From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Written In Blood

Caroline Graham

Start date: November 15, 2019

Finish date: December 9, 2019

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: Next in the popular Inspector Barnaby/Midsomer Murders series.
[close] Next in the popular Inspector Barnaby/Midsomer Murders series.

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What Members Thought

Nov 17, 2019 Susan rated it it was amazing

This is the fourth in the Chief Inspector Barnaby series. It is set in the village of Midsomer Worthy, where a local writing circle invite a guest speaker to visit. They decide to ask bestselling writer, Max Jennings, despite the obvious unwillingness of group secretary, Gerald Hadleigh. Gerald writes to invite Max Jennings, who accepts, to the obvious surprise of the group. However, then Gerald asks fellow member, Rex St John, not to leave him alone with Max Jennings under any circumstances. Th ...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Damaskcat rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The village of Midsomer Worthy has a writing circle. Like most such groups it occasionally invites authors to speak at a meeting and give its members advice on their writing. Secretary Gerald Hadleigh does not react well to the suggestion that he should write to bestselling author Max Jennings and invite him to attend one of their meetings.

But write he does and Max accepts the invitation. Gerald asks Rex, a fellow group member, to ensure that he does not leave Gerald on his own with Max but doe The village of Midsomer Worthy has a writing circle. Like most such groups it occasionally invites authors to speak at a meeting and give its members advice on their writing. Secretary Gerald Hadleigh does not react well to the suggestion that he should write to bestselling author Max Jennings and invite him to attend one of their meetings.

But write he does and Max accepts the invitation. Gerald asks Rex, a fellow group member, to ensure that he does not leave Gerald on his own with Max but doesn’t explain why. When Gerald is found battered to death following the meeting and Max has apparently disappeared it seems like an open and shut case for Barnaby and Troy.

Barnaby is reminded forcibly of his own advice to subordinates to always keep an open mind about a case and he ensures that all the group members are questioned and asked to account for their movements though motives seem to be lacking as Gerald is such a mild and inoffensive person. Many secrets and obsessions will be brought to light before the murderer is revealed.

I enjoyed this well written and very detailed crime novel. The characters are all too believable and clues and red herrings are scattered throughout the story. The reader is given insights into the lives of all the writing group members and I felt sympathy for all of them. I thought the relationships between the characters were well done too especially those between Honoria and her sister in law, Amy and Sue and her unpleasant husband Brian. Laura’s unrequited love is treated sympathetically too. Village life and its claustrophobic aspects are really brought to life.

I like Barnaby and Troy as characters and I especially liked how they were seen through the eyes of the people they are investigating. Troy could be a thoroughly dislikeable character with his off colour jokes and his all too predictable prejudices but he has enough good qualities about him to make him interesting. Barnaby and Troy remind me very much of Catherine Aird’s Sloan and Crosby at times.

If you like your crime novels in the classic mould then you will probably enjoy Caroline Graham’s Barnaby and Troy series. They can be read in any order.
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Aug 05, 2014 AngryGreyCat rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Written in the Blood by Caroline Graham is one of the books that the Midsomer Murders TV series is based on with the wonderful Inspector Barnaby as the sleuth. This was actually one of my favorite episodes of the TV show. A writers group’s invitation to a well known author to speak leads to murder and old secrets springing forth. The members of the writing group are an eclectic bunch from a woman writing her family history, to a college professor who does improvisational work and a kind of poetr ...more

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Nov 14, 2019 Jill rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: caroline-graham

I read the first 3 books in the series about ten years ago, and don't know why I didn't read on. This fourth book was a very enjoyable read, although I had no idea who the murderer was. I like the relationship between Barnaby and Troy, and also their thoughts, although not always voiced. The only unsatisfying thing for me, was that I wanted to see Brian suffer the full force of the law. ...more

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