Blue Herrings (22 Jan. 2000)

A visit to his convalescent aunt prompts Barnaby to investigate a series of suspicious deaths at the nursing home where she is staying.

Director:

Peter Smith

Writers:

Hugh Whitemore (screenplay), Caroline Graham (characters)

Stars:

John Nettles, Daniel Casey, Jane Wymark

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
John Nettles	...	DCI Tom Barnaby
Daniel Casey	...	Sgt. Gavin Troy
Jane Wymark	...	Joyce Barnaby
Laura Howard	...	Cully Barnaby
Phyllis Calvert	...	Alice Bly
Nigel Davenport	...	William Smithers
Geoffrey Bayldon	...	Arthur Prewitt
Mary Wimbush	...	George Watson
Gudrun Ure	...	Celia Armstrong
Angela Down	...	Pru Bennett
Colin Tierney	...	Mungo Mortimer
Clive Wood	...	Dr. Clive Warnford
Deborah Findlay	...	Hilary Richards
Carolyn Pickles	...	Sister Lovelace
Miranda Kingsley	...	Nurse Bartlett

Storyline

While taking a week off to move into their new home, Barnaby takes time to visit his aunt, Alice Bly, who is staying at a local convalescent home for a few weeks. She tells him that a resident died there the previous evening and at least one other resident believes it was murder. When the home's administrator tells Barnaby that residents' personal effects are going missing, he gets Troy to look into the goings on at the manor. When a second resident is found dead soon after, Barnaby begins to suspect that something is amiss.

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Plot Keywords:

nursing home | convalescent | suspect | red herring | watch | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 January 2000 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bentley Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min 99 min (DVD)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last TV role of 'Phylis Calvert'.

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Quotes

Sergeant Gavin Troy: Who wants to live to be 89?
D.C.I. Tom Barnaby: Somone who's 88.

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Soundtracks

"String of Pearls"
Performed by Glenn Miller

User Reviews

Confusingly plotted episode set in a nursing home that may make viewers young and old wonder if they're going senile

Barnaby pays a visit to his beloved Auntie Alice at the Lawnside nursing home, in which she has taken up temporary residence. The bright and perceptive old lady tells him gossip about the mysterious doings at the place, especially in regards to the death of one of the residents whose Cartier watch has vanished. More deaths follow, which is hardly extraordinary at a nursing home filled with men and women in their 80s. Nevertheless, Barnaby suspects something fishy is going on - but he'll have to ignore the red herrings to find out what it is.

Viewers young and old may wonder if they are going senile as they try to figure out the bewildering plot twists and remember which character is which in this unsatisfactorily plotted episode. Still, it's hardly a total loss, since, as usual, we get to meet a lot of interesting people with interesting secrets. And as always the interesting people are played by top-quality actors. I especially enjoyed Phyllis Calvert as Auntie Alice and Nigel Davenport as the crusty old Mr. Smithers.