DON'T EXPRESS - SUGGEST.
But Caroline Graham pays no attention to poetic veillities. We're all adults, right?
So she lets the demure villagers - and by extension, we, the demure Global Villagers - have it with both barrels.
The killings are gruesome, and even the innocent aren't spared. But Barnaby's up to his usual snuff and never lets us down.
And of course we cheer when the murderer is caught dead to rights.
But Badger's Drift's touristy image of a quaint old-fashioned English village -
Has henceforth irrevocably "cracked from side to side."
TO WEAVE THE MIRROR'S MAGIC SIGHTS;
FOR OFTEN THROUGH THE SILENT NIGHTS
A FUNERAL, WITH PLUMES AND LIGHTS
AND MUSIC, COME FROM CAMELOT...
OUT FLEW THE WEB, AND FLOATED WIDE,
THE MIRROR CRACK'D FROM SIDE TO SIDE,
'THE CURSE IS COME UPON ME,' CRIED
THE LADY OF SHALOTT.
- Alfred, Lord Tennyson
In the bucolic centre of Badger's Drift a Black Spider weaves her web of deathly duplicity, after looking into her glasses' magic sights - sharpened to a deadly focus on undetected sin. And often, a funeral follows thereafter, as foreseen by Tennyson.
But all evil has its just deserts, and even black spiders can be squashed mercilessly out of existence... And so is the Curse come upon the Black Widow of Badger's Drift.
And, so, once again, it is left to Inspector Barnaby to get us to the centre of the web.
Such, in symbolic poetical synopsis, is the drift of just one of the intricate and macabre plot lines of this exemplary whodunit.
In the rich, unplumbed underground of our suburban neighbourhoods are embedded multifarious not-so-rich veins of pure fool's gold.
Oh, the crazy things folks do to get to the top of the heap, to uncover undiscovered vistas of sensual delight, or just to scheme new scams for making underground lucre... by Blackmail. The list is extensive.
A great symboliste writer of fin-de-siecle gai Paris saw this all too clearly in the midst of Europe's nineteenth century decadence before WWI. His name was Stephane Mallarme.
To exorcise its demons from his spirit, he penned poetic jeremiads that would likely offend few of his confreres - as his poetry was veiled in mysterious, arcane imagery.
But just look a little more - believe me, it's all there!
That's why he's my favourite French poet. His work aptly presages the battle cry of the Northern Irish rock band, U2. Their words?
DON'T EXPRESS - SUGGEST.
But Caroline Graham pays no attention to poetic veillities. We're all adults, right?
So she lets the demure villagers - and by extension, we, the demure Global Villagers - have it with both barrels.
The killings are gruesome, and even the innocent aren't spared. But Barnaby's up to his usual snuff and never lets us down.
And of course we cheer when the murderer is caught dead to rights.
But Badger's Drift's touristy image of a quaint old-fashioned English village -
Has henceforth irrevocably "cracked from side to side."
October 18, 2019
A very solid and enjoyable 4 star ⭐️ mystery
More on my return to England tomorrow, just saying αντιο to Greece.
Well needless to say I forgot that I hadn't reviewed this on my return, so I need to get my "wassname in gear" and get it written. (I already have reviews still to write from my holiday 2 years ago, agh).
So, let's be honest any Brit knows Midsommer Murders, its been on British TV for 20+ years, and whilst people of a certain age will remember John Nettles as Detective Bergerac, most know him now as DCI Barnaby (even though his "cousin" has now taken over).
It's strange I only remember seeing this episode once and that was about 4 weeks ago, but I still wanted to read the book (s), albeit on my Kindle.
So let's stop talking about the TV program and concentrate on the book. Having watched numerous episodes on TV (ha ha I couldn't resist it), I found Barnaby (and Troy) to be different in the book (or should that be different in the TV series). Anyway, it was different, they are different, but is that a bad thing ? Well no, its just, erm, different. He's still DCI Barnaby and, his sidekick is still DS Troy, and they are still good detectives, and still fun to follow through the ins and outs of Badgers Drift (Mrs Rainbird, woah 😳) and Midsommer County in general. Some things are as they should be; Troy's driving and Joyce Barnaby's cooking, so there is still some consistency into the TV episodes.
However, this was slightly darker than I had expected, but not gruesome, slightly edgy, but not horrific, more detection (well the episodes on TV are only an hour), so in some ways more interesting and deeper than the TV (sorry still comparing to the TV).
Overall, I read the book Barnaby and Troy but kept seeing the TV Barnaby and Troy, which is no bad thing as I have said before it helps you visualise the characters more and becomes a more personal experience. Still a thoroughly enjoyable book, and in some ways "better" than the TV series despite all John Nettles brilliant character acting.
Well done Caroline Graham, an excellently crafted and twisted detective story, with a fabulous setting (rural England - my back yard) and some interesting and idiosyncratic characters (typical rural Brits). Overall yet another Detective series I am going to have to get into 😊
More on my return to England tomorrow, just saying αντιο to Greece.
Well needless to say I forgot that I hadn't reviewed this on my return, so I need to get my "wassname in gear" and get it written. (I already have reviews still to write from my holiday 2 years ago, agh).
So, let's be honest any Brit knows Midsommer Murders, its been on British TV for 20+ years, and whilst people of a certain age will remember John Nettles as Detective Bergerac, most know him now as DCI Barnaby (even though his "cousin" has now taken over).
It's strange I only remember seeing this episode once and that was about 4 weeks ago, but I still wanted to read the book (s), albeit on my Kindle.
So let's stop talking about the TV program and concentrate on the book. Having watched numerous episodes on TV (ha ha I couldn't resist it), I found Barnaby (and Troy) to be different in the book (or should that be different in the TV series). Anyway, it was different, they are different, but is that a bad thing ? Well no, its just, erm, different. He's still DCI Barnaby and, his sidekick is still DS Troy, and they are still good detectives, and still fun to follow through the ins and outs of Badgers Drift (Mrs Rainbird, woah 😳) and Midsommer County in general. Some things are as they should be; Troy's driving and Joyce Barnaby's cooking, so there is still some consistency into the TV episodes.
However, this was slightly darker than I had expected, but not gruesome, slightly edgy, but not horrific, more detection (well the episodes on TV are only an hour), so in some ways more interesting and deeper than the TV (sorry still comparing to the TV).
Overall, I read the book Barnaby and Troy but kept seeing the TV Barnaby and Troy, which is no bad thing as I have said before it helps you visualise the characters more and becomes a more personal experience. Still a thoroughly enjoyable book, and in some ways "better" than the TV series despite all John Nettles brilliant character acting.
Well done Caroline Graham, an excellently crafted and twisted detective story, with a fabulous setting (rural England - my back yard) and some interesting and idiosyncratic characters (typical rural Brits). Overall yet another Detective series I am going to have to get into 😊
February 17, 2018
I’ve been a fan of the British detective series, Midsomer Murders, for almost two decades. I love the stark juxtaposition between brutal murder and idyllic country settings. For years I’ve known that Midsomer Murders is based on Caroline Graham’s Inspector Barnaby series. However, I never picked up the books. I didn’t want to muddy the waters between text and screen. On a recent rewatch of Midsomer Murders, I decided to throw caution to the wind and read the first installment. Am I happy I did? Sort of yes and sort of no.
Before we get to the whys of it all, let me provide context. The Killing at Badger’s Drift is the first book (and first episode) in the Inspector Barnaby series. In it, Miss Emily Simpson returns from a jaunt in the woods only to die mere hours later. The local doctor claims heart attack, but Miss Simpson’s friend insists that it was murder. As the death toll mounts, panic spreads throughout the quaint hamlet. Could a vicious killer truly be lurking behind the steepled churches and thatched roofs? And if so, who could it be? The gamekeeper? Local undertaker? The unfaithful doctor’s wife? It’s anyone’s guess. But never fear, Inspector Barnaby is on the case!
The Killing at Badger’s Drift is beautifully written. Its gentle prose seems to mimic the village’s rolling hills. But don’t let amiable writing fool you. This story is as dark and sordid as any urban mystery. Almost more so because the gorgeous writing lulls you into a false sense of security. It’s like reading Thomas Hardy until a blood-spattered corpse pops up. The harsh reality of murder against a pastoral backdrop proves especially chilling.
But The Killing at Badger’s Drift’s value doesn’t lie solely in its prose. Ms. Graham excels at character building. She populates her mystery with all the local eccentrics one expects to find in a small english village. Best of all: the Rainbirds. This mother-son pair is as creepily fantastic in the book as they are in the show. One of the main advantages the story has over the book is the space to delve into character backstory. Whether it be the Rainbirds or the doctor’s wife, roles that are mere ciphers on the show become fully fleshed out here.
Now as a fan of the show, there are some disappointments when reading the books. Sergeant Troy is slightly boorish and rude. I suppose this characterization is meant to serve as a contrast to Inspector Barnaby’s more even-tempered perceptiveness. However as a fan of Troy, it was slightly disheartening to read. Barnaby also seemed more frustrated by Troy which undermines the paternal relationship they share on the show.
Despite the changes in our two leading men, The Killing at Badgers Drift is remarkably similar to the televised version. In fact, entire passages are translated word-for-word onscreen. While that makes the series a more faithful adaptation, it makes the book redundant for TV fans. The story also lags in certain parts. There is a shocking amount of filler for a book that’s a mere 272 pages.
To sum up: Did I enjoy the story? Sort of. Would I have enjoyed the story more if I hadn’t seen the series? Definitely.
Before we get to the whys of it all, let me provide context. The Killing at Badger’s Drift is the first book (and first episode) in the Inspector Barnaby series. In it, Miss Emily Simpson returns from a jaunt in the woods only to die mere hours later. The local doctor claims heart attack, but Miss Simpson’s friend insists that it was murder. As the death toll mounts, panic spreads throughout the quaint hamlet. Could a vicious killer truly be lurking behind the steepled churches and thatched roofs? And if so, who could it be? The gamekeeper? Local undertaker? The unfaithful doctor’s wife? It’s anyone’s guess. But never fear, Inspector Barnaby is on the case!
The Killing at Badger’s Drift is beautifully written. Its gentle prose seems to mimic the village’s rolling hills. But don’t let amiable writing fool you. This story is as dark and sordid as any urban mystery. Almost more so because the gorgeous writing lulls you into a false sense of security. It’s like reading Thomas Hardy until a blood-spattered corpse pops up. The harsh reality of murder against a pastoral backdrop proves especially chilling.
But The Killing at Badger’s Drift’s value doesn’t lie solely in its prose. Ms. Graham excels at character building. She populates her mystery with all the local eccentrics one expects to find in a small english village. Best of all: the Rainbirds. This mother-son pair is as creepily fantastic in the book as they are in the show. One of the main advantages the story has over the book is the space to delve into character backstory. Whether it be the Rainbirds or the doctor’s wife, roles that are mere ciphers on the show become fully fleshed out here.
Now as a fan of the show, there are some disappointments when reading the books. Sergeant Troy is slightly boorish and rude. I suppose this characterization is meant to serve as a contrast to Inspector Barnaby’s more even-tempered perceptiveness. However as a fan of Troy, it was slightly disheartening to read. Barnaby also seemed more frustrated by Troy which undermines the paternal relationship they share on the show.
Despite the changes in our two leading men, The Killing at Badgers Drift is remarkably similar to the televised version. In fact, entire passages are translated word-for-word onscreen. While that makes the series a more faithful adaptation, it makes the book redundant for TV fans. The story also lags in certain parts. There is a shocking amount of filler for a book that’s a mere 272 pages.
To sum up: Did I enjoy the story? Sort of. Would I have enjoyed the story more if I hadn’t seen the series? Definitely.
January 21, 2022
I gave up on the book when 11 pages were missing. There are many completely useless scenes and descriptions in the book, which could be 80 pages shorter. The final explanations of the first murder struck me as quite far-fetched. And besides, throughout the book, I didn't connect with any characters. In fact, the author tries to make some jokes to relieve the tension, creating some very caricatured and exaggerated characters and describing them in an offensive way because they are not pretty.
April 6, 2017
I hunted down a copy of this for a monthly read of the English Mysteries Goodreads group; I'd never read any of the Midsomer Murders novels before, and somehow never even saw any of the PBS Mystery! series made from them, so it was all new and different. (Really, though, I don't know how I managed to miss these all these years.)
The plot summary: an elderly woman is found dead in her cottage in a lovely-seeming English village, and because her best friend will not back down from her assertion that it was not a natural death Chief Inspector Barnaby and his sidekick Sgt. Troy are sent in to look into it. In the course of their investigation, the cozy, charming village cracks wide open to reveal a seamy, sordid gooey interior that would make Miss Marple blanch. (Well, maybe not.) Incest, adultery, murder, attempted murder, blackmail, incest (did I miss anything?) … It all comes spewing out when Barnaby begins to poke into things. (Was anyone other than Barnaby sleeping with who they were supposed to be?)
I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of the sort of novel that insists that beneath every idyllic appearance is something awful. And after a while the sheer volume of sordidness began to push the envelope; I mean, really? Nearly every single person in the village had some horrible secret whose discovery might have led to murder? It might have been refreshing if there had been someone besides the victim and her friend (Misses Simpson and Bellringer, respectively) who had been guilty of no more than a late library book. But no. The positive side to this is that I never saw the solution to the puzzle coming – with the rather satisfying conclusion that, really, it's the only answer that really makes sense to the question of "who was it Miss Simpson saw in the woods": no other pair would, in so-modern 1982, really necessarily care enough or have enough to lose as to be driven to kill someone who saw them.
That being said, some of the characterizations were fun. The best things about the book were Miss Bellringer and Barnaby and his family. The former is unapologetic – she knows there is something wrong about her friend's death, and she'll be dashed if she doesn't see to it that it's solved. She's a bit of a heroine. I'd be perfectly happy with a series centered around her.
And the latter, Barnaby and his wife and daughter, are terrific. One of my deepest sources of irritation in any book or tv series featuring these high-stress non-9-to-5 jobs (cop, lawyer, doctor) is the clichéd storyline of the wife (usually) who constantly complains and nags over the unpredictability of the spouse's job, and usually leaves. I love that Joyce, Barnaby's missus, is a real partner to him, interested in his work and understanding of the fact that his schedule is not predictable. I hope that doesn't change.
Speaking of partners … Sgt. Troy, the cynical, sarcastic terrible driver who is Barnaby's associate on the job, was a surprise. I don't recall ever seeing a relationship like this in a mystery series. Troy's prejudices and bitterness, once I got past the initial shock of the pure internal disrespect his external smarminess covered, made for kind of a nice change from other series where the chief can do no wrong, held in the highest esteem. There's some scope there, with Troy snarking away in his head and Barnaby unable to resist baiting and teasing him.
One aspect I feel is a flaw, but which might have been somewhat unavoidable in a series' opening novel, is the insistence on providing the two supporting characters, Troy and Joyce, with a Flaw: Troy is a terrible driver and Joyce is a terrible cook. It casts a kind of unsuitably comic light on the story, as Barnaby walks away from a life-threatening breakfast table to embark on a life-threatening drive with his partner. (Aren't the police supposed to have some sort of intensive driving course?) This bit – and the setting of the Classic English Village – make it feel like a cozy mystery – but for me the graphic descriptions of some of the deaths keeps it out of the subgenre of Cozy. (Also, I always think of a cozy as having an amateur detective lead, but don't quote me.)
This wouldn't be a proper review if I failed to mention the Rainbirds. I heard (read) a lot about them as I got ready to read Badger's Drift … and … honestly? While they were horrors, they didn't quite live up to their billing as dreadfulness in the extreme. I don't know whether that was a relief or a disappointment …
I've already tracked down the second book in the series, and watched the PBS adaptation of Badger's (which was great fun, and faithful enough to be going on with). I liked this, and I will certainly read (and watch) more in the series. It won't, however, be a high priority.
The plot summary: an elderly woman is found dead in her cottage in a lovely-seeming English village, and because her best friend will not back down from her assertion that it was not a natural death Chief Inspector Barnaby and his sidekick Sgt. Troy are sent in to look into it. In the course of their investigation, the cozy, charming village cracks wide open to reveal a seamy, sordid gooey interior that would make Miss Marple blanch. (Well, maybe not.) Incest, adultery, murder, attempted murder, blackmail, incest (did I miss anything?) … It all comes spewing out when Barnaby begins to poke into things. (Was anyone other than Barnaby sleeping with who they were supposed to be?)
I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of the sort of novel that insists that beneath every idyllic appearance is something awful. And after a while the sheer volume of sordidness began to push the envelope; I mean, really? Nearly every single person in the village had some horrible secret whose discovery might have led to murder? It might have been refreshing if there had been someone besides the victim and her friend (Misses Simpson and Bellringer, respectively) who had been guilty of no more than a late library book. But no. The positive side to this is that I never saw the solution to the puzzle coming – with the rather satisfying conclusion that, really, it's the only answer that really makes sense to the question of "who was it Miss Simpson saw in the woods": no other pair would, in so-modern 1982, really necessarily care enough or have enough to lose as to be driven to kill someone who saw them.
That being said, some of the characterizations were fun. The best things about the book were Miss Bellringer and Barnaby and his family. The former is unapologetic – she knows there is something wrong about her friend's death, and she'll be dashed if she doesn't see to it that it's solved. She's a bit of a heroine. I'd be perfectly happy with a series centered around her.
And the latter, Barnaby and his wife and daughter, are terrific. One of my deepest sources of irritation in any book or tv series featuring these high-stress non-9-to-5 jobs (cop, lawyer, doctor) is the clichéd storyline of the wife (usually) who constantly complains and nags over the unpredictability of the spouse's job, and usually leaves. I love that Joyce, Barnaby's missus, is a real partner to him, interested in his work and understanding of the fact that his schedule is not predictable. I hope that doesn't change.
Speaking of partners … Sgt. Troy, the cynical, sarcastic terrible driver who is Barnaby's associate on the job, was a surprise. I don't recall ever seeing a relationship like this in a mystery series. Troy's prejudices and bitterness, once I got past the initial shock of the pure internal disrespect his external smarminess covered, made for kind of a nice change from other series where the chief can do no wrong, held in the highest esteem. There's some scope there, with Troy snarking away in his head and Barnaby unable to resist baiting and teasing him.
One aspect I feel is a flaw, but which might have been somewhat unavoidable in a series' opening novel, is the insistence on providing the two supporting characters, Troy and Joyce, with a Flaw: Troy is a terrible driver and Joyce is a terrible cook. It casts a kind of unsuitably comic light on the story, as Barnaby walks away from a life-threatening breakfast table to embark on a life-threatening drive with his partner. (Aren't the police supposed to have some sort of intensive driving course?) This bit – and the setting of the Classic English Village – make it feel like a cozy mystery – but for me the graphic descriptions of some of the deaths keeps it out of the subgenre of Cozy. (Also, I always think of a cozy as having an amateur detective lead, but don't quote me.)
This wouldn't be a proper review if I failed to mention the Rainbirds. I heard (read) a lot about them as I got ready to read Badger's Drift … and … honestly? While they were horrors, they didn't quite live up to their billing as dreadfulness in the extreme. I don't know whether that was a relief or a disappointment …
I've already tracked down the second book in the series, and watched the PBS adaptation of Badger's (which was great fun, and faithful enough to be going on with). I liked this, and I will certainly read (and watch) more in the series. It won't, however, be a high priority.
July 14, 2021
A good, solid crime story. My first book by this author.
This is an interesting and complicated small town murder mystery. With all the traditional elements of it. What initially seems to be a simple case - the suspicious death of an elderly lady, soon turns out to be a complicated plot. Not only do more crimes appear, but the murder may somehow be linked to the death of one of the prominent towns citizen many years ago. Each person has their own secrets, many people behave suspiciously. Complicated family relationships, romances, secrets from years ago - it's all here.
The ending is really interesting and fits well with the whole feel of this book. I cannot say that I predicted such an ending, or even that I was sure that this person was responsible for the murders. The solution brought me a lot of fun.
The whole plot reminds me of many of Agatha Christie's books. As in her books, we have a group of very expressive characters connected by complex relationships. The plot also resembles one of Christie's books, in a positive sense. I think fans of her works may like this book. Although it is probably a little darker than Christie’s stories and there are far more allusions to various sexual relationships.
Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby works well as the main character of this story. He is very intelligent, perceptive and not easily fooled by appearances. His wife's cooking skills add to the story's playful and unique character and was a fun element that I truly appreciate.
This is the first book in the series and I will probably read more one day. It was definitely a very good story.
This is an interesting and complicated small town murder mystery. With all the traditional elements of it. What initially seems to be a simple case - the suspicious death of an elderly lady, soon turns out to be a complicated plot. Not only do more crimes appear, but the murder may somehow be linked to the death of one of the prominent towns citizen many years ago. Each person has their own secrets, many people behave suspiciously. Complicated family relationships, romances, secrets from years ago - it's all here.
The ending is really interesting and fits well with the whole feel of this book. I cannot say that I predicted such an ending, or even that I was sure that this person was responsible for the murders. The solution brought me a lot of fun.
The whole plot reminds me of many of Agatha Christie's books. As in her books, we have a group of very expressive characters connected by complex relationships. The plot also resembles one of Christie's books, in a positive sense. I think fans of her works may like this book. Although it is probably a little darker than Christie’s stories and there are far more allusions to various sexual relationships.
Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby works well as the main character of this story. He is very intelligent, perceptive and not easily fooled by appearances. His wife's cooking skills add to the story's playful and unique character and was a fun element that I truly appreciate.
This is the first book in the series and I will probably read more one day. It was definitely a very good story.
September 14, 2012
Where I got the book: my local library #2.
Octogenarian Miss Simpson is hunting orchids in the peaceful woods around the village of Badger's Drift when she sees something that deeply shocks her. Before the day is out she is dead, and her old friend Miss Bellringer calls on Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby to investigate her demise. The result is an unfolding revelation of the murder, adultery, jealousy, blackmail and--but I can't say what--that you would expect in any idyllic English village depicted in a murder mystery.
Oh, it's good stuff. This was a delightful book, best consumed on a cold and rainy afternoon with a pot of strong English tea and a plate of scones with raspberry--never any other kind, please--jam and a pot of clotted cream. I'm trying to think of a weakness in Graham's writing but I simply can't find one in this novel. Her characters are memorable, her writing is clear and sharp and infused with subtle humor and her plot keeps you guessing.
So let's look at pictures of Dennis Rainbird:
And Iris Rainbird:
who were the two jewels in the crown of this beautiful cast of weirdos and reprobates. Now that I've read the book I will have to go watch that episode of Midsomer Murders all over again.
I think I'll be reading more Caroline Graham mysteries. I zipped through this one in a day or two and didn't want it to end.
Octogenarian Miss Simpson is hunting orchids in the peaceful woods around the village of Badger's Drift when she sees something that deeply shocks her. Before the day is out she is dead, and her old friend Miss Bellringer calls on Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby to investigate her demise. The result is an unfolding revelation of the murder, adultery, jealousy, blackmail and--but I can't say what--that you would expect in any idyllic English village depicted in a murder mystery.
Oh, it's good stuff. This was a delightful book, best consumed on a cold and rainy afternoon with a pot of strong English tea and a plate of scones with raspberry--never any other kind, please--jam and a pot of clotted cream. I'm trying to think of a weakness in Graham's writing but I simply can't find one in this novel. Her characters are memorable, her writing is clear and sharp and infused with subtle humor and her plot keeps you guessing.
So let's look at pictures of Dennis Rainbird:
And Iris Rainbird:
who were the two jewels in the crown of this beautiful cast of weirdos and reprobates. Now that I've read the book I will have to go watch that episode of Midsomer Murders all over again.
I think I'll be reading more Caroline Graham mysteries. I zipped through this one in a day or two and didn't want it to end.
August 16, 2018
I have never seen, "Midsomer Murders," before, John Nettles, who played DCI Tom Barnaby in the TV series, assures me in the foreward to this edition, that the books have more depth (no surprise there, the book is almost always better than the television version). I was also pleased to see that this was dedicated to Christianna Brand, one of my favourite Golden Age authors.
Indeed, this is very much in the Golden Age tradition. It begins with the suspicious death of an elderly lady, who saw something she should not have witnessed, while out walking in the woods. When her friend goes to see Barnaby, he agrees to look into it and, before long, he is unearthing secrets, passions and crimes in what appears to be a picture perfect English village.
Barnaby is a methodical and thoughtful main character. The hot-headed Sergeant Troy is a good contract to his superior. Although the plot is complex and many-layered, it is well structured. I loved the quirky characters and will certainly be reading on in the series.
Indeed, this is very much in the Golden Age tradition. It begins with the suspicious death of an elderly lady, who saw something she should not have witnessed, while out walking in the woods. When her friend goes to see Barnaby, he agrees to look into it and, before long, he is unearthing secrets, passions and crimes in what appears to be a picture perfect English village.
Barnaby is a methodical and thoughtful main character. The hot-headed Sergeant Troy is a good contract to his superior. Although the plot is complex and many-layered, it is well structured. I loved the quirky characters and will certainly be reading on in the series.
March 3, 2020
I may have watched every season of Midsomer Murders in the last 4-5 years, not once but twice. One of the benefits of having an abysmal memory is the ability to watch/read the same murder mystery series multiple times, and still not fully remember who actually did 'it'. But this was the first time I'd read one of the books. Not sure why I waited so long really as it's exactly what I want to read right now. A cracking murder mystery that focuses on the 'mystery' element, rather than insisting on describing the blood and gore in minute detail (as many such novels have a tendency to do these days).
The book was published in 1987, so it is very much of its time, yet it simultaneously embraces the spirit of classic Agatha Christie. It's pleasingly well written (although the insistence on describing every type of plant and flower in every garden sometimes feels excessive), and the characters are wonderful. There are lots of red herrings as one would expect from such a tale, and I would have been kept guessing until the very end if I was coming to this without having seen the TV show.
It was interesting to see how DCI Barnaby and Sgt Troy deviated from their TV representations. Both are meaner and more, well, unpleasant, in the book. Barnaby treats Troy (and every other lower ranking copper) like absolute crap, while Troy seemingly despises everything and everyone. I can see why they softened most of these personality traits for television (although I acknowledge that Troy can still be an ass in the TV series too). Incidentally, Troy is only ever referred to as 'Sergeant' in the book, never Detective Sergeant.
All in all, a highly entertaining and enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to continuing with the rest of the series.
The book was published in 1987, so it is very much of its time, yet it simultaneously embraces the spirit of classic Agatha Christie. It's pleasingly well written (although the insistence on describing every type of plant and flower in every garden sometimes feels excessive), and the characters are wonderful. There are lots of red herrings as one would expect from such a tale, and I would have been kept guessing until the very end if I was coming to this without having seen the TV show.
It was interesting to see how DCI Barnaby and Sgt Troy deviated from their TV representations. Both are meaner and more, well, unpleasant, in the book. Barnaby treats Troy (and every other lower ranking copper) like absolute crap, while Troy seemingly despises everything and everyone. I can see why they softened most of these personality traits for television (although I acknowledge that Troy can still be an ass in the TV series too). Incidentally, Troy is only ever referred to as 'Sergeant' in the book, never Detective Sergeant.
All in all, a highly entertaining and enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to continuing with the rest of the series.
September 13, 2024
Серіал "Суто англійські вбивства" назавжди залишиться в моєму серці як приємний спогад. Розслідування вбивств інспектором Барнебі були настільки захоплюючими та цікавими, що кожна серія збільшувала моє зацікавлення детективами та поглиблювала мою любов до Англії. Тож, коли мені випала можливість прочитати першоджерело, а перший сезон був заснований на книжках Керолайн Грем, - я не могла втриматися.
Не дивлячись на те, що я пам'ятала деталі розслідування та особистість вбивці, мені дуже сподобався "Бержерс-Дріфт". Книга розкрила деякі деталі злочинів та сюжетні лінії, які були викинуті з екранізації, а також більш всебічного розкрила кожного персонажа.
P.S. передивилася фільм і книга виявилася набагато кращою )
Не дивлячись на те, що я пам'ятала деталі розслідування та особистість вбивці, мені дуже сподобався "Бержерс-Дріфт". Книга розкрила деякі деталі злочинів та сюжетні лінії, які були викинуті з екранізації, а також більш всебічного розкрила кожного персонажа.
P.S. передивилася фільм і книга виявилася набагато кращою )
August 11, 2022
When Audible offered this on sale, I couldn’t resist having watched all the Midsomer Murders. It was fun revisited Midsomer in book form. The narrator did the voices well and nailed John Nettles’ Barnaby inflections. John Nettles has written an excellent forward.
I also love that Barnaby isn’t at all hard-boiled. No whiskey or Jazz or old cars.
I also love that Barnaby isn’t at all hard-boiled. No whiskey or Jazz or old cars.
September 17, 2012
There are lots of people out there who are big fans of Midsomer Murders, the long-running British television program based on this series. I'm not one of them. Not that there's anything wrong with it; it's just that I've never been attracted to murder-in-the-village television dramas.
Had I been a Midsomer Murders fan, I'm pretty sure that I would have enjoyed this book much more, as I would have had an investment in the characters. However, for me the characterisation is what lets the novel down. Again, there's nothing particularly wrong with it, it's just that I felt the characters could have been a lot more interesting. Instead, they came across as either stock characters or stereotypes.
That said, Graham writes elegant prose and the novel is tightly plotted with plenty of wit and some subtle humour. While I don't think it's as good a police procedural as those written by, for example, P.D. James*, Ruth Rendell, Reginald Hill or Peter Robinson, it's competently written and an easy and enjoyable read. Readers should know that while the village setting is suggestive of a "cozy", the novel is much more of a straight police procedural, complete with a couple of gruesome scenes.
This was a buddy read with my friend Jemidar and a group read with the English Mysteries Club.
*In her Adam Dalgliesh heyday, before the execrable Death Comes to Pemberley.
February 19, 2017
Kom se sviđa serija, svidjet će mu se i knjige. s tim što knjiga pruža i uvid u sve što se događa u glavama protagonista, što na Tv ne možemo vidjeti. Nisam ni znao da je Barnby takav pasionirani vrtlar.
August 3, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐ this was a wonderful read. A neat plot, definitely not too cozy. I will be reading more.
July 1, 2018
3.5 stars
After hugely enjoying the homage to golden age crime fiction element of Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz and having had several recommendations for Caroline Graham’s novels that are the inspiration for the Midsomer Murders television series, I tentatively opted to test the water. Having only ever caught glimpses of the television adaptation I have much derided the popular series for its lurid plots, melodramatic action and unlikely characters Thankfully Caroline Graham’s first instalment is a far superior effort and her witty narrative, sharp eye for social observation and nuanced characters make The Killing at Badger’s Drift an entertaining and surprisingly humorous read.
Set in 1987, the tranquil village of Badger’s Drift home to just three-hundred citizens proves fertile hunting group for DCI Tom Barnaby of Causton CID when he is harangued by eccentric spinster, Miss Lucy Bellringer, to investigate the supposed murder of her erstwhile friend, Miss Emily Simpson. Refusing to believe that her friend died of natural causes after an afternoon spent in the woods and engaged in the pursuit of a hunting for a rare orchid bloom, indefatigable and finely draped octogenarian, Miss Bellringer, demands action and alerts DCI Barnaby to several out of character occurrences at her friend’s cottage. When an autopsy confirms Miss Simpson’s death as poisoning by hemlock the small community is unsettled and suspicion rises to elicit acrimony, scandal and a hefty dose of fornication in the genteel village. A memorable cast of less than ten allows for Graham to expose the closely guarded secrets of Badger’s Drift without ever straying into caricature with moments of sobering reflection on his career and insights on human nature from DCI Barnaby. Chief amongst the suspects are resident busybody, Mrs Iris Rainbird, and her oily undertaker son, Dennis, Dr Lessiter’s unfaithful spouse and loveless daughter and smart-mouthed artist, Michael Lacey.
Sergeant Gavin Troy’s part in the unfolding investigation is low key and his role is more as a chauffeur, note taker and butt of DCI Barnaby’s often sarcastic humour as his boss clamps down on Troy’s judgmental small-mindedness. Luckily DCI Barnaby is ably assisted by Miss Lucy Bellringer who as a long-term resident of the community supplies ample food for thought and there are some moments of brilliant deductive analysis from DCI Barnaby along the way. DCI Barnaby epitomises the middle of the road and well-mannered image of an stolid Englishman and his domestic bliss is the antidote for his frequently unsavoury vocation.
The characterisation of the small cast is exemplary and given the short length of the novel (273 pages), the complicated plot that Graham teases out is impressive. Less welcome are the abundant horticulture references which passed me by and the occasionally wordy narrative. Prepare to be surprised as new evidence on an earlier case is brought to light and the body count rises before DCI Barnaby puts this one to bed in a brilliant guessing game for readers who demand a cosy crime mystery without the associated trappings of the golden age. A well-paced first in the series and a lead protagonist in DCI John Barnaby whom I am keen to see more of.
After hugely enjoying the homage to golden age crime fiction element of Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz and having had several recommendations for Caroline Graham’s novels that are the inspiration for the Midsomer Murders television series, I tentatively opted to test the water. Having only ever caught glimpses of the television adaptation I have much derided the popular series for its lurid plots, melodramatic action and unlikely characters Thankfully Caroline Graham’s first instalment is a far superior effort and her witty narrative, sharp eye for social observation and nuanced characters make The Killing at Badger’s Drift an entertaining and surprisingly humorous read.
Set in 1987, the tranquil village of Badger’s Drift home to just three-hundred citizens proves fertile hunting group for DCI Tom Barnaby of Causton CID when he is harangued by eccentric spinster, Miss Lucy Bellringer, to investigate the supposed murder of her erstwhile friend, Miss Emily Simpson. Refusing to believe that her friend died of natural causes after an afternoon spent in the woods and engaged in the pursuit of a hunting for a rare orchid bloom, indefatigable and finely draped octogenarian, Miss Bellringer, demands action and alerts DCI Barnaby to several out of character occurrences at her friend’s cottage. When an autopsy confirms Miss Simpson’s death as poisoning by hemlock the small community is unsettled and suspicion rises to elicit acrimony, scandal and a hefty dose of fornication in the genteel village. A memorable cast of less than ten allows for Graham to expose the closely guarded secrets of Badger’s Drift without ever straying into caricature with moments of sobering reflection on his career and insights on human nature from DCI Barnaby. Chief amongst the suspects are resident busybody, Mrs Iris Rainbird, and her oily undertaker son, Dennis, Dr Lessiter’s unfaithful spouse and loveless daughter and smart-mouthed artist, Michael Lacey.
Sergeant Gavin Troy’s part in the unfolding investigation is low key and his role is more as a chauffeur, note taker and butt of DCI Barnaby’s often sarcastic humour as his boss clamps down on Troy’s judgmental small-mindedness. Luckily DCI Barnaby is ably assisted by Miss Lucy Bellringer who as a long-term resident of the community supplies ample food for thought and there are some moments of brilliant deductive analysis from DCI Barnaby along the way. DCI Barnaby epitomises the middle of the road and well-mannered image of an stolid Englishman and his domestic bliss is the antidote for his frequently unsavoury vocation.
The characterisation of the small cast is exemplary and given the short length of the novel (273 pages), the complicated plot that Graham teases out is impressive. Less welcome are the abundant horticulture references which passed me by and the occasionally wordy narrative. Prepare to be surprised as new evidence on an earlier case is brought to light and the body count rises before DCI Barnaby puts this one to bed in a brilliant guessing game for readers who demand a cosy crime mystery without the associated trappings of the golden age. A well-paced first in the series and a lead protagonist in DCI John Barnaby whom I am keen to see more of.
January 20, 2013
Originally published at Reading Reality
True confession, totally appropriate since this is a murder mystery. I picked up The Killings at Badger's Drift because we're watching Midsomer Murders. I'm enjoying the show so much that I wanted to read the original.
But that means it's not quite fair to judge the mystery on how well the author kept me from figuring out "whodunnit" because I already knew perfectly well who did it. I'd just watched it!
And I still enjoyed every page of the story, even knowing how it was going to end. More or less. The show and the book are not quite the same.
The Chief Inspector Barnaby series are murder mysteries of the police procedural type. But the difference is the setting--a fictional English rural county with an unusually high homicide rate. The contrast between the peaceful setting and grisly murders always chills.
Badger's Drift was the first book in the series, and the first program in the television series as well. The personalities of the two detectives is slightly different between the show and the book, but the relationship is similar. The senior partner directing the investigation and mentoring the junior. Barnaby makes intuitive leaps based on experience and knowledge of human nature, where Troy makes assumptions.
The series of crimes still chills, just as much in print as it did onscreen. A retired schoolteacher sees a couple having sex in the woods outside of the town of Badger's Drift. That night, she dies, presumably of natural causes. After all, she was over 80.
But her friend believes otherwise, and convinces Barnaby to investigate. By opening his investigation, secrets are revealed, lives are ruined, and more people are murdered.
The truth comes out. Justice is served.
Escape Rating A: It's been said that mystery fiction is about the romance of justice, and that's what readers come back for. In a small village like Badger's Drift, everyone knows everyone's secrets, or so they think. A murder puts everyone's deepest, darkest secrets on display, there is no privacy from a police inquiry.
Barnaby keeps digging. His thought processes are on display more in the book. People who do things that are out of character make him investigate. Two sudden deaths within the same group of people make him suspicious. He's a good cop.
I'm glad I started reading the books. I'm just sorry there are so few of them. So I'm lucky there are so many episodes of the series on TV!
True confession, totally appropriate since this is a murder mystery. I picked up The Killings at Badger's Drift because we're watching Midsomer Murders. I'm enjoying the show so much that I wanted to read the original.
But that means it's not quite fair to judge the mystery on how well the author kept me from figuring out "whodunnit" because I already knew perfectly well who did it. I'd just watched it!
And I still enjoyed every page of the story, even knowing how it was going to end. More or less. The show and the book are not quite the same.
The Chief Inspector Barnaby series are murder mysteries of the police procedural type. But the difference is the setting--a fictional English rural county with an unusually high homicide rate. The contrast between the peaceful setting and grisly murders always chills.
Badger's Drift was the first book in the series, and the first program in the television series as well. The personalities of the two detectives is slightly different between the show and the book, but the relationship is similar. The senior partner directing the investigation and mentoring the junior. Barnaby makes intuitive leaps based on experience and knowledge of human nature, where Troy makes assumptions.
The series of crimes still chills, just as much in print as it did onscreen. A retired schoolteacher sees a couple having sex in the woods outside of the town of Badger's Drift. That night, she dies, presumably of natural causes. After all, she was over 80.
But her friend believes otherwise, and convinces Barnaby to investigate. By opening his investigation, secrets are revealed, lives are ruined, and more people are murdered.
The truth comes out. Justice is served.
Escape Rating A: It's been said that mystery fiction is about the romance of justice, and that's what readers come back for. In a small village like Badger's Drift, everyone knows everyone's secrets, or so they think. A murder puts everyone's deepest, darkest secrets on display, there is no privacy from a police inquiry.
Barnaby keeps digging. His thought processes are on display more in the book. People who do things that are out of character make him investigate. Two sudden deaths within the same group of people make him suspicious. He's a good cop.
I'm glad I started reading the books. I'm just sorry there are so few of them. So I'm lucky there are so many episodes of the series on TV!
March 3, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. This particular story was really fun to read. The characters were interesting and a bit quirky, which made you to keep reading to see what happens next.
October 24, 2024
Дуже затишний, такий навіть ламповий англійський детектив у самому класичному його прояві.
Тут не особливо захопливий сюжет, але атмосфера щиро підкупає, бо ж авторка занурює нас в життя маленького містечка з його жителями, які приховують свої секрети, бажання й злодіяння.
Детектив Барнабі та його ставлення до своєї родини - окрема родзинка роману!
Єдине, що варто зазначити так це те, що розв'язка цієї історії точно може трошки шокувати, обурити й мабуть, навіть викликати якусь відразу. Я такого точно не очікувала 🙈
Буду чекати наступних перекладів книг із серії!
Тут не особливо захопливий сюжет, але атмосфера щиро підкупає, бо ж авторка занурює нас в життя маленького містечка з його жителями, які приховують свої секрети, бажання й злодіяння.
Детектив Барнабі та його ставлення до своєї родини - окрема родзинка роману!
Єдине, що варто зазначити так це те, що розв'язка цієї історії точно може трошки шокувати, обурити й мабуть, навіть викликати якусь відразу. Я такого точно не очікувала 🙈
Буду чекати наступних перекладів книг із серії!
May 29, 2013
Um livro cheio de mistério, suspense, aldeãos que mentem, aldeãos coscuvilheiros, muitas personagens, um investigador competente - uma cabecinha pensadora e. . . mortes.
Aqui estão os ingredientes deste livro.
Tudo começa com a morte de uma velhota. A amiga velhota desta velhota (confuso?!) desconfia que a morte não foi natural como tudo indica e explica o porquê ao investigador e assim se dá o mote para a investigação começar.
Infidelidades aos molhos. Algum romance. . . Um romance sórdido. Um romance que me apanhou completamente despercebida. Um romance que eu nunca estaria à espera, aconteceu.
Temos apaixonados por arte. Temos uma coscuvilheira que até mantém arquivos sobre os vizinhos.
Temos um plano arquitectado que culmina no fim mas que se percebe que desde o início foi concebido para ter sucesso. Nada acontece por acaso. . .
Ao longo do livro vamos tendo várias revelações, umas que se revelam verdade, outras nem por isso. Vamos tendo descobertas e vamos acompanhando o que o polícia pensa. Excepto no fim.
O livro encontra-se dividido em quatro partes, consoante a investigação avança. Uma escrita com constantes desenvolvimentos de acção bastante rápida. Capítulos curtos também.
Se tivesse de apontar o dedo, seria apenas pelas muitas personagens que aparecem, pois no meu caso tive um dia sem pegar no livro e quando no outro dia fui ler, tive que estar a ver quem era a personagem sobre a qual estava a ler, mas também pode ter sido falta de atenção da minha parte. As muitas personagens são mesmo precisas para criar a confusão.
Sendo assim, só posso concluir que, com este livro, nada é o que parece. . . as aparências iludem. . . não acreditar em tudo o que se vê e ouve. . .
Aqui estão os ingredientes deste livro.
Tudo começa com a morte de uma velhota. A amiga velhota desta velhota (confuso?!) desconfia que a morte não foi natural como tudo indica e explica o porquê ao investigador e assim se dá o mote para a investigação começar.
Infidelidades aos molhos. Algum romance. . . Um romance sórdido. Um romance que me apanhou completamente despercebida. Um romance que eu nunca estaria à espera, aconteceu.
Temos apaixonados por arte. Temos uma coscuvilheira que até mantém arquivos sobre os vizinhos.
Temos um plano arquitectado que culmina no fim mas que se percebe que desde o início foi concebido para ter sucesso. Nada acontece por acaso. . .
Ao longo do livro vamos tendo várias revelações, umas que se revelam verdade, outras nem por isso. Vamos tendo descobertas e vamos acompanhando o que o polícia pensa. Excepto no fim.
O livro encontra-se dividido em quatro partes, consoante a investigação avança. Uma escrita com constantes desenvolvimentos de acção bastante rápida. Capítulos curtos também.
Se tivesse de apontar o dedo, seria apenas pelas muitas personagens que aparecem, pois no meu caso tive um dia sem pegar no livro e quando no outro dia fui ler, tive que estar a ver quem era a personagem sobre a qual estava a ler, mas também pode ter sido falta de atenção da minha parte. As muitas personagens são mesmo precisas para criar a confusão.
Sendo assim, só posso concluir que, com este livro, nada é o que parece. . . as aparências iludem. . . não acreditar em tudo o que se vê e ouve. . .
September 6, 2015
якраз учора говорили про те, що хороший детектив – це коли читач здогадується, хто вбивця, за дві сторінки до того, як ім'я вбивці оголосить автор. "убивства в беджерс дріфт" (якщо назва здається вам знайомою, то це не просто так; це перший роман із серії, за якою зняті "суто англійські вбивства") – таки хороший детектив. маленьке містечко, де майже всі можуть мати мотив, а проте складається враження, що ніхто не має можливості. кілька дуже добре виписаних хибних ліній, які зводять не тільки читача, а й детективів. симпатичні персонажі мають достатньо вад, щоб не бути цукерковими, а несимпатичні все ж достатньо людські, щоб викликати неоднозначні емоції. і так, певність щодо особи вбивці виникає добряче наприкінці, незважаючи навіть на маркери, розкидані по всьому тексту.
June 25, 2024
Ein idealer Ort
In dem Örtchen Badger`s Drift besteht eine gute Gemeinschaft. Die Nachbarn achten aufeinander. Als die über 80jährige Ms Simpson plötzlich stirbt, erscheint das zunächst kein besonderes Ereignis. Nur ihre beste Freundin kann es nicht glauben. Und sie geht zur Polizei und insistiert, dass da etwas nicht mit rechten Dingen zuging. Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby wird misstrauisch und eine genauere Untersuchung ergibt, dass die alte Dame nicht eines natürlichen Todes gestorben ist. Doch wer in diesem beschaulichen Örtchen sollte ein Motiv haben, eine allseits beliebte pensionierte Lehrerin zu ermorden.
Mit diesem Krimi betritt Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby die Bühne. Von Causten aus zieht er mit seinem Sergeant Troy in die englischen Lande. Hier geht es um den Mord an einer alten Dame, der zunächst nicht wie einer aussieht. Und schon bei den ersten Befragungen sieht zumindest der Arzt nicht gut aus, der den Totenschein ausgestellt hat. Auch seine Familienverhältnisse sind zumindest ungewöhnlich. Und nach und nach findet Barnaby heraus, dass in Badger`s Drift so ein unterschwelliges Unglück zu herrschen scheint. Was auf den ersten Blick wie eine funktionierende Dorfgemeinschaft aussieht, hat wohl doch ganz schön viele Untiefen.
Natürlich ist die TV Serie Inspektor Barnaby, die auf englisch Midsomer Murders heißt, hinlänglich bekannt. Und so versucht man zunächst sich zu erinnern, ob man diese Folge kennt. (Ja). So vergleicht man ein wenig. Hilfreich sind dabei die einleitenden Worte von dem Schauspieler John Nettles, der ein wenig die Unterschiede zwischen Buch und Film erläutert. Im Buch merkt man, dass Barnaby seinen Sidekick Troy nicht immer leiden kann, warum er Magenprobleme hat und einige andere Dinge. Der Fall ist zwar bekannt, aber so im Einzelnen erinnert man sich nicht, so dass man den Verlauf gespannt verfolgt. Das mit dem Dorfidyll wird auch immer mehr zum Gerücht. Hier hat wirklich jeder etwas zu verbergen. Schon gekonnt, wie Barnaby das auseinanderflöht. Allerdings springt der Funke noch nicht so richtig über. Vielleicht müssen noch weitere Bände der Reihe gelesen werden, um richtig warm zu werden.
Wenn man sich fragt, wieso sich die Serie inzwischen von den Büchern wegentwickelt hat, könnte die Antwort sein, dass die Autorin die Reihe lediglich auf sieben Bände ausgedehnt hat. Serienfolgen sind doch etliche mehr vorhanden.
3,5 Sterne
In dem Örtchen Badger`s Drift besteht eine gute Gemeinschaft. Die Nachbarn achten aufeinander. Als die über 80jährige Ms Simpson plötzlich stirbt, erscheint das zunächst kein besonderes Ereignis. Nur ihre beste Freundin kann es nicht glauben. Und sie geht zur Polizei und insistiert, dass da etwas nicht mit rechten Dingen zuging. Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby wird misstrauisch und eine genauere Untersuchung ergibt, dass die alte Dame nicht eines natürlichen Todes gestorben ist. Doch wer in diesem beschaulichen Örtchen sollte ein Motiv haben, eine allseits beliebte pensionierte Lehrerin zu ermorden.
Mit diesem Krimi betritt Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby die Bühne. Von Causten aus zieht er mit seinem Sergeant Troy in die englischen Lande. Hier geht es um den Mord an einer alten Dame, der zunächst nicht wie einer aussieht. Und schon bei den ersten Befragungen sieht zumindest der Arzt nicht gut aus, der den Totenschein ausgestellt hat. Auch seine Familienverhältnisse sind zumindest ungewöhnlich. Und nach und nach findet Barnaby heraus, dass in Badger`s Drift so ein unterschwelliges Unglück zu herrschen scheint. Was auf den ersten Blick wie eine funktionierende Dorfgemeinschaft aussieht, hat wohl doch ganz schön viele Untiefen.
Natürlich ist die TV Serie Inspektor Barnaby, die auf englisch Midsomer Murders heißt, hinlänglich bekannt. Und so versucht man zunächst sich zu erinnern, ob man diese Folge kennt. (Ja). So vergleicht man ein wenig. Hilfreich sind dabei die einleitenden Worte von dem Schauspieler John Nettles, der ein wenig die Unterschiede zwischen Buch und Film erläutert. Im Buch merkt man, dass Barnaby seinen Sidekick Troy nicht immer leiden kann, warum er Magenprobleme hat und einige andere Dinge. Der Fall ist zwar bekannt, aber so im Einzelnen erinnert man sich nicht, so dass man den Verlauf gespannt verfolgt. Das mit dem Dorfidyll wird auch immer mehr zum Gerücht. Hier hat wirklich jeder etwas zu verbergen. Schon gekonnt, wie Barnaby das auseinanderflöht. Allerdings springt der Funke noch nicht so richtig über. Vielleicht müssen noch weitere Bände der Reihe gelesen werden, um richtig warm zu werden.
Wenn man sich fragt, wieso sich die Serie inzwischen von den Büchern wegentwickelt hat, könnte die Antwort sein, dass die Autorin die Reihe lediglich auf sieben Bände ausgedehnt hat. Serienfolgen sind doch etliche mehr vorhanden.
3,5 Sterne
June 8, 2024
If you go down to the woods today…
Miss Simpson is hunting a rare orchid in the woods when she hears strange noises. Peeking through the bushes, she sees something she ought not have seen, something that shocks her elderly spinster soul to its socks. As she tries to hurry silently away, the noise of a cracking twig gives her away, and she races home convinced she’s being chased. Next day she is found dead. In view of her advanced age, the local doctor happily signs a certificate giving the reason for death as natural causes. But Miss Simpson’s lifelong friend, Miss Bellringer, can’t accept that and persuades Inspector Barnaby to request an autopsy. It transpires Miss Simpson died of hemlock poisoning…
This, of course, is the series that inspired the long-running cosy TV series, Midsomer Murders, the early ones of which were based on the books. Here the story is almost identical (meaning there were no surprises for me as to whodunit) but the tone is entirely different – much darker and not cosy at all. The TV series was always a bit odd in that the murders tend to be gruesome, often gory, and the motivations rest on some of the darkest aspects of human nature. But the Barnaby family are all lovely and loving, and Sergeant Troy, Barnaby’s original sidekick, is an enthusiastic puppy dog of a man, admiring his boss and nursing a not-so-secret passion for Barnaby’s daughter, Cully. These central characters are quite different in the book! Barnaby is grumpy and cynical, coming to the end of his career, but still fascinated by the reasons that lead people to murder. Joyce Barnaby doesn’t really have a personality beyond being the worst cook in the world, but she has the most important quality of any wife – she’s a good listener. Cully is sarcastic and annoying, and her parents don’t like having her around. And Troy! He’s a male chauvinistic, homophobic, thick-headed, mean-minded pig of a man! It all works in the book which isn’t trying to be cosy, but I can quite see why the TV people changed them all so dramatically. The first time I tried to read the books long ago, I was so put off by my lovely Troy having morphed into the ultimate boor that I gave up. Now, not having rewatched the series in a long time, I was better able to tolerate the differences.
The investigation is of the old-fashioned kind, where Barnaby and Troy wander round the village of Badger’s Drift, chatting to the various residents to check where they were at the time the murder probably happened, and soon Barnaby gets on to the idea that Miss Simpson may have seen something in the woods, so they want to know where everyone was then too. This turns into a series of rather wonderful character sketches, occasionally skimming close to caricature, but for the most part quite credible. The portrait of Miss Bellringer’s feelings of loss on the death of her oldest and closest friend is sympathetic and moving. But most of the other respectable-seeming characters have secrets to hide behind the doors of their idyllic country houses and cottages. There’s the goodtime girl who has finally caught her rich man, but is risking it all by having an affair. The daughter, jealous of her father’s passion for his new wife. The artist, rude to all and sundry and feeling that his art means the world owes him a living. The young girl about to marry an older man – for love? Money? Security?
And then there are the Rainbirds, Iris and Dennis, mother and son. Here, unfortunately, we are given a very unpleasant portrait of the only gay character in the book, Dennis, effeminate, sly, weak and with the once prevalent link to sexual perversion, in this case of a particularly perverted kind. Troy might be the only one who uses openly homophobic language about Dennis, but sadly the impression is that both Barnaby and the author probably agreed with his sentiments if not his language. (It struck me as odd that this book was published in 1987, nearly a decade after Sergeant Wield “came out” in Reginald Hill’s Dalziel and Pascoe series, and yet in terms of attitudes towards homosexuality this book feels closer to the 1950s than the end of the millennium. Reminded me again what a frontrunner Hill was in changing the portrayal of gay characters in crime fiction.)
The plot is very good, and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have worked it out if I hadn’t remembered it from the TV version. But even knowing the solution, I found the way Graham got to it through a slow reveal of the characters’ various secrets was very well done. There are red herrings a-plenty and lots of interesting side issues that arise during the investigation, such as the sex workers (much more sympathetically portrayed than Dennis), all of which add to the interest. I’ll probably listen to more of these – John Hopkins does a very good job with the narration. My hesitation is only because I know the plots so well from the TV adaptations and because I really have difficulty with the book version of Troy. 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Miss Simpson is hunting a rare orchid in the woods when she hears strange noises. Peeking through the bushes, she sees something she ought not have seen, something that shocks her elderly spinster soul to its socks. As she tries to hurry silently away, the noise of a cracking twig gives her away, and she races home convinced she’s being chased. Next day she is found dead. In view of her advanced age, the local doctor happily signs a certificate giving the reason for death as natural causes. But Miss Simpson’s lifelong friend, Miss Bellringer, can’t accept that and persuades Inspector Barnaby to request an autopsy. It transpires Miss Simpson died of hemlock poisoning…
This, of course, is the series that inspired the long-running cosy TV series, Midsomer Murders, the early ones of which were based on the books. Here the story is almost identical (meaning there were no surprises for me as to whodunit) but the tone is entirely different – much darker and not cosy at all. The TV series was always a bit odd in that the murders tend to be gruesome, often gory, and the motivations rest on some of the darkest aspects of human nature. But the Barnaby family are all lovely and loving, and Sergeant Troy, Barnaby’s original sidekick, is an enthusiastic puppy dog of a man, admiring his boss and nursing a not-so-secret passion for Barnaby’s daughter, Cully. These central characters are quite different in the book! Barnaby is grumpy and cynical, coming to the end of his career, but still fascinated by the reasons that lead people to murder. Joyce Barnaby doesn’t really have a personality beyond being the worst cook in the world, but she has the most important quality of any wife – she’s a good listener. Cully is sarcastic and annoying, and her parents don’t like having her around. And Troy! He’s a male chauvinistic, homophobic, thick-headed, mean-minded pig of a man! It all works in the book which isn’t trying to be cosy, but I can quite see why the TV people changed them all so dramatically. The first time I tried to read the books long ago, I was so put off by my lovely Troy having morphed into the ultimate boor that I gave up. Now, not having rewatched the series in a long time, I was better able to tolerate the differences.
The investigation is of the old-fashioned kind, where Barnaby and Troy wander round the village of Badger’s Drift, chatting to the various residents to check where they were at the time the murder probably happened, and soon Barnaby gets on to the idea that Miss Simpson may have seen something in the woods, so they want to know where everyone was then too. This turns into a series of rather wonderful character sketches, occasionally skimming close to caricature, but for the most part quite credible. The portrait of Miss Bellringer’s feelings of loss on the death of her oldest and closest friend is sympathetic and moving. But most of the other respectable-seeming characters have secrets to hide behind the doors of their idyllic country houses and cottages. There’s the goodtime girl who has finally caught her rich man, but is risking it all by having an affair. The daughter, jealous of her father’s passion for his new wife. The artist, rude to all and sundry and feeling that his art means the world owes him a living. The young girl about to marry an older man – for love? Money? Security?
And then there are the Rainbirds, Iris and Dennis, mother and son. Here, unfortunately, we are given a very unpleasant portrait of the only gay character in the book, Dennis, effeminate, sly, weak and with the once prevalent link to sexual perversion, in this case of a particularly perverted kind. Troy might be the only one who uses openly homophobic language about Dennis, but sadly the impression is that both Barnaby and the author probably agreed with his sentiments if not his language. (It struck me as odd that this book was published in 1987, nearly a decade after Sergeant Wield “came out” in Reginald Hill’s Dalziel and Pascoe series, and yet in terms of attitudes towards homosexuality this book feels closer to the 1950s than the end of the millennium. Reminded me again what a frontrunner Hill was in changing the portrayal of gay characters in crime fiction.)
The plot is very good, and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have worked it out if I hadn’t remembered it from the TV version. But even knowing the solution, I found the way Graham got to it through a slow reveal of the characters’ various secrets was very well done. There are red herrings a-plenty and lots of interesting side issues that arise during the investigation, such as the sex workers (much more sympathetically portrayed than Dennis), all of which add to the interest. I’ll probably listen to more of these – John Hopkins does a very good job with the narration. My hesitation is only because I know the plots so well from the TV adaptations and because I really have difficulty with the book version of Troy. 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
May 28, 2019
I am a huge fan of Midsomer Murders and I have enjoyed watching those episodes. So it is no surprise that reading these books by Caroline Graham has been on my to-do list for a while. This is the first book of the series, of which there are only seven books! The Killings at Badger's Drift is also the first episode of the show. So it's easy to compare. I preferred the show!
It all starts off when old Ms Emily Simpson goes mushroom hunting and chances to see something in the woods. The next thing anyone knows is that she is bumped off. Her friend, Lucy Bellringer, insists that something is wrong, and Inspector Barnaby takes her seriously. And my, is something wrong! I would ask instead, what was right in that charming old village?
One of the things I was really disappointed in was Troy's character. He was charming and funny and cute in the show, but the book depicts him as rude and boorish with a chip on his shoulder. His off-the-cuff comments about everything is rather annoying. But Barnaby himself is more true to form. The rest of the characters are pretty interesting too.
The story started off very well for me in quaint British village scenery. But it dragged for a bit in the middle as the questioning went on for pages. It picked up towards the end and I was on tenterhooks, despite somehow knowing who had done it. Thankfully, I did not remember much of the story so I was happy with this book in that respect.
The book was rather gorier and seamier than expected, and things got a bit more explicit than I genuinely enjoy in village mysteries. But it is definitely more of a Christie than a Flynn, so don't get the wrong impression. In short, I enjoyed this book a lot but it could have been so much better. I have been definitely spoiled by the show.
It all starts off when old Ms Emily Simpson goes mushroom hunting and chances to see something in the woods. The next thing anyone knows is that she is bumped off. Her friend, Lucy Bellringer, insists that something is wrong, and Inspector Barnaby takes her seriously. And my, is something wrong! I would ask instead, what was right in that charming old village?
One of the things I was really disappointed in was Troy's character. He was charming and funny and cute in the show, but the book depicts him as rude and boorish with a chip on his shoulder. His off-the-cuff comments about everything is rather annoying. But Barnaby himself is more true to form. The rest of the characters are pretty interesting too.
The story started off very well for me in quaint British village scenery. But it dragged for a bit in the middle as the questioning went on for pages. It picked up towards the end and I was on tenterhooks, despite somehow knowing who had done it. Thankfully, I did not remember much of the story so I was happy with this book in that respect.
The book was rather gorier and seamier than expected, and things got a bit more explicit than I genuinely enjoy in village mysteries. But it is definitely more of a Christie than a Flynn, so don't get the wrong impression. In short, I enjoyed this book a lot but it could have been so much better. I have been definitely spoiled by the show.
July 30, 2021
What a grave disappointment this book is. Badly overwritten, full of obscure and clumsy terms (e.g., "threnody" and "somnambulistically" appear within two pages of each other!), and downright plot-stopping in its extensive descriptions of virtually everything within eyesight, this book is a terrible slog to wade through. Worst of all are the depictions of the main characters. Not a single one of them, not Tom Barnaby, not Joyce Barnaby, not Cully Barnaby, not Gavin Troy, is the least bit likable. As a fan of the TV series, I was stunned at how bad these book characters are as people. Tom hates everyone including Troy, Troy hates everyone including Tom, Joyce is a vicious shrew who can't cook, and Cully is described as a sarcastic know-it-all although she is described mostly off-stage. How different from the TV series where Tom is a bit of a curmudgeon, but in a paternal way to both his family and Troy; Joyce is a cheerful optimist, interested in culture, who provides a perfect counterpoint to Tom; Cully is a young version of Joyce, although somewhat less sure of herself and looking to find her way in life; and Gavin Troy is an ambitious, eager, and willing-to-learn partner to Tom whom he admires. An author is supposed to create characters that the reader cares about. The only thing I cared about in reading this was to get to the end, which I did, but it was tough. I honestly wanted to stop halfway through, but I forced myself to continue. I won't be doing that again with any of the other books in this series, I can assure you. I'll stick to the far, far better TV version. Such a shame, too, because I wanted to, and expected to, like this book very much.
January 31, 2023
3.5⭐️
“O beijo durara um milionésimo de segundo. E cem anos.”
“O beijo durara um milionésimo de segundo. E cem anos.”
November 17, 2017
It starts out with a friendly competition over orchids between friends. It ends in...death!
A fun read, although I did figure it out pretty early due to writer cues (rather than logical puzzle-solving). Good characters; the plot went a lot darker than I expected without being hateful about its setting, which was nice. Clear writing but for a few transitions between characters near the end, but that may have been a formatting/line break issue in my edition. P.D. James lite? A good read.
A fun read, although I did figure it out pretty early due to writer cues (rather than logical puzzle-solving). Good characters; the plot went a lot darker than I expected without being hateful about its setting, which was nice. Clear writing but for a few transitions between characters near the end, but that may have been a formatting/line break issue in my edition. P.D. James lite? A good read.
April 26, 2020
Um policial tradicional e interessante, com alguns "toques" de Agatha Christie, sem, no entanto, lhe chegar aos calcanhares. Não deixa, ainda assim, de ser um bom pedaço de entretenimento e acredito que irá certamente agradar a quem gosta do estilo da grande rainha dos policiais.
Pontuação: 3.5/5*
Pontuação: 3.5/5*
September 11, 2021
My first exposure to the written series that led to production of Midsomer Murders. I don't think I will read anymore of the books, but it was interesting to see how it began.
Kindle Unlimited
Kindle Unlimited
October 4, 2024
4.5 🍁
Це дуже комфортна затишна історія (наскільки затишною може бути книга про вбивства 😅)
З тонким гумором і хорошим якісним фіналом. Я кайфонула під час читання,чесно
Хоча я й надаю перевагу трилерам, але цей детектив мені прямо дуже-дуже зайшов
Це дуже комфортна затишна історія (наскільки затишною може бути книга про вбивства 😅)
З тонким гумором і хорошим якісним фіналом. Я кайфонула під час читання,чесно
Хоча я й надаю перевагу трилерам, але цей детектив мені прямо дуже-дуже зайшов
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