Page 65 of Murder in the Family

Subject:Favour?

Hi Barry,

Saw you came second in the national championships again Still impressed you can find the time for all that training when you have the job and everything else. But I guess cycling is no hardship in Sydney weather. Anyway, I’m sure you remember me mentioning I’d be doing this Showrunner thing. Turns out there’s an Aussie angle and one of my colleagues would appreciate some help from someone on the ground. If you have time, I’d really appreciate it. I’m sure you know what I’m getting at.

Laila

Date:Sun 23/04/2023, 23.42

From:Barry Bonnett

To:Laila Furness

Subject:Re: Favour?

Hi Laila,

Yeah, pretty happy with coming second, I have to say – a podium placing’s always good. Not bad for an old guy, eh? I’ve got the boys hooked as well now – Stephen’s shaping up pretty well and yes, still breaking the hearts of half the female population of UNSW.

(I’m imagining you shaking your head at this point and saying something about chips and old blocks )

He says hello btw and a belated thanks for his Chrimbo present.

And yes, no worries, send your mate my way. Happy to give him a hand, and don’t worry, I’ll make sure he doesn’t go poking round where he isn’t wanted.

I’ll keep you posted.

Baz

Episode two

Broadcast

October 6

The Times,7 October 2023

TELEVISION

The real housewives of W8

Angst, adultery and affluence make for a compelling cocktail

ROSS LESLIE

Infamous: Who Killed Luke Ryder?

Showrunner

Close to Home

Crimetime TV UK

I suspect last night’s episode ofInfamouswould have made distinctly uncomfortable viewing in certain quarters of the Met. As far as I know this is the first time it’s been made public that the police arrested a man at the crime scene that night. He was never charged, he was a local journalist, and he was black. And yes, he did have a small quantity of drugs in his car, but there was no forensic evidence linking him to the crime. Certainly nothing to justify six hours of hostile police interrogation. I’m sure we’d all like to think we’ve moved on, but you only have to read the news to know that good old-fashioned racial profiling is alive and well.

Aside from that, the chief pleasure on offer last night (though it was admittedly a guilty one) was the chance to eavesdrop on the everyday trials and treacheries of the well-heeled set who cluster round Campden Hill, where Luke Ryder was living at the time of his death. They say money doesn’t buy happiness; they also say the rich are different. On this showing, they’re right on both counts. Though whether any of this was relevant to what happened to Ryder remains to be seen. Watch this space.

Meanwhile, in drama-land, we’re back in England’s most murderous city withClose to Home, a new series set in Oxford. But we are very far from the golden quads and genteel crime-as-a-crossword world of Inspector Morse. In