The Dirty Duck

In this fourth entry in the Superintendent Richard Jury mystery series, a group of American and British tourists is decimated by a "Slasher" (as the tabloids dub him), starting in Stratford-upon-Avon and progressing to London, and a young boy in the group (Grimes seems always to include a precocious child) is kidnapped -- sort of. One of the themes this time is the relationship between Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe. You're not likely to figure out whodunit -- partly because the solution seems just a bit far-fetched. The characterizations, however, are witty and believable and with each volume Jury and his friend, Melrose Plant (who has wealth but no title, not any more), become more three-dimensional.

The 4th in the series of Brit Mysteries named after pubs, was the first tale I ever read of Martha Grimes and it instantly made me a devoted fan. I actually bought the audio tapes simply because Tim Curry was the narrator. He has done dozens and dozens of audio books and he is such an amazing talent. So, imagine my delight when I discovered a new author as well. Instantly, I went out and bought every Grimes Curry has recorded. I'm just sorry, they have not filled out the whole series with Curry's audio versions. Hopefully, someday... Superintendent Richard Jury said "nothing ever happens in Stratford" - naturally, in Grimes fashion, he is forced to eat those words. Grindeline Bracegirdle an American on vacation in England was enjoying a drink at the Dirty Duck, when time is called. Her mysterious companion lures her off alone with the promise of hot sex, instead murders her. A town used to stage murders nights at the Globe Theatre, home of Shakespeare, the real murder send Jury to investigating. Right behind him is close friend and ex-peer Melrose plant, with Agatha Ardry in tow gobbling faerycakes all the way - Melrose's American aunt from hell. Grimes is outrageously funny - in the Brit style - hard to believe she is a Yank. Curry gives perfection in the reading, right down to Bracegirdle's thrill at seeking a wild fling on her vacation only to be the victim. High camp in the land of Will! Utterly Delightful.

This is one of her shorter stories that can be enjoyed in an afternoon. The meeting of Melrose Plant and Harvey Schoenberg is hysterical! I felt I could see Melrose's brain desperately trying to decode this odd little man's obscure theory of Shakespeare and friends. And yes, some Americans in Europe can be a little overbearing, when left to their own means. I enjoyed it ever so much!

I was taking a few days off work (can you call it vacation if you mostly stay home and drive your kids and their friends around?) so I didn't want to read the stack of business books waiting for me. And I didn't feel ready to get back into Tolkien. I told my wife I wanted a mystery that I could read in a couple of days - nothing as cerebral as Holmes, but not a fluff (vacation shouldn't be a total waste). She hands me The Dirty Duck. Yes another really great Detective Superintendent Richard Jury story. A bucket full of interesting (read: quirky, but loveable) characters in a great setting (Stratford-on Avon) - only one of them has this nasty thing about using a razor in a most unconventional way - and then leaving a bit of poetry on the corpses as a signature. And just to add a twist, a little boy who is related to two of the victims is missing. I put Martha Grimes right up there with Christie for character and plot twists any day. If you haven't sampled Martha Grimes yet, you don't know what you are missing.