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momoxshi's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Me, reading this in 2024 when house prices are unbelievable: why are people here so ungrateful at free housing? People be killing here to move from their rent-free cottages to big mansions while I'm here thinking I'd gladly kill just to have a nice, small English cottage in this economy ðŸ˜
hannahraymond's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
8797999's review against another edition
4.0
A very good read and a nice introduction to the series. I have read series previously and it was great to revisit it. The novel that spawned one of the best detective series on television. The books live up to the tv series.
punkinmuffin's review against another edition
2.0
I know these books, and the tv series, are beloved of many. And I know "the past is another country. They do things differently there." Had I read Midsomer #1 in the late 1980s I would probably have been really enthusiastic about it. But in 2023? The misogyny, homophobia, fat-phobia and total absence of any non-white characters is startling. The good news is that this tells me just how much more representative contemporary fiction, particularly genre fiction, is. I must acknowledge that Graham's writing craft, her plotting, the pacing and description were all fantastic, the characters will definitely stay with me. But, I don't feel the need to read/listen to the rest of these.
lelia_t's review against another edition
4.0
My heart belongs to John Rebus, but I liked Barnaby, enjoyed the mystery, and plan to read more in this series.
agentbird's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
nitzanschwarz's review against another edition
4.0
I found out about this book series when I started watching Midsomer Murders on Netflix (which, by the way, is an excellent show!).
And you know what? I think the book is just as good as the series. The things I like more about the series balance out with the things I like better in the book and it's just kinda fun. Although I kind of wish I had read the book first, just so I'd have the urgency of figuring out who'd dun it.
Things I like better in the series:
> No focus on outer appearance. In that regard, this book feels old. The narrative really fixates on how people look, kind of designating the ugly folks to be alone, used and unloved, and I was kind of over how the book lamented on Katherine's beauty. I got it, she's gorgeous, move on. On the other hand, the book DOES do a good job of making it pretty clear that outer beauty does not equal the inner one, and that some of the ugliest people are also the prettiest. Still, I much preferred the way the series didn't really dwell on that matter.
Thins I am CONFUSED about (in terms of my feelings)
> Barnaby and Troy.
Here's the thing. I really like the Barnaby and Troy of the series. I love how Barnaby likes to torture Troy with tasks and snipes because Troy can be a right jerk (of the homophobic verity) but also they balance each other and allow each other to grow. I like how sympathetic Barnaby is and what not.
BUT... Barnaby and Troy of the books are much more nuanced. You get to kind of see what background Troy is coming from and what leads to his thoughts, which makes me excited to see him grow. We get to see that Barnaby wasn't always the person he is today, and he still occasionally fights with it. We get to see him get really ANGRY, and we get to see him makes mistakes and even though I like the Barnaby and Troy of the show better, I have no doubt THESE Barnaby and Troy are much rounder, fuller, more fleshed out characters. Does it make sense? No.
And you know what? I think the book is just as good as the series. The things I like more about the series balance out with the things I like better in the book and it's just kinda fun. Although I kind of wish I had read the book first, just so I'd have the urgency of figuring out who'd dun it.
Things I like better in the series:
> No focus on outer appearance. In that regard, this book feels old. The narrative really fixates on how people look, kind of designating the ugly folks to be alone, used and unloved, and I was kind of over how the book lamented on Katherine's beauty. I got it, she's gorgeous, move on. On the other hand, the book DOES do a good job of making it pretty clear that outer beauty does not equal the inner one, and that some of the ugliest people are also the prettiest. Still, I much preferred the way the series didn't really dwell on that matter.
Thins I am CONFUSED about (in terms of my feelings)
> Barnaby and Troy.
Here's the thing. I really like the Barnaby and Troy of the series. I love how Barnaby likes to torture Troy with tasks and snipes because Troy can be a right jerk (of the homophobic verity) but also they balance each other and allow each other to grow. I like how sympathetic Barnaby is and what not.
BUT... Barnaby and Troy of the books are much more nuanced. You get to kind of see what background Troy is coming from and what leads to his thoughts, which makes me excited to see him grow. We get to see that Barnaby wasn't always the person he is today, and he still occasionally fights with it. We get to see him get really ANGRY, and we get to see him makes mistakes and even though I like the Barnaby and Troy of the show better, I have no doubt THESE Barnaby and Troy are much rounder, fuller, more fleshed out characters. Does it make sense? No.
melissa_who_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this, even though I have seen the TV show and remembered a good deal of the story, which was (if I remember correctly) remarkably faithful to the original. Interesting plot, convoluted, but not impossible.
lisab1991's review against another edition
4.0
Sinds een jaar of twee ben ik een groot Midsomer Murders fan. Als ik er vroeger langs zapte en die angstaanjagende tune al hoorde, kreeg ik er de kriebels van. Het had iets sinisters, waardoor ik als kind de sloten op de deuren wilde controleren en me onder de dekens wilde verstoppen. Nu kan ik er geen genoeg van krijgen - lang leve de eindeloze uitzendingen van huidige seizoenen en reruns van voorbije seizoenen. Mijn favoriete duo? DCI Tom Barnaby en DS Ben Jones. Of eigenlijk iedere aflevering waarin Ben Jones me vereert met zijn aanwezigheid op het scherm.
Ik wilde al een tijdje de boeken lezen, omdat ik benieuwd was of diezelfde typisch Engels plattelandse kneuterigheid, de heerlijke Victoriaanse sfeer van Midsomer county en die unieke gemoedelijkheid ook in de boeken zo op me zou overkomen. Conclusie? Ja en nee. Wat jammer is, is dat ik deze aflevering (de pilot) waar het boek op gebaseerd is, nog niet zo lang gelezen twee keer vrij snel achter elkaar heb gezien. Gevolg hiervan is dat dit boek een hoog ‘oh ja-gehalte’ had. Het boek wijkt iets af (zonder spoilers te geven) wat het aantal moorden betreft en DCI Barnaby is nou niet bepaald de gemoedelijke soort vaderfiguur als John Nettles hem speelde. DS Troy wijkt ook wat af van zijn evenbeeld in de serie, maar kan nog steeds niet al te goed autorijden. Ook Joyce’s kookkunsten zijn nog steeds niet om over naar huis te schrijven, en Cully -toch wel een van mijn favoriete personages in de serie- wordt lichtelijk onuitstaanbaar neergezet.
Ik ben nu begonnen aan het tweede deel - Moord achter de coulissen. Ik hoop dat dat deel wat minder ouderwetse woorden bevat. Dit kan aan de schrijfstijl van Mrs. Graham liggen, de tijd waarin het boek is geschreven of een combinatie hiervan. Daarnaast is het jammer dat verder geen Midsomer Murders-boeken in het Nederlands vertaald zijn, maar dan schakel ik wel over op het Engels.
Ik wilde al een tijdje de boeken lezen, omdat ik benieuwd was of diezelfde typisch Engels plattelandse kneuterigheid, de heerlijke Victoriaanse sfeer van Midsomer county en die unieke gemoedelijkheid ook in de boeken zo op me zou overkomen. Conclusie? Ja en nee. Wat jammer is, is dat ik deze aflevering (de pilot) waar het boek op gebaseerd is, nog niet zo lang gelezen twee keer vrij snel achter elkaar heb gezien. Gevolg hiervan is dat dit boek een hoog ‘oh ja-gehalte’ had. Het boek wijkt iets af (zonder spoilers te geven) wat het aantal moorden betreft en DCI Barnaby is nou niet bepaald de gemoedelijke soort vaderfiguur als John Nettles hem speelde. DS Troy wijkt ook wat af van zijn evenbeeld in de serie, maar kan nog steeds niet al te goed autorijden. Ook Joyce’s kookkunsten zijn nog steeds niet om over naar huis te schrijven, en Cully -toch wel een van mijn favoriete personages in de serie- wordt lichtelijk onuitstaanbaar neergezet.
Ik ben nu begonnen aan het tweede deel - Moord achter de coulissen. Ik hoop dat dat deel wat minder ouderwetse woorden bevat. Dit kan aan de schrijfstijl van Mrs. Graham liggen, de tijd waarin het boek is geschreven of een combinatie hiervan. Daarnaast is het jammer dat verder geen Midsomer Murders-boeken in het Nederlands vertaald zijn, maar dan schakel ik wel over op het Engels.