Death in Disguise [Paperback]

Caroline Graham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1994

When the leader of a New Age commune in England is murdered, Chief Inspector Barnaby must decide who among his eccentric flock--a runaway heiress, a handsome rogue, and a reticent lover--is the killer. Reprint. K.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Murder in a country manor inhabited by a cult of mystics tests the patience and skills of Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby, last seen in Murder at Madingley Grange . After the death of cult member Jim Carter is ruled an accident, various residents of the Lodge of the Golden Windhorse in the English village of Compton Dando go about their normal lives--communing with the spirits, astral-planing to the planet Venus, holding "psychic weekends." One event looms, however: a scheduled visit by financier Guy Gamelin, a ruthless robber-baron and father of cult member and heiress Suhami, known as Sylvie Gamelin in her earlier life. Following Gamelin's unsuccessful attempt to reconcile with Suhami, the Master of the lodge is killed by a knife thrown during a psychic regression by one of the cultists. Barnaby's investigation uncovers a variety of suspects and discrepancies: Suhami accuses her father; several of the residents, including the Master, prove to be other than they claim; a retarded boy holds important information but cannot speak about it. Graham's competent procedural works most effectively as a wickedly acid yet sympathetic portrayal of a group of society's misfits seeking comfort and a place in the world.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The "Chief Inspector Barnaby" series continues as Barnaby and partner Troy investigate murder in a small English commune. The usual witty prose and peculiar characters apply.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 10 pages
• Publisher: Avon Books (Mm) (July 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380712962
• ISBN-13: 978-0380712960
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #606,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Utterly human, utterly readable, and utterly clever, January 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Death in Disguise (Paperback)

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.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Too Quirky for Words!, July 28, 2002

By 

S. Schwartz "romonko" (alberta canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death in Disguise (Hardcover)

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.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars no loose ends, October 20, 2007

By 

merry reader "merry reader" (So. Cal.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death in Disguise (Felony & Mayhem Mysteries) (Inspctr Barnaby) (Paperback)

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.