Rating: 
Summary: Embarrassingly insecure/arrogant. Self-indulgent
Review: A riddle: What could be more pathetic than Grimes' character Alejandro Vlasic? Grimes pours out the scorn, portraying this ridiculous figure in his ostentatious dress and preening, and laughable jealousy of his commercially successful genre fiction colleague. He sniffs arrogantly at her merely populist work, embarrassingly thrusting copies of his own justifiably ignored tiny single volume of pretentious poetry at anyone passing - all the while eating his liver in envy. We're left in no doubt that, unlike his colleague, he's a complete loser.
More pathetic than petty little Professor Vlasic? Well, how about a commercially successful genre fiction writer going to the trouble of carefully creating such a character? Really for Grimes to spend so much time glorifying a character, ahem, much like herself, and pillorying those who, it seems, she fears criticism from, is at best embarrassing for the reader.
Maybe I've started at the wrong end of her career - an amazon reviewer elsewhere recommended her `Man with a load of Mischief', but I found this later `Horse' at my local library instead. It felt really indulgent - many of the characters are writers, and Grimes just seems unaware that it's bad form for her to so unsubtly laud ones like herself. Moreover it feels like Jury and Melrose are supposed to be old friends - perhaps back for a last time reunion and we're just supposed to relish their presence. I don't even know if I would have, however, even if I had enjoyed them in previous books. It feels like those awful 'On Tour' TV episodes - you know, the Happy Days cast goes to Australia or something.
The detective story, at least, is engaging enough while it's there, but it's hardly central and driving. This is usually for me an attraction of a crime novel: I particularly enjoy ones that have enough going in character, humour and observation that they don't stand or fall on the plot - much as we can enjoy some of the ride when it's driving things. However Grimes' diversions generally don't grab me - particularly (did you get this) when she seems to be blowing her own trumpet (cf. Asimov's appallingly arrogant drivel in the last of his Foundation novels).
Rating: 
Summary: Confusion rules
Review: As others, I have read several other novels by Ms. Grimes and have enjoyed them very much. However, this one had me confused from the beginning. The plot made no sense even when the events were solved. In addition it continued to be confusing that the story kept going back to England for no apparent reason. Everyone is entitled to swing and miss now and then, hopefully this is an isolated case. In any event if this is the first Richard Jury mystery you have read and were disappointed, take another shot, I'm sure you will be happier with the result.
Rating: 
Summary: Balti-moran Pride
Review: Having spent the last six years working two blocks from Cider Alley and Poe's grave, I found this book a very enjoyable read. I can imagine for some folks that this degree of familiarity does not apply, but I can say I've had a beer at the Horse You Came in On, and various other familiar stops that Plant visits with Hughie the hack. I do feel that this particular edition of Richard Jury is not as satisfying or complex as some of the other mysteries and that the local color somewhat distracted from the plot. But, having said that, it was a good three hour light read that I did enjoy. Other novels Grimes of course rate much more highly with me, such as the The Blue Last, and The Grave Maurice.
Rating:
Summary: Balti-moran Pride
Review: Having spent the last six years working two blocks from Cider Alley and Poe's grave, I found this book a very enjoyable read. I can imagine for some folks that this degree of familiarity does not apply, but I can say I've had a beer at the Horse You Came in On, and various other familiar stops that Plant visits with Hughie the hack. I do feel that this particular edition of Richard Jury is not as satisfying or complex as some of the other mysteries and that the local color somewhat distracted from the plot. But, having said that, it was a good three hour light read that I did enjoy. Other novels Grimes of course rate much more highly with me, such as the The Blue Last, and The Grave Maurice.
Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing--didn't make a BIT of sense.
Review: I am a definite mystery lover, but I have been disappointed in both of the Martha Grimes books I have read--she seems to ramble on and on and it all seems to be totally disjointed--as though she can't quite keep her mind on what she is doing. No more Martha Grimes books for me!
Rating:
Summary: Grimes travels well.
Review: I was surprised to find that Grimes was willing to take her ensemble cast on the road and try her hand at mystery in America. Although Grimes is not always good at clearing up the loose ends that she begins, she is true to her characters. Her descriptions are vivid and accurate and her gang of do-gooders are delightfully consistent. Frankly I would be disappointed if some young lady didn't win the heart of confirmed bachelor Melrose Plant in each novel. Grimes entertains if only because her characters have a self-depracating sense of humour and a rollicking good time. I was thrilled on a trip to Baltimore, MD when I stumbled across the tavern "The Horse You Came In On." It was a piece of my world crossing Richard Jury's path.
Rating:
Summary: Not Great, But Occaisionally Very Funny
Review: I would definitely agree with those reviewers who say that this is a much waker story than the others in Martha Grimes' wonderful Richard Jury series. However, there are some hysterically funny aspects to this novel,which transports Melrose Plant and company to Baltimore. Melrose, one of England's most sheltered men, learns about American football, street people, and homeless shelters in a series of incidents that are truly fun.
Rating:
Summary: Not Great, But Occaisionally Very Funny
Review: I would definitely agree with those reviewers who say that this is a much waker story than the others in Martha Grimes' wonderful Richard Jury series. However, there are some hysterically funny aspects to this novel,which transports Melrose Plant and company to Baltimore. Melrose, one of England's most sheltered men, learns about American football, street people, and homeless shelters in a series of incidents that are truly fun.
Rating:
Summary: Confusion rules
Review: I've been a fan of Martha Grimes a long time and have read all of the Richard Jury series in order. I've loved every one that I've read until this one. It's very confusing (and also uninteresting)to me and I know the history of all the main charactors...anyone who reads this as their first time Grimes mystery will be very disappointed.... Start at the beginning of the series with "A Man With a Load of Mischief". This will catch your interest right away and get you hooked on the Richard Jury/Melrose Plant saga. Make sure to read all the Jury mysteries in order..the others are MUCH better than this one !
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing....
Review: I've been a fan of Martha Grimes a long time and have read all of the Richard Jury series in order. I've loved every one that I've read until this one. It's very confusing (and also uninteresting)to me and I know the history of all the main charactors...anyone who reads this as their first time Grimes mystery will be very disappointed.... Start at the beginning of the series with "A Man With a Load of Mischief". This will catch your interest right away and get you hooked on the Richard Jury/Melrose Plant saga. Make sure to read all the Jury mysteries in order..the others are MUCH better than this one !
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