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When three women die of "natural causes" in London and the West Country, there appears to be no connection-or reason to suspect foul play. But Scotland Yard Superintendent Richard Jury has other ideas, and before long he's following his keen police instincts all the way to Santa Fe, New Mexico. There, in the company of a brooding thirteen-year-old girl and her pet coyote, he mingles with an odd assortment of characters and tangles with a twisted plot that stretches from England to the American Southwest. And while his good friend Melrose Plant pursues inquires in London, Jury delves deeper into the more baffling elements of the case, discovering firsthand what the guide books don't tell you; that the Land of Enchantment is also a landscape ripe with tragedy, treachery, and murder.… (more)
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The ineffable District Commander Brain Macalvie once again pops into Richard Jury’s life with his usual disruptive effect, insisting that Jury assist him in solving what seem to be two totally unrelated murder cases whose only potential connection might be
In her last book (The Horse You Came In On) and this, Grimes uses clever plot devices to land Jury in the US, where she can indulge her affection for and interest in various sections of the country. This time it’s Santa Fe, whose desert silence and mysteries, such as the Anasazi ruins at Mesa Verde, are punctuated with the tourist attractions of the craft shops in Santa Fe itself. Back in form, there is a precocious child, a 13 year old girl, whose self-sufficiency and endearing quirkiness (Mary has a pet coyote)is standard Grimes, and who is not only central to the story but takes part in the exciting climax.
But the Merrye Olde England of Melrose Plant and Detective Sgt. Alfred Wiggins is far from neglected. Wiggins has landed himself “in hospital” with romantic results. Melrose finds himself alternately playing comforter to Wiggins and assistant detective for Jury as he follows London leads for Jury. Fans of the Cripps family will be delighted to know that Ash and White Elephant with all their brood do not disappoint in their latest appearance; Cyril the Cat shines in yet another installment in his war with Chief Superintendent Racer. The humor never stops.
Martha Grimes has delivered an excellent book, with a good plot and outstanding contributions from her stable of recurring characters. Highly recommended.
The American is from New Mexico and the Exeter woman had recently visited New Mexico. A third person is a woman who keeled over at the Tate Gallery, collapsing next to a young couple, engaged in a display of intense affection in public. This death occurred a while back and Jury had been at the Tate at the time. Macalvie has found out that woman had also been in New Mexico and met up with the Exeter woman in Santa Fe, the town the American woman was from. All three deaths are initially determined to be a result of a coronary event. Macalvie is convinced it isn’t coincidental, but that it is murder.
Jury finds himself on the way to New Mexico to investigate. Upon arrival he meets the thirteen year old younger sister of the Old Sarum death. She is a serious and brooding girl who has a coyote for a pet. Jury also meets an assortment of local character while trying to tie the three deaths together. Meanwhile, Melrose Plant handles investigating in London and surrounds to find more pieces to the puzzle.
Jury is also facing moments and memories of his young years and the loss of his parents during the bombings; flashbacks to before and after the events and how his live had drastically changed. He is also trying to quit smoking.
There are quite a number of threads that require sorting before the connections can be made. I enjoy the fact that it takes a bit and isn’t a slam dunk solution.