Keen watchers of the Midsomer series, you know that series of village dramas where festivals, fairs, and garden competitions are inevitably made just a little less pleasant by a murder or two, may not be aware that the stories have their roots in a series of books that began publication in 1987 with THE KILLINGS AT BADGER'S DRIFT. The television series premiered in 1997.
Badger's Drift is a tranquil English village, home to Miss Emily Simpson, a kindly, well-liked spinster. When she is murdered, Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby is asked to investigate. He soon uncovers an unexpectedly seamy side to the village - including old rivalries, old loves and new scandals.
There are only 7 novels in the series although the television production has spawned many more stories, and appears to be still going strong although the original Inspector Barnaby, John Nettles, has been replaced by his cousin played by Neil Gudgeon.
Chief Inspector Barnaby (from Fantastic Fiction)
1. The Killings at Badger's Drift (1987)
2. Death of a Hollow Man (1989)
3. Death in Disguise (1992)
4. Written in Blood (1994)
5. Faithful Unto Death (1996)
6. A Place of Safety (1999)
7. A Ghost in the Machine (2004)
Loved this book. And didn't know there was a TV series.
ReplyDeleteOh, I like this series very much :-). And this was a fine beginning to it.
ReplyDeleteLearn something new everyday ..... watch the TV series and have some DVDs but never knew of the books. Now I will go back and have a read.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kerrie, your recomendations have me venturing into new books and new authors!
I've been watching MIDSOMER MURDERS on our Public Broadcasting Station. I knew they were based on books. I'll have to read a few.
ReplyDeleteThe shows were very well done. They usually shot them in picturesque English villages. That was part of their charm. :)
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