The Dead of Jericho

infobox Book |
name = The Dead of Jericho


image_caption = The cover of 1st edition
author = Colin Dexter
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = Inspector Morse series, #5
genre = crime novel
publisher = Macmillan
pub_date = 4 June 1981
media_type = Print (Hardcover)
pages = 224 pp
isbn = ISBN 0333317289
preceded_by = Service of All the Dead
followed_by = The Riddle of the Third Mile

"The Dead of Jericho" is a work of English detective fiction by Colin Dexter, as part of the Inspector Morse series.

Plot summary

Detective Chief Inspector E. Morse of the Thames Valley Police meets Anne Scott at a party hosted by Mrs. Murdoch in North Oxford. Six months later Anne Scott is found hanging in her kitchen at 9 Canal Reach, Jericho, Oxford. Initially Chief Inspector Bell, from the closer Oxford Central station on St. Aldate's Street, is assigned to the case. But a fortnight later Morse takes over the investigation and subsequently both of Mrs. Murdoch's sons, Edward "Ted" Murdoch and Michael Murdoch, as well as Anne Scott's former employers, brothers Charles Richards and Conrad Richards, and Charles's wife, Celia, come to the attention of Morse. As do Ms Scott's neighbors, including the nosy handyman George Jackson, and Sophocles's "Oedipus".

Television adapations

"The Dead of Jericho" would be the very first installment of the Inspector Morse TV series starring John Thaw and Kevin Whately (as Detective Sergeant Lewis). Filmed in 1986 it aired 6 January 1987. Anne's last name of Scott was changed to Staveley, and the part was played by Gemma Jones. The first names of the three Richards where changed to Anthony "Tony" (James Laurenson), Alan (Richard Durden), and Adele (Annie Lambert), making the "C"s into "A"s. Edward "Ted" Murdoch was changed to Ned Murdoch (Spencer Leigh). Anthony Minghella wrote the episode and it was directed by Alastair Reid.

References

*cite book | title=The Dead of Jericho | last=Dexter | first=Colin | authorlink=Colin Dexter | publisher=Macmillan | location=London | edition=1st ed. | date=1981 | id=ISBN 0333317289