''Written in Blood'' 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, ...

by English

author An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states: "''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...

Caroline Graham Caroline Graham (born 17 July 1931) is an English playwright, screenwriter and novelist. Early life and education Graham was born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire to a working-class family, and attended Nuneaton High School for Girls where her Englis ...

, first published by

Headline The headline or heading is the text indicating the content or nature of the article below it, typically by providing a form of brief summary of its contents. The large type ''front page headline'' did not come into use until the late 19th centur ...

in 1992. 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 ...

as he investigates the murder of a retired civil servant. It is the fourth volume in Graham's ''Chief Inspector Barnaby'' series, preceded by ''

Death in Disguise ''Death in Disguise'' is a crime novel written by English writer Caroline Graham and first published by Headline in 1992. The story follows Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby investigating the murder of a cult member. It is the third volume in Graham's ...

'' and followed by ''

Faithful unto Death ''Faithful unto Death'' is a crime novel written by English writer Caroline Graham and first published by Headline Publishing Group, Headline in 1996. The story follows Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby investigating the case of a missing woman. It is ...

''. It has been adapted into an episode in

ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of: ** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

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

The Midsomer Worthy Writer's Circle, a group of amateur

novelists A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living wage, living writing novels and other fiction, while othe ...

, invite celebrated author Max Jennings along as a special guest. However, host Gerald Hadleigh is vehemently opposed to the idea but refuses to explain why, so he is promptly overruled by his peers. After the somewhat uncomfortable event, Hadleigh's companion Rex St. John is tricked into departing, leaving Hadleigh alone with Jennings. The next morning Gerald is found savagely murdered with a

candlestick A candlestick is a device used to hold a candle in place. Candlesticks have a cup or a spike ("pricket") or both to keep the candle in place. Candlesticks are less frequently called "candleholders". Before the proliferation of electricity, candl ...

, his corpse stripped and all his clothes stolen, with no sign of Max.

Reception

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of B ...

'' stated in its review of the novel: "The skill with which Graham evokes these characters and explores their individual, often damaged, emotional histories rings of Rendell and

P.D. James Phyllis Dorothy James, Baroness James of Holland Park, (3 August 1920 – 27 November 2014), known professionally as P. D. James, was an English novelist and life peer. Her rise to fame came with her series of detective novels featuring t ...

. The few too many coincidences in the plot will be forgiven for the crisp pace and satisfying twist at the end." ''

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, who deserves a wider US readership, starts out as astringently amusing as

Christianna Brand Mary Christianna Lewis (née Milne; 17 December 1907 – 11 March 1988), known professionally as Christianna Brand, was a British crime writer and children's author born in British Malaya. Biography Christianna Brand was born Mary Christi ...

in her classic ''

Green for Danger ''Green for Danger'' is a popular 1944 detective novel by British writer Christianna Brand, praised for its clever plot, interesting characters, and wartime hospital setting. It was made into a 1946 film which is regarded by film historians ...

'', and then gradually broadens and deepens to P.D. James territory. What more could you want?"

Gail Pool Gail Pool (born July 4, 1946) is an American writer and critic, whose work has focused on books, the culture of magazines, and travel. Early life and education Pool was born in New York City, where she attended Little Red School House and Hu ...

in the ''

Wilson Library Bulletin The ''Wilson Library Bulletin'' was a professional American magazine published for librarians from 1914 to 1995 by the H. W. Wilson Company, Bronx. NY. It began as ''The Wilson Bulletin'' and published occasionally. In its first volume were disc ...

'' wrote: "Revolving around the lives and relationships of group members, this is a complicated, satisfying mystery. For all her humor, Graham makes us feel the pathos of these individuals, some struggling to succeed, others enduring lives of 'quiet desperation,' and one of them dead." Emily Melton in ''

Booklist ''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is av ...

'' remarked that Graham "effectively juxtaposes the darkly malignant aspects of human behavior with the … trivialities of everyday life."

Publication history

*United Kingdom: 1994, Headline, London, 1994, Hardback, 307 p., . *United States: 1995, W. Morrow, New York City, 1995, Hardback, 387 p., .

Television adaptation

''Written in Blood'' was adapted on 22 March 1998 as the second episode of ''

''. The two-hour film starred

Anna Massey Anna Raymond Massey (11 August 19373 July 2011) was an English actress. She won a BAFTA Award for the role of Edith Hope in the 1986 TV adaptation of Anita Brookner's novel ''Hotel du Lac'', a role that one of her co-stars, Julia McKenzie, ha ...

Una Stubbs Una Stubbs (1 May 1937 – 12 August 2021) was an English actress, television personality and dancer who appeared on British television and in the theatre, and occasionally in films. She became known after appearing in the film '' Summer Holiday ...

and

David Troughton David Troughton (born 9 June 1950) is an English actor. He is known for his Shakespearean roles on the British stage and for his many roles on British television, including Dr Bob Buzzard in ''A Very Peculiar Practice'' and Ricky Hanson in ''Ne ...

, alongside

John Nettles John Vivian Drummond Nettles, OBE, (born 11 October 1943) is an English actor and author. He is best known for his starring roles as detectives in the crime drama television series '' Bergerac'' (1981–1991) in the title role, and ''Midsomer M ...

and

Daniel Casey Daniel Casey (born 1 June 1972) is an English actor. He is best known for playing DS Gavin Troy, the original sidekick of DCI Tom Barnaby, for the first six seasons of the long-running television series ''Midsomer Murders''. Early life ...

in their usual roles of Barnaby and Troy, respectively. The character of Rex St. John is omitted from the episode.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Written In Blood (Novel) 1994 British novels Inspector Barnaby series English novels 1998 British television episodes Headline Publishing Group books