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Title: The Show is Better
Review: I think this is the first time I've found a TV show to be better than the book. Firstly, Sergeant Troy is such an unpleasant character, but worse, doesn't seem to serve any useful role in the story, except perhaps as a counterpoint to Barnaby's good qualities. Secondly,it seems that the author's desire to produce an accurate picture of life in the English countryside has trumped the story -- or at least buried it for long stretches. After a while, I began to think that if I were living in a place like that I'd just kill myself right away.... and then, if the author showed me yet again how shallow life was there, that I should just stop reading then and there. The TV series can make that point with one short scene, and then move on. And the show deliberately and ironically places the action against some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen. If you're an Amazon Prime member you can stream Midsomer Murders for free -- and see whether or not you agree with me.
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