The Killings at Badger's Drift

"The Killings at Badger's Drift" (1988) is a mystery novel by English writer Caroline Graham, the first in her Chief Inspector Barnaby series. In 1997, it was adapted as the pilot of "Midsomer Murders", a popular ITV television series based on Graham's books. The story has also been named as one of The Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time.

Plot summary

In the tranquil village of Badger's Drift, the elderly Miss Bellringer insists that her friend, Emily Simpson, did not die of a heart attack as her doctor claims, but was in fact murdered. An autopsy soon proves her right, as a deadly mix of red wine and hemlock is found in the dead woman's system. While the village descends into panic, the elusive murderer strikes again, claiming the life of sly Mrs. Rainbird, before callously leaving her bloodied corpse to be discovered by her son Dennis, a local undertaker.

As Barnaby investigates, aided and abetted by his narrow-minded Sgt. Gavin Troy, he uncovers a sinister connection between an older crime and the current killings at Badger's Drift.

Plot of the television pilot

In the pilot episode of Midsomer Murders, Miss Bellringer was not killed by a drug cocktail but by a scuffle. Also, when Mrs Rainbird is killed, Dennis is killed before her.

Filming

The Killings at Badger's Drift was filmed from 9 September to 10 October 1996 in the following villages:

1. Amersham, Buckinghamshire

2. Bledlow, Buckinghamshire

3. Brighton, Sussex

4. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

5. Christmas Common, Oxfordshire

6. Lee, Buckinghamshire

7. Little Missenden, Buckinghamshire

8. New Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire

Reviews

"Graham makes the characters humanly believable in her witty and tragic novel, a real winner." - Publishers Weekly