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A Ghost In The Machine

by Caroline Graham

A Ghost In The Machine is the first of a continuing Inspector Barnaby series published by Caroline Graham since the last one five years ago. Before I began reviewing mysteries I read her Death of a Hollow Man and A Place of Safety – the latter being the most recent before 'Ghost.' Ms. Graham was a delightful discovery, and I'm glad she chose to continue the series. Like many of her compatriots in England, Caroline Graham brings her characters to life before your eyes, in this case involving you in the doings of inhabitants of a village called Forbes Abbot.

Mallory and Kate Lawson have inherited his Aunt Carey's Appleby House and grounds in Forbes Abbot at her death, and decided to move in. Mallory indulges his spoiled daughter Polly, who is in her second year at the London School of Economics – with the result that she is alienated from Kate and also used to getting her own way.

At the funeral, the Lawsons meet the people who later become prominent in the story: Benny Frayle, who was Aunt Carey's companion, and lives in her own flat over the stables at Appleby House. Dennis Brinkley, owner of 'Kinders' – a former schoolhouse which he has renovated and now contains a number of huge, ancient war machines. Dennis lives alone, a respected partner in the firm of Fallon and Brinkley, handling investments. Gilda and Andrew Latham also attend Aunt Carey's funeral from a wealthier neighborhood nearby. Gilda has become immensely fat, and Andrew, who married her strictly for her money, has been given the other partnership in Fallon and Brinkley at George Fallon's death – but actually does nothing there except to appear occasionally, living solely on his wife's miserly handouts. Judith and her handsome husband, Ashley Parnell also attend the funeral. Ashley has acquired a strange disease, which is eating up money, and Judith is both jealous of Ashley and desperate for cash. Doris Crudge cleans for a number of people in Forbes Abbot, including Dennis at Kinders. Mrs. Crudge lives in one of the council houses on the edge of Forbes Abbot.

Other individuals, not attending the funeral but also living in Forbes Abbot are Ava Garret, a so-called medium who gives messages from departed loved ones at The Church of the Near at Hand, her young daughter Karen, and their boarder Roy. When Dennis Brinkley is mysteriously murdered, Ava apparently receives a psychic message from him, accurately describing the murder scene, and is interrupted from describing the murderer only by the sudden cries of a baby in the audience. Ava, a rather miserly individual who hankers for fame on the stage, is believed she'll complete her startling revelations on Dennis Brinkley's murder at the next meeting of The Church of the Near at Hand. However, before that day comes, she too is murdered.

Detective Inspector Barnaby is called in because Ava's autopsy reveals she was poisoned. Benny Frayle insists that Dennis Brinkley's death is tied in also, and after examining the war machine which killed him, Barnaby has to agree. Meanwhile Polly has managed to infiltrate the offices of Fallon and Brinkley – and invests not only the remains of her own inheritance but her parents' funds unwisely – and loses it all.

When the tangled mess of interwoven relationships is eventually sorted out, Roy and Karen find help and solace with Doris Crudge and her husband Earnest, Andrew leaves Gilda, Ashley is recovering, Polly is no longer resentful of her mother, and Inspector Barnaby has solved the murders. The last chapter of the book involves a very real surprise featuring Karen.

Caroline Graham hasn't lost any of her talent in the five years hiatus. A Ghost in the Machine expertly mixes gossip, horror, pettiness, greed, and humor with incisive takes on village life in England. Ms. Graham gets her readers completely involved with everyone connected to the murders first, before even bringing in her
Inspector Barnaby, who doesn't take an active part in the proceedings until late in the novel. Ms. Graham has been compared to Agatha Christie – and the comparison is accurate. We hope we'll not be required to wait another five years before Caroline Graham gives us another Barnaby book!

Alan Paul Curtis

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