The Man with a Load of Mischief

The Man with a Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes is a 1981 publication.

Confession: I have most of the books in this series in print just gathering dust on my shelf… mainly because reading print is hard on my eyeballs. But I remembered loving the series, so decided it was past time to stop procrastinating and start the series over again, reading them all in order… no excuses!

This first installment starts off with a bang- two bangs, actually, in the quaint English village of Long Piddleton. Two random people turn up dead, murdered in the most bizarre ways, and absolutely no one knows who they are… which leads to the call to Scotland Yard.

Enter Detective Richard Jury, who is basically a good old-fashioned detective, pounding the show more pavement, interviewing everyone but he gets more "help" than he knows what to do with when Lady Agatha Audry attempts to insert herself into the investigation at every turn. The only good thing about that is that Agatha’s nephew, Melrose plant, a nobleman who shunned his title, much to his aunt’s dismay, turns out to be a great help, and is a pretty good detective in his own right.

The premise is a little outlandish, but I do love those quaint English villages brimming with secrets. The characters are very well-drawn, and Grimes nails the atmosphere and paints a vivid landscape. The wild beginning aside, the plot is clever and keeps you guessing till the end.

While the story has a ‘cozy’ vibe to it, be aware that is does have an edge, and some language you won’t find in most cozies. While I don’t think I’m quite as enthusiastic about this one the second time around, I am glad I finally decided to dust the bunnies off and reacquaint myself with Richard Jury, Melrose Plant and his extremely annoying, (and hilarious), Aunt Agatha! show less

When two murders occur in the tiny English village of Long Piddleton, Scotland Yard sends investigator Richard Jury and his hypochondriac assistant Wiggins to investigate. We meet the residents of the village, some of whom are suspects and some would-be investigative assistants. As the bodies continue to stack up, Jury recognizes the importance of the backstories of several characters and pursues them along with the current investigations.

It's easy to assume that Grimes is a Brit herself, but in fact she is an American. Her depiction of the small English villages creates a chafrming atmosphere, whose interruption by the murders creates a stark contrast. The characters provide most of the interest. The plot drags a bit but comes together show more in the book's second half as the different stories emerge and their linkages become apparent. Overall a very enjoyable mystery. I'll look for its sequels. show less

The Man With A Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes
Richard Jury Series Book #1
4 Stars

From The Book:
At the Man with a Load of Mischief, they found the dead body stuck in a keg of beer. At the Jack and Hammer, another body was stuck out on the beam of the pub’s sign, replacing the mechanical man who kept the time. Two pubs. Two murders. One Scotland Yard inspector called in to help. Detective Chief Inspector Richard Jury arrives in Long Piddleton and finds everyone in the postcard village looking outside of town for the killer. Except for one Melrose Plant. A keen observer of human nature, he points Jury in the right direction: into the darkest parts of his neighbors’ hearts.

My Views:
Not a bad book at all but the author sure loves the show more adjective. It was a really good story and all the unnecessary description didn't make it any better. The plot was different than anything I have ever read... and that fact alone makes the reader want to read "just one more page" until before you know it the "one more page" has turned into the last page.

Another likable element about the book is the author's sense of humor. Martha Grimes made several of the characters quirky to the point of peculiarity thus having them provide a lot of levity for this essentially straightforward tale of greed gone wild. The Inspector Richard Jury character could stand to be fleshed out more but since this is the first book of 23 currently written...this may have already happened. I will certainly plan to explore more of this series. show less

A well-read cousin recommended this book to me, and I am so glad she did. I love the combination of interesting murder mystery, quirky characters, and an insightful detective, Richard Jury, along with a smattering of humor that makes the story click along in an interesting way. In a small town in England, a series of murders happens at local pubs, including one that titles the book, and as per good whodunits, there are several suspects with questionable alibis and possible motives. I didn't figure it out until the author revealed the killer.

A more engaging story than the later Richard Jury novels. The mystery was a bit of a let down; however the characterizations and byplays carried the story. Having read Grimes' novels out of sequence, this first in the series was more intriguing than later novels. Melrose Plant along with the other characters felt fully-realized.

At the Man with a Load of Mischief, they found the dead body stuck in a keg of beer. At the Jack and Hammer, another body was stuck out on the beam of the pub’s sign, replacing the mechanical man who kept the time. Two pubs. Two murders. One Scotland Yard inspector called in to help. Detective Chief Inspector Richard Jury arrives in Long Piddleton and finds everyone in the postcard village looking outside of town for the killer. Except for one Melrose Plant. A keen observer of human nature, he points Jury in the right direction: into the darkest parts of his neighbors’ hearts…

This is the first of Martha Grimes' Richard Jury mysteries. A good many bodies, an old murder solved, a bit of enlightenment on the origin of pub names, a burgeoning friendship, a hint of romance in the offing, and a healthy dose of humor.