Vertigo 42

Richard Jury #23

by Martha Grimes, Nathalie Serval (Translation)

L'affaire de l'escalier Richard Jury, célèbre commissaire de New Scotland Yard, rencontre, par l'intermédiaire d'un ami commun, Tom Williamson. Ce dernier le supplie de rouvrir un vieux dossier : celui de son épouse, Tess, découverte sans vie, seize ans plus tôt, au pied de l'escalier de leur manoir du Devon. À l'époque, la police avait conclu à un vertige ayant entraîné sa chute. Cependant, Williamson est intimement persuadé qu'elle a été assassinée et qu'un lien doit être fait avec le décès d'une petite fille, survenu dans leur jardin quelques années auparavant... Ce jour-là, cinq autres enfants du voisinage étaient présents. Mais, alors que Jury tente de les retrouver pour reconstituer les faits, deux meurtres ont lieu quasi simultanément dans la région. Toutes ces morts, si éloignées soient-elles dans le temps, seraient-elles liées ?

Au terme d'une enquête qui emprunte autant à l'art des faux-semblants d'Hitchcock qu'aux romans moraux de Thomas Hardy, Jury se distingue une nouvelle fois avec brio.

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

424 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 2014

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

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this 23rd book in the 'Richard Jury' series, a classic movie and two well-known novels provide clues when the Detective Superintendent investigates a number of deaths.

The novel can be read as a standalone, but readers familiar with the series would probably enjoy the story more.



*****

Twenty-two years ago - at a children's party thrown by Tess Williamson - young Hilda Palmer was found dead at the bottom of an empty swimming pool. No charges were filed but Hilda's mother held Tess responsible. Five years later Tess was found dead at the bottom of a steep staircase. The general consensus was that her vertigo resulted in a fatal fall.



In the present day, Tess's husband Tom - thinking his wife's death was no accident - asks Detective Superintendent Richard Jury to look into the old case. Meanwhile, other recent deaths come to Jury's attention: a beautiful blonde in a designer dress and shoes dies of a 'fall' from a tower; and an unidentified man who was looking for a lost dog is found shot.

As usual in Martha Grimes books Jury's friends in Northamptonshire - Melrose Plant and his eccentric cohorts - get involved in Jury's investigations.



There are also two 'found' dogs in the tale, Joey and Stanley.

During their investigations, Jury and his tea-loving assistant Sergeant Wiggins question everyone who was at the party where Hilda died.



They learn that Hilda was a bully, disliked by children and adults alike.



They also discover some possible links behind the recent deaths of the blonde and the dog-lover with those of Hilda and Tess.

The movie "Vertigo" and the books "A Passage to India" and "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" keep popping into Jury's mind as he looks into the cases, which seem to provide him with clues to the crimes.



The plot meanders and the resolution of the cases seems unlikely but it's fun to visit with the familiar, well-liked characters in the series. An okay book to pass some time.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Sheila Beaumont · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been quite a while since the last Richard Jury mystery, so I was overjoyed to discover Vertigo 42. Like the previous books in the series, this one has a delightful regular cast of characters (Melrose Plant, Aunt Agatha, Sergeant Wiggins, Carole-anne Palutski, et al.), a light touch, and literate prose. The author even uses the phrase "begging the question" correctly, a real rarity these days!

As with the earlier books, this one is hilarious, but there's also a substantial mystery plot, involving two possible murders in the past and two in the present. There are no talking dogs or cats in this one (not that there's anything wrong with that; I totally enjoyed Mungo and Morris in The Black Cat). But there are dogs and at least one cat. And there are several characters who were children when the mysterious deaths in the past occurred.

All of the Jury mysteries are great fun and well worth reading, and rereading (yes, I own them all). It's best to start with the first book, The Man With a Load of Mischief, but you can enjoy them in any order.

[Linette · Rating 3 out of 5]

The books in this series have been must-reads for me for years. The storylines are generally good but where they really shine is in the quirky supporting characters and the amusing banter that flows so easily between them. There is a recurring set of characters that I eagerly look forward to spending time with each time I open a new book in the series, knowing that they will have me smiling and feeling right at home.
Vertigo 42 was a decent read but not of the same standard as most of the earlier books. The supporting cast of characters had only a small part in this story and it just wasn't enough for me. I missed them, and wanted more time with them.
The mystery itself was decent with good characters, starting out with a couple of older murders and a current murder to solve, all involving falls from a height, hence the name of the book. However, especially in the beginning, the storyline often got muddled or jumped around, which I found confusing.
All in all, a middle of the road story, but I did enjoy it and I loved being back with Richard Jury and his friends, and hope there will be future books published in the series.

( ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

[Cynnamon · Rating 3 out of 5]

English version below

************************

Ich habe in der länger zurückliegenden Vergangenheit zahlreiche Bücher aus der Inspektor Jury-Reihe gelesen und die alle sehr gemocht.

Mit diesem 23. Band der Serie hatte ich jedoch so meine Schwierigkeiten. Entweder hat sich über die Jahre mein Lesegeschmack geändert (wahrscheinlich ist das so) und/oder die Serie hat sich nach 23 Bänden einfach totgelaufen (hier ist die Wahrscheinlichkeit sogar noch deutlich höher). Das Phänomen der auserzählten Reihen konnte ich beispielsweise auch bei Donna Leons Brunetti oder Martin Walkers Bruno beobachten.

Noch kurz zur Geschichte: Wir haben hier eine junge Frau in extravaganten Klamotten, die tot am Fuße eines Turms gefunden wird (die namensgebende Frau in Rot), einen Mann, der in einer Hintergasse erschossen wird und zwei Tote, die schon vor Jahrzehnten tot aufgefunden wurden und deren Tod nie so richtig aufgeklärt werden konnte.

Wir treffen hier auf jede Menge alter Bekannter. Neben Jury treten auf: seine Kumpels aus Long Piddleton nebst Agatha und Mrs. Withers, natürlich Melrose, Sergeant Wiggins und Jurys Nachbarin Carol-Anne. Diese Charaktere dienen zum Großteil zum Ausfüllen der Rolle des lustigen Sidekicks, aber ich fand das diesmal gar nicht mehr so arg lustig.

Mir scheint für Jury und mich ist die Zeit des Abschieds gekommen. Leb wohl, Richard!

—---------------------------

I have read numerous books from the Inspector Jury series in the distant past and have loved them all.

However, I had my difficulties with this 23rd volume in the series. Either my reading tastes have changed over the years (which is probably the case) and/or the series has simply run its course after 23 volumes (which is even more likely). I could also observe the phenomenon of the series running dead with Donna Leon's Brunetti or Martin Walker's Bruno, for example.

Briefly about the story: We have a young woman in extravagant clothes who is found dead at the foot of a tower (the eponymous woman in red), a man who is shot dead in a back alley and two dead people who were found dead decades ago and whose deaths could never really be solved.

We meet a lot of old acquaintances here. Jury is joined by his pals from Long Piddleton along with Agatha and Mrs Withers, Melrose of course, Sergeant Wiggins and Jury's neighbour Carol-Anne. These characters are largely there to fulfil the role of the funny sidekick, but I didn't find it all that funny this time.

It seems to me that the time has come for Jury and me to say goodbye. Farewell, Richard!

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was quite a disappointment. It was too disorganized, vague and filled with superficial elements. I have been in Jury’s camp since the beginning but there are so many references in the book that hark back to character traits and actions in previous books that I found did nothing to develop character or move the story forward. Also, the repeated comments on designer clothes and shoes seemed like product placement in a movie. I am longing for Richard Jury to develop as a character not as a fashion critic. There is a great deal to be said for books that make an impression for what they don’t say but this book just reads like the notes for a good novel. I read it pre-pub on NetGalley so it is possible significant editing changes could be made… hope so.

[Lela · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I love the Jury & Plant characters and all the other wacky familiar folk in this series, this one was weak. It was as if everyone was too distracted to just get on with figuring out the mysteries. Yes, more than one -- with a couple of them being very cold cases indeed. But, what I think is really going on here, Ms Grimes is too distracted by all her other irons-in-the-fire to put her massive talent to work on her Jury mysteries. Come on, Martha, they're your best sellers and your fan base. On the other hand, distracted Grimes and Jury are better than none. 3.5

[Mary Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A better Richard Jury than I've read in some time, but there was one baffling error. I kept re-reading the two pages to see if I'd read it wrong. I wish I knew someone who'd read it to see if they can explain:)

[Larraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really MISSED Richard Jury and his oddball friends and associates - Wiggans, Plant, Trueblood and more. Apparently Grimes struggled with this book. I'm glad she finally wrote it. She is in her early 80's, and one can't help but wonder how many books she has left. Like other favorites, I always enjoy revisiting her characters. They've become almost like old friends. I guess they really are when you think about it! In this book, Jury is asked to revisit a twenty plus year old case of a woman who fell to her death. Her death was never fully declared although suicide was one theory. Her husband didn't believe it was suicide nor did DI Macalvie, a friend of Jury's, and the investigator at the time believe it. As a favor to an old friend who is a friend of the widower, Jury investigates it on his own. Then another murder takes place. Then there's the case of a missing dog that is acting very oddly. In the middle of it all, we have Jury, a handsome, reasonably paid civil servant, who has established a close friendship with a former Lord who trots out his title when it suits him, but still lives in the way he did as a Lord Ardry. The pub gang who constantly interfere with Jury's investigations make a couple of appearances, but this is mostly about Jury's quest to help the widower find peace. There are a number of red herrings here, and they are all interesting. There is an interview with her that was recently published in the Washington Post. If you thought she was British, think again. She's a native Marylander. http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/ca...

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars rounded up.

It's been awhile since I read a mystery in the Richard Jury series by Martha Grimes so when I was approved for an arc of her latest in the series through NetGalley, I thought hey, I'd better catch up!

Superintendent Jury of New Scotland yard has been asked to meet with a friend of a friend to discuss the death of this person's wife 17 years before. They meet in a bar named Vertigo 42, high atop one of London's financial district towers.

If you have loved the old Alfred Hitchcock movie Vertigo with Jimmie Stewart and Kim Novak as much as I did, I think you'll enjoy all the tie-ins to that movie you'll find in this complicated mystery. When is an alibi not really an alibi? Even Jury and his side-kick Wiggins are confused right up to the very end. Pretty interesting mystery! Sometimes it's good to take a break from a long-running series: the characters and their humor seem fresh again.

[Shirley Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been four long years since we've had a new Richard Jury book, and I for one am glad we had the wait. That made this book so very welcome. And it's an excellent book. The plot is intricate and there are plenty of surprises throughout. All of this interspersed with dry humour and truly wonderful characters. The case that Jury is working on this time is one not assigned by Scotland Yard. A man is certain that his wife's death was not an accident. The fact that the death happened 17 years ago doesn't deter Jury. As he begins investigating the story of Tess Williamson, he discovers a warm woman who he is strangely drawn too. There is tragedy and sudden death in Tess's life before her own. Then as Jury keeps digging new deaths start happening and these new deaths seem connected in some way to the death of Tess Williamson. I love Martha Grimes' books and Richard Jury in particular because they are so enjoyable, funny and poignant. She has long been one of my favourite authors.

[Mary Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of all the just-calling-it-in books in the latter half of Grimes's Richard Jury mysteries, none can have been more just-called-in than this one. What follows is a rant; my first sentence sums the review up nicely!

I loved the early books in the series, and the early Jury: slightly melancholy, with a devastating smile, the man smarting from the tragic turn of his boyhood. At some point, alas, Grimes gave us a more lighthearted Jury, trading in his melancholy (maybe because melancholy had become such a cliche in detective fiction?) for an almost sappy laughing-and-smiling-at-everything. Then there was the embarrassing Jury the Wild Lover, overturning furniture in his passion for the unfortunate Luz Aguilar.

In this installment, Luz has been gotten out of the way, and Jury's most distinguishing characteristic is his ability to name high-end brands of women's fashion: he recognizes Jimmy Choo shoes, a Lanvin dress, etc. What this adds to his character, I don't know. Given that he was a kid during WWII, and this book seems to take place in the early 2000's, Jury has to be in his 70's, and I find it creepy that he is taking such careful note of what some of the young women in this story are wearing.

But I digress...which is nothing compared to the digressions that pad this weak-plotted book. Grimes trots out the cast of Northants characters mainly for show, and to take up space; even Melrose Plant does little of any importance. But they all appear: his aunt, his butler, his hermit, his goat, his horse, his dog, the waiter at his London club, Vivian Rivington, still blushing, Diane DeMornay, now toting around a dog's water dish, Marshal Trueblood, etc., etc. She seems to bring them out to mollify the subset of her readers for whom they are the most attractive aspect of this series.

One of Grimes's greatest gifts has always been the ability to sketch memorable minor characters in just a few sentences. Alas, that gift is not much on display here. The most striking of these characters seems to be a cross between an extra from La Cage Aux Folles and The Food Network.

Then there is the mystery. The first third of the book just piles up the suspicious deaths....and the solving of all these murders is a murky mess at the end. Perhaps Grimes was going for an amazing fast-paced ending, one surprise after another, twisting and turning. It seemed more like she'd grown tired of writing this mediocrity and just wanted to get it over with. She doesn't even bother to give a straightforward reason for one of the murders.

This book was a waste of time. Only glad that someone passed it on to me. Had I wasted cash for this I would have closed the book truly depressed

[Jaksen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story went back and forth so many times my brain went numb.

I have been a huge fan of Martha Grimes' Richard Jury mystery novels, until that is, I read a few which seemed HUGELY incredible and sort of boring, to be honest. I always loved the cast of characters Grimes works with, however: tall, handsome Richard Jury, police superintendent in London; Wiggins, his sidekick; Carolanne who lives upstairs from Jury and though she appears to be scatter-brained, def. is not. There's also Melrose Plant, a Lord who gave up his title, and Melrose's truly scatter-brained Aunt Agatha. There's a host of other minor, supporting characters, with each a little nuttier than the one before it.

So I thought I'd give this newer book a chance. It was so complex, though, so rife with characters and side-angles and side-plots, I honestly had a hard time keeping track. (Another book for which I needed a character cue-card and a blank notepad for taking notes.)

In this one the death of a little girl twenty years ago - found dead at the bottom of a drained pool during a children's party at an English country cottage - and the death of a woman seventeen years later found at the bottom of a stone staircase at the same cottage, seem connected. Maybe. Somehow. At the party there were six children, and later, as young adults, they are each carrying around their own secrets. It's up to Jury to find the connection - if any - between the two deaths and...

Two more deaths which come later, and...

A dog named Stanley which may or may not be connected with a dog-fighting ring...

It's witty and complex, plausible and at times it's only Jury who carries this one. (Good old Melrose has just a supporting role here, dang it!)

An engaging mystery, esp. for those who follow the series.

[Tasula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the most recent Richard Jury mystery, and as always it is enjoyable- a good mystery, interesting minor characters, and tragic deaths.

Minor quibbles (which for some readers are alternatively points of enjoyment): none of the characters seem to care about or regularly have sex, which seems strange in this day and age; Grimes manages to bring into almost every book her (and readers') favorite recurring characters- his buddy Melrose Plants' fellow village residents (rich eccentrics, shop owners, barkeeps), fellow cop from another jurisdiction Macalvie, and denizens of London (the Crippses, lovely CaroleAnn) even when there is little to contribute to the story; and Jury and Melrose seem to spend a lot of time meandering into reveries about cathedrals, hermits, former girlfriends (with whom they never had sex, of course), prior murders, etc.)

Nevertheless, still and enjoyable book and I liked that the dog turned out OK.

[Laura (Kyahgirl) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5; 3 stars; B-

I have long been a fan of this series and still enjoy the camaraderie and police work presented in each addition to the series. This was not my favorite but I still enjoyed it overall.

Things I liked:
-The much loved cast of characters from most of the Richard Jury books (Melrose, Carolann, etc)
- The narrator, Steve West
- The twists and turns of the murder investigation

Things I didn't like:
- Aspects of Richard Jury's character really seem 'out of character'.
- some baffling things that might have been missed in the editing process (like an item left with one characters in one scene, somehow finds itself in Richard Jury's pocket in the next scene)
- The weird jumbled ending with the nail polish, the inexplicable light bulb moment, the arrest, the end. It just felt rushed and untidy.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usual humor and thoughtfulness. There were a few errors, not sure if intentional or editorial. One of the characters in the story has an alibi based on a mistaken memory of the day of the week, well each chapter of this book has the day of the week, time and location listed at the start of the chapter. One chapter claims to start a few hours after the previous one, but is dated a day later. Intentional, to see if I'd notice??? Then late in the book within three paragraphs, Jury's friend Phyllis sits down twice without ever standing up, as if the scene was revised and the first version was not deleted. Never the less, I still enjoyed the story and the conversations about truth and simple kindness and caring.

[Jim Graham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Silly plot.
Many people really like the characters circulating around Superintendent Jury; I think they are too twee.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I didn't love the characters so much, I'd probably have given this one 3 stars, but I do love these characters and am delighted to have had another opportunity to enjoy them.

Vertigo 42

I don't know how many of you have followed Martha Grimes' Richard Jury novels. They are a weird combination of crime, mystery, quirky friendships, witty repartee, familiar places, and plenty of recurring characters.

The titles in the series are for various pubs: The Man with a Load of Mischief, The Old Silent, The Grave Maurice, etc. In a recent article, Grimes states, "The only research I do is the accidental coming upon of a pub, the name of which I think is just fantastic." Only then does she consider the plot.

Vertigo 42 is a little different; it opens with a meeting in a modern wine bar instead of the traditional pub, but Grimes uses the title as a basis for the plot and makes references to Hitchcock's film.

I have definite favorites among the books I've read. Some appeal to me more than others, but what never fails to please me is meeting characters like Carole-Anne and Wiggins and the awful Cripps family again. Of course, no Jury novel is complete without the Long Piddleton group, and it goes without saying that without Jury's foil Melrose Plant, the novels would lose much of their charm. Most of their charm. Long live Melrose Plant. What? So...maybe I do like Melrose Plant better than Richard Jury.

The novels are classified as "cozy," but by no means are they light-weight. Cozy mysteries characteristically include a lack of graphic violence or sex, a small community setting and long-standing relationships, and an emphasis on puzzle-solving. By those lights, the Jury novels certainly fall into the cozy genre, but some cozy mysteries are like meringue, lots of air, light, and fun, yet not fully satisfying. The Jury novels have more heft.

Another couple of details that can always be found in these novels: a child or children and animals, and they are not throw-aways, they have a purpose.

Vertigo 42 is not my favorite Jury novel, but I did enjoy it. Grimes creates interesting puzzles and wonderful characters, and I continue to enjoy the wide community of people and places she has created. There are now 23 books in this series, and if I could afford to, I'd love to read them from first to last. I've read most, but not all of them, and starting at the beginning would be fun.

In 2012, Martha Grimes was awarded the title of Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, joining such notables as Agatha Christie, John le Carre, Elmore Leonard, Barbara Mertz, Tony Hillerman, and P.D. James (and many other great mystery writers).

Read in January; blog review scheduled for May.

NetGalley/Scribner.

Mystery/Police Procedural. June 3, 2014. Print version: 336 pages.

[Paul Pessolano · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Vertigo 42” by Martha Grimes, published by Scribner.

Category – Mystery/Thriller Publication Date – June 03, 2014

This is Martha Grimes’s twenty-third book featuring English detective Richard Jury. The book is a typical English mystery, more on grey matter and less on blood and guts. It is also typical English in that there is an incessant drinking of tea and a more than necessary description of one’s surroundings. As in all her books there are numerous references to Hollywood movies that pertain to the story.

Richard Jury is asked to look into a case that is over seventeen years old. Tom Williamson believes his wife was murdered even though the facts indicate that it may have been an accident.

Jury finds that the facts lead him to a party hosted by Tess Williamson for underprivileged children. A young girl is found dead in their empty pool and it is believed that she fell to her death. The girl was not liked by the other children at the party and although the death was considered an accident Jury feels the coincidence of both deaths may be too much. These deaths come to the forefront when another girl, now woman, who was at the party, is found dead from a fall from a tower. It is believed she may have had an accident, may have committed suicide, or the outside possibility may have been murdered. Jury must sort through the few clues and intense interrogation of the children who were at the party seventeen years ago. He is also confronted with the fact that his main suspect has what appears to be an airtight alibi.

A good mystery that will have the reader sorting through the clues that may or may not point to the murderer. A good read for those who prefer a cozy who dun it.

[B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointing.

***** Watch out spoilers *****

1. The plot is unbelievable: Jury is looking into the old case of Tess' death, he's spending time in Northampton, where a new murder happens to be connected to this old case. Really!? It just so happens that EXACTLY at that point in time, at EXACTLY that location Ken decides to kill Arabella!? Why now? Why there? Why does the aunt live there of all places!? Why does Arabella decide to visit her now that (conveniently) Jury is reopening the case and his friends live around there!? And what's with the dog? Why did he have to be found & tried to be killed by Ken, I didn't get that at all.

2. If you are an American author and your book is based in England you should make sure it sounds English: it's aluminium, not aluminum; it's fridge, not frig; you wouldn't take out 'notes' to pay for two pints (unless you have only fivers), you'd take out one note max.

3. Inconsistency: the letter - does he leave it, does he take it? Mrs Tallboys later being referred to as Mrs Highboys!?

4. The usually enjoyable characters around Melrose are only mentioned briefly and brushed over. There's no depth. It feels like they were mentioned only for the sake of being mentioned.

5. Can we move on from the designer clothes and shoes already? I thought that was covered sufficiently in 'The Black Cat'.

6. What's with all the dates and women? Lu is gone, fine. Is he now pursuing Nancy again? Then why is he buying Carole-Ann clothes?

I can't look past these weaknesses unfortunately, so the book was a lot less enjoyable than the other Inspector Jury books. It feels sloppy, rushed and superficial.

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

Read It, Rate It and Record   
A short review to update challenges
 

The Richard Jury series is another one of these mystery series with more than 20 books which I have read and loved since the 1980s.  It is also one which I have now tried on audio. And I discovered the series is narrated by one of my favorite narrators!!!!

I love the clever story and long-loved characters. One could never start with this book as not only would you miss so much but the characters would not be as well-developed or dear to you. There are all the things I need in the quirky characters, clever plotting and references, and now a great narrator.
Narration:
I listened at my usual 1.25 speed but I think may be I should have slowed it down a notch or not multi-tasked during this listen. My mind would have enjoyed a moment to ponder evidence and savor amusement at the subtle humor. I could also just luxuriate in the voice of Steve West.

 

Listen to a clip:
https://soundcloud.com/simonschuster/...

[Debbie Maskus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this Richard Jury novel. The allusions to Thomas Hardy's novels and to the film Vertigo presented a delight. The various characters illustrated many different personalities, and the extra benefit of Stanley iced the cake. I listened to the book on audio book and the last disc was damaged, so I missed the details of the conclusion, such as the motive for Tess's death and Tess's secret. The setting and characters provide a wonderful glimpse of English life with the ritual of afternoon tea and the English countryside. Aunt Agatha occasionally entered the scene, but did not seem up to her old standards of mischief. Of course Melrose and his group of cronies, living the life of leisure, enhance the story.

[Nancy Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martha Grimes is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Mysteries with just enough death and darkness to not be sappy, quite a bit of clever humor, and some charming non-human characters, mainly dogs, who definitely add to the spice. I listened to this one on an audio CD and my main complaint is that occasionally it would become convoluted (mainly because I was driving or dealing with something else) and I would lose track of what was happening, and the tracks were so long that I could never find my place, which of course would be easy in an actual book. Still, I enjoyed it enormously and was sorry when it was over!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m glad I read the first book in the Richard Jury series before tackling this one because the cast of characters is quite overwhelming. The characters specifically surrounding the crime are numerous and have multiple names and nicknames. The recurring characters are brought in with little introduction (after all this is the 23rd book in the series), but many writers of long series give a bit more background on these individuals.

I kept blaming my inability to follow the plot on the fact I was listening to the audiobook, even though this had not been a problem in the past. One friend commented that this was not her best book, so perhaps it was the story and not the presentation that was the problem.

Grimes best work here was bringing in other novels as they related to this story—great for me because I had read most of them. I can see that if you have little familiarity with literature you might find it disheartening and wonder if you were missing important clues by not catching the literary allusions.

I like Richard Jury and will likely go back and listen to several of the older books to get up to speed in the overall story arc.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Twenty-third in the Inspector Richard Jury cozy mystery series rotating between London and Long Piddleton.

Disclaimer: Somehow, even though I had written my full review, it appears that I didn't save it. Which doesn't make sense. Anyway, my notes turn out to be incomplete and the book has gone back to the library, so there are missing bits. I do remember, though, how disappointed I was in this installment.

My Take
I was disappointed. Sure the primary characters of the series are here, but it’s different. Jury — Grimes — has gotten complacent. What makes this series for me was simply missing. It was flat with only bits of fun.

There was barely any Carole-Ann. His relationship with Malcolm?? Has changed with Jury getting accustomed to living as Malcom does. There's none of the angst. There's no Racer. It's something of an old home week in that Grimes makes sure we visit almost everyone who's ever been in the series, however briefly.

The actual mystery, solving the today crime of the red-dressed woman who "falls" out of the tower is part of the big mystery of what happened to Tess Williamson who died / was murdered / committed suicide all those years ago., was a mess of clues that barely make sense and we still get no real closure, but are left to assume what we like at the end.

I think Jury was on vacation; he certainly spent enough time swanning around, using Wiggins to work his "case", and diving into other people's cases. Why the inspector didn't object to Jury horning in, I'll never understand. He practically laid down the welcome mat.

It was sad. Such a waste of lives, and it did make me cry.

On the whole, if you collect the series, what the hey. If you don't collect them, get it from the library. It's probably the worst I've read in this series.

The Story
Questions still exist in Tom’s mind about his beloved wife’s death all those years ago, and he finally reaches out for help. It’s Fate, and she steps in to destroy and inform.

The Characters
Superintendent Richard Jury works for Scotland Yard, and I think he's on vacation. Carole-anne Palutski is his upstairs neighbor, flighty, insightful, and absorbed in fashion with a care for others. Dr. Nancy is a medical examiner and Jury's girlfriend. Sergeant Alfred Wiggins is Jury's other half. Aunt Agatha pops in with a con man friend, Lambert.

Vivian Rivington, Marshall Trueblood is the flamboyant antiques dealer, Diane DeMorney makes up astrology columns, and Theo Wrenn Browne is a jerky bookstore owner. Together they're friends of Plant's, and they meet up at the Jack & Hammer.

Dick Scroggs owns the Jack & Hammer, a pub in Long Piddleton where the gang gathers while Mrs. Withersby is the whacky cleaning lady

The former Lord Ardry, Melrose Plant, is a friend of Jury's, and he floats through. Ruthven is his long-suffering butler; Martha is his cook. Yep, Melrose's hermit is still here and improving his lot in life. Now if only he can get that telly!

Tom Williamson is a widower, a rich one as it was his very wealthy wife, Tess, who died and left it to him. He once worked for the Government Code and Cipher School. Sir Oswald Maples is a friend of his from those days. Andrew Cleary, Tess' Angel Clare, was a photographer with whom she had spent some time.

The children in whom Tess was interested
Hilda Palmer was hated by all and died that day. She set her death and those to come because of her own actions. Kenny decided it was him. Wrong. He killed Tess but we never learn why. He killed Tess and the woman in the red dress. There were five other children: Kenny is appeasing his father, Mundy is pining away for love as she models designer gowns at Harrod's, Veronica still lives with mum as she tries to make it as an actress, Belle is single again and finally getting her dream come true, and the most important child whose name I can't remember (argh!) who went on to become very successful in his field if not his life.

Elaine Davies was a friend of Tess'.

Commander Brian Macalvie is still with the Devonshire and Cornwall Constabulary and appears briefly. Chief Inspector Bishoff was the one in charge when Tess was found. Jury's boss, Racer, gets a glancing mention. Harry Johnson (see The Old Wine Shades , 10), makes his appearance with a clue for Jury. Plant visits the Crippses: Ash the Flash, White Ellie, Piddling Pete, and the rest.

The Cover
The cover definitely conveys the feeling of vertigo with its sky-high view looking down onto a cityscape — it’s a close-up perspective from top-down and close to the top of a very high building, looking down to its narrowed base. And it’s a false depiction of actual events, so perhaps it’s a metaphor for the concept. The illustrator has contributed to the effect of vertigo by tweaking the author’s name and the title.

The title is both a reference to Alfred Hitchcock’s movie and the relevant clue in Vertigo 42.

[Katharine Ott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Vertigo 42" - written by Martha Grimes and published in 2014 by Scribner, Simon & Schuster. I see that I didn't particularly enjoy another of Grimes' Jury stories that I read seven years ago. Maybe I've become more comfortable with the whole British mystery convention. This was lots of fun to read, as Scotland Yard Superintendent Richard Jury meanders his way from one cup of tea, or glass of whiskey or beer to another, thinking about and eventually solving several murders that nicely tie together in the end. There's no "police procedural" feeling to this one, he's most often at a friend's opulent home, and he has several pub haunts and a gang of comrades who help him out. I'll read more of Jury's adventures.

[Elizabeth Frey-Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay… so Grimes chose to stop aging her characters, in the hopes that readers would forget that they would be in their 60’s or older, when these later novels take place. Because seriously, NO ONE wants to read about some old lecher sending Juicy Couture clothing to an aging ingenue, who should have grown up by now.

But what Grimes forgot was to stop aging her own perceptions, as well. Her characterizations of gay people are atrocious. Jury’s attitude towards women is gross. And for pete’s sake, the attitudes towards lower income families, immigrants and blue collar folks is just unconscionable.

As an aside, don’t write about food, if you don’t understand food. No one pulls a cheesecake out of the oven and eats it. That would be hot cheesecake pudding, you dimwit.

The only saving grace this time is there were only a couple jokes about killing the elderly, Jury was only a dick to half the people he met instead of all of them, and no dogs spoke in this book.

ALMOST done with the hate re-read. And yes, they are pretty much this bad.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know why I haven't learned my lesson! I am a glutton for punishment. But. I managed to stop reading.

Why is Martha Grimes continuing with these overly tired characters? How many more times are we supposed to put up with the superiority of Richard Jury, who seemingly spends most of his time with Melrose Plant as they eat and drink copious quantities of expensive liquor? And Carol-anne, with her strappy sandals, fry-ups, and shallow cutesiness - surely Carol-anne is in her blousy forties by now! I wonder though; does the dog talk? By aborting, did I miss seeing the insanely clever little girl or boy?

I know it's not really fair to give this a one star rating when I haven't even finished the book, but I really can't see that it could possibly have improved.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

For all the brand names dropped, this book is distractingly dissociated from real time. One line lets you place the setting as mid-00's. One more line says Jury lost his parents during "the war" - so he must be pushing 60 & yet there is never any sense that he is anything other than a man somewhere between growing up and growing old. If I hadn't read all the previous books, I don't know that I would have any sense of who Jury is. The other recurring characters are equally vague. Perhaps this has always been the case in the Jury series, but for some reason it really jumped out at me this time.

The mystery itself is ok, but seems to rely an awful lot on things overlooked or unquestioned.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. And it was truly promising at the beginning. I had high hopes that that all the eccentrics would be back. And there was plenty of Sergeant Wiggins and almost enough Melrose. But no Fiona, no Racer, no Cyril, no Mrs. Wasserman. I've always enjoyed the Jury series for the characters more than the plots. The last one I fully enjoyed was Rainbow's End. The books after that were downright depressing. Vertigo 42 is not depressing. It does have some funny moments and the mystery is intriguing. But if you are expecting to read about the antics of the gang at Long Pidd I fear you're in for a serious disappointment. Where, oh where, is Polly Praed?

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first exposure to Martha Grimes, and I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written British mystery. Richard Jury is not a Lone Ranger, he gains knowledge and ideas from friends and suspects alike, gradually piecing everything together as we follow his trail learning about Tess, Hilda and the others involved as he investigates the murder/suicide/accident.