Inspector Barnaby Books in Order
Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby of Causton CID investigates murders in the villages of Midsomer, where the gardens are immaculate and the secrets are poisonous. His ambitious sergeant Gavin Troy is never quite as clever as he thinks. The books inspired the television series Midsomer Murders.
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Series facts
- Books
- 7
- Published
- 1987 to 2004
- First book
- The Killings at Badger’s Drift
- Latest
- A Ghost in the Machine (2004)
- Setting
- Set in the fictional Midsomer, England
The reading order
Every Inspector Barnaby book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
- 1The Killings at Badger’s Drift1987With Tom BarnabyMiss Emily Simpson, an elderly spinster of Badger’s Drift, sees something she should not while looking for a rare orchid in the woods, and is soon found dead.Buy on Amazon
- 2Death of a Hollow Man1989With Tom BarnabyThe Causton Amateur Dramatic Society is staging Amadeus, and on opening night the lead actor cuts his throat on stage with a razor that should have been taped.Buy on Amazon
- 3Death in Disguise1992With Tom BarnabyA member of a New Age commune at Manor House in Compton Dando is found dead, and Barnaby and Troy have to see through the spiritual calm to what is really going on.Buy on Amazon
- 4Written in Blood1994With Tom BarnabyThe writers’ circle of Midsomer Worthy invites a famous author to speak, against the wishes of its host, Gerald Hadleigh.Buy on Amazon
- 5Faithful unto Death1996With Tom BarnabyA beautiful young wife disappears from the village of Fawcett Green, and her husband’s behaviour arouses Barnaby’s interest.Buy on Amazon
- 6A Place of Safety1999With Tom BarnabyA young woman taken in by a village couple disappears after a quarrel on a bridge, and when a blackmailer begins work, Barnaby is drawn into a case in the village of Ferne Basset.Buy on Amazon
- 7A Ghost in the Machine2004With Tom BarnabyA man is killed by an antique siege engine in his own home, an apparent accident that a local medium thinks was nothing of the kind.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Each book stands alone, so they can be read in any order, though Barnaby and Troy’s partnership develops across the seven.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Tom Barnaby | Gavin Troy | Joyce Barnaby | Cully Barnaby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 The Killings at Badger’s Drift | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 2 Death of a Hollow Man | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor |
| 3 Death in Disguise | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 4 Written in Blood | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 5 Faithful unto Death | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 6 A Place of Safety | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
| 7 A Ghost in the Machine | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
Characters in the Inspector Barnaby books
4 characters from Caroline Graham’s chart, with the number of Inspector Barnaby books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Tom BarnabyDetective Chief Inspector in Causton | 7 | The Killings at Badger’s Drift 1987 |
| Gavin TroyBarnaby’s sergeant | 7 | The Killings at Badger’s Drift 1987 |
| Joyce BarnabyBarnaby’s wife, a poor cook | 7 | The Killings at Badger’s Drift 1987 |
| Cully BarnabyBarnaby’s actress daughter | 7 | The Killings at Badger’s Drift 1987 |