Roaming Midsomer in Barnaby’s footsteps – new walking guide for fans

The Mayor of Thame, Nichola Dixon, enjoys a glass of bubbly with Martin Andrew (L), Chris Behan (R) and Luise Pattinson who co-manages the Book House in Thame

FOLLOWING a book launch at the local book shop, a body count in Thame – or ‘Causton’ as it’s usually known in the world of ‘Midsomer Murders’, revealed that everyone who had arrived, left alive, which was a relief to the authors of Roaming Midsomer – Walking and Eating in the Murderous Heart of England.

Chris Behan and Martin Andrew were at The Book House in Thame, to launch Roaming Midsomer, the follow-up to Chris’s solo project, the hugely successful, Exploring Midsomer, which drew fans from all over the world, away from their TV sets and out into the beautiful, pastoral landscape of ‘Midsomer’ locations.

For this new book, it was Martin, an avid walker himself, who researched and designed the walks, and Chris who took the photographs for this compilation of ‘interesting and pleasant walks, offering plenty to do and see, to eat and drink while exploring locations used in the TV series’.

Most of the walks are designed for the serious walker, but Roaming Midsomer will also satisfy the ‘Sunday afternoon’ stroller, armed only with a mobile phone app, to punch in the useful postcodes for eating and drinking establishments close to the routes.

Both Chris Behan and Martin Andrew have lived in the area for nearly 40 years, and know well many of the locations featured in the series, which is among the most-sold British TV shows worldwide, whether as TV Programming or DVD. In other countries, the series is known as Barnaby, the name of the leading Midsomer Constabulary sleuth.

Roaming Midsomer will no doubt be vital reading for fans of the show who will want to get out there and experience for themselves, the Midsomer Murders factor – without the fear of violence – and return ready for series 17, which as of this month, March 2016, will be available in episodes via streaming through Netflix; surely bound to be the inspiration for another book from Chris and Martin?

Roaming Midsomer: Walking and Eating in the Murderous Heart of England, by Chris Behan and Martin Andrew – Published by The History Press, and available from The Book House, 93 High Street, Thame, OX9 3HJ – See WEBSITE http://www.thebookhousethame.co.uk/

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