''Faithful unto Death'' is a

crime novel Crime fiction, detective story, murder mystery, mystery novel, and police novel are terms used to describe narratives that centre on criminal acts and especially on the investigation, either by an amateur or a professional detective, of a crime, ...

written by English writer Caroline Graham and first published by Headline in 1996. The story follows Chief Inspector

Tom Barnaby Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Geoffrey "Tom" Barnaby (born 20 April 1943) is a fictional detective created by English writer Caroline Graham as the protagonist in her ''Chief Inspector Barnaby'' novel series and adapted into one of the main ...

investigating the case of a missing woman. It is the fifth volume in Graham's ''Chief Inspector Barnaby'' series, preceded by '' Written in Blood'' and followed by '' A Place of Safety''. It has been adapted into an episode in the ITV drama ''

Midsomer Murders ''Midsomer Murders'' is a British crime drama television series, adapted by Anthony Horowitz and Douglas Watkinson from the novels in the '' Chief Inspector Barnaby'' book series (created by Caroline Graham), and broadcast on two channels of I ...

''.

Plot summary

When local housewife Simone Hollingsworth doesn't show up for bell-ringing practice, nobody even raises an eyebrow, let alone suspect anything sinister. However, after her suspicious neighbours, the elderly Brockleys, notice her husband digging holes in his garden late one night, they call in Chief Inspector Barnaby for help unearthing his dark secrets.

Publication history

*United Kingdom: 1996, Headline, London, 1996, Hardback, 311 p., . *United States: 1998, St. Martin's Press, New York City, 1998, Hardback, 311 p., .

Reception

A starred review from '' Publishers Weekly'' stated: "What distinguishes this series from run-of-the-mill English country fare is Graham's dry wit, which is especially smooth when turned on the banality of English middle-class repression." ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

'' noted: Graham writes in an old-fashioned way—with leisurely grace, ironic wit, real-seeming characters, ongoing suspense, and a corker of a plot. The result: top-flight entertainment." Book critic David Pitt in '' Booklist'', said that the "seemingly typical British small-town mystery ends as an eyebrow-raising shocker."

Television adaptation

The novel was adapted by Douglas Watkinson into the fourth episode of ''Midsomer Murders'', starring (alongside regulars John Nettles, Jane Wymark, Laura Howard and Daniel Casey) Lesley Vickerage as Simone, Michele Dotrice, Peter Jones, Rosalind Ayres, Roger Allam, Tessa Peake-Jones,

David Daker Colin David Daker (born 29 September 1935) is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Harry Crawford in the hit series '' Boon''. He also played Tommy Mackay in '' Only Fools and Horses'' and Jarvis in ''Porridge''. He has made two a ...

and

Eleanor Summerfield Eleanor Audrey Summerfield (7 March 1921 – 13 July 2001) was an English actress who appeared in many plays, films and television series. She is known for her roles in ''Laughter in Paradise'' (1951), ''Final Appointment'' (1954), ''Odongo'' (1 ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Faithful Unto Death 1996 British novels Inspector Barnaby series English novels Headline Publishing Group books