Death In Disguise

Chief Inspector Barnaby #3

by Caroline Graham

The Lodge of the Golden Windhorse has provided the citizens of Compton Dando with splendid fodder for gossip, prompting speculation of arcane rituals and bizarre sexual practices. But with the murder of the commune's leaders, the rumor-mill goes into overdrive. It's the most exciting thing to happen in Compton Dando since three boys burned down the bus shelter. In trying to solve those murders, Chief Inspector Barnaby is less excited than exasperated. The residents of the Windhorse commune may have been seeking the simple life, but they're all concealing complicated pasts - or past lives. As in Death of a Hollow Man, Graham is at her most gleeful when skewering the eccentricities of a closed community, and no one survives unscathed. Wonderfully funny . . . good plotting, judiciously dropped clues, and a luminescent turn of phrase - Kirkus Lively, shrewdly plotted, and wickedly funny . . . evokes the golden age of the traditional detective story - Orlando Sentinel

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, British Literature, Mystery Thriller, Detective

412 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Caroline 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

Reviews

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lunchtime Listen January 2025

A wonderful story, very well read by John Hopkins. His use of slightly different voices is consistent and very well done. In fact when speaking as Insp. Barnaby, he actually bears a resemblance to John Nettles, which is brilliant.

The story is one I remember from the TV series, except as John Nettles notes in his forward to the novel, the book goes into a lot more detail, most especially around the characters and makes the novel a lot more character driven than the TV episode.

Tom Barnaby must investigate the murder of the master of a New Age cult who occupy a local Manor House. Whilst all is sweetness and light on the surface various tensions are present amongst the followers of the late master, especially as one of the master’s long term followers had died of an accident recently.

As more and more secrets come to light, Barnaby and Troy dig into the background of as many of the followers as can be identified. With absolute proof being difficult , Barnaby has to judge how far he can push each of the acolytes to get to the truth. Balancing real evidence with the mumbo jumbo as Troy puts it, is sometimes more difficult than others.

In addition Barnaby is also juggling the need to attend his daughters birthday and engagement dinner with his usual focus on the. Murder case.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third in the Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby series, following on from, "The Killings At Badger's Drift" and "Death of a Hollow Man". It is set largely in a New Age Commune, in the village of Compton Dando, where the 'Master' oversees a group of believers, mystics and those who merely seek refuge under the roof of the Manor House. Barely have the group recovered from an inquest into the 'accidental' death of one of their members, found dead at the foot of the stairs, when another tragedy befalls them. The Master has invited the wealthy, estranged father of one of his flock, Suhami (real name Sylvie Gamelin) to dinner. Soon, Sylvie will come of age and is due to inherit a large trust fund. As money, jealousy, love and need rear their heads, the next death cannot be called an accident.

Barnaby and Troy investigate the murder, they struggle with the members of the commune who have secrets to hide and beliefs that the more level headed policemen find bizarre. As the commune struggles to come to terms with the changes they face, a sense of 'family' and belonging pervades this novel. Barnaby himself feels guilt - pulled one way by work and the other by the needs of his wife and daughter.

This is a well plotted mystery, with an interesting plot and well rounded characters. The Barnaby series is a satisfying one, as the books (which often remind me of P.D. James) take a group of people (such as those in the commune, or, as in the previous novel, an amateur dramatic society) and let you become really involved in their lives and problems. This is a good addition to a great series and highly recommended.

[Jill H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good entry in the continuing series of CI Barnaby and Sgt. Troy. Even though there are three murders, the book is actually rather whimsical. And it is all due to the characters who live in the Lodge of the Golden Windhorse, a collection of seers, frauds, and mediums who are fleshed out beautifully by the author and, for the most part, quite endearing. But you know that one of them must be a killer and I didn't want it to be any of them. The author leads the reader on a merry chase and it all comes together rather cleverly in the end. Certainly worth reading if you enjoy British detective stories.

[Elizabeth (Alaska) · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the first, I literally rolled my eyes about the people in the cult/commune. I think Caroline Graham was poking fun at people believing you could see auras or hear the advice of people long dead. The people were mostly harmless, though, and tried very hard to follow their chosen path. But this is a murder mystery - somebody isn't harmless at all.

Of course there is a plot, and yes, the writing is satisfactory - maybe even a tad better than that. The characterizations aren't stellar, but neither are most of them one-dimensional. What I found that makes this a tad better than most is Graham's willingness to explore relationships between her characters. There are several of these, but of note is a young woman who left home in her teen years. Suhani (her cult name) was going to have to face her parents who she professed to hate.

One of the things that makes this series different is the view into Barnaby's home life. "You don't listen" is wife Joyce's complaint. After the solution to the crime, Barnaby must look inward. "Do I listen?" I think this is just a cut above most for the genre and I am happy to give a 4-star rating, my top for the genre.

[Spuddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

#3 Inspector Barnaby English mystery. Set on a large estate that is run and occupied by a New Age religious group. Chief Inspector Barnaby and Sgt. Troy arrive when The Master, the head of the group, is murdered during a regression session. This book was very slow-moving for me, long and drawn out, with much detail about the lives of the members of the group, such that Inspector Barnaby doesn’t even make an entrance until page 133.

I liked the other two books in the series, but really found this one tedious and slow-going. I don’t know if it was just that I couldn’t get interested in any of the characters or what, but to be honest by about page 200, I didn’t much care who killed whom and skimmed through to the end. I do intend to read on in the series—mostly because I’ve already got several of the next ones here, and based on the strength of the first couple of books. I guess every author is allowed to have one worm in the apple basket of their work.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this as much as I enjoy the Midsomer Murder series. Graham's writing style reminds me somewhat of PD James. The story was thoughtful and intelligent. It's more about the characters than the mystery; Inspector Barnaby and Sgt Troy don't come into until about one-third of the way through. In the meantime, we learn about the main characters, their lives and ultimately, the crime. The characters belong to a commune and are quirky and interesting. Throw into their midst, the abrasive, rich father of one, plus the drugged up mother as well and you get a more interesting mix, until there is a murder. At this point, Barnaby arrives and the story progresses nicely until a very satisfying ending. I recommend most heartily.

[Nancy Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost every page brought a laugh in this entertaining mystery. Such clever writing also contains a twisted plot based at the Lodge of the Golden Windhorse. I don't know how she did it, but the author managed to portray all of the extremely eccentric characters while still keeping them entirely believable and even, in some cases, sympathetic. Any one of them could have murdered the Master, and Chief Inspector Barnaby and his sidekick Troy have their work cut out for them. This is a thoroughly enjoyable book!

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well very British. You know, sort of dense or complicated a little prissy and refined, yeah and a bit cerebral maybe? Very much plot driven kinda psychological and drawn out, like I said, British. Oh, and least I forget, quite good. So,If you like British mysteries and I do, I think you are going to like it. If on the other hand you like simple motivations, emotionally driven eruptions of violence or maybe just simple greed leading to the same ...stick to the American brands of mystery, this may not be your cup of tea. Me? ...I like both so I'm extremely lucky.

Anyway I digress, like I often do, but the book, its a good read so ...carry on.

[Cookie M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am trying to remember if I liked the episode of the TV series of this one. I know this is one of the books they turned into an episode. There are so many characters in this one. I don't know how Graham keeps them all straight. The final wrapping up of this is poignant. She gives you a nice glimpse into where the people all end up after the case is over.

[russell barnes · Rating 2 out of 5]

At the risk of upsetting purists, it's not as good as watching John Nettles bumble around the Midsomer (Oxfordshire) countryside - but then what is?

Partly this is because Barnaby doesn't even appear for 100-odd pages, and when he does the pace immediately picks up, and there's less room for the over-the-top, new age kookiness of the Golden Windhorse lodge.

Partly because I found Caroline Graham's prose quite odd: at times writing like an East End villain, and others littering the text with turns of phrase seemingly culled from Mallory Tower, and this wasn't necessarily a specific character idiom either.

As I say, 'odd', but I still enjoyed it, particularly the exploration of the relationships between Barnaby and his family, and Troy, which were probably the most successful of the book. I'd suggest more of that and less astral beings, and it would easily have been a 3 or 4 star. Like Caroline Graham listens to me...

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but too much time was spent on the New-Age commune before a murder (and Chief Inspector Barnaby) ever showed up. Also, the main murder itself seemed a little far-fetched. Why not do the deed under simpler circumstances? No explanation for this.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this murder mystery. The author writes well, but the characters never came to life for me, the story dragged, and before too long, I didn't really care who killed whom.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complications, distractions, and more! I love the characters, the puzzles, and knowing that somehow it will all come right in the end.

[Andrew Suter · Rating 1 out of 5]

A disappointment

Heavy on words light on content. Excellent material to induce sleep. Probably the most boring fictional story I have read in years .

[Bicky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Caroline Graham has quite a wicked pen and can be really enjoyable. But when she employs it for depicting members of a small cult, it becomes heavy handed rather than funny.

[Dianne Landry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably the only time I will ever like the TV series better than the book.

[Plum-crazy]

I first read this going on 30 years ago & loved this series so was looking forward to a welcoming re-read. It set off so promisingly, I loved the prologue with the way the characters were portrayed & there was a quirky thread of humour I didn't recall which made me smile more than once in these first few pages: "The coroner rose, the fan gave a final apathetic groan and a dead blue bottle fell on the usher's head"...well it made me smile...

Sadly it fell apart rather quickly. I found the introduction of too many characters (the ten commune members) muddling especially with all the "New Age" language used which frankly I just got tired of. By page 44 & ..."...Ken in his role as Zadkiel, planetary light worker, got down to some serious channelling...his supra-conscious mind would attempt to penetrate the Outer Screen of Life and plug into the Inner Matrix of Reality. To assist him in these endeavours Zadkiel wore his nuclear receptor." After a further page in the same vein it's appeal was lost & so it's currently shelved as a DFN.

Now to be fair I think I'm in a reading slump. It took a week to read my last book & this is the second I've given up on so bearing in mind it might be me not the book, I might go back to it ( but don't hold your breath)

[Paula R. C. Readman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better book than the last one. Really enjoyed it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the show Midsomer Murders, and I decided I would give the books a try. So far (I'm on book 3) I have not been disappointed. Caroline Graham paints her characters and gives them definite, separate personalities. She builds the suspects and their activities leading up to the murder and throughout the case in such a way I felt like I knew the characters. I loved the intricacy that Graham writes with. I can see why they were made into a long-running TV show. I love the show and I have been enjoying the books very much. The books really bring out the kookiness in the characters and they are great for a lighter murder mystery.

[Julie Durnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can’t say this was one of my favorite Barnaby mysteries- didn’t care for the setting or cast of characters, even though they were developed very well. I actually had empathy for several of them, especially Janet and Tim. So overall I would rate it 3.5 - a half star for the great literary writing style- keep a dictionary handy!
On a side note- I watched the film version of this after finishing the book (hadn’t seen it in years!) and was amazed how different it was from the book!

[Dantanian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A much better plotted and darkly humourous novel than you might expect given the all encompassing cosy-crimeness of the series.

[Michael Bafford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living in Sweden there is an episode of Morden i Midsomer available almost every night. Different channels follow different timelines so Troy may be replaced by Ben Jones or Nelson or some other Detective Sergeant and even Tom may be replaced by John when you switch on. It's been awhile since the series was started from the beginning though, unfortunatley, as it would be fun to see what they did with this episode. The few trailers on YouTube present the characters as considerably more attractive than they are in the book.

But TV is one thing and literary fiction - even a mystery - is something else. And Caroline Graham does not write just "mysteries". There is a murder here - or two... Well, actually there are only two though one of the characters, Trixie, is convinced she has inadvertently committed a third. But this is considerably more than just a whodunnit. There are the mysteries in peoples lives. These are often skipped in drama but given full rein here. Ms Graham sees her characters not as they would wish to appear or think of themselves but as they would not want to appear - possibly, in fact, as they are.

As a mystery the story does not kick off until somewhere around page 135. Prior to this we meet and get to know the inhabitants of the spiritual commune and retreat The Lodge of the Golden Windhorse. These are a varied lot of seekers and several are rather flaky:
"'I have a prophecy, Zadkiel,' Ken sat up and Heather, who was by now on her way back, sat up too. 'By happenstance this night at the rise of the crescent moon the goddess Astarte will take upon herself a fleshly vestment to move amongst all denizens of the lower planes and disseminate lunar wisdom.'
'Gosh,' said Heather cogently..." (p. 41)

"'Do you remember what else was in your bag, Miss Cuttle?'...
'My rescue remedy of course. One never travels without that. Crystals - some green aventurine, a little pyrite and snowflake obsidian. Zodiac calendar, ash twig for divining, pendulum - the usual stuff. All jumbled up a bit at the moment I'm afraid. I had to hit a reporter with it to get out of the gates...'" (pp. 288-9)

Ms Graham is not kind to her characters:
"'Where are you coming from on this?' cried Heather, tossing her head back and revealing briefly an embryonic suggestion of what might have been, in the fullness of time, given intensive exercise and a great deal of hugely expensive plastic surgery, the whimsical beginnings of a chin..." (p.149)

"Heather was keeping a low Martha'ish profile, humbly going about tasks to which, a mere twenty-four hours ago she had given not the slightest heed. She had plaited her hair, winding it severely around her head, and was wearing what could only be described as a thing of self-effacing grey. Aiming for the appearance of a diligent and compliant Hausfrau, she looked more like a wardress in a spectacularly punitive prison camp." (p.275)

The hard-nosed businessman has raped a girl, tossed her £50 and gone for a shower:
"What would he do if he came back and found her there? Physically chuck her out that's what. He couldn't give a monkey's about causing a scene. Money meant never having to say you're sorry." (p.99)

A visit to the solicitor:
"The Will was brief and simple... The solicitor waited a discreet moment, eyes tactfully on his green tooled blotter, then looked up expecting to see joyful rapacity wrestling with a more seemly expression of respectable mourning as was usual under such circumstances.
He saw Mr Gibbs pale as death, gripping the wooden arms of his chair obviously within the grip of some devastating emotion. In sharp contrast, Miss Cuttle's countenance, already vivaciously embellished, blushed deeper by the minute. She cried out, and began to weep copiously.
Mr Clinch, momentarily shocked into a natural human response, fumbled in his desk cupboard and brought out a box of tissues..." (p. 283)

Troy and Barnaby discussing the Golden Windhorse:
"'My wife came here on a weaving course. Took me for ever to get rid of the scarf. I gave it to a jumble sale in the end. Turned up later in the window of Oxfam. She wouldn't speak to me for a week.'
'I'd call that a result myself,' said Troy..." (p.141)

Troy's sensibilities:
"'What do you think you're about, Troy? letting yourself be provoked by a bit of a girl?'
'Yeah... well. . . .'
'well what?'
'Nothing. Sir.' . . . The mildness of Barnaby's reprimand in no way mitigated, to Troy's mind, its hurtful timing. To be pulled up like that in front of a policeman still damp behind the ears, plus two members of the public, was unforgivable. Crashingly insensitive to the feelings of others, Troy's own sensibilities were fragile to a fault. He was on his high horse at the merest hint of criticism..." (pp. 161-2)

"Troy noted a tremolo in the vocals and the sudden emotional ducking of the little red beard, and thought, hullo - we've got a gruesome twosome in the making here or I'm a monkey's uncle. If middle-aged people in love knew how grotesque they looked they might take up something more seemly. Like exposing themselves in the park..." (p.168)

"'There's more to come.' ... He sounded very bright and positive. ... 'Feel it in my bones.'
Troy was always feeling things in his bones. They were about as reliable as a Saint Bernard that had been at the brandy... (p.213)

"'I've been thinking.'
This was a process Troy used sparingly. Too much thinking, it seemed to him, just got you overheated. He observed, he listened, he made neat notes. he was scrupulously accurate and sometimes intuitive. What he did not go in for were long periods of rigorous introspection plus a precisely argued follow-through.
Barnaby said, 'Uh huh,' and waited..." (p.267)

Ms Graham does not see her characters merely as suspects. We all have our foibles and she is quick to point them out. A disillusioned romantic makes the best pessimist:
"She'd read once that the intensity of a really powerful emotion could kill recollection. Janet felt she could handle such oblivion. ... There was something clean and austere about this conclusion. The absolute certainty of naught for your comfort was almost a comfort in itself. She would walk alone bearing in mind the harsh and deeply unsatisfactory epigram that the only sure way to get what you want in life is to want what you get.
'Settle' was the term her mother would have used. 'I'll settle for that'..." (p.216)

Repentance:
"[Ken] and Heather glanced with shy unease... The couple were still not sure if they would ever be well thought of or trusted again. Their smile now was the smile of people in tight shoes..." (p.321)
Cully's birthday... party:
"Every now and then, Cully would throw back her cloud of dark hair which was strewn with flowers. She was wearing a long scarlet cotton skirt banded with multicoloured ribbon and a white frilled Mexican blouse with sleeves so wide that several other blouses could have sprung fully formed from each one..." (p.330)

The character of Tom:
"The chief inspector ... tried to live decently. Cared for his wife and daughter, did a worthwhile job as well as he was able and supported half a dozen charities when subscriptions were due. He had few friends, having been content to spend the little spare time that was his lot with his family, but the friends he did have had good cause to be grateful for his attention and concern if they were troubled..." (p.225)
A good life lived well.

I found this rather dry to begin with. The Windhorsers are a varied lot, not only comic, but tragic as well. Here are several broken lives - as is perhaps understandable in a spiritual retreat. But their lives are not that interesting until they become suspects. The story did not really begin to move until Barnaby comes in. As one suspects from the TV series, he is not the brightest pin in the box, though tenacious and far from stupid. Troy on the other hand... well Troy is not the slightly foolish gofer and information provider you see on the screen but a much darker person with preconceived conceptions about most groups and people and things. He does love his baby daughter.

[Sonnenrabe33 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Die Autorin führt Viertausendsechshundertachtunddreißig Figuren ein, ohne das diese anfangs wirklich hängen bleiben oder sich genügend Zeit genommen wird um sie gescheit einzuführen. So vergisst man ganz schnell wer wer ist. Dabei sind die Figuren größtenteils ultra nervend. Absolut nervenzermürbendes, krampfhaft versuchend lustig zu seiendes Buch. Richtig spannend war die Dynamik zwischen zwei Frauen in der Kommune: Eine jung und traumatisiert, die sich einem sehr unangenehmen Mann anbiedert, und eine ältere Frau die diese junge Frau dafür hasst aber gerne genauso wäre wie sie. Über die beiden hätte man ein ganzes Buch schreiben können. Leider ist das nur ein kleiner Nebenplot, der Rest des Buchs ging mir wirklich tierisch auf die Nerven. Für die letzten 30 Seiten habe ich 2 Monate gebraucht, weil mir das Ende sowasvon egal war und das ganze unlustige Gequassel einfach nur noch nervig war. Tja, ich kann es trotz der grausigen Bewertung empfehlen, da man doch irgendeine Anspannung aus dem Buch mitnimmt und sich selbst viele Fragen stellen kann. Man fragt sich, wo Menschen landen, die sich selbst wie ein Fremdkörper in der Gesellschaft fühlen und deshalb zu Aussteigern werden. Ohne die eigene Reflexion solcher Ideen verliert das Buch aber schnell an Glanz & geht wirklich gewaltig auf den Keks.

Trotzdem hart erarbeitete 2 Sterne für ein- bis zwei sehr (!) starke Figuren, die leider nur wenig 'screen time' bekommen.

[Gretchen Bernet-Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do I really have to mention anything about Caroline Graham’s Midsomer Murders mystery series? DCI Tom Barnaby has had many crimes to solve over many years in books and on ITV television that he’s almost a real person. This audio story is nicely read by John Hopkins with a foreword by John Nettles who played the first Tom Barnaby. I have to admit I was not far into this tale of criminal intent when I found the plot slow and the scene-setting long. However, the writing quality is top notch in relation to the light-weight stuff around today. I am so glad I invested in this retro read during down-time in the festive season and I plan on finding more 20th century whodunnits to while away the New Year.

[Sian Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great one from Caroline! As with all her books all I can do is rave about her talent for writing - simultaneously very witty and very tragic. The plot of this one was particularly gripping and I couldn’t put it down till finished - which I was able to do in 2 days. I kick myself (once again) that I did not read this before watching its tv adaption, but look forward to rewatching it. She’s just such a literary genius!

[Viola Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contained delightful characters and a wonderfully twisting plot! I loved the ending but own't spoil it for others. the interactions between Barnaby and Troy are often very funny. I loved Barnaby's wife as well.

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely enjoyed this.

[Tony DeHaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great "Midsomer Murder" detective from Caroline Graham, featuring DCI Tom Barnaby. Four more to go!

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

An offensive, outdated slog of nonsense.

[Claudia Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars rounded up. This had a really slow start but once it picked up around the halfway mark, was a lot of fun. Great characters!