Violence finds a burned-out Richard Jury when he becomes the only witness to a murder in a cozy inn called the Old Silent. Though Nell Healy shot h...
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reviews
Apr 20, 2010
Joyce
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Depressed about his life or, more accurately, lack of one, Jury takes some time off and ends up in Bronte country. After more or less stalking an attractive woman through the Bronte Museum and the Children s Toy Museum, ashamed of himself, Jury heads for his lodgings at The Old Silent Inn. There, he sees the woman once more, who is meeting a man she obviously knows. Before he realizes what is happening and certainly before he can prevent it, the woman shoots and kills the man; Jury is in the
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Jul 05, 2010
Kim
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I just love Ms. Grimes' Jury novels. They are compelling & entertaining. Ms. Grimes is wonderful at creating the plot, and superb at creating characters that continue through the series as true to themselves. If you are an Agatha Christie fan you will love Martha Grimes. She is so witty, I frequently laugh out loud while reading her novels. In this particular novel, there is no grisly description of the murder. I would call her books mild as compared to, for example, Patricia Cornwell, but no le
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Oct 06, 2009
Janice
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As I read this book, I was reminded of a high school English teacher who always talked about "show, not tell" writing. This book was a great example of writing that showed the reader what was happening through well-written descriptions and dialogue, without just telling everything up front. This can be a very effective writing style, but you have to read carefully to catch everything that's going on. The point of view changes between characters frequently (even switching to dogs at
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Apr 14, 2011
Deb
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Richard Jury is "on vacation", visiting Bronte country when he witnesses a murder. Despite his total lack of jurisdiction, he decides to investigate, especially since the murderer is a mysterious woman who is as silent as the namesake inn. His investigation re-opens a very cold child kidnapping/murder. Once again, we are treated to Martha Grimes' collection of colorful characters, old friends and new ones alike. Brian McElvie, the wonder lawman from the Devon Constabulary also gets
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Jan 26, 2010
Jill
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As usual Martha Grimes gives the reader an entertaining look into the machinations of DI Richard Jury and his companions as he, with their help, investigates several interrelated murders. Grimes' tale is sprinkled with eccentric characters who appear in all of her books. In real life they would probably be considered childish and petty......but in the world created by Grimes, they are entertaining and colorful. The story is somewhat convoluted and just when you think you have figured out what h
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Apr 09, 2011
Terrysmithemail
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The four stars here are for the mystery category only, not general. But the book does what all good novels do--introduce you to a lot of characters you never would have met. This is the heart of what Martha Grimes does best. Her books have a mystery, generally a pretty good one; but most of the book revolves around revealing the figures involved in the mystery, with a good many others that she just wanted to work into the book. Mystery: solidly above average. There are loose ends and some dicey
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Nov 22, 2011
Timothy
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This is the best of the Grimes Jury/Plant novels. The charm of Plant (who plays a large role in this complex novel) is brought to its best in his friendship with the inimically drawn fiery child shepherdess he befriends at a country inn. This child may be the best of Grimes' transient characters. Her indomitable character and imagination, her fierce independence, and her scorn for most adults (which she lowers just barely for Plant, and later for Jury ) make us really care when circumstances pla
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Oct 22, 2010
Lynn
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I think this (and perhaps The Old Fox Deceiv'd) is my favourite in this series. Both Abby and Charlie are good examples of Grimes's particular knack for creating strong child characters who have done the best with what life throws at them and, because of that, are objects of the reader's admiration rather than pity.
Aug 21, 2011
Evelyn
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Mystery surrounding the kidnapping and death of a 12 year old boy.
p. 139: I believe we're witness to the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime. (Interesting, this was used as a title for another book by another author, Mark Hadden)
p. 139: I believe we're witness to the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime. (Interesting, this was used as a title for another book by another author, Mark Hadden)
Sep 19, 2011
Jeanne
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Grimes' apparent knowledge of the music industry and terminology was impressive and makes me want to read more about the real thing. The standard peripheral characters were as usual very cartoonish. As a mystery it doesn't disappoint.
Dec 31, 2011
Joy
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The sequence that stuck in my mind in the 16 years since I last read this is a suspenseful rush across a snowy moor, from the viewpoints of two herding dogs. I loved it again, so much that I left a bookmark at the spot this time through. It bears rereading on its own.
In addition to the dogs, the riveting human characters are little Abby, Ellen Taylor the American author, and Nell Healey, who refuses to explain why she shot her husband in plain view of Inspector Jury. Oh, and Charlie More...
In addition to the dogs, the riveting human characters are little Abby, Ellen Taylor the American author, and Nell Healey, who refuses to explain why she shot her husband in plain view of Inspector Jury. Oh, and Charlie More...
Nov 30, 2011
Nancy
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I listened to the abridged audio book. It jumped around too much, and left me wondering what had happened to bring the story to that point. It kept me busy, while I was waiting at the eye doctors.
Sep 20, 2010
Marge
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Absolutely loved this tenth in the series. The characters are like old friends now. Again, we had some great children in the story and Melrose finally gets a lady!
Apr 06, 2010
Carolyn
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Possibly the best of Martha Grimes--certainly the best characters. This is where we get the odd American woman with the motorcycle, though...and things start downhill.
Feb 15, 2008
Amy
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This book was so horrible that I felt like destroying it, not shelving it, when I finished. The plot is poorly cobbled together. There are too many characters, and many of them are as thinly written as cartoons. This woman is a competent writer for sure; it's not that her prose was awful. But the book had no soul, tried to be clever- but was simply irritating. Awful.
Finally, I thought I'd read that the author's an American. If that's true, I'm befuddled, because she seems to have an More...
Finally, I thought I'd read that the author's an American. If that's true, I'm befuddled, because she seems to have an More...
May 29, 2011
I did not finish this book, maybe later...It got too confusing , new characters would pop up with out explaination of who they were in realation to the story...
Apr 16, 2011
Janet
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My favorite Grimes Mystery. I really was surprised by the twist at the end and that made it a great read for me! Being set in the UK doesn't hurt either.
Nov 05, 2009
Mark
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I keep books in my luggage so I have something to read while traveling. I liked this one better than most because is forced me to be more engaged.
Jul 14, 2010
Heather
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Favorite Jury novel so far. Same recipe as usual: quirky characters, tangled plot lines, set in England. My kind of book.
Jul 29, 2011
Catherine
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I love the Jury books, and this one has an even more jaded and burnt out Jury looking to do right by the situation
Jan 19, 2012
Keith
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I realize that this book is part of a series and I started on book 10, but... The story was disjointed, jumping with no seeming connection between story lines and characters. I also found it difficult to identify with any of the characters, though I did manage to finish the book.
I love good mysteries, particularly English mysteries - I cannot recommend this one. Unfortunately this has turned me off from reading any other Martha Grimes novels.
I love good mysteries, particularly English mysteries - I cannot recommend this one. Unfortunately this has turned me off from reading any other Martha Grimes novels.
Dec 16, 2009
Mary Catherine
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It took me six weeks, but I finally finshed this! (Six weeks is an eternity for me to read a book. But I was only reading a little bit here and there.)
I probably would have enjoyed it more if I had read it in a few sittings. But I found myself having trouble remembering what was going on and never really got engrossed in the story.
I do like Grimes and her detective Richard Jury, though.
I probably would have enjoyed it more if I had read it in a few sittings. But I found myself having trouble remembering what was going on and never really got engrossed in the story.
I do like Grimes and her detective Richard Jury, though.
Nov 19, 2008
Laila
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This was a good one. I had no clue what was going on until right at the end when everything was revealed - a hallmark of a good mystery! I continue to love reading this series. They're well-written, funny, and just a little but melancholy too (Well, at least Richard Jury himself is.) Some of the secondary characters are a bit over the top, but they add a lot of quirky color.
Aug 22, 2007
Dina
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This is part of the Richard Jury series of mysteries by Martha Grimes and by my reckoning is the best of the bunch. It is a classic British detective novel with a more grit than Agatha Christie but more heart than Colin Dexter. In the first chapter, Jury witnesses a woman murder her husband. He spends the rest of the book working to prove her innocent. Quite fun.
