'Simply the best detective writer since Agatha Christie' The Sunday Times

Discover the novels that inspired the hit ITV series Midsomer Murders, seen and loved by millions.

The compelling fifth novel in the Midsomer Murders series by Caroline Graham, starring Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby. Features an exclusive foreword by John Nettles.

Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Ann Granger and James Runcie's The Grantchester Mysteries.

The Fawcett Green bell-ringers don't bat an eyelid when Simone Hollingsworth fails to turn up to practice. They merely assume that bell-ringing has become the latest in a long list of her abandoned hobbies.

But then the increasingly strange behaviour of Simone's husband, Alan, begins to raise neighbourly suspicions about her whereabouts. And when the discovery of a body draws Chief Inspector Barnaby to the village, it becomes clear that unravelling the couple's tangled lives will have painful repercussions for the whole village. . .

Praise for Caroline Graham's novels:

'Everyone gets what they deserve in this high-class mystery' Sunday Telegraph

'A witty, well-plotted, absolute joy of a book' Yorkshire Post

'A treat . . . haunting stuff' Woman's Realm

'Swift, tense and highly alarming' TLS

'Lots of excellent character sketches . . . and the dialogue is lively and convincing' Independent

'Hard to praise highly enough' The Sunday Times

'Her books are not just great whodunits but great novels in their own right' Julie Burchill

'Enlivened by a very sardonic wit and turn of phrase, the narrative drive never falters' Birmingham Post

'Read her and you'll be astonished . . . very sexy, very hip and very funny' Scotsman

About the Author
Caroline Graham, the creator of Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby, was born in Warwickshire and educated at Nuneaton High School for Girls, and later the Open University. She was awarded an MA in Theatre Studies at Birmingham University, and has written several plays for both radio and theatre. She has been dubbed by The Sunday Times as, 'Simply the best detective writer since Agatha Christie'.

Reviews
A mystery of which Agatha Christie would have been proud. . . A beautifully written crime novel * The Times *
Tension builds, bitchery flares, resentment seethes . . . lots of atmosphere, colourful characters and fair clues * Mail on Sunday *
Everyone gets what they deserve in this high-class mystery * Sunday Telegraph *
A witty, well-plotted, absolute joy of a book * Yorkshire Post *
A treat . . . haunting stuff * Woman's Realm *
Wickedly acid, yet sympathetic * Publishers Weekly *
Swift, tense and highly alarming * TLS *
Lots of excellent character sketches . . . and the dialogue is lively and convincing * Independent *
One to savour -- Val McDermid
Hard to praise highly enough * The Sunday Times *
Her books are not just great whodunits but great novels in their own right -- Julie Burchill
Enlivened by a very sardonic wit and turn of phrase, the narrative drive never falters * Birmingham Post *
Read her and you'll be astonished . . . very sexy, very hip and very funny * Scotsman *
The mystery is intriguing, the wit shafts through like sunlight . . . do not miss this book * Family Circle *



Book Information
ISBN 9781472243690
Author Caroline Graham
Format Paperback
Page Count 464
Imprint Headline Book Publishing
Publisher Headline Publishing Group
Weight(grams) 320g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 130mm * 30mm