Reading the Detectives discussion

This is the fourth in the Midsomer Murders series, first published in 1994.

The members of Midsomer Worthy's Writers' Circle realize that their invitation to bestselling author Max Jennings is ambitious. But Jennings accepts, and before the night is over, the Circle's secretary is dead. So why was Jennings willing to speak to a group of amateur writers and where is he now?

This is currently 99p on kindle.

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

I didn’t find Sgt. Troy quite so despicable in this one. Yes, he still lusts, but he mostly keeps it to himself. I have visions that he might actually turn into an almost acceptable human being by the end of the series.

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.

I also found this a very enjoyable read in general, and agree that Troy is starting to seem a bit more pleasant at work, though not in his attitude to his wife. There are some good characters - Amy and Honoria in particular. And I was pleased to catch a glimpse of Tim and Avery, the gay couple from Death Of A Hollow Man.

Jill wrote: "The only unsatisfying thing for me, was that I wanted to see Brian suffer the full force of the law..."

I agree with you, Jill - I didn't really like the whole subplot involving Brian, which is very sleazy and doesn't have much to do with the main plot. And he should definitely end up in court. I also found the idea of the whole thing being an "impro" somewhat unbelievable!

I wasn't sure who puts the photos up on the wall, but surely the police would hear about it and take action.

I didn’t like the sub plot on Brian, but then I realized that it helps the other sub plots hang together. Would Sue have found the strength to leave him? What about the friendship between Sue and Amy?

I expected, from about chapter 2, that the murderer would turn out to be Laura. And then I had doubts. And then I thought so again. And then I had no clue and just waited for maybe something out of the clear blue. I don’t usually try to solve the crime anyway, and I’m terrible at it when I do try.

I was pleased Sue managed to get away from Brian, but even without the sub plot, I think she would have, as she had recognition as a promising writer. Once given her independence money wise (which is what I like to think) she would have left him.

I have finished this now. Graham does always give the reader the ending they want with the more downtrodden characters, doesn't she?

Did anyone suspect Honoria was as mentally ill as it turned out she was?

I am always hopeless at guessing whodunnit, but I certainly never guessed the ending. Did you work it out, Elizabeth?

As I'd already seen the TV version I can't say if I would have guessed or not - I do suspect not, though.

I almost never guess correctly, although, with Graham, I think the joy is in the unfolding of the story and the characters.

Susan wrote: "I almost never guess correctly, although, with Graham, I think the joy is in the unfolding of the story and the characters."

Absolutely did not guess the ending. And, yes, it is the story and the characters that have me reading these.

I think with the tv, you look at who is the most famous actor and they are the one. In the books you have to use your own imagination as to what they look like, and that is why a well drawn characters a bonus

I am glad I never watched the TV series in a way. I believe the characters were different and that Troy was toned down a little?

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I didn’t like the sub plot on Brian, but then I realized that it helps the other sub plots hang together. Would Sue have found the strength to leave him? What about the friendship between Sue and A..."

I also didn't see the point of the subplot. Brian was already so emotionally abusive, was it necessary to make him out to be a pedo just so Sue had a reason to leave him?

And what was Edie's motivation in all of this? Is she after money or just destroying Brian for a laugh?

I wonder which dictionary Troy bought for his daughter which contained a definition of 'Slangwhang'.

I can only find one online dictionary with a definition:

slangwhang: to assail with violent or abusive language

Bicky wrote: "I wonder which dictionary Troy bought for his daughter which contained a definition of 'Slangwhang'."

Must have been the real door stopper type, that comes in two or three volumes.

I found it quite surprising how dated this 1994 book sounds. I first thought I was reading something from the 1950's and had to check to see when it was published. The book seems to be set in some weird twilight between 'the olden days' and now.

Computers and cell phones accompany each other so much in society I found it strange that they had computers but not mobile phones. I'm actually surprised by how much I found this a distraction from the story. I kept expecting someone to send a text or to have a laptop in the house.

I wonder if anyone else felt the same way.

You must be very young. The thinking of the characters is right with the published time period.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "You must be very young. The thinking of the characters is right with the published time period."

I was thinking that. Lots of people had home computers a long time before mobile phones were the norm

I remember getting my first mobile in 1997, when my first child was born. I had a computer, but it was just a glorified typewriter really.

This was in 1994, so I guess such devices were, tentatively, appearing.

I used computers at work - 'personal' computers, rather than the big mainframe used for wages - regularly from about 1990. Mainly for wordprocessing and spread sheets, admittedly, but with some very rudimentary games. I didn't get a mobile phone until Christmas 1999, when they were still very primitive.

Yeah, I got my first computer in about 1997 and am pretty tech-savvy for a woman in her mid-70s. I don’t have a cell phone as my life has no need of one, but I know I’m in the extreme minority about that.

I only got a mobile 'in case,' and the week I brought it, I came out of a supermarket with my new baby and a trolley full of shopping and my car wouldn't start - so that was a good buy!

Indeneri wrote: "I found it quite surprising how dated this 1994 book sounds. I first thought I was reading something from the 1950's and had to check to see when it was published. The book seems to be set in some ..."

LOL. Not that young, (if only). I was doing my GCSE's in 1994. I was just struck by the fact that the case is solved mostly using tech that Poirot would have used, i.e. the telephone. (I know Barnaby 'uses the computer' at some point, but we're not told what he does with it).

It's also interesting that it's mostly the teenagers that use the available technology in much the same way they do now; using the video to record an interaction, then posting it all over social media (posters on notice board). They then 'troll' Brian to get a reaction out of him.

Good points, Indeneri. The 'youth' do come across as having very foreign ideas in this novel, don't they? It seems that nobody can quite understand their behaviour. It struck me that lots of crime novels use the press idea of young people being a little feral and something to fear. We had a Marsh novel a while back when one of the characters was a Teddy Boy and his behaviour/dress very questionable!

I'm afraid I don't see why we should expect any social media from a book published in the mid-90s. That did not exist at that time. Indeneri seems to want to put 21st Century technology onto a 20th Century book.

And, as to young people behaving outside the norm, I don't see why we question that. Edie and the boys had no respect for Brian - and probably justifiably so, as I don't see that Brian had any respect for them. Respect works both ways.

I believe Indeneri was pointing out the interesting similarity between putting posters up on the board in the novel and how people might post videos online now. Of course, earlier still, incriminating letters were often forwarded to other people or printed in newspapers...

I would probably find this whole storyline slightly more realistic, though, if the students were actually trying to blackmail Brian, as it seems they are doing at first, rather than just trying to create an "impro"!

Judy wrote: "I believe Indeneri was pointing out the interesting similarity between putting posters up on the board in the novel and how people might post videos online now. Of course, earlier still, incriminat..."

Well, I was reacting to her thinking people should be texting each other and she was disoriented.

This was another detective novel in which only right at the end, when I realise whodunit and why, do I notice that all along there was a semi-cryptic clue in the title; I assume it makes deliberate reference to Honoria’s over-interest in the Lydiard bloodline, that has been ended by an infection that is found in the blood (along with other bodily fluids)!

Nick wrote: "This was another detective novel in which only right at the end, when I realise whodunit and why, do I notice that all along there was a semi-cryptic clue in the title; I assume it makes deliberate..."

Oh, very good, Nick. Even at the end and long after I didn't make any such connection.

This was the first Caroline Graham novel I’ve read and I really enjoyed the humour. There’s the obvious humour with all the amateur writers conforming to various amusing stereotypes. But there’s also a gentle observational humour. For example, at the scene where the gruesome murder has taken place on the walnut chest of drawers are two “mildly-surprised-looking” Staffordshire lions. Outside, middle aged women with their hair in rollers and sharing a thermos, discussing the zip up bag that the body has been brought out in: ‘Our Don hangs his suit up in one of them’ ... ‘They’re dead useful’. Are others in the series similar in this respect?

I have found humor in the others. I would say most of it is subtle rather than broad. I'm not the greatest at seeing humor in things, so I might have missed some, too.

Nick, I am pleased you liked the book. Yes, I think Caroline Graham is excellent at observing, and commenting on, the humour and behaviour of people. She has a sharp eye and writes good characters, in my opinion.

Elizabeth and Susan - I look forward to reading some more of Caroline Graham’s novels.

Excellent to hear, Nick. The previous discussion threads remain open. The next buddy read will be: March/April
Faithful Unto Death - Caroline Graham

I was totally surprised by the identity of the murderer and the motive. I don't think that I would have been able to guess even in 1995 but the possibility might have been slightly better. At the end of 2019, fortunately the linkage between homosexuality and illness and death has faded.