A Ghost in the Machine - Caroline Graham (Nov/Dec 2020)

[Susan]

Welcome to the seventh, and last, book in the Chief Inspector Barnaby series, published in 2004.

Every man should have a hobby. It keeps them out of mischief and from under their wives' feet. A nice bit of DIY, gardening, bowls or snooker, mysterious activities in the potting shed - fine. But killing machines, Dennis Brinkley's hobby - something else. Not what you'd call a nice hobby at all...

Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.

[Susan]

I have just started this one. Not too far in - who else is reading this? Can hardly believe this is the last book in the series!

[Judy]

Thank you for opening up the threads, Susan. I've read 80% of this one and hope to finish it today - I'm enjoying it but I feel there is quite a lot of padding. I want to find out if it was adapted, as I think it would make a great episode of Midsomer Murders!

[Judy]

I've now checked and it wasn't adapted for TV, because Barnaby and Troy come in quite late. Shame, as I still think it would have been a good episode.

While I quite enjoyed this book, I felt it had a lot of unnecessary padding, as with some of the PD James books, and there was also an awful lot of the sort of detail that quickly goes out of date, such as mentioning specific TV programmes, brands, etc, etc.

It struck me that a writer like Christie was careful not to include so much of this type of thing, and her books have dated less as a result.

[Susan]

There wasn't enough Barnaby and Troy for me. I know that Troy was quite an objectionable character, but I quite liked his viewpoint in the book and it was interesting that the author didn't make him blandly nice, as so many sidekicks are.

[Judy]

Is anyone else reading this one or planning to?

Also just wondering which were anyone's favourites from the Caroline Graham series. I think my favourite was Written in Blood with the writers' group theme - I also liked Faithful unto Death and A Place of Safety.

[Judy]

I agree about there not being enough Barnaby and Troy.

I'm also a bit sad it wasn't adapted, as I would have liked to see what Dennis's collection of machines look like!

[Jill]

I can't say I particularly missed Barnaby and Troy. I gave this one 5 stars, so it would seem I liked this one best, although I have enjoyed all of the series

[Ruth]

Judy wrote: "Is anyone else reading this one or planning to?

Also just wondering which were anyone's favourites from the Caroline Graham series. I think my favourite was Written in Blood with the writers' gro..."

My favourite is Death in Disguise which is set in the New Age community.

[Susan]

I think my favourite was also Death in Disguise.