A Ghost in the Machine

Midsomer Murders, Book 7

De: Caroline Graham

Narrado por: John Hopkins

For all its old-fashioned charm, Forbes Abbot is far from the close-knit community that ex-Londoners Mallory and Kate Lawson expected. In this village, everyday squabbles can quickly turn to murder.

As the couple begins to settle into their new life away from the big city, it isn't long until they're thrown into the horror and mayhem of a true Midsomer Murders mystery.

Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby has encountered many intriguing cases in his years on the force, but soon he will discover that the incident of the ghost in the machine is the most challenging of them all.

©2004 Caroline Graham (P)2023 Bolinda Publishing

Reseñas de la Crítica

'[A Ghost in the Machine] allows us to admire the novelist's wit and her ability to create exasperatingly real characters before getting down to the policing.' (Sunday Telegraph)

'A mystery of which Agatha Christie would have been proud.' (The Times)

'Tension builds, bitchery flares, resentment seethes...lots of atmosphere, colourful characters and fair clues.' (Mail on Sunday)

Not like the others

I loved the other ones but this was my least favorite. It really began to feel endless halfway through and Barnaby didn’t show up until I think 4 hours in? The author does have a wonderful way of getting inside each characters mind — but I found myself forcing myself to kept going rather than looking forward to it like I did with the other ones.

Well done as always

Even though Inspector Barnaby didn’t appear right away in the plot, it was an intricately woven, master fully written story with a very satisfying surprise ending.

Excellent story telling

The characters were so real and complex. I enjoyed listening to every minute of it and the ending was amazing. I’m so sorry that this is the last book she wrote in this series. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

Perfect for Halloween, Lovers of Murder Mysteries & the Paranormal!

This was a more complex story than some of the others in the series. The many people in the tale are not all connected other than they either knew the murdered people or the murderer. But I cared about most of them and when it was over wished I could read more about them.
There’s a paranormal bit and a creepy twist at the end. A very satisfying mystery.

Where is Barnaby?

After seventeen chapters, or 9.5hrs of listening, Chief Inspector Barnaby finally appears and the story properly begins.

Least favourite

I was stumbling along the chapters while the author fumbled with her story, all the while not quite sure where she’s going. Plot is convoluted and unconvincing. Murder mystery? Police procedural? Paranormal? Hard to categorise. I would have given up after half an hour if the narrator was someone other than John Hopkins. Very disappointing addition to the Barnaby series.

Wonderful listen

Completely engrossing storylines and excellent narration. The characters are well drawn and complex. The author’s take on human nature resonates and is both canny and kind. The ending is extraordinary. Highly recommended.

Just as much mystery, not as much Barnaby

I enjoyed the slight divergence. Still multiple threads of mysteries that are tied up rather well in the last chapter and perfectly narrated as always. Troy is Troy, Barnaby is human.... there's just less of these 2 and more of the thoughts of various characters. Cameo appearance of the young actors. I wonder what is next for Barnaby

Ghost Machine

Loved plot and reader - a bit slow starting but then became totally engrossed in the story

Too complicated and not a whodunnit

If you have read other books in this series, this one is likely to disappoint you. It reads like an extended series of character studies, and contains a lot of material that is not necessary to the plot. In addition, almost all the characters are deeply unsympathetic. I realize this is a feature of British fiction, but this was going a little too far. The mystery only begins about halfway through. There is no real question as to the guilty party. At one point in the book there is a comment by someone reading manuscripts complaining about a mystery that only starts halfway through and I can only assume this is a sly joke at the readers' expense. I struggled to get through it, and I don't recommend it.