The Dirty Duck

Richard Jury #4

by Martha Grimes

"Nothing ever happens in Stratford," insisted Superintendent Richard Jury of Scotland Yard. Unfortunately, he was wrong. Besides the stage murders commited nightly at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, a real one had been performed not far from the Dirty Duck, a popular pub. The victim had been a member of an exclusive group too: Those rare homicidal maniacs compelled to leave an intentional clue - in this case, a fragment of Elizabethan verse.

Now a nine-year old boy from the same tour had vanished and Jury was worried. For, if the killer intended to finish the rhyme, would it spell death for Stratford with each new line?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, British Literature, Mystery Thriller, Detective

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1984

About the author

Martha 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.

Reviews

[Adina · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and funny read with a bit more blood and less coziness this time.

The A-team, Superintendent Richard Jury of Scotland Yard and the untitled lord Merlose Plant have to deal with what seems to be a serial killer. A cultured one, who leaves behind snippets of Elizabethan poetry. I enjoyed this volume more than the previous one i am looking forward to reading the 5th in the series. Martha Grimes is slowly becoming one of my favourite crime writers.

[Sarah Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth in the series. I am listening to them and they are addictive. The characters are fun and quirky and there are those you just love to hate like Aunt Agatha, lock up your valuables Plant!
Richard Jury and his friend solve yet another fascinating mystery with yet another smart kid that the reader likes and grows fond of. The kid dragging the jello eating cat all over was great!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happened? Did Martha Grimes receive a stern talking-to from her editor, telling her to make her books more "edgy"? The tone of this book is so different from the others I've read. It was strange. It was, for lack of a better word, vulgar. Disemboweling, incest, porn, prostitution....where is my refined murder lol? Someone hit on the head with a fireplace poker while in their quaint thatched roof cottage?

When the plot wasn't channeling a Tennessee Williams play interpreted & staged by Larry Flynt, it was a fun book to read. I've got 2 more I have found over the years while thrift shopping so I will read those and see what happens. Hmmmm.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book in the Richard Jury series is set in Shakespeare's hometown.
The characters are part of a tour group from America, who are being killed one by one. My favorite part of this one, is the reasons behind the killings, you can't miss with good old fashion revenge.
Melrose Plant is once again on the scene as well, it is interesting how the author contrives to bring him into the mysteries, even though he is not Jury partner, or working for the Yard.
The friendship between these two men is strange at times, they work together on the cases, but you don't get scenes where they are really talking, about something other then the case. I am not sure if the author does this to create curiosity, or she simply wishes those scenes off the page.
I am anxious to continue in this series to learn.

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oftentimes, series take a decade to piece together. In 2017, I finally tried several débuts I owned. Newly acquired “The Man With A Load Of Mischief” got 3 stars, “The Old Fox Deceiv’d” leaped to a fully enthralled 5 stars, and “The Anodyne Necklace” hit 4 stars. 1984’s “The Dirty Duck” just missed 5 stars. It was a pleasure in originality, humour, and pace. The desire surged to suggest that friends not covet new releases. There is a world of great authors as recent as the early 2000s, without benefit of internet advertizing, who are infinitely better. As I enjoyed this novel, it bothered me that few mystery-lovers are hearing of legends like the great Martha Grimes. My reviews will change this.

Mystery demands an intriguing presentation of traits but this authoress is never formulaic. I marvel at every novel being so different, with subjects of varying degrees of seriousness, and an entirely unique atmosphere and place. The overall back story guarantees originality and fandom. Richard Jury is a likeable police captain. Albert Wiggins is a professional partner but a hypochondriac, who always promises unintended humour. There is no greater source for whimsy, however, than from Melrose Plant. An earl disinterested in titles, he has time and compassion in spades to help.

A group touring Shakespeare territory loses three people to murder. One is not a relative. A missing boy and the cat keeping him company, are intelligent secondary narrators. I don’t know if plausible murder motives are scarce, or if I am hard to please but farfetched reasons for the crime spree lowered a star. If you resented something, you would make retribution close by. You would not wait a decade to strike on a bus tour overseas. Nevertheless, I can hardly restrain myself from devouring the next novel!

[Julie Durnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a most intriguing mystery, which I had partially solved, only to be quite surprised how it all tied together. Superintendent Richard Jury and his supercilious boss, Chief Superintendent Racer, the hypochondriac Detective Wiggins, Melrose Plant and his awful Aunt Agatha, make this series so enjoyable; but I think the characters of the children that pop up in each of the Jury series enrich the story immeasurably. A very well plotted story!

[Sandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

People from an American tourist group in England get killed and the same time a 9 year old boy disappears.

I was looking forward to this one. For one I liked the setting and I expected a cozy mystery novel a la Agatha Christie but I didn't get it. For one it was actually pretty gruesome, I didn't expect that at all.

I read the German translation so I'm not sure if that might have played a part in it but I didn't like the writing. Very odd dialogues and all these strange names didn't help to have a fluent read. And who on earth cares about the Story with Shakespeare and Marlowe? This is my first (and last book) from this series and also I had really trouble getting connected to the main characters. Mostly because there was no description or any type of backstory.

The story with the little boy was the only somewhat enjoyable part and I liked how it all came together at the end. But unfortunately one of these books where I was "fighting" my way trough (because it was so early in the year I didn't want to put a book on my dnf shelve already...).

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm limiting myself to one/month as I reread this series, hoping that by the time I finish, Grimes will have a new title. (I'll even take a stand-alone. I did love her titles about the publishing industry). Lovely frame here with the mystery started in Stratford, so lots of Shakespeare lines and plays, lines from an Elizabethan verse attached to the murder victims, and a surprising amount of information about Christopher Marlowe, whose plays I have always loved. Call me a happy camper. Best of all, very little time with Melrose Plant's Aunt Agatha, who makes me crazy. Lots of Jury and Plant and Wiggins even plays an important role in the midst of his allergies. As usual, there are children and she is always in fine form writing about them. Dastardly deeds, biting wit, series characters--even a mention of Thomas Kyd and revenge tragedies. What more could I ask?

[Albablume · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, consider me addicted to these series!

[Andria Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot more intense than the last few books by Martha Grimes. Richard Jury continues to capture my attention! 5 ⭐

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

What do murdered American tourists and a missing child have in common? Richard Jury is on the case to find out.

This series is very quick and fills my time.

3.4 stars

Happy Reading!

[Dyana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scotland Yard Superintendent Richard Jury goes to Stratford on Avon to see Jenny Kennington, a character from a previous novel that he is interested in. Women from an American touring group begin to be murdered - the first after a performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre which is near a tavern called the Dirty Duck. Left at the scene of each murder is a fragment of Elizabethan verse. Sergeant Sam Lasko of Stratford, a friend of Jury's, enlists him in helping find the murderer.

Martha Grimes always has children involved in her novels, and this time it's the adopted son and daughter of a rich American from the tour. James Carlton has vanished, and his sister Penny thinks there is foul play involved. Jury enlists his aristocratic friend Melrose Plant to help him on the cases. Once Jury is back in London his partner, Detective Sergeant Wiggins, the hypochondriac, helps with police procedure. The novel contains the requisite quirky characters. Slow reading and an odd ending. Not one of my favorites from the series.

[Abbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

#4 Superintendent Jury/Melrose Plant, Stratford-on-Avon, London; cosy police procedural. A group of wealthy touring Americans heads into deadly waters when they come to Shakespeare’s birthplace. As bodies and complexities in the case increase, Jury and Plant try to keep to the script, one as old as The Bard himself.

Overly broad caricatures of Yanks-at-play almost doomed this at the start, but the plotting was very good, with just enough hints given to maintain interest and keep things from seeming *too* simple-minded. Unfortunately one of the main themes was extremely similar to the previous book (young girl Jury befriends is in jeopardy!!) and that was annoying, but the many twists and the good pacing made up for it. Enjoyable, but only *just* this side of “precious”. Grimes needs to be careful or she’ll become a parody of herself, and that would be a shame.

Unfortunately, rumor has it that she only gets worse... “we’ll see...”

[Jane Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reason I enjoy Martha Grimes' Richard Jury Series is because I love her characters and actually miss them when I'm between books. Then, there's often a side topic that I learn about. In a later book, I learned about the theory behind Schroedinger's Cat, so when Sheldon mentions it on Big Bang, I proudly think,
"I know about Schroedinger's Cat; Martha Grimes taught me about it." In THIS Richard Jury mystery, Shakespeare and Marlowe are discussed, which makes me want to reread "A Dead Man in Deptford" by Anthony Burgess, again, to review the politics of Elizabethan times. So, I really enjoy Martha Grimes mysteries for her lovable characters and her interesting side issues. I really don't care much "who done it." I just float through the murders and enjoy the fun ride.

[Jazz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 STARS | As for the writing and humor, I enjoyed this Richard Jury mystery as much as the previous novels—until the very end. The motive didn't make a lot of sense for it to justify four murders. Two of them seemed fairly pointless to me, other than to throw the reader off the track. The ending was rushed and I had the feeling Grimes may have pulled it out of a hat at the last moment. However, I like the series too much to give it any less than three stars. And the setting in Stratford-on-Avon was captivating, especially when I looked up pictures online of the Dirty Duck pub, across the street from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. It's always a fun ride with Martha Grimes, even if this one ended a little less satisfactorily for me.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twisted tale of love, revenge and Shakespeare.

[Rick Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Major characters:

The Honeysuckle Tour group:

James Farraday Sr.
Amelia Blue Farraday, his southern belle wife
Honey Belle Farraday, their 17 year old daughter
Penny Farraday, their 15 year old daughter
Jimmy (James Jr.) Farraday, their wandering 9-year old son
Gwendolyn Bracegirdle
Lady Violet Dew, titled but earthy
Cyclamen Dew, her niece
George Cholmondelay, a legend in his own mind
Harvey Schoenberg, a nerdy computer enthusiast
Valentine Honeycutt, the tour leader

And...

Jonathan Schoenberg. Harvey's brother
Superintendent Richard Jury
Sergeant Lasko, Stratford police
Melrose Plant
Agatha Audry, Melrose's aunt
Vivian Rivington, Jury's old flame
Jenny Kennington, Jury's new flame?

Locale: Stratford, England

Synopsis: The Honeysuckle Tour group has descended upon Stratford to take in the Shakespearean atmosphere. First problem, 9-year old Jimmy Farraday wanders off somewhere and cannot be found. This is not too alarming, it seems he does this all the time; so after a couple of days(!) the family appeals the authorities for help.

Sergeant Lasko of the Stratford police asks Richard Jury speak to the Farradays unofficially to reassure them everything is being done to find Jimmy.

Meanwhile, one of the tour group, Gwendolyn Bracegirdle, goes for a walk at night and is found dead the next day. Beside the body is a program from As You Like It with a bit of obscure handwritten verse on it. In an effort to identify the poem, Jury consults with tour group member and computer nerd Harvey Schoenberg who is researching Elizabethan history, to no avail. Melrose Plant goes to the library and after a brief inquiry identifies the poem.

Additional deaths follow, each with a bit of the poem left with the body.

The story cuts away periodically to Jimmy, who is being held captive in a tower along with a cat.

Review: The murderer leaving bits of a poem with the body sure sounds Agatha Christie!

At first, it was unclear to me whether the accounts of Jimmy being held in the tower were real or just an account of Jimmy's imagination. (It turns out they are real). The Jimmy story line runs along totally independent of the tour group murders, although it does connect up at the end.

Lady Violet Dew seems too coarse to be believable (reading Hustler?)

A good read although it does delve into Elizabethan history a bit much.

[Midwest Geek · Rating 1 out of 5]

Having enjoyed the first 3 entries in the Richard Jury series to varying degrees (3- or 4-stars), this one was very disappointing. My rating is more like 1.5-stars, but I would not go so far as to say "it was ok" (2-stars). While there is a substantial murder mystery, and I did finish the book, but even in retrospect, the clues when introduced were so subtle that it was impossible to really utilize them to form a picture of the serial murderer or his/her motives. Like most police procedurals, the development of the investigation is rather slow, but the characters introduced along the way were by-and-large uninteresting and undeveloped. I generally agree with Jaksen's assessment, although his is more generous than mine. In fact, I would say that there are two important figures who are finally introduced very late in the book. The writing is not bad, but the story just drifts along. There are surprises toward the end, but I found them unbelievable.

These books are all strong on culture and context but weak on plot. I'll probably give Martha Grimes another try sometime, but it is not high priority.

[Ken · Rating 1 out of 5]

So overdone and ill-knit that I dropped it, which is something I rarely do. I have no regrets--I went on to read through Grimes's The Grave Maurice, after which I won't even look at any of her other books. You can see my review of The Grave Maurice for the reasons--I wouldn't normally waste time panning bad books, but in this case it's a public service, since Grimes badly abuses her readers in the latter book, even if she merely disappoints them in The Dirty Duck.

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scotland Yard Superintendent Richard Jury and his friend Melrose Plant, a British aristocrat who has given up his titles, are soon to meet in Stratford-upon-Avon. While Plant waits for Jury, he is dealing with her Agatha Ardry, his intrusive aunt and bane of his existence. She's meeting with some distant cousins from the United States and doesn't understand why Plant is not eager to meet or host these people he has never met before.

When Jury arrives, he is quickly pulled into a bit of a crime wave affecting one American tour company visiting the the historic home of everything Shakespeare. First a little boy disappears, then a young woman is killed after an evening attending a performance of "As You Like It."

There are few clues and an unknown motive, and even worse, Jury is skating on thin ice — officially Scotland Yard has not been asked for his services. Nevertheless, Jury is back working.

And as readers, we are thrilled. He and Plant are a solid team that deals with the surprises and the punches as they come in this complex murder bound in issues of family. Martha Grimes has created memorable characters and settings, delicious dialog and a riveting story that all makes for a fun and enjoyable book.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

These cozy mysteries are lightweight, but fun. Scotland Yard Superintendent Richard Jury is billed as the main character, but his friend, wealthy Melrose Plant is the best character in the series. In this episode Jury has come to Stratford to meet his friend Melrose and perhaps look up a woman he is intrigued by. He is visiting the local police station when a report comes in about a 9 year old boy from America missing from his family who is traveling with a tour group. The local police beg Jury to help unofficially, and he agrees. It seems the boy is prone to wandering and it is thought he will be quickly found. But when another woman from Florida traveling with the tour group is found slashed to death, the stakes are suddenly higher. Melrose helps by engaging several of the tour group, most notably a computer whiz who is spouting theories about Shakespeare and murder. More women from the tour are murdered, and the boy is still missing. As usual, the story is filled with odd characters and Melrose is charming and funny as he deals with them and his overbearing aunt. Jury is disheartened by the lack of a clear motive or suspect. Notes with lines from an Elizabethan poem are found with each victim. The Hamlet theme of revenge seems important, but how? The missing boy is resourceful and his story is also fun. All in all, a surprise murderer makes for an enjoyable read.

[IslandRiverScribe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know what was up with Martha Grimes back in 1984 when she wrote this book. But whatever it was, it surely tripped her tongue-in-cheek bone and her sarcastic impulses, because, for 240 pages of relatively small font, we are taken for one heck of a verbal ride.

Just like the previous three entries in this series, Richard Jury, from Scotland Yard, and Melrose Plant, from Ardry End, find themselves in the same place at the same time as a murder. This time the action takes place in touristy Stratford, the burial place of Shakespeare. And the victim is a member of a tour group from America, a very rich female member of the group.

This murder takes place in the first chapter. The victim-to-be is at a pub, The Dirty Duck, after attending a performance of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.” She has a companion with her, who is surreptitiously getting her drunk. Grimes lets us into the woman’s thoughts and we discover that she is a plain Jane spinster, living with her Dowager Empress of a mother back in Sarasota, Florida. She’s socially inept, sexually repressed and looking to break free of both ills.

So when her companion asks to escort her back to her B&B by way of a stroll by the river, Gwen gladly accepts. And she is both ecstatic and hopeful when her companion pauses them in the shadows along the pathway.

Oh, yeah! We know that set-up. We know exactly what’s coming. Martha Grimes has led us seriously and straightforwardly right to the cusp of the action. And then she writes:

“…felt hands on her shoulders, felt breath on her neck…it was to her credit that instead of fighting off this affront to her person, she said to herself, ‘The hell with it, Mama! I’m about to be ravished.’
And when she felt that funny tickling sensation somewhere around her breast, she almost giggled, thinking, ‘The silly fool’s got a feather…’
The silly fool had a razor.”

And then I nearly fell out of my chair. My jaw dropped to the floor and the words “Oh. My. God.” came out of my mouth. The simplicity of that last sentence just sucked me in. And this type of writing, a droll, succinct, eye-rolling understatement of fact, follows us all the way through to the end.

Grimes in not making fun of the victims – and Gwen is just the first – with this tone of voice. In fact, the plays on words and the punctuated metaphors just drive the viciousness of the situation farther into the reader’s consciousness. And to use this tactic with the internal monologues of Jury and Plant is just short of brilliant. Their internal sarcasm just further highlights the inanity, the stupidity, the selfishness and the callowness of many of the people they have to question.

We may be chuckling and smiling as we read but we are also desperately trying to follow the clues along with Jury. Very quickly, there is another victim, a nine-year-old boy who has disappeared from his adoptive family, which is also on the same tour as the first victim. He is an intelligent and independent lad and has disappeared before. No one but his ugly duckling of a big sister – and Jury – seems to be truly worried. But we know for a fact that he hasn’t just gone off exploring like those last times; he has been kidnapped.

More victims fall prey to the razor and the boy remains unfound. The action moves from Stratford to London. And then, at the denouement, the story falls apart.

As Jury and Plant subdue the suspect, we get an explanation of why the murders and the kidnapping occurred. We even learn, somewhat, how they came to piece the clues together. But the explanation is missing several very important details. You feel it go sideways and ultimately it requires too much suspension of disbelief for a person in 2014 to accept easily.

In a word, there are just too many coincidences. There are too many things that happened that, by all that’s holy with Murphy’s Law, shouldn’t have happened. And the explanation for that: the murderer had a long time to plan out the details.

Granted, back in 1984, instant media communication was not yet in place – no cell phones, let alone smart phones, and no satellite television. Without those instant photos, videos and voice recordings to contradict the national media, it was much easier for the general populace, and thus the fiction readership, of that time to believe in “coincidence.” It simply took more time then than it does now for things that seem disassociated to reveal their connectedness.

In addition, there is a subplot to this story that also rings false in its details. In that subplot, Grimes revisits Jury’s relationship with not only Vivian Arrington, but with Lady Kennington. Both these relationships occurred in previous books as part of murder investigations that Jury was involved with. And both of these “relationships” ended without any real beginning and were essentially dismissed. But here they are again, resurrected and alive, as if only days had passed instead of years.

Again, “coincidence” rules the outcome for each situation. And in several scenes, particularly the ones revolving around Lady Kennington, Grimes’ writing seems geared to providing an emotional internal drama for Jury, without regard to the common sense of the reader. It also seems geared to a new direction in her story arc.

Grimes has crafted in Jury a character who is highly intelligent, innately deductive, well educated, well contained, and who approaches his suspects and persons of interest calmly and obliquely. Plant is fast becoming a useful Watson to Jury’s Holmes. Frankly, neither Jury nor Plant needs “coincidences” or contrivances manufactured by an author to help their characters as currently established. They weren’t in use in the first three novels, but then, Grimes didn’t have to write herself out of a box in those novels, either.

[Deb Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martha Grimes doesn't disappoint in this, the fourth in her Richard Jury series. Hers are character-driven police procedurals/mysteries with plot lines that move forward at a constant pace, pulling the reader along and increasing the intrigue until the case is finally solved.

Here, American tourists in England on a tour, begin dropping like flies, the assailant leaving lines of Elizabethan poetry with each victim.

Jury's on holiday when the first inkling of a crime rears its head -- a child from the tour group is reported missing. The newly -minted Detective Superintendent reluctantly becomes involved in the investigation when a friend on the local police force asks for Jury's help. The action begins to escalate quickly thereafter.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoyed Richard and Melrose, I felt that the Americans in this story were mere parodies of real people. I also thought the plot was way far-fetched -- good luck with figuring this one out before Jury (I am still not sure how he figured it out). Of the first four books, this was the first real disappointment for me.

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable time spent with Jury and Plant. The murder takes place in Shakespeare’s haunts. American women on a tour are being slashed! Their is no motive. Is it a psycho? A disgruntled Brit? Not to mention poetry stanzas left at the Murders. Jimmy and the jello cat were my favorites.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was one a bit more sordid than the previous books. But I am moving on in the series, because overall I like the recurring characters and they are easy to listen to while I drive to and fro.

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very satisfying, complex plot with enough clues to keep me going. As if the fascinating characters with their wonderful names weren't enough. Vivian Rivington, Jenny Kennington, Lady Violet Dew.

[LeeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun series.

[S.L. Myers]

A good read.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars