Written in Blood (novel)

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Written in Blood
AuthorCaroline Graham
CountryGreat Britain
LanguageEnglish
SeriesChief Inspector Tom Barnaby
GenreCrime fiction
PublishedLondon: Headline, 1994
Media typeBook
Pages467
ISBN9780747246640 [1]
OCLC32275512
Preceded byDeath in Disguise 
Followed byFaithful Unto Death 

Written in Blood is a crime novel by English author Caroline Graham,[2] the fourth book in her popular Chief Inspector Barnaby series, which has been adapted into the equally successful ITV drama Midsomer Murders.

Plot summary

The Midsomer Worthy Writer's Circle, a group of amateur novelists, 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, his corpse stripped and all his clothes stolen, with no sign of Max.

Major themes

A dark and compelling mystery with horrific overtones, Written in Blood explores several challenging themes, including child abuse, transvestism, insanity and the nature of unconditional love.

Publication history

  • United Kingdom: 1994, Headline, London, 1994, Hardback, 307 p., ISBN 0-7472-1105-1.
  • United States: 1995, W. Morrow, New York City, 1995, Hardback, 387 p., ISBN 0-688-10024-4.

Television adaptation

Written in Blood was adapted on 22 March 1998 as the second episode of Midsomer Murders, the first being The Killings at Badger's Drift. The two-hour film starred Anna Massey, Una Stubbs and David Troughton, alongside John Nettles and Daniel Casey in their usual roles of Barnaby and Troy.

References

  1. ^ "Written in Blood". OCLC Worldcat. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  2. ^ Klett, Rex E.; Mar Morrow (March 1, 1995). "Book Reviews: Fiction". Library Journal. 120 (4): 106. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)