Rating: 
Summary: Did I read the same book you did?
Review: I rarley write reviews but I am an avid reader and enjoy reading the reviews. I almost always agree with the majority of the reviewers, but not this time. I thought this book was outstanding. There was only one element that seemed slightly unbelievable, but the writing and huge unexpected twists more than made up for it. Three times I was sure I knew what was going to happen, but was wrong. The ending was very satisfying, if sad. Melrose Plant and the whole hermit sideline was bizarrely funny. I thought this book reached beyond the run of the mill mystery. The book had some very poignant moments. Loved it!
Rating: 
Summary: Where was her editor?
Review: First let me say that I am a huge fan of Martha Grimes--both the Richard Jury mysteries and her other novels. I love the characters she has constructed in the Jury series. But this was just plain awful. The writing style could almost be described as meandering and disjointed--not good in a mystery with a complicated plot. There are passages that I have read over and over again, and about the meaning of which I still remain confused. I agree with other reviewers that while certain elements of the story --investments, horse racing, premarin production, etc.--were intriguing, they involved too many events that defied credibility. I also found it disturbing and incredible that every male in this novel seemed to be obsessed, sexually, with a seventeen year old female. All but one of these male characters was old enough to be her father or grandfather. It almost seems as if this was a first draft that needed re-working and polishing. Disappointing!
Rating: 
Summary: melrose ( again )
Review: This isn't my favourite Grimes but Melrose IS in it and so are lots of horses. How can you go wrong ? A wonderful re-working of Josephine Tey's "Daughter of Time!" Lots of Wiggins... Lots of Jury... lots of fighting over who gets the banana out of many hospital fruit baskets. A charming way to revive Jury and get him back on track... with Long Piddletonian intervals which are, as always, pure magic!
Rating:
Summary: Grimes on a Downward Spiral
Review: Like other novels in the series, the title is the name of a pub. In this case, the pub is in the opening scene, then disappears from the plot. Like the novels of Dick Francis, this one involves racing. The plot, perhaps, is a little too complicated, with a few too many characters but some surprising twists. Like the Dick Francis novels, you learn a lot about racing - in this case stud farms. It is a lose girl, find girl, lose girl again type plot. It takes a few chapters to develop the plot. While you think you may have guilty parties identified, the final conclusion is not obvious. Richard Jury and Melrose Plant are involved in the investigation, and there are digressions into the affairs of Long Piddleton. Melrose acquires a horse and a resident hermit. One of the problems with the novel is that the author cannot seem to stay on a single track. It is an interesting novel, but too many digressions can make a story drag.
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