The Man with a Load of Mischief

I began reading Grimes in the 80s, but her books still hold up today, and this one establishes all of the cozy/Gothic things I love. Grimes has a gift for ironic humor, so even though she sets her books in a very cozy English village called Long Piddleton, she tends to satirize the residents and the narrow-mindedness of the provincial town.

In this way, she is similar to Agatha Christie, except that Grimes is much funnier. In this small town, Melrose Plant, a Lord by inheritance who has thrown off his title and tries to live a quiet life in… show more.

One of the biggest joys in this fine series is the pub settings. Each title is the name of a pub and each pub is the sort of spot you'd like to settle comfortably down with a drink and a chat with friends. Add onto this backdrop a puzzling murder, the wonderful Scotland Yard inspector Richard Jury, and his aristocratic sidekick Melrose Plant, and you've got a winning formula from Martha Grimes.

The first in Martha Grimes’ pub-named series introduces not one but two detectives: Richard Jury meets Melrose Plant while investigating a case in the wonderfully-named Long Piddleton. It becomes clear from the beginning that these two clever gentlemen, the Scotland Yard detective and Lord of the Realm, are as well-matched as they are handsome. Their backstories make one want to hug them tightly, as do their not-wonderful luck with women. A diverse and frequently annoying cast of cozy characters adds to one’s sympathy for their dual lot. 

I had mentioned Martha’s wonderful prose in my introduction. My friends and I often enjoyed sharing our favorite bits from her books. Her work is worthy of such book club scrutiny and appreciation. Her sturdy plots are enhanced by moments of absurd humor, which, like a Greek chorus, help the story along. The dabblings of absurdity almost always involve Jury’s pub friends. My favorite of all the merry asides is the case of Aunt Agatha’s foot’s encounter with a chamber pot outside of another character’s antique shop. The resolution played out over time splendidly. Richard Jury is a Scotland Yard… show more.