The Killings at Badger’s Drift cover art

The Killings at Badger’s Drift

Midsomer Murders Mystery, Book 1

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The Killings at Badger’s Drift

By: Caroline Graham
Narrated by: John Hopkins
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About this listen

The Killings at Badger's Drift is the first spectacular instalment in the Midsomer Murders series and the story that inspired the ITV hit drama, now featuring an exclusive foreword by John Nettles, who played best-loved TV detective and star of Midsomer Murders, DCI Tom Barnaby.

The village of Badger's Drift is the essence of tranquillity. But when resident and well-loved spinster Miss Simpson takes a stroll in the nearby woods, she stumbles across something she was never meant to see, and there's only one way to keep her quiet.

Miss Simpson's death is not suspicious, say the villagers. But Miss Lucy Bellringer refuses to rest: her friend has been murdered. She is sure of it.

She calls on Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby to investigate, and it isn't long until the previously unseen seamy side of Badger's Drift is brought to light. But as old rivalries, past loves and new scandals surface, the next murder is not far away.

©1987 Caroline Graham (P)2022 Bolinda Publishing Crime Fiction Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Crime Village Murder

Critic Reviews

"Simply the best detective writer since Agatha Christie." (The Sunday Times)

"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)
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My first experience of the novels coming from the tv series and I’m very impressed. John Hopkins is fantasitic, and versatile. Nails Barnaby and Troy, and made the middle class affectations of the town a very amusing delight. And it’s great to have DC Scott himself back after a sudden absence.
The story has more nuance and effortlessly evokes vivid imagery which is a nice foil to the everyday drama of the characters. A good nighttime choice I found for winding down.
Looking forward to the next.

Excellent introduction, great performance

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The best story I have read from Caroline Graham. Juicy characters, lots of sub plots, and a chilling conclusion. Loved this book!

The Killings at Badgers Drift

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Wasn't too sure how I'd go having Sgt Scott reading this, but John Hopkins did a great job. Slow and well enunciated but you definitely get hooked in to the narrative. Very much enjoyed the audio book .... dare I say made better by the images of characters brought to life on the television.

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

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I was completely captivated by the story from beginning to end. I have seen this episode from the TV series and it is not nearly as good as the book! Fabulous and John Hopkins does a marvellous job as the narrator.

Enthralling

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Given my familiarity with The TV series I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this reading. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Surprised!

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Loved it it all. It was so good and so much more detailed than the TV series.

The voice

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Enjoyable for fans of the television series Midsommer murders. the book always has a deal more to offer than the screen adaption, but both are iconic in their own right.

Enjoyable for fans of the t.v. series !

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I read the Barnaby novels back in the 1980s before the TV show existed. As a teenager gorging on all the English mystery novels I could find, from any era, I only noticed the plots back then. But I liked my TV drama to be more realistic, so I abandoned the TV series fairly early on. Listening to the books now has been a bit of a revelation. I knew they would be rich in detail, but Graham’s writing sparkles with elegance and humour that I’m now able to savour. The excellent narration makes the books easy to listen to but I don’t want to miss a single vivid description or well chosen metaphor. I hope Audible releases the whole series.

Much better than the TV show!

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Wonderful story, a real deep dive from what I knew from the TV episode.

Excellent

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