Within a minute of the start of this episode, you just know that supercilious, OCD Martin Barrett is going to be murdered. And he duly is. Courtesy of a shotgun blast through an open window, which the culprit dutifully closes afterward. Shortly we find out the why. Barret was a serial blackmailer, and his victims include everyone whom Barnaby questions, making them a suspect. Sounds good. Regrettably there are just too many helpful coincidences to make this one believable. From Hayley, Barnaby's daughter Cully's friend, who we immediately recognise as Barrett's disappearing house guest on the night of the murder. To helpful ex-cop Hatchard, who just happens to be a qualified diver and obligingly uncovers what suspects Mr and Mrs Florian are up to in Fennacombe Bay. Barnaby suffers a bout of gullible naivety. Obligated to former chief Sir John Waverley and unwilling to believe ill of him. Much to Jones' disgust. The damming evidence against the Florians has 'plant' written all over it. Not least because there is still 20 minutes of running time left. And Barnaby's dissatisfaction at that 'result' is expressed in a manner worthy of a village hall am dram production of a detective mystery. To cap it all, the likely identity of the murderer is well flagged during the Barnaby's rabbit dinner which puts everyone's dental welfare in jeopardy!
Review of Down Among the Dead Men
