I was delighted to return to Richard Jury's world with long running characters Wiggins, Macalvie, Plant, and the Jack and Hammer crowd.

I'm always excited to see another entry in this series. In "The Red Queen", Jury investigates the shooting of a man who seems to have a twin, and in parallel, Wiggins searches for the sister he has long claimed is dead. While neither of the cases is particularly difficult, they require the assistance of Jury's friends and colleagues as they follow complicated threads into the past.

Sadly, while the faces were familiar, their characters were very lightly developed, and not nearly as fun as in previous books in the series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Richard Jury series is another mystery series with more than 20 books, which I have read and loved for a long time. I started listening with later books and collection them on audio because they are narrated by Steve West!!!! He's one of my favorites. The Red Queen is going to have an audio which I couldn't locate initially. . Martha Grimes is now 94 and we may not get many more books.

I love these characters and their odd way of all getting entangled in investigations. Jury is the center and everything flows around him normally. The Red Queen was different. It had scenes of so many favorite characters being themselves but not really adding to the plot. Melrose Plant is usually all into things. Jury had him work as the stable master for the murdered man's household but he didn't do anything or contribute to the case.

Wiggins was off on his own personal emergency. His sister has been missing for 5 years leaving at 15 and now has sent a postcard to their mother. Wiggins went home and went to work with the local detective who is a known character and has worked with Jury. They travel around questioning people, sometimes driving a very long way, to find his sister.

The case was rather a mess. The facts and investigation seemed quite haphazard. I think it would be slow to read if I wasn't enjoying the characters, irrelevant as they were. Jury didn't find evidence so much as he decided who was guilty. He did uncover several facts but everything was circumstantial.

I did not read the previous books in the series and I found the synopsis interesting enough to download the book and it's the first one I read by this author. I found the story discombobulating but read it till the end. In my opinion, the pieces don't fit together neither do the behavior of the characters which I found difficult to relate or empathise. The behavior of the officers of the law made me laugh but it's far from one might expect in real life as it make them look unstable, unreliable and silly.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

2.5 stars

In this 26th book in the 'Richard Jury' series, the Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent investigates an odd murder in a Twickenham Pub.

Fans familiar with the 'Richard Jury' books are the audience for this novel.

*****

It takes a minute for patrons in a Twickenham pub called 'The Queen' to notice when whiskey distillery owner/real estate magnate Tom Treadnor is shot on a bar stool. There's a noise like a popping cork, but no one sees a shooter or a gun. The police discover the killer shot through a window, and using red paint, changed the bar's sign from 'The Queen' to 'The Red Queen'.

The local police pass the case to New Scotland Yard, and Detective Superintendent Richard Jury and his assistant Sergeant Wiggins arrive to investigate. Jury and Wiggins interview Treadnor's wife Alice as well as Treadnor's business partner; butler; stableman; kitchen staff; co-workers; friends; and acquaintances. Treadnor seems to have had multiple personas, behaving genially sometimes and irritably other times; being environmentally conscious one week and exploitative the next week; being a good horseman one day, and a clumsy horseman another day; etc.

The detectives learn that almost no one in Treadnor's circle has an unshakeable alibi, and several people benefit from his death. So there are a number of possible suspects.

The investigation gets more complicated when Jury sees a newspaper story in the Financial Times about a CFO named Jason Lederer who's moving to Chicago to open an office. The photo of Jason Lederer looks EXACTLY like the murder victim Tom Treadnor, as if they're identical twins. Jury tries to track down Lederer in Chicago, but it seems he showed up there briefly, then took off for a vacation in Cancún.

In the meantime, Sergeant Wiggins sets off on a quest to find his missing sister. Wiggins sibling Betty Jean (BJ) took off five years ago, and the family hasn't heard from her since. Now BJ has sent a postcard to her mother, apologizing for running away and mentioning a dance trophy she and Wiggins won. The postcard has a photo of Cornwall but the postmark is too smeared to make out.

Wiggins engages the help of Police Commander Brian Macalvie, and the duo embark on a search for BJ. The men begin with Honey's Dance Hall in Lyme Regis, where Wiggins and BJ had their big success, and proceed from there.

The murder plotline and the BJ plotline sort of come together towards the end of the book, but the connection is not completely clear. I'm a longtime fan of Martha Grimes' 'Richard Jury' books, and I'm sorry to say this book isn't a success. The novel seems to have missing chunks; the murder investigation doesn't resolve in a believable manner; and the sub-plot about Wiggins' sister BJ adds nothing to the story.

On the plus side, some well-known recurring characters make an appearance in the novel, such as Melrose Plant (aka Lord Ardry) - an eccentric millionaire who sometimes helps Jury with his investigations. The story also features two of Martha Grimes trademark characters: a precocious child (Tom Treadnor's great-nephew Tommy), and a fun canine (Tommy's dog Gizmo).

I did like visiting with favorite characters, and there are some humorous occurrences in the story. However, unless you're a dedicated Richard Jury fan, I wouldn't recommend this book.

Thanks to Netgalley, Martha Grimes, and Grove Atlantic for a copy of the book.

The Red Queen is the newest in Martha Grimes Richard Jury series. There’s of course Wiggins and Melrose Plant along for the ride. I’m a newer reader to this series and started at the first book to read my way through. I enjoy this fun and well written series, so departed from the order of reading to read this one. I enjoy the continuing characters in these books and that’s always half the fun along with the mystery.

Martha Grimes has a real knack for a good mystery with the insertion of some familiar characters and a little silliness along the way. This is not one of the stronger entries in the series, but still enjoyable, especially for fans of the series. It left me with a few unanswered questions and one scene that I didn’t understand why it was included. And perhaps it isn’t in the final version of the book. So I won’t discuss it here.

The murder that brings Jury into the case is committed in the pub, The Queen. But someone had scrawled ‘Red’ on the sign sometime before the murder. It was a crowded pub but no one saw what happened or who did it. So there’s much to be unraveled.

#TheRedQueen #Netgalley

I thank NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press for an advance reader copy of “The Red Queen.” All opinions and comments are my own.

"The Red Queen" is a rather tidy entry in the Richard Jury series, with a lot of dialog, discussions of participants, incidents and clues coming together for a genteel ending that’s practically forecast from the start. Melrose Plant helps, barely. Can’t have a Jury story (this is the 26th) without his contribution. The other “regulars” are ticked off the list, here and there. Aunt Agatha has a low profile in this one, thank goodness. And as always, there’s the usual witty, introspective musings within the characters.

There’s a subplot that involves Sgt. Wiggins and his long-missing sister – which has a connection to the big story, natch. And a goat-naming contest. And piglet-saving operation. A little something for everyone, it seems. And while the mystery involves quite a bit more than a murder -- much more – it all ambles along to a rather anticlimactic ending.

As an avid Martha Grimes fan, I was excited to lay my hands on this novel. Set in an England village, a man is found murdered. But he has a double so identity is in question. You would think his wife would know but the couple is headed for divorce and aren't exactly close. DS Richard Jury and his colleague Wiggins from Scotland Yard are called in to investigate. They encounter a motley crew of suspects, theft, and layers of deceit. Not only that but Wiggins is involved in a personal family matter which has a connection to the murder case.

My heart was disappointed in the lack of oomph in the writing and superficial characterization. Unfortunately, this mystery is nothing new. However, I was happy to hang out with Jury as it's been awhile. It felt...comfortable. The novel is short which contributes to the lack of depth explored in the characters and plot. While I liked it, my feelings are neutral and I had no real reason to engage. Nostalgia is missing. A few aspects didn't quite fit into the rest of the story including the odd pig situation. As a food person who adores truffles, I do appreciate the brief mentions of specific dishes. Sad to say, this didn't strike me as special. The lack emotional involvement took me off guard but I will read any further Martha Grimes books as long as she writes them.

*2.5 stars. I have read all of the books in this series featuring Superintendent Richard Jury and Sergeant Wiggins and enjoyed them, sharing them with my mother for many years. However I am sad to say this might have been one book too many for Ms Grimes who is now 94. The book is short, the plot very thin. The author makes use of the same old tried-and-true gimmicks throughout the story, such as Jury sending in his friend, Melrose Plant, with the thinnest of excuses to spy on his suspect. And what really does that accomplish besides some amusing scenes? She pulls in most of the characters we've come to love but doesn't develop their scenes, leaving the reader wanting more.

I received an arc of this new mystery from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

This is book 26 of the series, and man does that make me feel old! I've been reading this series, since almost the beginning! Jury is different than more normal detectives, resulting in cases that lean more to the intellectual, and offer a different look at his social life, due to having 'friends in high places'. This disparity lands the books solidly between typical police procedurals and cozies, but gives them their own niche. In this latest book, Jury and Wiggins are divided due to a family emergency, and each has their own case leads to follow and decipher. Jury's is very confusing as he appears to have a schizophrenic victim, or a doppleganger. But all his suspects had solid alibies and no clear cut lead to prove otherwise. meanwhile Wiggins soon realizes he has a doppleganger of his own, and soon with Jury's help, he realizes their cases intersect. With a last minute roller coaster to see if the suspect gets caught, this one keeps the reader guessing!

As much as I like Martha Grimes and Richard Jury, this book is not worth much. It's not long even with the padding of two vignettes that are included even though they have nothing to do with the plot. I do not recommend this book to anyone, not even compleatists.

This is the 26th entry in the Richard Jury series. This outing has a complicated plot with several unexpected twists and turns and an ending that may surprise most readers.

There isn’t much character development here because the main character has been developed for years. The secondary characters don’t need a lot of development because they’re only “on stage” for a few pages as possible suspects in the murder investigation. That leaves the plot to carry the burden of the book, and Grimes stumbles here. The book seems disjointed and new readers won’t be entranced by any of the characters, including Jury, his sergeant, or the killer.

If you’re new to this series, you needn’t have read all the books in this series, but you might want to start with the first two or three to understand why Jury is such a likable character and how this character has been around for so long.

My thanks to Atlantic Monthly Press and NetGalley for an eARC.

It has been awhile since I've read one of Marthat Grimes' Richard Jury novels so I was happy to pick up this new one. I enjoy the Jury character and his friends and the cases are interesting and diverse.

Description:
One calm night in Twickenham, a businessman named Tom Treadnor is shot off his barstool at The Queen pub. Superintendent Richard Jury is called in to investigate, and quickly realizes that everyone in Treadnor’s life – from his widow, Alice, to the staff at his manor, to his business partner had differing opinions of him. And to complicate things further, Jury has just happened upon a photo in a newspaper of a man in the United States, who is a dead ringer for Treadnor.

Meanwhile, Wiggins, Jury’s partner at New Scotland Yard, becomes sidetracked by an investigation of his His sister, missing for years and presumed dead, has just sent a postcard to their mother. When Wiggins takes off in search of his sister, the two investigations begin to converge.

My Thoughts:
This is a short book. The usual eccentric characters are all there and the banter between Jury and his friends is always fun. The murder has no suspects at first and seems unsolvable. Jury and team dig in and come up with a theory. Then, it seems to go off-track. Jury is dissuaded from fingering the prime suspect for some reason and I felt letdown. I didn't like the way this played out at all. Also, the scenario with the piglets was horrendous and I didn't see how it related to the story. Not my favorite book, for sure.

Thanks to Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.

The Red Queen by Martha Grimes is a recommended procedural and humorous cozy mystery. This is the twenty-sixth novel in the series featuring superintendent Richard Jury. It may be best appreciated by those who have been following the series and intimately know all the characters. Many of them are present, including Melrose Plant.

Jury and Wiggins of New Scotland Yard are asked to investigate when businessman Tom Treadnor is shot through the window at The Queen pub in Twickenham. No one saw who did it and Treadnor doesn't appear to be well liked, including by Alice, his wife. He was planning to divorce her. At the same time Jury sees a photo in the newspaper of a man who is the doppelgänger of Treadnor. The man is traveling in the USA and unable to be located.

Another case involves Wiggins, Jury’s partner at New Scotland Yard. His missing sister sent a postcard to their mother and Wiggins takes off with Macalvie to find her. The two follow various clues to find her. Eventually the two investigations begin to converge. There is also an incident with a goat and some pigs.

This is a short, fast-paced novel that can be quickly read. Along the way there are some delightful scenes and humorous encounters. This doesn't represent the best novels in the series. It doesn't have the suspense or complexity of earlier novels. The investigation seems lackluster and was easily predicted. However, Grimes is in her nineties now so another Richard Jury novel is a feat in itself.

The Red Queen is a great choice for those who have been following the Richard Jury series. Thanks to Grove Atlantic for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

This is another of the Richard Jury mysteries. Here Jury is investigating the murder of a businessman who was shot while sitting on a barstool in his local pub, The Queen. Someone has altered the pub sign to read The Red Queen, is this significant? Jury's assistant is off on his own personal inquiry. The two investigations are enjoyable and there are some witty moments but I didn't find it quite up to Ms. Grimes usual works.

I feel like The Red Queen is a swan song, a chance to say hello and goodbye to characters in the long running series. The crime and its solution are as intricate as always, the details are perhaps scarcer. As a fan I am just happy to get to read once more a story with Richard Jury and Melrose Plant.

The only way I can think to describe this book is perfunctory. The plot has all the hallmarks of Grimes’ usual ingenuity and cleverness, but there’s not a lot of flesh on these bones. The dialog is mostly short, sharp sentences and the descriptive narrative sparse. Jury and Wiggins are grumpy, snarky old men, which is actually pretty entertaining at times, but I miss the lush prose of Grimes’ earlier books. That said, it was nice to be immersed in the world of Richard Jury and Melrose Plant for one last time.

One quiet night in a village pub wealthy businessman Tom Treadnor is killed with an arrow shot through the window. This unusual crime lands in the hands of intrepid Richard Jury of Scotland Yard. He soon discovers that everyone in his life had different ideas about the man which arouses Jury's suspicions. An engaging side plot is his long time partner Wiggins 's investigation into the disappearance of his sister years ago. When his mother receives a postcard. bearing her name Wiggins sets off on the trail. I have followed this series for many years and I find the cast of recurring characters to be delightful from eccentric Lord Arbry Melrose Plant, his scheming aunt Agatha and Carol Anne his upstairs neighbor. A Jury novel always presents an interesting investigation with touches of lighthearted humor and insights into the human condition. Jury is dogged and cerebral rather than a hard nosed cop. After a six year hiatus veteran wordsmith (94 years young!) delivers another cracking good read. If you are a mystery lover and have not dipped into this engaging series I highly recommend that you do, They are well worth the time.

Oh, to be back in the world of Richard Jury, Detective Sergeant Wiggins, Melrose Plant, his loyal butler Ruthven, Carole-Anne, Mrs. Withersby, and the rest of the delightfully eccentric crew created by Martha Grimes’ clever imagination and stellar writing. How I’ve missed you all!

When a pub in the village of Twickenham is the scene of an unbelievably brazen murder, Jury and Wiggins of New Scotland Yard are asked to investigate. While gathering facts from suspects and witnesses, the two men are sidetracked by a missing sister, farm animals, the antics of their friends, and more than few cocktails.

I was honored to receive an advance ebook copy from publisher Grove Atlantic via NetGalley (thank you), and the story—with Grimes’ memorable characters and signature humor—did not disappoint.

Because I was reading an early, uncorrected galley, there were some rough patches, particularly with the transitions between plots.

However. the Red Queen seems to be Grimes’ love letter to her devoted readers who’ve followed the Richard Jury series through twenty-five previous novels, because every regular character and location makes an appearance in this book, no matter how brief. It makes me want to go back and read them all again!

Note: If you’re new to the Richard Jury series, I’d suggest starting with any other book before reading this one (they don’t have to be read in order), to get the most enjoyment from it.

Inspector Richard Jury is back, along with your favorite sidekicks (Wiggins, Melrose Plant, and more.). In the coziest entry in the series by far, Jury is working to solve a seemingly impossible crime. Diehard fans of the Richard Jury series and fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy it.

The Red Queen sees the return of Richard Jury and Melrose Plant and I welcome them back.

This book fell a little bit flat for me and I cant quite put my finger on it but nevertheless I did enjoy the mystery even though at times it felt far fetched.

Tom Treadnor a local business man is shot in the local pub The Queen and the list of suspects is long as it turns out Tom is not well liked. His wife and business partner are included on that list.

Wiggins in the meantime goes off on his own mission to find his missing sister which seemed strange and out of character.

There were twists and turns and I did want to see what happened and who painted the sign The Red Queen but sadly it was not one of my favourite books of the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atantlic/Atlantic Monthly Press for the opportunity to read and review The Red Queen.