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July 2021 Group Read: The Killings at Badger's Drift, by Caroline Graham
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Nancy, Co-Moderator
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Jul 01, 2021 05:41AM
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Nancy wrote: "Suzy, I plan on joining this discussion, but it will be a bit later. For some reason I can find every other Barnaby novel on my shelves but can't locate this one. Of course. :)"
Of course! Mercury retrograde just ended a 3-week run on Tuesday, so that may have something to do with it. For myself, I've had this on hold for audio forever thinking it will clear any minute. I might have to break down and use an Audible credit. :)
I remember reading this book, the first in this series, while working in a library. I loved it. Glad this book was chosen.
Hi I’m Tayo and I will be joining this discussion. This is my first time reading from this author I’m very excited I’ve heard good things. This is my first time interacting with a discussion so I am honored to be here among everyone else and happy reading. Thank you for the opportunity.
Hi everyone - I'm glad this book was chosen too. I'm a big fan of the tv series, working my way through! Amazing that just seven novels spawned 21 seasons of the show. Looking forward to reading this one and discussing with you. I don't yet have the book, so will be a while before I get over to the spoiler thread. In the meantime, here's the Wikipedia entry on the author Caroline Graham. She was born in 1931 and is still with us!
Tayo wrote: "Hi I’m Tayo and I will be joining this discussion. This is my first time reading from this author I’m very excited I’ve heard good things. This is my first time interacting with a discussion so I a..."Welcome, Tayo! So glad you are joining and look forward to your thoughts. Just note that this is a "spoiler free" thread. Nancy has set up a second thread for comments that might spoil the who done it for those who have not finished the book.
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:)"
Of ..."
Actually, I think it's because I picked it up thinking that I'll be reading it soon, put it down and I don't remember where. That is the story of my life. I picked up a Kindle Unlimited copy just in case but I prefer to read paper books, so finding it will be today's focus.
I gave this one a 4 stars (really liked it) when i read it last year. But then, I've watched Midsomer Murders from the beginning and enjoyed them despite how preposterous they've got. It's less graphic gruesomeness like more modern stories and more mystery and deduction.
Enjoy!
Thank you Suzy I appreciate your warm welcome I also took a gander at some of the books that you’ve read and I am definitely going to follow your lead in a few good reads may be more than a few also I noticed that your background is similar to mine I would love to discuss it with you at another time perhaps inbox so far so good with this read.
I first was introduced to the series by the TV show, Midsomer Murders and have since read a couple of books in the series, including Badger's Drift and one or two of Graham's standalone mysteries. This book series, like RD Wingfield's Inpector Frost series, really hit their motion when they were turned into TV shows. Graham wrote only 7 books in the series, but it turned into a 22 Season TV show. The British know how to do this so very well. I enjoyed the book very much, read it back around 2013. Look forward to seeing what everyone else thinks. Thanks for nominating and moderating Suzy
Bill wrote: "I first was introduced to the series by the TV show, Midsomer Murders and have since read a couple of books in the series, including Badger's Drift and one or two of Graham's standalone mysteries. ..."You're welcome, Bill. I'm not sure if I would have read this if there weren't a call for book to screen nominations. Should be fun. I watched an episode last night - a very well-done program. I'm about 60% of the way through the 22 seasons.
Suzy wrote: "Bill wrote: "I first was introduced to the series by the TV show, Midsomer Murders and have since read a couple of books in the series, including Badger's Drift and one or two of Graham's standalon..."The main thing I learned from watching the series is that I will never visit Causton... I mean, what is the percentage of people murdered to the local population? ;0)
Terrific (although too short) series. Read all of the books years ago. Suzy, your comment that she’s still alive took me by surprise. How I wish that she had written more books for the series.Guess I’ll have to make do with the fun tv series.
I read this earlier this year, I only realised last year when it came on offer on kindle that Midsomer Murders (used to be really enjoy, but the cast changes altered it), but I did enjoy the book. Crazy to think such a short book series created such a long TV show!
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Nancy wrote: "I found my book! YAY! I can get started now."Great! I'm still waiting for my copy to clear the library hold list. But looking forward to reading and discussing.
Wonderful opening scenes - and liking the John Nettles' Foreword.
Finally! My audio copy has cleared the hold list and I will start on this today.
P.F. wrote: "Wonderful opening scenes - and liking the John Nettles' Foreword."I should get a copy of the print book, seeing your comment. I imagine it's not part of the audiobook, which rarely includes introductions.
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Nancy wrote: "I'm in chapter four, where Barnaby and Troy were offered Marmite sandwiches. I've tried Marmite once, and I will never do that again. Ick."Marmite is mentioned in many UK books. They sell here in Canada as well, but I don’t know anyone who’s tried it. Just from the description, it sounds gross.
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Nancy wrote: "And Denny Rainbird is just bizarre."I can picture the actor who played him in the episode - perfect fit for the role!
I watched yesterday. I'm on part 2 in the book.
Icewineanne wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I'm in chapter four, where Barnaby and Troy were offered Marmite sandwiches. I've tried Marmite once, and I will never do that again. Ick."Marmite is mentioned in many UK books. The..."
It's one of those things like Buckley's cough syrup, you either love it or hate it. It does add a nice tang to certain foods..
Bill wrote: "Icewineanne wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I'm in chapter four, where Barnaby and Troy were offered Marmite sandwiches. I've tried Marmite once, and I will never do that again. Ick."Marmite is mentioned i..."
And my friends in Australia love their vegemite, a similar product that they consider superior to marmite!
Nancy wrote: "I'm in chapter four, where Barnaby and Troy were offered Marmite sandwiches. I've tried Marmite once, and I will never do that again. Ick."Using up otherwise waste brewery yeast - very eco and green!
But yes, you have to be introduced to it early whilst your parents tell you how yummy it is.
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I can picture the actor who played him in the episode - perfect fit for the role!"
Yes, he was completely spot on for that role. By the way, I have to say that it was nice to see Midsomer Murders again when it was good.
I enjoyed this book for awhile, but then I became bored and DNF. Too many characters - proceeding to investigate from house to house to house to house. After 100 pages I just didn’t care who was the killer.
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the "house to house to house" thing is pretty much the bread and butter of English-village murder mysteries. I didn't mind the number of characters since there were enough people with motives to kill. I find with this sort of thing that when there's a big cast, it makes for more guessing which for me is a good thing. And I must say that in this case, I didn't guess the who.
Nancy wrote: "Jim wrote: "I enjoyed this book for awhile, but then I became bored and DNF. Too many characters - proceeding to investigate from house to house to house to house. After 100 pages I just didn’t car..."I have such a vivid memory of this tv episode, perhaps because it was the first one in this long series, except for the whodunit!
Jim, have you watched the tv series Midsomer Murders? I'm a fan and I've been wondering if I would like this book as much if I hadn't watched the show. The book established the pattern of the shows.
I read the books long before the tv show was even imagined. A cleverly done puzzler is my favourite type of mystery. The number of characters can be a bit overwhelming at first but as the author reveals more about each character & their connections to the other characters, the more gripping the story became. One of those that I just had to keep reading.
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I've got about 2 hours left in the audio. I have had to really concentrate to keep track of the characters, but it's a lighter listen so I'm not straining too much. :) I like the humor, especially Barnaby saying regularly about the village folk: "has read too may murder mysteries", "this isn't Poirot", "that was a line straight out of an RKO movie", "they've watched too many film noir".
But the idiotic statements Troy makes and the constant correcting of him from Barnaby has gotten old. Also Troy lusting after the women, cue eye-rolling. I'm glad that they got rid of Troy on the tv series and replaced him with the smarter, more competent Jones.
I finished yesterday and watched the tv show last night. I really enjoyed the book, images of the actors running through my mind as well as the setting made it more vivid. I had to laugh at one of the first images in the show was a welcome to Badger's Drift sign "the prettiest village in Midsomer".
Nancy, in your review you said two things I'd love to hear others' thoughts on:1) You said you couldn't decide whether this was a cozy or a police procedural. What do others think? For me it feels very much like a police procedural set in a "cozy" idyllic village setting.
2) You said you like village mysteries. What are some of your other favorites? How about others - do you have village mystery favorites?
I also think that this book is somewhere between cozy mystery and police procedural. Many elements reminded me of Agatha Christie's books - vivid characters, the relationships between characters, small town life. But for a typical cozy mystery, there are too many unusual sexual relations here.
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I think people are drawn to cozies mainly because they don't get too hardcore, and that's okay. Killings at Badger's Drift is what I'd consider a hybrid, more of a cozy with elements for contemporary (meaning when it was written) readers' times.
My tastes have really changed over the years --I enjoy the idea of the whole façade of respectability that hides secrets (and this book does that very, very nicely) but I was into cozies/village mysteries for years when I suddenly came to the conclusion that they all started to have the same feel to them. Same with angsty cop novels -- those were okay for a while, and then I couldn't do them any more. Same with badass women hero mystery novels -- they were new and refreshing for a while until everyone started writing them.
You're right, Nancy. I am now at a point when most crime fiction and thrillers seem very similar to me. Recently, it seems that I am constantly reading crime stories in which the main character is a woman, most often in some law enforcement, and all these main characters are starting to merge into one. After a week or two I am not able to say what the book was about. Killings at Badger's Drift was actually quite a nice change from what I read these days.
@Nancy and fleurette - your description of many crime novels starting to blur and feel the same, gave me an ah-ha. I used to read mainly crime, murder, etc. of all kinds. Cozy, noir, hard-boiled, character-driven, around-the-world settings, etc. but when I look at my interests today, I read only a small fraction of those books. Perhaps burn-out. I fatigued of trying to keep up with the latest installments, which for many is an annual publication. The only series I'm dedicated to are Maisie Dobbs and Bruno, Chief of Police and not sure why because I have complaints about both! But I can't not read each installment when published. :)One reason I enjoy this group is to try new authors/series! I'm reading both of the July books and enjoying them.
