Case file · Series 1, Episode 2 · Season 1, Episode 2
Written in Blood
A writers' circle welcomes a celebrated novelist, then discovers that literary ambition can be murderously personal.
The 60-second case card
Should I watch this one?
A particularly sharp collision of village insecurity and literary vanity.
- Best for
- Writers · Book adaptation · Locked-room flavour
- Mood
- Classic
- Team
- DCI Tom Barnaby with DS Gavin Troy
- Spoiler guidance
- Read the premise freely; open the marked sections only after watching. Check the linked provider advisory for further viewing information.
Why it matters
A particularly sharp collision of village insecurity and literary vanity.
Break the seal: reveal the finding
Who was the killer in Written in Blood? (spoiler)
Old identities and carefully maintained appearances matter more than the evening's famous guest.
Spoiler-safe viewing companion
Three questions to carry into the episode
Three spoiler-safe questions for your rewatch.
- Place
What does Midsomer Worthy conceal?
- Theme
Which details could have more than one meaning?
- Teamwork
Watch DCI Tom Barnaby and DS Gavin Troy: who notices what?
More episode detailsProduction, cast, deaths and filming information
Credits, context and checked facts
Production and cast
- TV series
- Series 1
- Episode number
- Episode 2
- Written by
- Anthony Horowitz
- Directed by
- Jeremy Silberston
- Listed transmission date(s)
- 22 March 1998
- Reported filming period
- July–August 1997
- Detective
- DCI Tom Barnaby
- Partner
- DS Gavin Troy
- Pathologist
- Dr George Bullard · Barry Jackson
- Principal setting
- Midsomer Worthy
- Casebook tone
- Classic
Sources accompany the production credits and filming links.
Fictional settings and real filming places are listed separately. Filming links include 2 mapped areas; 1 exact site.
Credits and archive connections
- Writer credits6 episodes credited to Anthony Horowitz
- Director credits9 episodes directed by Jeremy Silberston
- Release positionCase 2 of 144
- Story characterClassic · Writers · Book adaptation
- Location evidence1 exact screen-use match
Sources for the production file
Published episode chronology and credits ↗Official ITV programme page ↗Filming-location reference index ↗Credits follow the linked chronology. Dates can differ between territories. Consult original credits for story, teleplay and adaptation wording. External synopses may contain spoilers.
Selected episode credits
Written in Blood cast
These selected cast entries link to their published profiles. They do not include every name shown in the end credits.
Jane Wymark
Laura Howard
Neil Conrich
Timothy Bateson
Paul Putner
Marlene Sidaway
David Maybrick
Una Stubbs
Joanna David
David Troughton
Nancy Lodder
Anna Massey
Annoushka Le Gallois
John Bardon
Jane Booker
Bryan Burdon
Robert Swann
Judith Scott
John Shrapnel
Mark Bagnall
Daniel Newman
Zoot Lynam
Murray Ewan
Marcus Rogers
Jay Barrymore
Jacqueline Morgan
Brian Parr
The performers behind this case
Core cast
Follow the cast links for full actor and character guides.
John Nettles
Tom Barnaby · Detective Chief Inspector- Bergerac
- Poldark
- Royal Shakespeare Company
Daniel Casey
Gavin Troy · Detective Sergeant · later Inspector- Our Friends in the North
- Steel River Blues
- Midsomer Murders on stage
Barry Jackson
Dr George Bullard · Police pathologist- Cathy Come Home
- Doctor Who
- Barry Lyndon
Image credits identify the licence used. No programme publicity stills are reproduced.
Forensic team
Dr George Bullard
- Credit
- Resident pathologist
- Played by
- Barry Jackson
Spoiler-controlled deaths
Deaths recorded in this case
4 people die in this case, according to the linked death record.
Break the seal: reveal the list of deaths
- Hanlon (historical murder in 1955)
Murder · Gunshot · historical or before the main case
Performer check- Hanlon: not listed in the current published cast recordNo Hanlon performer appears in the current published cast record.
- Gerald Hadleigh
Murder · Blunt force
Performer check- Gerald Hadleigh: Robert Swann
- Max Jennings
Murder · Poisoning
Performer check- Max Jennings: John Shrapnel
- Honoria Lyddiard
Accidental, natural or other · Fall
Performer check- Honoria Lyddiard: Anna MasseyThe list of deaths prints ‘Annoria’; the published cast record supports ‘Honoria’, used here.
Break a second seal: reveal the verified killer
Who was the killer in Written in Blood? (spoiler)
Honoria LyddiardThe resolution attributes the deaths of Gerald Hadleigh and Max Jennings to Honoria Lyddiard. Hanlon's 1955 death remains a separate historical murder in the death list.
Verified motive
Honoria killed Gerald after he disclosed his relationship with her late brother Ralph, then poisoned Max to prevent him exposing her responsibility for Gerald's death.
Source: detailed episode synopsis ↗Verified important clue
Archive case 2 · checked 16 September 2026Gerald's request not to be left alone with MaxAmy Lyddiard's account shows that Gerald feared the private encounter before his death, turning Max's visit from a routine literary engagement into evidence of a concealed personal history.
Clue source: detailed episode synopsis ↗Verified decisive clue
Archive case 2 · checked 17 September 2026The Antalya photograph Honoria tried to hideThe folded ship-newsletter photograph shows Ralph Lyddiard with Gerald Hadleigh in Turkey and matches the autobiographical trail in Max Jennings's novel. Honoria's attempt to conceal it identifies the connection that took her back to Gerald's house, where his account of Ralph provoked the killing.
Verified red herring
Archive case 2 · checked 17 September 2026Brian Clapper's unexplained late-night visitBrian lies about staying in bed and is seen outside Gerald's house after midnight, making his movements look relevant to the murder. His concealed purpose is voyeurism rather than killing Gerald, so the lie is suspicious but not the solution.
Verified death and discovery order
Archive case 2 · checked 16 September 2026- deathGerald Hadleigh is killed
Honoria Lyddiard kills Gerald after he discloses his relationship with her late brother.
- discoveryThe housekeeper finds Gerald
Gerald's body is found in his bedroom the morning after the writers' meeting.
- deathMax Jennings is poisoned
Honoria kills Max to stop him exposing her responsibility for Gerald's murder.
- discoveryMax is recovered
Max is found dead away from the village, extending the inquiry beyond Gerald's house.
Real place → fictional identity
Where was Written in Blood filmed?
St John the Baptist Church
Used as: The church doubles as the parish church of fictional Midsomer Worthy.
Sources accompany the identified filming places.
Wider filming areas
