Helpful Score: 1
Recent entry in the Richard Jury series. I was my first one, but easy enough to read without having read previous books in the series.
A man walks into a bar and tells a tale to Jury. It all comes down to the question, "Why didn't they take the dog?"
A man walks into a bar and tells a tale to Jury. It all comes down to the question, "Why didn't they take the dog?"
Helpful Score: 1
If you like the Richard Jury series and gang, you'll like this one. It starts with a man telling Jury a story about a wife, child and dog disappearing -- and only the DOG returns!
Cheryl R. (Spuddie) -
#20 Chief Supt. Richard Jury mystery set in the UK. This story sucked me in right from the beginning, with a man in a pub telling Jury a story about his friend whose wife, autistic son and dog disappeared into thin air about nine months previously. They had made a trip to a small town in Surrey that had a good private school for autistic children, and where they hoped to move if things checked out well.
While she looked at one cottage she was scheduled to view, the estate agent stated she'd never come back to return the key for the second one, which was an unoccupied estate with a spooky history. "But the dog came back," Harry Johnson says, and produces a shaggy mutt called Mungo. Jury, on administrative leave from Scotland Yard, spends several pleasant evenings talking with Harry explaining about his friend Hugh, who became so distraught at his wife's disappearance that he is now in a private psychiatric facility attempting to gain his equilibrium back.
Jury quietly (and unofficially) investigates, and of course brings his friend Melrose Plant into things as well. All went relatively well until the ending, which I found to be anticlimactic and rather lame--and I did see the plot twist coming. But still, I enjoy these visits with this set of characters that I have come to know and love over the years.
While she looked at one cottage she was scheduled to view, the estate agent stated she'd never come back to return the key for the second one, which was an unoccupied estate with a spooky history. "But the dog came back," Harry Johnson says, and produces a shaggy mutt called Mungo. Jury, on administrative leave from Scotland Yard, spends several pleasant evenings talking with Harry explaining about his friend Hugh, who became so distraught at his wife's disappearance that he is now in a private psychiatric facility attempting to gain his equilibrium back.
Jury quietly (and unofficially) investigates, and of course brings his friend Melrose Plant into things as well. All went relatively well until the ending, which I found to be anticlimactic and rather lame--and I did see the plot twist coming. But still, I enjoy these visits with this set of characters that I have come to know and love over the years.
Another excellent Martha Grimes.
The latest Richard Jury book. It tries your patience at first with allusions to quantum physics and the story within a story format but about halfway through it I found it enjoyable as the others in the series.
Ms. Grimes appears to be spending time with Tom Stoppard--the action is slowed by lengthy discussions of physics.
Not up to Grimes's usual standard, imho.
This is one of my favorite of the Richard Jurys. The elusive, splendidly written character of handsome & wealthy Harry Johnston (who vaguely resembles Melrose Plant)is a fascinating addition to the usual cast. I esp like the use of physics concepts to solve this particular & baffling mystery - the Super String Theory being one, (and how the Little Piddleton gang get involved with their own theories, of course). I love meeting the dog Mungo (with his need to move tiny kitten Elf around while he thinks) and the cat Schrödinger (Shoe for short), who will show up again in the next 3 books. Great reading experience, could not put this one down!
It kept me enthralled to the WONDERFUL ending! No spoilers.
Witty mystery.
While Jury languishes on a semi-suspension he's drawn in by a man whose story about the mysterious disappearance of a woman and her child one year before is just the kind of complex mystery Jury thrives on. Appealing characters, especially the antagonist. Has Jury met his nemesis in the wily Harry Johnson?
a maze of a story, a dryish British wit and the Old Wine Shade bar actually exists! I ran across it by accident on a visit to London last summer.
Richard Jury is sort of a modern Holmes and Miss Marple combined. Good detective stories set in England with a few entertaining recurring characters!
I sincerely enjoyed the whole series of these books. Light mysteries but no gore.
As always Richard Jury gives a top thrill in reading and deduction.
Getting more than a little hackneyed by book 20.
liked the way this book provoked my thoughts but a lukewarm ending
