A Ghost in the Machine

Midsomer Murders, Book 7

By: Caroline Graham

Narrated by: John Hopkins

Length: 17 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

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

Critic reviews

'[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)

Where is Barnaby?

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

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.

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.

Not enough Barnaby

Good narration. I was very disappointed in the lack of Barnaby and his team. The writer struggled to pull all the side stories together which made the plot move slowly, agonizingly slowly. Disappointed.

Too much Divergence

Way too long before Inspector Barnaby appeared. Seemed endless character development and not so much story.

The best yet, and what an ending!

I am a big Midsomer Murders fan from the TV series - well, the ones with John Nettles anyway. As a result I have listened to all the Midsomer Murders books to date, which in turn surprised me how excellently written they are. and this one is the best of an already brilliant lot. John Hopkins is the best reader I have heard of any books so far and has ruined me for other audio book readers! As for the writing, Caroline Graham's writing is extremely clever as well as descriptive, and this book surprised me right to the very end. This is not just your average detective book but something far better. I can hardly wait for the next one to be available!

Did not enjoy as much as others in this series

To begin with almost half the book goes by before Barnaby makes an appearance, and then his involvement in this story was limited. It was more a story about the inhabitants of the village. The first third of the book introduces us to some very unpleasant characters. It all felt very negative to me. Some parts of the book are entertaining, the wrap up was going well till we got to the last episode and all I could say was REALLY!

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

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.