Trama

Barnaby begins to think the damning evidence he helped provide to convict a murderess wasn't exactly as watertight as it first looked.

When Tom Barnaby has his constable sit in on the murder trial of Annie Woodrow, the reports he gets back start him thinking that he may have made a mistake in assuming Annie's guilt. She is all-but-assured to be convicted of bludgeoning to death of an old school friend, as a reliable eye-witness puts her at the scene, and she was caught in a web of lies when questioned. But Tom feels that things don't really add up, so he and his constable keep investigating as the trial proceeds.—Ron Kerrigan <mvg@whidbey.com>

While preparing to testify in the trial of Annie Woodrow, whom he arrested for the murder of old friend Frances Trevelyan, Barnaby starts doubting after the victim's kid daughter states believing 'nice aunt' innocent, and reexamines the case with Jones, especially after friendly psychiatrist Pru Plunkett accepts to testify the profile doesn't fit. Annie was believed insanely jealous, even stalking Frances's husband. The eye witness account of crone relative Tanya Cramner is questioned too late, but Barnaby comes to suspect Jamie Cramner, who cheated her and sold antiques to a dodgy pop impresario. Jones is up for promotion to sergeant, which he earns setting up a trap for the alternative suspect.—KGF Vissers

Nearly a year after arresting Annie Woodrow for the murder of Frances Trevelyan, DCI Barnaby and DC Jones attend her trial. Annie and Frances were old friends dating back to their school days and she vehemently denies having anything to do with her death. The Crown alleges she was infatuated with Frances' husband John and was in fact stalking him. As the trial begins, Barnaby begins to doubt the woman's guilt and he and Jones continue to make discreet inquiries in the case. Pru Plunkett, an old friend of Barnaby's and a forensic psychiatrist who knows Annie very well, tells him that Annie was planning to move to London. He re-examines the evidence.—garykmcd