I found that I had read this book when it first came out and remembered
it as soon as the first page. The Barnaby mysteries are always
entertaining. Time in the Midsommer area seem to stand still in the
way we Americans imagine English villages. The tales do make good TV
stories

Caroline Graham has written a great story .. Inspector Barnaby is one of my Favorites .. I also liked the way the book was printed the style of the paperback ..

Caroline Graham's mysteries featuring Inspector Barnaby begin rather like a plate of spagetti. Stuff happening everywhere-bits of information seemingly unrelated to anything, but by the end all strands have been beautifully woven into a tight, neat package - with no loose bits sticking out anywhere. Her characters are both unique and entertaining and Inspector Barnaby is a real charmer.

Although written by an author who obviously has a keen sense of humor, the plot very rapidly disintegrates into a sharp-tongued social critique; the diaglogue becomes increasingly difficult to follow and the sense of delightful sarcasm falls flat. Doubt if I ever will purchase another book written by Caroline Graham.

i have seen several episodes of the television series based on these characters and enjoyed them. i finally decided to try the novels.

at first, i quite liked this book. there was enough acid in the characterizations to make them interesting, the author certainly writes well, and everything seemed in place for adding this author to my list of must reads. i was even willing to forgive her patronizing attitude toward handweaving and mrs. barnaby. (note to author: hand made doesn't necessarily mean badly made, and is mrs. barnaby so dim-witted and tasteless she'd palm off a bit of tat on her husband?)

what ruined this series for me is the character of troy. perhaps for people fortunate not to have spent far too much time dealing with the arrogant ignorant, troy's character is an amusing contrast to barnaby. i, however, am fed to the back teeth with the stupid prejudices of the uneducated, uncultured and limited. and i can't say i have a lot of time for those who think such people are merely comic relief in life as well as literature.

aside from that, as a mystery, this is well plotted and well written. it is certainly worth trying.