I was so excited about finally reading the latest Jury novel. So disappointed! Jury didn't seem himself; our exposure to Melrose and his jolly group was limited and unfulfilling; Racer, Fiona, and Scotland Yard's most famous cat were missing ; and, Wiggins didn't suck on one throat lozenge. Please, for the love of God, don't let this wonder series end like this! Bring out another book soon.

3 1/2 stars. Always torn between enjoying and being annoyed by the wacky cast of characters, but they weren't so prominent this time. A very puzzling twisty turn-y mystery which I thought got a little too caught up twisting and turning.

I do like the Richard Jury novel, this one follows the pattern. Not as much Melrose Plant as I like, he is my favorite character.

This is Jury & co's 23rd outing, and this book almost felt like a love letter to the Richard Jury fans. Jury is off duty for a week, and finds himself investigating two possible cold case murders. We do get plenty of time with Melrose Plant in this outing, and visits with the Long Pidd crew at the Jack & Hammer. Throughout the book she touches on old cases and faces of the past. It has been so long since I've read a Jury mystery (this is the first one out in four years) that I had forgotten some of the incidents and characters.

If you are new to Richard Jury, start with "The Man With the Load of Mischief," the first novel of the series. (All the Richard Jury novels are titled after a pub in each story.) If you are already a fan, this will be an enjoyable read.

I haven’t read a Richard Jury novel in a long time (thank goodness for Mom who has kept up better than I and could remind me of Melrose Plant etc). In fact, this is not a good starter novel for the series but since it’s #23 that should be self-evident. It’s also the first Jury novel in four years so.

It’s funny because as I read this and Mom read the latest Elizabeth George novel it felt like she and Martha Grimes took the same premise and wrote their novels on it. There is a modern day killing but the story really has its roots 22 and 17 years ago. Jury is technically on vacation when he’s approached by Mr. Williamson to look into the death of his wife 17 years ago.

Tess supposedly had vertigo and fell down the steps to her death in an empty pool, the same empty pool that claimed the life of troublesome girl 22 years ago. Tess and Tom Williamson couldn’t have kids but she used their wealth and country estate to have parties for kids. One girl, known to blackmail other kids and adults, broke the rule about not going in the back yard and fell to her death. Tess was suspected of killing the girl and a few years later, she too died. Jury’s friend, Macalvie investigated it back then, not convinced that it was an accident.

As Jury starts questioning the kids, now in their thirties, to see if he can get an idea of what happened back then, a young woman dies falling from a tower folly. Since that’s not really his case, Jury leaves poking around that to Melrose while he works on the old case. And then there’s the matter of the stray dog, Stanley.

The reader has to assume that these two plot lines will dovetail somehow and naturally they will. I enjoyed this one though the stuff with the dog does seem to go on rather long on occasion (even though it will be important later). There are several points of view in the novel but mostly it’s Jury’s.

A delicious book

Just meh. I had no idea who a lot of the characters referenced were... Perhaps if I had read the other 20+ books in the series they would seem more familiar. I tried to focus on the mystery; but it felt like there was a lot going on: adoption scandal, dog fighting (in elevators no less!) and a lot of people with vertigo. I didn't really relate to any of the characters, and I'm still not sure I know exactly what happened.

Another enjoyable addition to the Richard Jury series. These are always fun to read!

For some reason, I had trouble keeping track of the secondary characters.

Grimes is back on track.

Now if she’d just stop with the Harry Johnson BS, I’d be happy.