Vertigo 42: A Richard Jury Mystery Hardcover – June 3, 2014

But that's probably me rather than a comment on the story. I think he killed her for her money but that doesn't make sense.

What’s not to like about ANY of the Richard Jury series by Martha Grimes? And in “Vertigo 42,” Grimes has another clever, exciting, entertaining, and informative episode of one of the most talented police detectives in modern fiction. In this, his 23rd case, the brilliant, intuitive, and understanding Scotland yard superintendent is once again balancing the many elements of his daily life, all on the way to solving yet another murder. Of course, Grimes is no stranger to literary allusions and here she cleverly and clearly pays homage to the Alfred Hitchcock movie “Vertigo”—but just. While it would be too obvious NOT to cite Sir Alfred, Grimes takes advantage of the situation and then moves on with another fascinating story. Opening with a meeting with Tom Williamson in the posh 42-second floor bar (Vertigo 42) of one of London’s new skyscrapers, the foundation of this episode is laid. Tom’s wife Tess was found dead at the bottom of some stone steps on their estate in Devon. The death is ruled an “open verdict” due to her own vertigo, that she simply fell down those steps. Five years before that, Tess had been charged with the murder of one of the children, nine-year-old Hilda Palmer, often seen on the estate with several others at Tess’s invitation. She is cleared of that, although, of course, suspicions among the gentry were not allayed. Now, 17 years after her death, Tom meets Richard Jury to see if he will re-open the case, just to prove her innocence and to find out what actually happened. He believes it is murder. While the murder didn’t happen on Jury’s patch, it’s a delicate situation, among colleagues and professionals, for him to open up this case. His old friend Inspector Macalvie was one of the investigating officers at the time. But he assures Tom that he will “look into it.” But before Jury can really get into an investigation, though, a modern murder most foul occurs when an elegantly dressed young woman is found at the bottom of a tower near Ardry Inn (Long Piddleton) where Jury has driven from London to visit his longtime friends (the usual Grimes gang). Then, shortly thereafter, her estranged husband is also found dead. While Jury is on leave from the Yard, he can’t help but get involved—in both cases. In the second, Grimes brings back all that old gang, from Melrose Plant, to Aunt Agatha,to Marshall Trueblood---the whole lot. And all of them, ala vintage Grimes, are more than willing to offer their services (and advice) to solving all four deaths. And, of course, by the end of the book, these deaths have been solved, but not before Grimes weaves her magic. Filled with her usual reference to literature and art (esp. Thomas Hardy,Lytton Strachey, and Henry James), the well-timed comic relief with some brilliant wit also enhances the book, as perhaps only Martha Grimes can. She also seems limitless in her character creation—what a line up! Most interesting, I found, was that all the old gang, from Long Pid friends in the Jack and Hammer pub to Sergeant Wiggins to Carole-Anne Pulaski, and, yes, the Crippses make an appearance, almost as if this could be the last Reunion for Grimes’ Jury characters. And a new character, the dog Stanley provides some interest in the case. Grimes’ scope is pervasive and, once more, like Donna Leon and Ruth Rendell, doesn’t shy away from addressing socially significant issues (in this case, animal brutatity). Grimes has a field day, with clues here and there and everywhere but most readers won’t care. She doesn’t deliberately mislead, though, and attentive readers will simply takes these elements in stride. (And as she’s done with all the other Richard Jury mysteries, the title is that of an actual pub, many of which still exist today—and have been a delight to visit.) “Vertigo 42” seems to have recaptured the Grimes magic and this one is not to be missed. Granted, many of the references and background citations would be missed by readers undertaking the Jury series for the first time. Probably greater appreciation comes from having read the earlier Jury stories.)

The books in Martha Grimes' Richard Jury series often are rich in literary and film references and this one is no exception. The homage to Alfred Hitchcock's film Vertigo is perhaps obvious from the title, but there are also overt references to Thomas Hardy and William Butler Yeats, as well as more subtle nods to Oscar Wilde and even the Bard himself, Shakespeare. It all makes for a fun game for the reader, a kind of hide-and-go-seek, which is an actual game that plays a part in one of the mysterious deaths of the plot.Once again, Jury is called upon to investigate a cold case, this time as a favor to a friend. Seventeen years before, Tess Williamson died in a fall down stone steps in the garden of her house in Devon. The verdict on the death was left open, as no definitive conclusion could be reached, but the inspector in charge of the investigation at the time leaned toward an accidental death due to the victim's known problems with vertigo. Her husband, Tom, is convinced that her death was murder, and, in that conclusion, he has an ally in another detective who was involved in the original investigation, Jury's friend, Brian Macalvie.Tom is also friends with Sir Oscar Maples, another in Jury's circle of friends, and it is Maples who suggests to him that Jury might be willing to investigate the death, and it is he who delivers the request to Jury. Jury meets with Williamson at Vertigo 42, a bar in a City of London tower, hears his story, and agrees to look into the case.One curious aspect of Tess's death is that five years before, a nine-year-old girl had also died in a fall at the Devon home, during a children's party that Tess was hosting. The victim was a particularly nasty child who was not liked by any of the other children, or, for that matter, any adults. There was suspicion that she was pushed and Tess was a suspect, but, again, there was no conclusive evidence and the verdict was left open.So, two suspicious deaths seventeen and twenty-two years earlier, but before Jury can get very far into his investigation, another death occurs near the village where his friend Melrose Plant lives. A woman dressed in an expensive red silk dress and four-inch-high red heels dies in a fall from a tower. Did she jump? Was she pushed? How did she climb to the top of that tower in those four-inch heels? When it turns out that this woman was one of the children who were present at that party in Devon long ago when the little girl died, Jury sees a pattern and suspects that there may have been three murders.Then, the woman's husband also turns up dead of gunshot wounds with his dog Stanley standing guard over his body. Four deaths - two in the past and two in the present - dot this intricate and compelling plot. How will Jury ever sort this puzzle out?This is the latest entry in the Richard Jury series, number 23, and it isn't clear if there will be any more. If indeed it does turn out to be the last one, then Grimes will have ended on a fairly high note. This was a strong effort, more so than some of the recent books in which she seemed to be just phoning it in.As usual, the plot meandered all over the countryside between Devon and London and it encompassed visits with most of the recurring characters that we've come to know and love (or hate) over the years. It had the usual quirky animals, but at least this time we didn't spend time inside the animals' heads watching their nonverbal reaction to events. There were no charming children this time around, which made for a bit of a change. But, all in all, particularly with the literary allusions, it hit all the notes that we've come to expect from Martha Grimes and it was a fun summer read.

This was another entertaining outing with Jury and the gang, but it was just a bit too convoluted for me. The plot twists felt forced, the musings by Jury a bit extraneous. The story was enough to keep me reading until the end, just not the best Jury I’ve read.

Not as good as early Richard Jury novels but at least we were spared the inevitable child hero/heroine. though sadly not the ghastly Cripps family , the likes of which I've had dealings with too much in real life to find remotely amusing.

Not up to Martha's usual standard. I read it as quickly as usual but felt there were some unfinished storylines. Also not enough of Melrose and his 'crew'. Saying that I'll be first in line for her next book!

Fans of Martha Grimes will enjoy this addition to the series but stupid mistakes were distracting. (eg a child has reportedly hurt birds and chipmunks -no chipmunks outside zoos in England.-did she break in?)

I love this author and the Jury books - never fails to disappoint - just wish she could write them quicker

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