Rating: 
Summary: A Grave robber!
Review: I own most of Martha's books and have read them all. The Grave
Maurice will not go on my shelf for a future re-read. Nor will
l pass it on to friends or my local library. I feel as though
I've been "had"! Was this actually written by Ms. Grimes?? Is
someone masquerading as Inspector Jury? And was that ending
supposed to be a "surprise twist"? I'd say it was a
perverse way to end a story--completely without logic,
completely leaving the reader with egg on ones face and a bad
taste in ones mouth. At least this one!
Rating: 
Summary: Did I read the same book you did?
Review: I rarley write reviews but I am an avid reader and enjoy reading the reviews. I almost always agree with the majority of the reviewers, but not this time. I thought this book was outstanding. There was only one element that seemed slightly unbelievable, but the writing and huge unexpected twists more than made up for it. Three times I was sure I knew what was going to happen, but was wrong. The ending was very satisfying, if sad. Melrose Plant and the whole hermit sideline was bizarrely funny. I thought this book reached beyond the run of the mill mystery. The book had some very poignant moments. Loved it!
Rating: 
Summary: The Jury Is Out
Review: I sometimes wonder why Grimes's books are called the "Richard Jury" books when more and more Melrose Plant seems to be taking on the job of New Scotland Yard. And how old are these guys now anyway? 50s? 60s? If Jury was 6 or 7 in 1945, well, you do the math. Still they still have their endless string of fillies, doomed and damaged, to fall in love with, bed (even with fresh bullet wounds) who are destined to either die or wither on the vine like old Viv-viv. "The Grave Maurice" is not a Grimes masterpiece, but it is still pretty good, and altogether tidier, plotwise, than "The Lamorna Wink" which had plently plot plus and lots of Plant exposition (at least we know why Plant gave up his titles) and a bad sub-plot featuring a most unbelievable child snuff film and just way too many characters. When Grimes is good, as with children and animals, Agatha at bay and Wiggins doing his Yard/Boots the Chemists thing, she is so ... good, clever and funny you will forgive her anything, but when she has Jury send Melrose the ertswhile Earl out to buy one more expensive item as a ruse (a painting, a car, a house, a horse, whatever)or as a pseudo expert (librarian, art collector, antiques appraiser, rider to the hounds) I start wondering if someone really ought to tell DCS Racer, or at Cyril the Cat, that Jury is not on the case, again. And she really is going to have to start introducing some foresenics into her crime scenes...she's dating herself. But here, she seems to have lost control of her characters, charming as they may be.As for the sub-plot of "Grave Maurice," the unnecessarily cruel way in which mares' urine is collected to manufacture Premarin, I am not at all certain if her diatribe was really that effective as a plot device or by being set against the foolish bumbling of Diane (who used to wear reds, remember Martha?), Trueblood and Plant in their following of the hunt and anti-hunters. I finished this book and immediately went back and re-read "Jerusalem Inn" and "Help the Poor Struggler" just to get good and Grimes-y again.
Rating:
Summary: Jury is fine, but Plant makes me laugh
Review: I thought it was great just like all the other books by Martha Grimes. Plant has become more of a main character in the Jury novels, and has been for some time. That's fine with me,I love Plant! He makes me laugh...I have always read the Jury novels, not only because they are well written , but for Plant's dry, sarcastic and sometimes caustic sense of humor. It's a great read, don't be disuaded by those who don't like the spotlight off of their beloved Jury. Change is good, and the book is still wonderfully written. So if you don't read the Grimes books for the love of Jury only, but all the wonderful characters like Agatha, Trueblood and Wiggens, then you will enjoy this one as well.
Rating:
Summary: Come off thy high horse
Review: I usually like this author, but this book really is a little preachy. In addition, the reason for Nell's failure to promptly return to home is not really conveyed through the rest of her characterization - though I imagine the sustained ill-treatment she received might have accounted for some irrationality.
Rating: 
Summary: More Fantasy than Mystery
Review: I was a big fan of Ms. Grimes' earlier works, but her last few Jury mysteries have been extremely disappointing. Again, she utilizes extremely chance meetings and far-fetched links amoung strangers to produce the mystery as well as solve it. She should also re-read her earlier books and reacquaint herself with her characters. In "The Old Fox Deceived", Melrose had backflashes about participating in a cubbing (pre-season hunt) as a 10-year-old and the trauma of having the fox's blood smeared on him as part of a bizarre ritual. In addition, in the 'Fox Deceived' story, he participated in a hunt -- galloping over fields and jumping ditches and fences -- during which a body was discovered. But, in "The Grave Maurice", he was portrayed as knowing nothing about fox-hunting nor about riding a horse. I think Martha is tired of her characters; maybe she should let them fade away gracefully.
Rating: 
Summary: Well worth the read.
Review: I was almost put-off from reading the The Grave Maurice by some of the reviews I read here. I'm glad I wasn't. While perhaps not Ms. Grimes' strongest outing, it was not so far off the mark that I felt slighted or that my time was wasted. Although this book can stand on its own as an enjoyable read, it probably more closely links to its predecessor (The Blue Last) than most other books in the Jury series. Some nuances of character attitudes and motivations in The Grave Maurice are directly tied to this last outing, and I recommend that The Blue Last be read first if possible. Along these same lines, a few recurring characters from the past are given only minor involvement or mention. This seems perfectly natural, however, considering that I believe this is Ms. Grimes' 19th book of the Jury series and to catch long-term readers up on everyone with whom we have some familiarity would likely serve to treble book's length without adding to its plot. My advice to newer readers of the series is not to be distracted by these references, since I view them more as nostalgic nods to past cases for those of us that have been with the series from the outset. In The Grave Maurice, Ms. Grimes has once again spun an interesting mix of emotions and attitudes. I applaud the manner in which she deals with the sensitivities of homicides (and those who are touched by them) along with a topical social issue, while at the same time providing us a supporting cast with light-hearted (albeit, a bit exaggerated) idiosyncrasies. It's a blend that makes me keep coming back for more.
Rating:
Summary: Mopey Maurice
Review: I was very disappointed in this latest (and apparently rushed to publish) installment by Ms. Grimes. Can't anyone be happy in her books anymore? Please, let Jury put himslef out of his misery and give Melrose a chance to shine. While the information on Premarin was interesting, there was no closure on that plot line other than the heroine coming to grief. I did like the way she portrayed the equine thoughts - that reminded me of the old Martha Grimes wit and why I so liked her earlier books. I have been such a fan of this series of mysteries but I have to say that I will wait until her next one is out in paperback and I find it used. I can't see paying good money for the hard cover version anymore. Did I find this hard to put down? Very, but mostly because I was hoping it would get a lot better.
Rating:
Summary: Big Disappointment!
Review: I've been a big fan of Martha Grimes, but this book was a terrible read! I nearly gave up after the first few chapters, but continued plodding through only because I was stuck at a horse show for a week with no other reading material. The plot is poorly done, the characters are shallow (I mean, I really didn't care anymore who lived or died or who ended up being the villian -- I just wanted to get through and done), and it just didn't meet the high expectations I had from my past experience with her books. I think I may have to go back and reread some of her previous works just to remind myself of how good she can be. And if you have never read a Martha Grimes' book, do not choose this one as an example. She can do so much better!
Rating:
Summary: Whoa Nellie!
Review: I've dipped in and out of the Richard Jury series over the years, and generally I've found Martha Grimes' books to be entertaining and well-written -- though not perfect. By contrast, "Grave Maurice" is gravely flawed. How in the world could the mere photograph of a 15-year-old girl, Nell Ryder, engender such intense feelings of yearning and passion in every grown man who sees it? When Nell appears in the flesh, she's described as lucent and luminous but actually seems one-dimensional in the extreme. Meanwhile, the plot is awash in coincidences that rob it of honesty. Face it: Melrose Plant is the one decent character -- give him his own series, Martha, and give handsome Richard Jury's bullet-riddled, bed-hopping body a little rest.
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