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Caroline Graham 'Inspector Barnaby'


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I recently started the seven Inspector Barnaby mysteries by

Caroline Graham. The TV series 'Midsomer Murders' were

originally based on these books.

I was given one, years ago by a friend,and although I read

it, it failed to impress me! I am currently on the fourth book

of the seven, reading them in publication order, and so far

am enjoying them. And so far, none of them have been the

one I previously read, which I cannot remember the title of!

Barnaby is pretty much as John Nettles played him in the

long running TV series. His assistant, Gavin Troy is very

different. On TV Troy was a bit of a harmless bumbler,who

could never quite keep up with his superior.In the books, he

is a sexist,racist,homophobic young man with an arrogant

attitude to almost everyone he encounters. And a quick

tempered redhead to boot.

So far so good.I know I still have the book I have already

read still to come,but I am enjoying these for what they are

which is a gentle(ish) set of mysteries, with a logical and

reasoned conclusion. If you want heart pounding action and

car chases,and ginfights,forget these! Otherwise, good basic

detective work, skilfully plotted. In other words, quite a good

read!

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  • 2 weeks later...

I LOVE the series and have read them all. I'm just sorry that she didn't write anymore. What I've noticed is that the television series sometimes takes from several of the books to make an episode. I constantly find myself revisiting Midsomer. I may have to dig out my books again and re-read them again over the summer.

 

Troy was definitely a different character in the book. Barnaby had his measure though. He knew exactly what his young detective was about and often goaded him and aggravated to put him in his place. The only person Troy loves, outside of himself is his daughter. He's unfaithful and uneducated, bless him.

 

I found Barnaby to be a bit more likable on the tv series. I still liked him but he was more gruff in the books. He also had his heart wrapped around Cully's pinkie. Cully was a bit unexpected in the book also. Wild and "been around" according to her daddy.

 

Anyway, I love finding folks who enjoy the same stories I do!

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Within thirty pages or so of the final book of the seven, and I have

to say I really enjoyed them! I agree that Tom Barnaby is not quite

the same man as portrayed by John Nettles,but is close enough to

satisfy my picky tastes. Troy as noted, is a very different character

in the books. The annoying thing is, having (almost) read the whole

series,I cannot find the book that failed to impress a few years ago!

It is obviously one of these, but maybe I was in a different place then,

and just not attuned to the writer or the writing?

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  • 1 month later...

Must say that as most people know, the books don"t always look anything like the series purported to be based on book!! Spoke to Ann Cleeves about her Shetland and Vera series, when reading her books I thought when watching the "take" on television, have I really just read this book? As it seemed totally different, I think I will just stick to the books!! Cemrad

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  • 4 weeks later...

I've mostly listened to the Vera books on audio, I love the accent. I found them surprisingly close to the TV series characters. The midsummer books on the other hand, I quite strongly disliked. I think basically because I found the social views reflected incidentally in the books, which I assumed to be the author's, too right wing. I have a similar problem with the Wycliffe and Inspector Frost books.

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  • 6 months later...

i like the Tv series but haven't tried the books, i must give them a go. i was however struck by the fact that The Killing at badger's Drift has a solution that is strikingly similar to another detective story by a different writer, published some years earlier. Don't know whether it's just a coincidence or not.

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