Written in Blood (5 Jul. 1998)

After a noted author speaks before a group of local Midsomer writers, the naked body of the event's host is found bludgeoned to death in his bedroom.

Director:

Jeremy Silberston

Writers:

Caroline Graham (novel), Anthony Horowitz (screenplay)

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
Barry Jackson	...	Dr. Bullard
Anna Massey	...	Honoria Lyddiard
Joanna David	...	Amy Lyddiard
David Troughton	...	Brian Clapper
John Shrapnel	...	Max Jennings
Jane Booker	...	Laura Hutton
Judith Scott	...	Sue Clapper
Robert Swann	...	Gerald Hadleigh
Una Stubbs	...	Selina Jennings
Annoushka Le Gallois	...	Barbara Neale
Marlene Sidaway	...	Mrs. Bundy

Storyline

The Midsomer Worthy Writers Circle invites well-known author Max Jennings to one of their monthly meetings. The group's secretary, Gerald Hadleigh is opposed to to the invitation, but is outvoted. It becomes apparent that Jennings and Hadleigh knew one another at one time. When Hadleigh is found dead the next day, Barnaby and Troy begin looking into the backgrounds of the various Circle members and try to locate Jennings. When they do find him he is, as they say, incapable of assisting them with their enquiries. A second murder adds to the puzzle but in the end, the solution rests on learning of long ago events and a hidden family secret. At home, the Barbabys agree to care for daughter Cully's Russian Blue cat Killmouskie, with interesting results for Tom.

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Plot Keywords:

author | midsomer | writer | secretary | murder | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 July 1998 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Aldbury, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bentley Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min 102 min (DVD)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
Liam's Father: Liam. Liam? What are you doing with that? Liam? Liam. Liam!

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Connections

References Dixon of Dock Green (1955)

User Reviews

"Tense and well crafted mystery with horrific overtones."

The Midsomer Worthy writers circle invites top selling author Max Jennings (John Shrapnel) to address their annual meeting. However, their chairman, the reclusive Gerald Hadleigh (Robert Swann) is very unhappy about the idea but refuses to explain why. On the night of the meeting there is clearly tension between the two men, but none of the members were prepared for the horror that was about to follow the next day when Hadleigh is discovered battered to death in his bedroom. DCI Barnaby and Sgt Troy realise that this case won't be easy because as Hadleigh was a recluse it is extremely difficult to find out anything about him. And all inquiries into his past draw a blank as he has no insurance number and the civil service whom he claimed to have worked for have never heard of him. Meanwhile, Max Jennings has disappeared and the questioning of the writers circle members proves little. These include the tyrannical Honoria Lyddiard (Anna Massey) and her sister-in-law Amy (Joanna David) but they can both vouch for the fact that they never left home at the time of the murder. A more likely suspect is smug schoolteacher Brian Clapper (David Troughton), the club's secretary, whom clearly lied about his whereabouts that night but his wife is covering up for him and there's no evidence of any friction between him and the murdered man. The case becomes even more complicated when Jennings finally turns up poisoned in his seaside home and both his alcoholic wife Selina (Una Stubbs) and his young secretary clearly know more than they are letting on.

Written In Blood (originally aired in March 1998) was the first in the series made to follow up the success of the pilot episode, The Killings At Badger's Drift (1997). Producers Betty Willingale and Brian True May re teamed both writer Anthony Horowitz and director Jeremy Silberston and assembled a marvelous supporting cast for this film including Anna Massey whose credits include appearances in such series as The Mayor Of Casterbridge and Inspector Morse. In the cinema she appeared in Michael Powell's horror masterpiece Peeping Tom (1960) and Alfred Hitchcock's excellent thriller Frenzy (1972). Una Stubbs was famous as Alf Garnett's daughter Rita in Till Death Us Do Part and has made notable guest appearances in such shows as Fawlty Towers and Heartbeat among others.

Written In Blood emerges as a tense and well crafted mystery with horrific overtones such as the killer (I won't give it away) chasing after a victim wielding a kitchen knife through an old Gothic house with thunder and lightning going on outside, which coincides with the discovery of a decaying corpse in a bedroom. These are clearly reminiscent of Psycho but they add to the film's impact without seeming like a cheap rip-off. The acting is fine all round with Massey and Stubbs of exceptional note whilst Robert Swann deserves praise as Gerald Hadleigh adding just the right touch of mysteriousness to the character. John Nettles and Daniel Casey have now firmly established themselves in the roles of Barnaby and Troy and they offer solid and charming performances. Director Jeremy Silberston who helmed The Killing's At Badger's Drift once again does excellent work as does screenwriter Anthony Horowitz who also adapted The Killings At Badger's Drift for television.