Written in Blood

Midsomer Murders, Book 4

By: Caroline Graham

Narrated by: John Hopkins

Despite the fierce, and seemingly personal, objections of secretary Gerald Hadleigh, members of the Midsomer Worthy Writers' Circle press ahead and invite bestselling author Max Jennings to talk to their group. Besides, it's not as though he'll say yes. So when Jennings turns up to their meeting, they are completely over-awed by his presence.

But before the evening is over, Gerald has been brutally murdered.

Summoned to investigate, Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby discovers that Gerald's life was as much of a mystery to his neighbours as his violent death. The key to the killing must surely be their illustrious guest speaker, a face from Gerald's past. But Jennings is nowhere to be found...

©1994 Caroline Graham (P)2022 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

"Simply the best detective writer since Agatha Christie." (The Sunday Times)

"A mystery of which Agatha Christie would have been proud... A beautifully written crime novel." (The Times)

"Graham, who deserves a wider US readership, starts out as astringently amusing as Christianna Brand in her classic Green for Danger, and then gradually broadens and deepens to P.D. James territory. What more could you want?" (Kirkus)

Fresh, the darkest Barnaby novel yet

I continue to be surprised at how each progressive novel in the Inspector Barnaby seems to retain the things I have instantly fallen in love with about Graham’s work (her prose, her characters, the dynamic between Barnaby and Troy, and her deliciously mischievous sense of humor) while presenting a completely fresh mystery unique in both content and approach. This novel was darker, with perhaps the most convoluted backstory, but had so many moments where I was riveted by what was about to happen, horrified yet unable to look away.

Plot

I love the narrator and I love the detail and the tightly woven stories. The plot twists are wonderful a the resolutions satisfying and unexpected.

Ms Graham redeems herself!

What a pleasant change from her previous novel which took five hours to come to the murder and Barnaby
I very much enjoyed this novel

Great Narrator

I really enjoyed this narrator/performance. Story is pretty good although somewhat cliched at times.

Excellent Traditional Mystery With Well-developed Characters

very much enjoyed the multiple character points of view that the author used to paint three-dimensional characters. The narrator was top-notch!