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Grimm Grange
Two figures stepped silently out of the shadows near the man walking up and down the dock. 'Mr Nightingale?' a voice whispered. 'That's me!' The man said, looking towards the sound. The dark shape carried something which shone like a lance in the moonlight, then suddenly dulled. A few minutes later there came the splash of a body falling into the harbour and the sound of feet running away.
What has a mysterious murder in Singapore to do with young Martin Grimm, living a lonely existence in the house of his stern Great-Aunt Grimm in Kensington? And what is her oily nephew, Augustus, plotting with the blustering, drunken Uncle Josiah Grimm? Who is the stranger in the grounds of the Grange? A lot of shady characters are involved in the pursuit of Martin's rightful inheritance - not all on the same side. But is anyone on Martin's side?
A colourful and fast-moving tale of mystery and intrigue.
'Splendidly outrageous Gothic thriller - a pleasure to read' Leon Garfield
What has a mysterious murder in Singapore to do with young Martin Grimm, living a lonely existence in the house of his stern Great-Aunt Grimm in Kensington? And what is her oily nephew, Augustus, plotting with the blustering, drunken Uncle Josiah Grimm? Who is the stranger in the grounds of the Grange? A lot of shady characters are involved in the pursuit of Martin's rightful inheritance - not all on the same side. But is anyone on Martin's side?
A colourful and fast-moving tale of mystery and intrigue.
'Splendidly outrageous Gothic thriller - a pleasure to read' Leon Garfield
160 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 1980
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 1, 2020
Martin lives with his Great-Aunt Grimm who, so he discovers on his father's death in the docks of Singapore, has been paid an annual sum of £500 to care for him. Her source of income having reportedly dried up, she throws him to the mercies of his relatives at Grimm Grange in the marshes of Kent.
As Martin (who discovers his surname is actually "Nightingale") is mistreated at the Grange by the recluse Sir Jasper and the gluttonous gambler, Sir Josiah, he is compelled to act as a servant and thus befriends the "brat", Jenny. The fortunes of Grimm Grange have suddenly turned around on Martin's arrival, so Sir Josiah decides to host a shoot. The local gentry, who haven't been seen for over a decade after Josiah had to curtail his activities and expenses due to gambling debts, are invited to come and bag a brace of pheasant.
At the shoot, Martin encounters the mysterious Abermarle Hood who claims to be associated with business friends of his father's and who enquires whether he has signed any papers. Martin doesn't trust Hood and, as a consequence is not as careful as he should be. Set up by the solicitor Augustus Grimm for a fire at the Grange and the murder of Sir Jasper, he comes to realise the truth. His father was not in debt when he died; he was extremely wealthy. In fact, his father was killed by a sailor acting for Augustus Grimm who plotted to ensure Martin would inherit his father's estate before his majority, so that his relatives - as his executors - can legally deprive him of the shipping company to which he is heir.
Martin flees and finds his way to a strange sanctuary - with mad Jack, a wild half-crazed peg-legged sailor living in the marshes.
It seems a bit strange to class a book as "delightfully Gothic" but this fun romp is a gentle parody of Gothic thriller-mysteries.
As Martin (who discovers his surname is actually "Nightingale") is mistreated at the Grange by the recluse Sir Jasper and the gluttonous gambler, Sir Josiah, he is compelled to act as a servant and thus befriends the "brat", Jenny. The fortunes of Grimm Grange have suddenly turned around on Martin's arrival, so Sir Josiah decides to host a shoot. The local gentry, who haven't been seen for over a decade after Josiah had to curtail his activities and expenses due to gambling debts, are invited to come and bag a brace of pheasant.
At the shoot, Martin encounters the mysterious Abermarle Hood who claims to be associated with business friends of his father's and who enquires whether he has signed any papers. Martin doesn't trust Hood and, as a consequence is not as careful as he should be. Set up by the solicitor Augustus Grimm for a fire at the Grange and the murder of Sir Jasper, he comes to realise the truth. His father was not in debt when he died; he was extremely wealthy. In fact, his father was killed by a sailor acting for Augustus Grimm who plotted to ensure Martin would inherit his father's estate before his majority, so that his relatives - as his executors - can legally deprive him of the shipping company to which he is heir.
Martin flees and finds his way to a strange sanctuary - with mad Jack, a wild half-crazed peg-legged sailor living in the marshes.
It seems a bit strange to class a book as "delightfully Gothic" but this fun romp is a gentle parody of Gothic thriller-mysteries.
May 3, 2020
I loved this as a teenager. Very like Dickens with lots of adventure and some lovely characterization. First came across it on Jackanory - does anyone remember that?
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews