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    The Man With a Load of Mischief
    The Man With a Load of Mischief
    The Man With a Load of Mischief
    Audiobook9 hours

    The Man With a Load of Mischief

    Written by Martha Grimes

    Narrated by Steve West

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    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…
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateMar 26, 2013
    ISBN9781442363205
    Author

    Martha Grimes

    Bestselling author Martha Grimes is the author of more than thirty books, including twenty-two Richard Jury mysteries. She is also the author of Double Double, a dual memoir of alcoholism written with her son. The winner of the 2012 Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster Award, Grimes lives in Bethesda, Maryland.

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    Reviews for The Man With a Load of Mischief

    4/5

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    • 4/5
      Entertaining introduction to Martha Grimes. A cosy murder mystery where Detective Richard Jury arrives at a picturesque snowy English village to solve two bizarre murders in pubs, only for more to follow…A light touch, and slightly humorous, and Jury is a nice and intelligent man to spend time around.As the novel seemed so quintessentially ‘English’ I was surprised and intrigued that it was written by an American.
    • 5/5
      Thoroughly enjoyed this engaging tale setting rural England, simple engrossing and full of gentle humour with a few murders
    • 5/5
      Great characters and nobody better than Steve West to bring them to life! Enjoyed every minute of this audiobook.
    • 4/5
      I read this years ago and fun now doing the audio listen. I’ve read nearly all her books!
    • 5/5
      So clever, witty, funny - once I start, I’m glued to it. Quirky, intelligent characters and lovely description.
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      This isn't the first that I've read in this series, but it has been a long time, certainly before this blog was started. There is a Golden Age, almost antiquarian flavour, to the novel, and murders abound. It is the first novel in the series and introduces D.I. Richard Jury and dilettante Melrose Plant, and a range of other interesting characters. The action is set in some colourfully named pubs.An enjoyable read particularly if you are looking for a series with a Golden Age flavour.
    • 5/5
      This is the first book in the Richard Jury mystery series.It is winter in Long Piddleton, England. A man is found murdered in the cellar of the Man With a Load of Mischief pub. He has been strangled, then placed hanging out of a beer keg with his head submerged in the keg. Shortly after, another man is found dead at the Jack and Hammer pub. He is hanging from the beam of the pub’s sign.Scotland Yard sends Jury out to solve these murders. The men are no locals and no one knows either of them. Are the murders related and if so how?While Jury is investigating these first murders, two more pub murders happen. The residents of Long Piddleton wonder who among them is the guilty party. They all have secrets to hide. The only exception is Melrose Plant, a local who has long links to the area. Plant has other ideas and shares them with Jury as they become friends.This is where Jury and Plant connect, which is nice to know, as I’ve read other books in the series. I have more books to read, which makes me happy.
    • 5/5
      humor, law-enforcement, murder-investigation, friendship Meet the characters who defy the labels usually assigned to them. The murders are weird and so is the town, no wonder that this series stands the test of time. Steve West is the best narrator for this madcap bunch.
    • 5/5
      Because my first experience with Richard Jury and reading Martha Grimes was so positive, I've gone back to the start. The Man with a Load of Mischief is a delightful murder mystery read. Taking place in the sleepy little town of Long Piddleton, Northants, 5 people end up murdered within days of one another. It appears that they are all strangers to the area - if so, why are they being picked off one by one? What brings them together? Inspector Richard Jury from New Scotland Yard is sent to figure out this mess. Well-written, engaging and quite a bit of fun, Martha introduces the reader to unforgettable characters like Melrose Plant whose aunt, Lady Ardry is a craw in his side and Marshall Trueblood, the local antiquities dealer and of course the pubs themselves like the Cock and Bottle, Bag O'Nails and the Man with a Load of Mischief. I am looking forward to reading each title in this series over the next couple of years since the first one dates back to 1981.
    • 4/5
      The Man With A Load of Mischief by Martha GrimesRichard Jury Series Book #14 StarsFrom 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 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.
    • 4/5
      This is a re-read for me, of a really well-loved cozy. I'd forgotten how much I LIKE Richard Jury. A detective with some issues, but still a nice guy. Not the most difficult mystery to solve, but a nice Christmas-y read.
    • 4/5
      A delightful English village mystery. Interesting, unusual characters, a well crafted plot, written with wit and intelligence.
    • 4/5
      This first installment in the Richard Jury / Melrose Plant detective stories is written with wit and wisdom. The characters are memorable, the setting is the classic village and the puzzle does not fail to please.
    • 4/5
      Bizarre murders are happening in the quaint snow-covered English village of Long Piddleton and the bodies are being left in very visible, macabre locations, all associated with local pubs with such colorful names as The Man With a Load of Mischief and The Jack and Hammer. Scotland Yard sends Inspector Richard Jury to investigate and thus begins this first of Martha Grimes long-running and popular Richard Jury mystery series. With interesting, unusual characters, a tightly plotted mystery, a delightful English village setting, and incredible wit, I can see how Grimes managed to attract so many loyal readers. I already have the next book in the series on my nightstand.
    • 5/5
      Like most of Martha Grimes mysteries, this one is an enjoyable read, with evolved characters, well-thought out plots.
    • 4/5
      This first of the Richard Jury mystery novels is well worth a read. Grimes' take on village life and stereotypical English characters harkens back to an earlier time.
    • 4/5
      The Man with a Load of Mischief is not only the name of this delightfully well-written mystery, it is also the name of the pub in Long Piddleton where the second murder in so many days has happened. This is the first of Martha Grimes' Richard Jury series, and was a fun read. As people in this little English village are murdered, Scotland Yard sends detective Richard Jury to solve the mystery and catch the killer. Each person murdered is in some way associated with a local pub. Grimes introduces us to Jury, local Melrose Plant and his overbearing aunt, Lady Agatha Argry.Grimes, an American, seems to capture the nuances of English village life. But then, what do I know? I'm a big-city American girl. For all I know, Grimes hasn't captured anything. But, even if that's the case, her village - and the wonderful characters who inhabit it - are delightfully well-drawn. The writing is far above average for the mystery genre, and I really like how we get to know each of the characters so well. For those used to more action in their mysteries, this book might be a bit slow, but if you enjoy good writing and interesting characters, then this book is for you.
    • 4/5
      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 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.
    • 4/5
      This fun read takes us into the world of a clever detective named Richard Jury. While I enjoyed the book, I did find it a bit hard to remember all the details in the book. There are mutliple locations all with unusual names (e.g. The Man with a Load of Mischief & The Jack and Hammer), and I sometimes had to slow down to catch the latest clue. If mindless reading is what you want, this isn't your book. But if you want a fun, imaginative murder mystery with some fun characters, this one's for you.
    • 5/5
      The first in the Richard Jury series, Man With a Load of Mischief introduces most of the recurring major characters in the series. We meet, to our delight, Melrose Plant, his obnoxious aunt, Lady Ardry, and Jury himself, who is not your ordinary Scotland Yard detective.Alas, Long Piddleton, which could very well pose as the quintessential English village in the snow, is host to a double murder on the eve of Christmas. The local constabulary calls in Scotland Yard, and Chief Superintendent Racer, with malice aforethought, sends Jury and Wiggens off to Northants to investigate. The locals are agog and are convinced a madman is loose. Lady Ardry, who fancies herself a mystery writer, offers (and unsolicitedly gives) her unique brand of help. Melrose Plant and Jury find instant affinity, and Jury makes good use of Plant's keen intelligence and knowlege of the local population.The plot is pretty straightforward with no major twists, but Grimes' strength is not so much in her plots as in her characterizations. Jury is off-beat enough, but not unique, whereas Plant is a oner. His relationship with his aunt is hilarious. Other characters, such as Trueblood, are refreshing.Grimesism: "No one talked like that any more except in the sanctum sanctorum of dusty men's clubs, where rigor mortis seemed a cause rather than an effect of death."All in all, a lightweight but excellent read. Highly recommended.