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Richard Jury #8
I Am the Only Running Footman
The garroting death of a young woman near Berkeley Square may be connected to the year-old murder of another woman, a connection that leads Superintendent Richard Jury to look for a sinister stranger who might be planning another killing
314 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
328 people are currently reading
800 people want to read
About the author
Martha Grimes
114 books1,454 followersMartha Grimes is an American author of detective fiction.
She was born May 2 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to D.W., a city solicitor, and to June, who owned the Mountain Lake Hotel in Western Maryland where Martha and her brother spent much of their childhood. Grimes earned her B.A. and M.A. at the University of Maryland. She has taught at the University of Iowa, Frostburg State University, and Montgomery College.
Grimes is best known for her series of novels featuring Richard Jury, an inspector with Scotland Yard, and his friend Melrose Plant, a British aristocrat who has given up his titles. Each of the Jury mysteries is named after a pub. Her page-turning, character-driven tales fall into the mystery subdivision of "cozies." In 1983, Grimes received the Nero Wolfe Award for best mystery of the year for The Anodyne Necklace.
The background to Hotel Paradise is drawn on the experiences she enjoyed spending summers at her mother's hotel in Mountain Lake Park, Maryland. One of the characters, Mr Britain, is drawn on Britten Leo Martin, Sr, who then ran Marti's Store which he owned with his father and brother. Martin's Store is accessible by a short walkway from Mountain Lake, the site of the former Hotel, which was torn down in 1967.
She splits her time between homes in Washington, D.C., and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
She was born May 2 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to D.W., a city solicitor, and to June, who owned the Mountain Lake Hotel in Western Maryland where Martha and her brother spent much of their childhood. Grimes earned her B.A. and M.A. at the University of Maryland. She has taught at the University of Iowa, Frostburg State University, and Montgomery College.
Grimes is best known for her series of novels featuring Richard Jury, an inspector with Scotland Yard, and his friend Melrose Plant, a British aristocrat who has given up his titles. Each of the Jury mysteries is named after a pub. Her page-turning, character-driven tales fall into the mystery subdivision of "cozies." In 1983, Grimes received the Nero Wolfe Award for best mystery of the year for The Anodyne Necklace.
The background to Hotel Paradise is drawn on the experiences she enjoyed spending summers at her mother's hotel in Mountain Lake Park, Maryland. One of the characters, Mr Britain, is drawn on Britten Leo Martin, Sr, who then ran Marti's Store which he owned with his father and brother. Martin's Store is accessible by a short walkway from Mountain Lake, the site of the former Hotel, which was torn down in 1967.
She splits her time between homes in Washington, D.C., and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
March 13, 2014
Very disappointed in this one; the story never really came together, and the ending was so disjointed I read it twice and was still confused. I have absolutely no idea how anything in this book was related to anything else. I hope they get better after this.
January 1, 2010
I think I am in an abusive relationship with this series. Every time, I am disappointed, but I keep going back, because I see potential & hope for change, but it doesn't happen. This book was ok. I was excited for the return of Malcavie, but he was underused. There were too many tangents that had nothing to do with anything (Mrs. Wasserman, the Wereboys family, Vivian's absentee fiance) & there aren't really substantial clues to the murder, it is just all summed up at the end, as if a light bulb suddenly went of in Jury's head. Melrose Plant was even underused in this book. The lack of Agatha was good, but there isn't any real character development in this series so far. Grimes hints at it with Jury, it's really just a tease. I guess that is her way of dragging the series out to 20 volumes or so. This would probably be more of a 2 1/2 than a 3 if I could do that.
May 29, 2020
I love the Richard Jury series with its host of playful, witty, charming men and some snotty characters but this one didn't live up to the usual standard which makes it such a good series. I frankly got lost in it. Listening to Steve West is always such a treat and it's a shame this book didn't do his performance justice.
I intend to read the next one in the series because I so love Jury, Melrose, Wiggins, Macalvie, and even the cat Cyril. Not to mention dear aunt Agatha that everyone loves to hate. Well, I dearly hope it won't be as disappointing as this one nor end on some kind of a limbo that leaves you wondering if you're still reading the same book or got its last pages got cut-out.
I intend to read the next one in the series because I so love Jury, Melrose, Wiggins, Macalvie, and even the cat Cyril. Not to mention dear aunt Agatha that everyone loves to hate. Well, I dearly hope it won't be as disappointing as this one nor end on some kind of a limbo that leaves you wondering if you're still reading the same book or got its last pages got cut-out.
September 26, 2014
A horribly abrupt ending yet again and a plot that was really hard to follow. I was very confused as to how a lot if the conclusions were made and wondered at several points if I had missed some pages.
The high points included the comic antics of the Innkeepers named Warboys and Carol Anne. I really like Jury, Plant and the other recurring characters and hope they are included more.
Hopefully, the next book improves because the last 2 have really sucked!
The high points included the comic antics of the Innkeepers named Warboys and Carol Anne. I really like Jury, Plant and the other recurring characters and hope they are included more.
Hopefully, the next book improves because the last 2 have really sucked!
October 23, 2017
Although I'm still enjoying this series I have two complaints about the last couple of installments.
One is an issue that frequently comes up as I get further into a series: editing and continuity. A change in eye color, a business card that gets picked up again though it should still be in a character's hand. These things pull me out of the story - especially a mystery, where all the little details could matter.
The other issue is the endings. Though we find out who the killer is and even discover their motives, Grimes has switched to artsy endings that create a cliff-hanger quality. In the last installment, that meant several people getting injured in the final pages and their faces are not expounded upon here. It serves to leave the reader in a state of lingering dissatisfaction, crying out for an epilogue to bring the case to a proper close.
Despite these annoyances, I still derive pleasure from following Jury, Wiggins, Plant (underused), and even Macalvie as they unwind the tangles. I only hope in the future we get more insight into the after-effects of things.
One is an issue that frequently comes up as I get further into a series: editing and continuity. A change in eye color, a business card that gets picked up again though it should still be in a character's hand. These things pull me out of the story - especially a mystery, where all the little details could matter.
The other issue is the endings. Though we find out who the killer is and even discover their motives, Grimes has switched to artsy endings that create a cliff-hanger quality. In the last installment, that meant several people getting injured in the final pages and their faces are not expounded upon here. It serves to leave the reader in a state of lingering dissatisfaction, crying out for an epilogue to bring the case to a proper close.
Despite these annoyances, I still derive pleasure from following Jury, Wiggins, Plant (underused), and even Macalvie as they unwind the tangles. I only hope in the future we get more insight into the after-effects of things.
April 21, 2021
Taking five days to finish the 206 pages of “I Am The Only Running Footman” and after only two months, needing to scan someone’s review to recall the plots, signals that Martha Grimes phoned it in. It is my least favourite, in rare agreement with the majority. I gave it three stars, the same as others that were better. It stretched upwards, for Martha’s skill at sketching a wide range of personalities. She floats subtle, natural humour through serious subjects and above all, we have come to love the main crew. The most hastily penned outing comprises Martha’s hallmark strengths.
No external characters are likeable or memorable and they are in superfluity. The Winslows cast no sense of age. David Marr, boyfriend of a victim, has an alibi from his sister, Marion. Her poet son, Edward, another suspect, feels like the same age. Not present are his ex-wife, Rose and an 8 year-old sister, Phoebe; recently killed by a car.
Sheila Broome died in Brian Macalvie’s area of England and Ivy Childress in Richard Jury’s. Both families are interviewed. Other scenes hang perilously on weather newscaster, Dolly Sands and her sister Kate; inadequately explained and added too late to affect the tone. I do recall feeling that this 1986 novel portended today’s emphasis placed on fooling readers, at the expense of poorer storytelling. I am disinterested in twists. I seek excellent mysteries.
The only part I enjoyed is Alfred’s fascination with a new age shop. The novel grinds to a halt on the beach, with no reaction or discussion. I could work out a motive for targeting three ladies. However, whether it was due to resembling someone, witnessing, or having an unintentional hand in a past hurt; it was unclear and weak. That is no way to leave a story.
No external characters are likeable or memorable and they are in superfluity. The Winslows cast no sense of age. David Marr, boyfriend of a victim, has an alibi from his sister, Marion. Her poet son, Edward, another suspect, feels like the same age. Not present are his ex-wife, Rose and an 8 year-old sister, Phoebe; recently killed by a car.
Sheila Broome died in Brian Macalvie’s area of England and Ivy Childress in Richard Jury’s. Both families are interviewed. Other scenes hang perilously on weather newscaster, Dolly Sands and her sister Kate; inadequately explained and added too late to affect the tone. I do recall feeling that this 1986 novel portended today’s emphasis placed on fooling readers, at the expense of poorer storytelling. I am disinterested in twists. I seek excellent mysteries.
The only part I enjoyed is Alfred’s fascination with a new age shop. The novel grinds to a halt on the beach, with no reaction or discussion. I could work out a motive for targeting three ladies. However, whether it was due to resembling someone, witnessing, or having an unintentional hand in a past hurt; it was unclear and weak. That is no way to leave a story.
January 27, 2011
This book did not connect with me. I found it to be disjointed and had a hard time maintaining interest. I liked the Richard Jury character (it's the first Jury mystery I've read), Wiggins, and Jury's neighbors in the one scene in which they appear; the other characters not so much. There are no spoilers in this review, because, candidly, I'm not sure "who done it." I guess I could go back and re-read the last chapter or so to try to figure it out, but I don't think I care enough.
April 30, 2023
I'm happy to say that Brain Macalvie is back. 'I Am The Only Running Footman' is another book in the Richard Jury series.
I love the supporting characters in this series. From Racer, Cyril the cat, and Fiona at Scotland Yard to Carol Ann and Mrs. Wassermann at Jury apartments to Agatha, Trueblood, and Vivian in Long Piddleton.
They have such distinct voices and personalities. I sometimes think I love these books for them alone.
That being said let tell you how much I love Richard Jury. He has such an intelligent persona that he just makes you believe he will solve the case.
More great characters in this book were the Warboys family that ran the inn Melrose was staying in. They brought great comic moments with their pent-up violence.
All in all another great mystery for Martha Grimes, and a great treat for her fans.
I love the supporting characters in this series. From Racer, Cyril the cat, and Fiona at Scotland Yard to Carol Ann and Mrs. Wassermann at Jury apartments to Agatha, Trueblood, and Vivian in Long Piddleton.
They have such distinct voices and personalities. I sometimes think I love these books for them alone.
That being said let tell you how much I love Richard Jury. He has such an intelligent persona that he just makes you believe he will solve the case.
More great characters in this book were the Warboys family that ran the inn Melrose was staying in. They brought great comic moments with their pent-up violence.
All in all another great mystery for Martha Grimes, and a great treat for her fans.
August 11, 2016
I love the Richard Jury series but this one confused the heck out of me. I seriously don't think I would have kept reading except I love the main characters: Jury, Wiggins, Plant.
However, where was Plant? Sort of underused, imo. Wiggins was great, as always and the semi-regular character, Macalvie was his usual arrogant self. Jury also had a new love interest? Somewhat. But the story sort of meandered all over and I honestly can't tell who did it or why. It just sort of ended and a character who was a bit minor was the culprit.
I don't think I've included spoilers, just my general disappointment. I still like Martha Grimes' writing style: witty, succinctly descriptive, great dialogue. But I am lost as to what happened why, when and where.
And I am a reader of mysteries.
However, where was Plant? Sort of underused, imo. Wiggins was great, as always and the semi-regular character, Macalvie was his usual arrogant self. Jury also had a new love interest? Somewhat. But the story sort of meandered all over and I honestly can't tell who did it or why. It just sort of ended and a character who was a bit minor was the culprit.
I don't think I've included spoilers, just my general disappointment. I still like Martha Grimes' writing style: witty, succinctly descriptive, great dialogue. But I am lost as to what happened why, when and where.
And I am a reader of mysteries.
September 24, 2019
I had a hard time keeping everyone straight in this book, probably due to reading while travelling for a long weekend!
September 20, 2020
Another frustrating ending - the murderer was revealed in the last three very very short paragraphs of the book - and, BOOM, the story ended. There was, literally, no wrap-up! The book was also slow reading with a convoluted and plodding plot filled with confusing relationships among the characters and murder investigation.
In February a young woman named Sheila Broome is found along side the road near Devon strangled by her own scarf. Divisional Commander Brian Macalvie (introduced in the previous book) is in charge of the investigation.
In December another young woman is found strangled by her own scarf in London near a pub called I Am the Only Running Footman. Her name is Ivy Childress, and Scotland Yard's Richard Jury is summoned by Chief Superintendent Racer to the scene to investigate. Are the two cases related - is there a serial killer on the loose? Macalvie is convinced the two deaths are connected, but Jury has nothing to tie them together except the scarves.
The prime suspect in the second murder is Ivy's wealthy and shiftless boyfriend, David Marr. The plot gets a little confusing when Melrose Plant visits the St. Clair family to see what he can scope out about David Marr. Lucinda St. Clair, who is enamored by David Marr, introduces Plant to David and the Winslow family. Hugh and Marion Winslow had an 8 year old daughter named Phoebe who died when she ran into the road and was killed by a car. They soon separated after her death. Marion is David Marr's sister and provides an alibi for him (or does she?). Edward Winslow (who is sometimes called Ned which took me awhile to figure out that the two were the same person) is Phoebe's brother and he had a wife named Rose who ran away. Edward/Ned has written a book of poetry which figures into the plot.
A kind of humorous subplot involves Plant staying at an Inn called Mortal Man and run by the awkward and bumbling Warboys family. The author seems to always have children involved in her stories and in this one there are two. One is the dead Phoebe and the other is William Warboys and his dog Osmond who likes to latch onto legs. William carries around a notebook where he is writing a mystery story and seeks advise from Plant.
Another subplot is about Kate and her sister Dolly Sands who is a weather girl on TV. She seems to be in trouble and wants to move back home with Kate. The murderer also has an interest in her because of something she may have seen.
Returning characters include hypochondriac Detective Sergeant Alfred Wiggins whom Macalvie has taken a liking to; Carole-anne Palutski, Jury's up-stairs neighbor, who adds more comic relief and whom Jury may have found a job for; and Mrs. Wassermann who has the basement flat in Jury's building and is beginning to venture outside due to Carole-anne. Susan Bredon-Hunt is Jury's lady friend whom Carole-anne leaves steaming when she pays a visit to Jury's apartment when Susan is there.
The 1st two books in the series I gave four stars, the next five I gave three stars, and now this one I gave two stars (really two and a half). I hope this pattern shifts and begins climbing again. If nothing else, I would like to see more of Melrose Plant and Wiggins along with Macalvie in the future. There were a couple of red herrings, and this edition included a map of the pubs the author has written about in her books thus far. A so-so read.
In February a young woman named Sheila Broome is found along side the road near Devon strangled by her own scarf. Divisional Commander Brian Macalvie (introduced in the previous book) is in charge of the investigation.
In December another young woman is found strangled by her own scarf in London near a pub called I Am the Only Running Footman. Her name is Ivy Childress, and Scotland Yard's Richard Jury is summoned by Chief Superintendent Racer to the scene to investigate. Are the two cases related - is there a serial killer on the loose? Macalvie is convinced the two deaths are connected, but Jury has nothing to tie them together except the scarves.
The prime suspect in the second murder is Ivy's wealthy and shiftless boyfriend, David Marr. The plot gets a little confusing when Melrose Plant visits the St. Clair family to see what he can scope out about David Marr. Lucinda St. Clair, who is enamored by David Marr, introduces Plant to David and the Winslow family. Hugh and Marion Winslow had an 8 year old daughter named Phoebe who died when she ran into the road and was killed by a car. They soon separated after her death. Marion is David Marr's sister and provides an alibi for him (or does she?). Edward Winslow (who is sometimes called Ned which took me awhile to figure out that the two were the same person) is Phoebe's brother and he had a wife named Rose who ran away. Edward/Ned has written a book of poetry which figures into the plot.
A kind of humorous subplot involves Plant staying at an Inn called Mortal Man and run by the awkward and bumbling Warboys family. The author seems to always have children involved in her stories and in this one there are two. One is the dead Phoebe and the other is William Warboys and his dog Osmond who likes to latch onto legs. William carries around a notebook where he is writing a mystery story and seeks advise from Plant.
Another subplot is about Kate and her sister Dolly Sands who is a weather girl on TV. She seems to be in trouble and wants to move back home with Kate. The murderer also has an interest in her because of something she may have seen.
Returning characters include hypochondriac Detective Sergeant Alfred Wiggins whom Macalvie has taken a liking to; Carole-anne Palutski, Jury's up-stairs neighbor, who adds more comic relief and whom Jury may have found a job for; and Mrs. Wassermann who has the basement flat in Jury's building and is beginning to venture outside due to Carole-anne. Susan Bredon-Hunt is Jury's lady friend whom Carole-anne leaves steaming when she pays a visit to Jury's apartment when Susan is there.
The 1st two books in the series I gave four stars, the next five I gave three stars, and now this one I gave two stars (really two and a half). I hope this pattern shifts and begins climbing again. If nothing else, I would like to see more of Melrose Plant and Wiggins along with Macalvie in the future. There were a couple of red herrings, and this edition included a map of the pubs the author has written about in her books thus far. A so-so read.
August 28, 2018
This one was a bit confusing to me. I listened to it at home, commuting and while at work so maybe I missed some details, but I had to re-listen to the last fifth of the book again because the ending didn't make much sense to me. I'm not sure whether it's me or the story that is off. Okay, I know I'm a bit off, but is it all just me? Anyone else confused? What's the deal with Jury's new ill-suited girlfriend? It seemed an odd addition that could have been taken out of the story for the better. Granted each story we learn a bit more about Jury and about what makes him who he is and what kind of person he really is, but this just seemed off. The beautiful but dodgy neighbor who hangs about his apartment is entertaining and played a part in the last novel, though we wonder why Jury lets her take so many liberties.
Maybe I missed some detail in the beginning of the story that would have made the story make more sense, but everything seemed just off kilter to me.
Maybe I missed some detail in the beginning of the story that would have made the story make more sense, but everything seemed just off kilter to me.
September 27, 2018
tip: Edward is also called Ned. That's a critical bit of information I forgot.
I'm reading reviews to try to figure out what happened in this book.
I enjoy this series and have read most of them. I missed this one. I'm glad I did not read it early on because there isn't much investigating and Jury makes two intuitive leaps that seem to come out of nowhere.
I listened to the whole book again to discover what I missed the first time around. This is not a chore because Steve West's narration is wonderful. I love his voice.
I love the scenes and character development but the mystery didn't work for me. But I really do love how Martha Grimes fills in the scenes. I love how she writes about dogs and children, even if she wanders into a rarefied world. That's why it's 4 stars for me.
I bet her own dogs are delightfully spoiled and respected.
I'm reading reviews to try to figure out what happened in this book.
I enjoy this series and have read most of them. I missed this one. I'm glad I did not read it early on because there isn't much investigating and Jury makes two intuitive leaps that seem to come out of nowhere.
I listened to the whole book again to discover what I missed the first time around. This is not a chore because Steve West's narration is wonderful. I love his voice.
I love the scenes and character development but the mystery didn't work for me. But I really do love how Martha Grimes fills in the scenes. I love how she writes about dogs and children, even if she wanders into a rarefied world. That's why it's 4 stars for me.
I bet her own dogs are delightfully spoiled and respected.
December 12, 2015
This probably the first Martha Grimes book that I struggled to finish. Normally I cant put her books down but I had to restart this one several times. The plot is confusing and a tad dare i say it predictable not a word that i use to describe her plots very often. I loved wiggins and carol anne but there was a severe lack of Melrose Plant, my favorite character. A rare missfor a great writer.
July 28, 2018
I love the RJ series for its wonderfully quirky and humorous characters and for its intelligent side factors. How many of you looked up the Robert Browning poem several times referred to in this story? To fully appreciate Martha Grimes, you must pursue her extra details yourself. Otherwise, you're not giving Martha full credit for her ingenious work!!! Google that poem right now!!!! It is unbelievable; and Robert Browning, who'da thought!!! And the link to the story!!! Anyway, I had trouble with Running Footman; I was confused in the beginning; it was disjointed, and I plodded along annoyed, until, as it developed and toward the end, I started to again enjoy and be amazed at the convoluted links to the story, (I even drew a story/family tree with arrows and notes to try to grasp all that was going on--- and DECIDED that this might be the best Richard Jury I have ever read! I want to discuss it with other people who have read it, namely Dianne and Jack, but don't want to give assignments to my friends, because who wants a friend who gives you work to do!!!!! But yes, do not judge Martha Grimes lightly. At least with her Richard Jury Series, she is not just a mystery writer; she is a brilliant mystery writer.
July 13, 2021
Gemächlich erzählte Handlung mit den typischen Undurchsichtigkeiten, aber ohne genug humoristische Garnitur durch Long Piddleton und seine Bewohner.
March 7, 2020
Great mood, character development, and mystery.
June 20, 2015
I found the whole thing confusing. Too many groups of people, all with weird quirks, described in loving detail. I had a hard time keeping them straight, I had a hard time seeing how they all tied together. And the end wasn't very satisfying. I"m not sure who died, if anyone.
If I was just reading it for clever wordplay and descriptions, it was great.
If I was just reading it for clever wordplay and descriptions, it was great.
April 4, 2010
I thought someone had torn out pages at the end (or a whole chapter??) It ended rather abruptly with no explanations or tying up loose ends. This is my 3rd attempt at Martha Grimes. I gave it a good shot, but that's it for me.
January 6, 2019
Thank goodness for the Mortal Man and the Warboys antics that made this book more palpable.
Two women are strangled with their scarves 9 months apart. Are they connected? Is there a serial killer? A very far fetched ending. I do love Jury, Plant, and Wiggins, so I’ll continue.
Two women are strangled with their scarves 9 months apart. Are they connected? Is there a serial killer? A very far fetched ending. I do love Jury, Plant, and Wiggins, so I’ll continue.
April 14, 2017
Confusing, underdeveloped.
February 27, 2015
Having just finished Middlemarch, I felt the need for a short, light, quick read to give myself a change of pace. Well, Martha Grimes' Richard Jury mysteries usually fill that bill and I've been slowly reading my way through them, so I decided to pick up the next one in the series, I am the Only Running Footman. It was indeed a quick read, but that's just about the only praise I can give it.
What was the woman thinking? Her writing is usually pretty crisp and flows smoothly, but this book, published in 1986, was confused and disjointed in its plotting. I had a hard time maintaining interest and it was a struggle just to finish it. If it hadn't been so short, perhaps I wouldn't have. Really, the book had the feeling of having been cobbled together with leftover ideas from other plots and they didn't hang together very well at all.
This book again features Macalvie, the obsessive but brilliant policeman who was introduced in the last book. He's an attractive character, but I don't know why Grimes stuck him in this story because she barely used him.
The same might be said of Melrose Plant, Superintendent Richard Jury's friend from the provinces who frequently assists the police with their inquiries. He's present but hardly heard from.
We do hear quite a lot from Sgt. Wiggins who, in spite of his annoying hypochondria, is presented as an invaluable assistant to Jury and an empathetic interviewer for crime victims and their families.
The mystery here involves the murder of two women. The first one was killed on Macalvie's patch and he was unable to solve the crime which rankles him. Almost a year later, another young woman is killed in a similar manner in Mayfair and Jury is assigned to that case. Soon the two cases are melded and Jury starts looking for connections between the two victims.
He eventually finds a possible link to a very close-knit family, a member of whom had been involved romantically with the Mayfair victim. That person has an alibi, though it seems a bit flimsy. But what could be the motive? The key to the mystery lies in the family's tragic past, but will Jury ever be able to make the connections?
On the list of things that annoyed me about this book, number one is the abrupt ending. Jury finally has one of his patented epiphanies and supposedly figures the whole thing out, but I read the ending twice and I'm still not sure what happened or which of two characters was the perpetrator. Moreover, I did not see any real clues sprinkled throughout the narrative and that's just not playing fair. Oh, for the days, when Hercule Poirot gathered everyone together in the library and laid it all out for us, step by step, leaving no confusion.
I won't give up on this series, yet. I do like the characters of Jury and Wiggins, and especially Cyril the cat who inhabits the offices of Jury's superior, to his enormous irritation. But I'm going to take a rest from it for awhile and I certainly hope Grimes picks up her game with the next entry.
What was the woman thinking? Her writing is usually pretty crisp and flows smoothly, but this book, published in 1986, was confused and disjointed in its plotting. I had a hard time maintaining interest and it was a struggle just to finish it. If it hadn't been so short, perhaps I wouldn't have. Really, the book had the feeling of having been cobbled together with leftover ideas from other plots and they didn't hang together very well at all.
This book again features Macalvie, the obsessive but brilliant policeman who was introduced in the last book. He's an attractive character, but I don't know why Grimes stuck him in this story because she barely used him.
The same might be said of Melrose Plant, Superintendent Richard Jury's friend from the provinces who frequently assists the police with their inquiries. He's present but hardly heard from.
We do hear quite a lot from Sgt. Wiggins who, in spite of his annoying hypochondria, is presented as an invaluable assistant to Jury and an empathetic interviewer for crime victims and their families.
The mystery here involves the murder of two women. The first one was killed on Macalvie's patch and he was unable to solve the crime which rankles him. Almost a year later, another young woman is killed in a similar manner in Mayfair and Jury is assigned to that case. Soon the two cases are melded and Jury starts looking for connections between the two victims.
He eventually finds a possible link to a very close-knit family, a member of whom had been involved romantically with the Mayfair victim. That person has an alibi, though it seems a bit flimsy. But what could be the motive? The key to the mystery lies in the family's tragic past, but will Jury ever be able to make the connections?
On the list of things that annoyed me about this book, number one is the abrupt ending. Jury finally has one of his patented epiphanies and supposedly figures the whole thing out, but I read the ending twice and I'm still not sure what happened or which of two characters was the perpetrator. Moreover, I did not see any real clues sprinkled throughout the narrative and that's just not playing fair. Oh, for the days, when Hercule Poirot gathered everyone together in the library and laid it all out for us, step by step, leaving no confusion.
I won't give up on this series, yet. I do like the characters of Jury and Wiggins, and especially Cyril the cat who inhabits the offices of Jury's superior, to his enormous irritation. But I'm going to take a rest from it for awhile and I certainly hope Grimes picks up her game with the next entry.
June 23, 2019
Another abrupt ending, and this time SO abrupt that it isn't immediately clear who the murderer is. I listened to the audiobook, so perhaps re-reading would help. I'm hoping that the Jury books improve. Her first 6 were so good. Perhaps the editor forced a page limit? Grimes' writing isn't the problem at all--it's these complex plots that are not resolved. It's one thing to "artistically" leave a plot/plot points unresolved. But (1) why do this in a beloved mystery series and (2) it's very tricky to pull off. Grimes does not succeed in this novel nor her previous one with this tricky type of denouement.
June 28, 2012
These books look like they'd be cosy mysteries but they're definitely not. They're intelligent and well written with wit and characters you can see take shape regardless of where in the series you begin. By the end you expect to be told whodunit but it's not always clear and this is one of those. After reading four of them I was astonished to read that the author is American. She writes so realistically of London it is hard to believe.
February 28, 2009
Awful awful awful
September 23, 2017
I have no idea what happened in this book. Extremely confusing and then it just ended!
May 22, 2019
Rip off. Pronouns unreferred do not make a mystery make.
August 13, 2019
Martha Grimes is not my favourite author because I can't get past the form of her stories. Nevertheless, this one went well. The two murders, a distance apart, only come together once Jury and witnesses begin to match them up. Macalvie doesn't like some similarities, nether does Jury but it's hard to tie together a women strangled in rural Devon and one strangled in Mayfair. Jury interviews everyone, believes very little, finds some facts, interviews them all again, and carries on. It all happens in the snow of Christmas time and it begins to sound as if there will be more deaths if the solution isn't found quickly.
January 17, 2021
Martha Grimes builds interesting characters and the setting glistens, but many times too many red herrings creep into the narrative. Blonde women of a certain appearance have been strangled and many police division stumble along attempting to find the killer. Enter the stage with Richard Jury and his cast of detectives. Before the killer can strangle Dolly, Jury and his crew of amateur detectives discover the killer’s identity. The reader learns about many English pubs and food and spirits and the minor personality traits of the characters: Fiona, the secretary of Chief Superintendent Racer, the devilish cat Cyril, the hypochondriac Sergeant Alfred Wiggins, and many others. What baffled me dealt with a character named Ned and also called Edward. Why this difference? The detail provides a better picture, but at times teeters at too much description.
October 13, 2022
Re-reading Richard Jury (but in my mind, they're actually Melrose Plant) mysteries. Great stories, fab ambiance. Added bonus--nostalgia!
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