A charming murder mystery that kept me guessing. Melrose & Jury make a likeable gentlemanly team as they investigate the murder of a mystery woman in fancy dress. And poignant warmth is added in the minor characters such as the abandoned 12-year old Bertie who takes good care of himself and his loyal dog Arnold. And the added fun is spotting the Americanisms Martha Grimes unintentionally drops into this Yorkshire tale. ( )

Richard Jury appears again to help solve a mystery in a small English village. A young woman is found murdered, dressed in a mummers costume, having apparently not made it to a party being hosted at a local manor. She is suspected of being in the village, playing the part of a long-lost heiress coming to collect her inheritance. The truth is different, however, and one of the most unsuspecting people turns out to be the murderer, someone who has been there all along. ( )

No. 2 in the Richard Jury series. I enjoyed it very much. People say Grimes let Americanisms slip into her British series, but I can't say I've noticed any...other than those introduced by an American character. In this one I especially loved the characters of 12-year-old Bertie Makepiece, who figured out a big piece of the puzzle, and his faithful dog Arnold who saved the day. I'll look forward to following the series along.
September 2016 ( )

Jury thought for a moment. "You know, I sometimes feel murders are done in the past, in a manner of speaking. That what was really meant was to kill someone a long time ago--and it's taken all this time of dragging the feeling around - like a dead body, really. Until one finally manages to get on with it. And dumps the corpse in the present. On the Angel steps. Somewhere. " He stopped because of the look on Julian's face: it was ashen, blighted, stricken. It lasted for only a couple of seconds, but it was sharp enough to convince Jury that Julian had been about to admit something - to step over a precipice, and had then quickly drawn back his foot.Jury thought for a moment. "You know, I sometimes feel murders are done in the past, in a manner of speaking. That what was really meant was to kill someone a long time ago--and it's taken all this time of dragging the feeling around - like a dead body, really. Until one finally manages to get on with it. And dumps the corpse in the present. On the Angel steps. Somewhere. " He stopped because of the look on Julian's face: it was ashen, blighted, stricken. It lasted for only a couple of seconds, but it was sharp enough to convince Jury that Julian had been about to admit something - to step over a precipice, and had then quickly drawn back his foot.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Jury is sent to Rackmoor, a small village on the North Sea coast. It’s January, not the best season to be there, but there has been a brutal murder and they are calling for assistance from London.

The victim was a visitor to Colonel Crael, and her appearance had caused quite a stir. She was the spitting image of Dillys March, Crael’s ward who had left Crael’s home fifteen years ago and never been seen or heard of again. This woman went by the name of Gemma Temple.

Crael thinks she is the missing ward. Crael’s son thinks she is an imposter. Olive Manning, the Crael’s housekeeper who was around at the time of Dillys’ living there, isn’t sure and isn’t please pleased about it either way. She has her own reasons for the mixed feelings.

When Jury and his partner Wiggins show up, the crime is two days old. The location has been cleaned up, so any clues are now gone. Harkins, the local C.I.D. man has done his investigation and written the report. He isn’t happy about Jury being called in and is only cooperative as much as barely necessary. Jury is looking for more information and also impressions Harkins may have, but Harkins isn’t giving, much.

When Jury goes to Crael’s house to interview them, he finds that Melrose Plant is visiting. Plant help Jury on an earlier case and the two formed a friendship. Once again Jury puts Plant to use in collection information, as Plant is a member of the aristocracy and can as and get answers that people may not give a cop. Both find it not so easy to get information from the tight lipped villagers.

Another enjoyable read from Martha Grimes; interesting characters, subtle clues, details that aren’t always obvious. I found I did go back and re-read to catch what I may have missed the first time through. I like the pace, not too fast yet doesn’t drag on. ( )