Death in Disguise

This was the best book I've read recently. I've read a several other mystery novels and some fantasy but none satisfied quite like this. It was at times poignant, at others enraging, and still others I had to reread passages for the delightful wit and humor. The only negative I might have to say is the amount of English colloquialisms might make it difficult to follow. As a Yankee I've watched a fair amount of BBC and read a good amount of British literature but still found it difficult to follow at times.

Things are not going well in the New Age commune of the Golden Windhorse. Despite astral protections conjured daily, the inhabitants of the Tudor era mansion are starting to die. The second victim of the killing spree is the guru/spirtual master himself. Called in to sort out the murders is the intrepid Chief Inspector, Tom Barnaby--he, a veteran of many an English village killing. Talented crime author Caroline Graham is in rare good satiric form in this early story, republished by the estimable Felony and Mayhem folks in 2007. Graham clearly had little patience with the various manifestations of the New Age Movement and has created some broadly comic and/or broadly misbehaving characters in the setup of the story. She has such a great time with that part of the novel that it is 150 pages before she introduces her protagonist, Chief Inspector Barnaby, to the scene. This is mostly a very clever and jolly murder tale. Definitely a good read and one that will certainly not disappoint fans of Caroline Graham.

I found that I had read this book when it first came out and remembered it as soon as the first page. The Barnaby mysteries are always entertaining. Time in the Midsommer area seem to stand still in the way we Americans imagine English villages. The tales do make good TV stories

Caroline Graham's mysteries featuring Inspector Barnaby begin rather like a plate of spagetti. Stuff happening everywhere-bits of information seemingly unrelated to anything, but by the end all strands have been beautifully woven into a tight, neat package - with no loose bits sticking out anywhere. Her characters are both unique and entertaining and Inspector Barnaby is a real charmer.

Caroline Graham's Inspector Barnaby is a wonderful character. He's so human and so likeable with all of his human shortcomings and uncertainties. Troy, his partner, is quite despicable actually. He's such a chauvinist, and quite full of himself, but again, he's so believable. Ms. Graham draws very real characters. Even the quirky people involved in this particular mystery are so finely drawn that they are recognizable. Ms. Graham writes in the "cozy" genre, but her books are really anything but cozy. There is enough murder and mayhem for anybody if they take the time to read her books. This book does such a good job of descrbing cult life that it appears the author has personal experience with this type of lifestyle. I sincerely recommend this series for those mystery readers are looking for something a little different, and for characters and situations quite out of the ordinary.

Caroline Graham is sheer joy to read. Her characters are always eccentric but never caricatures (though the author's acerbic tongue may initially make you wonder!) The literary allusions, the author's determination to make her reader stretch (but never in a pedantic or boring way) all contribute to the "can't put it down" quality. (NEVER start a new Caroline Graham just before bedtime. Wait 'till you have several hours to spend.) Throughout Death In Disguise I found myself sympathizing with not only the sympathetic characters, but also the obnoxious, the loopy, and the pathetic. Throughout it all the plot weaves and clues drop, which are available to the alert reader to sort out.That said, there are some weaknesses in this particular mystery. An unfortunate affair is introduced rather clumsily for the obvious (and awkward) purpose of setting up a character's demise. The villain is only revealed through some out-of-character twists. The police work seems rather lacksadaisical, without the tightness that the excellent writing would suggest be accorded to the plot (bodies drop like ninepins and yet no crime scene is cordoned off, suspects flee without follow-up, and so on.) But the sly development of fully rounded characters plus her dead-on skewering of the new age fringe is priceless.I'm sorry it's gone out of print. I hope the publisher plans to reissue a paperback at least. If you enjoy Dorothy Sayers, you will love Caroline Graham.