Rating: 
Summary: Well-written, absorbing mystery
Review: I'm intrigued by the responses of other readers to this most recent Martha Grimes novel. Those who are true mystery afficionados may prefer this tome over previous Grimes efforts; those who love the "Martha Grimes mystery" featuring a caricatured cast of characters may be slightly disappointed. I have a foot firmly planted in both camps and as a result I was thrilled with this book! A friend felt that perhaps the story had been co-written with another person. Without revealing too much of the plot and spoiling it for others, suffice to say that the usual cast of characters (Vivian, Marsha/Marshall, Melrose, Aunt Agatha, Polly, Ruthven, Carol-Anne, Mrs. Wasserman, et al) are less in evidence, and therefore not providing red herrings and distracting the reader from the core mystery. Only Melrose Plant -- and new character Mickey Haggarty -- play much of a role. In spite of this streamlining few readers will be able to predict the ending, which provides quite a twist of events. Another reviewer picked up on one of the Grimes' constants -- the precocious child/children with her/her/their guardian angel in the form of an animal. The concept is back in this book, with mixed success. Things are not quite so neatly wrapped up at the end of the story. Personally I found that refreshing; others may be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Jury, Plant & kids
Review: I have always loved the Richard Jury/Melrose Plant series. I especially liked this book for the further character development of Richard. With each new book the characters become a little more defined, but if you are just starting this series, this would be the wrong book to start with. I liked the children. Always love the interaction of Plant and Jury with kids. Gemma was left incomplete this time around. Where did she come from--other than bare basics??!! Just when it looks like you'll get some answers about Gemma, things veer off into another direction. I really like Benny Keegan, though. Tough little character.
Rating:
Summary: Good Yarn Sidetracked by Slow, Silly Asides
Review: Martha Grimes begins one of her more interesting stories in years but doesn't have the confidence to stick with it. A plot that goes back to WWII in a bombed out pub, a case of possible mistaken identity involving two aristocratic families, the shooting death of one of the patriarchs, and Richard Jury's good Irish police buddy dying of cancer provide interesting initial ingredients. But the sidestory involving Jury's friend, Melrose Plant and all those silly minor characters on a trip to Florence is not very entertaining and keeps dragging down the mystery. (As to those minor characters, enough already, Ms. Grimes!!!) While the denoument is unique and clever, too many loose ends are never addressed. It's time to go back and look at the first six or seven books in the series and see what was so engaging.
Rating: 
Summary: What a disappointment.
Review: I was truly looking forward to another Richard Jury story, apparently Ms. Grimes was not. This book seems to be missing the other half. For one thing there were too many story lines that went nowhere, whereas there were several story lines that seemed rather imcomplete. Both the editor and the author should be ashamed about the number of discrepancies and inconsistancies. Moreover, the book just merely ended leaving me to ask "what was she thinking?"
Rating:
Summary: Not the Best Richard Jury, but not the Worst, Either
Review: I agree that this Richard Jury is somewhere in the middle, not the best, but not the worst in the series. Despite the somewhat disjointed story lines, I was anxious to get to the end to see who the killer was. I was somewhat disappointed in how she wrapped up the loose ends and I really disliked the very end of the book. I also agree with the readers who said the book is poorly edited -- the poem "Jenny Kissed Me" is attributed by Wiggins to Walter Savage Landor. The author is Leigh Hunt. For those fans who have read all of the Richard Jury books only.
Rating:
Summary: Confusing
Review: I was disappointed in this book. The only Grimes books I really like are the Richard Jury books, and even they are becoming unreadable. It almost seems like Grimes has written a fantasy book instead of a mystery. I am forever trying to get the dates to match up with the ages of the people in this book! There were also too many different story lines which didn't seem to have anything to do with each other. There could almost have been more than one book being written here. I did not like the ending, not because I don't want it to end the way it seems too, but because it is a useless ending. I suppose it has made sure that at least someone will read the next Jury book, just to see what happens. Overall, after being excited to see a new Jury book, I was highly disappointed in this one.
Rating:
Summary: Why, Martha, why?
Review: The anger I felt after reading Martha Grimes' The Blue Last is probably my own fault...I should have known better. Afterall, this is the author who actually let a child die, so heartbreakingly, in one of the Richard Jury mysteries.
So why do I continue to read the series? Because I must have the word sucker written across my forehead? No, because I care about her characters, I enjoy the humor and the pathos, and I usually appreciate the melancholy air that surrounds her two heroes.
There is no question that Ms. Grimes is brilliant in getting one to care about her characters. That raises the issue; does she have an obligation to her readers or to thine ownself be true?
The Blue Last has all of the series' hallmarks: the dog, the cat, the children, the miserable suspects, you get the picture. But, the foreshadowing is pervasive from the title to the enigmatic dedication.
The book is well written and sad and funny. But, it is a major disappointment.
Martha Grimes is too good a writer to feel she had to do what she did at the end. She did her readers a diservice. Does she hate us?
I'm think Ms. Grimes underestimates her considerable talent and her readership. You could argue, she's the author, she can do what she wants. But, readers, you don't have to read it.
If you are looking for answers in The Blue Last, you don't find many. Just like Richard Jury's quest to trace his past, sadly, there are only more questions.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyed it!
Review: This is not Ms. Grimes' best book, but for the most part, I still enjoyed it. It was nice getting back into the lives of Jury and his friends. I did miss Vivian. I think there was a brief mention of her, but no real interaction between her and the rest of the gang. My other gripe - which I haven't seen mentioned in anyone else's posts is this.. cigarettes are mentioned too much! I am a previous smoker, and I can relate to the desire to smoke, but Jury's constant obsession with his craving and noticing every cigarette other people have is getting on my nerves. I didn't like the ending, but I accept it and look forward to the next book featuring Jury.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing...
Review: I usually like Martha Grimes' Richard Jury mysteries, even if the mystery isn't all that involving, her odd-ball cast of characters is usually amusing to spend some time with. Unfortunately, The Blue Last was a disappointment. The writing was ho-hum, the plot non-existent. There is an entire section devoted to a Melrose and Marshall Florentine trip, and while the reader will be more knowledgeable about the place of Massaccio in Renaissance art, it does nothing to advance the plot or story. Shame on the editor for allowing this ego-gratifying piece of writing to remain. I am also by now getting tired with the endless procession of precocious children who seem to pop up with regularity. While most writer's don't give children enough credit for what they see and hear, Grimes always manages to take it over the top. Plus, the ever intelligent dog-companion makes an obligatory appearance. This is another worn out device of hers that could stand to go to the dust bin. Fortunately we don't have to spend too much time on Jury's pathetic romantic relantionships with women in this outing (huzzah!) but a promising examination of Jury's war-time memories for no discernable reason ends up going no where, much like this book. The book meandered but the ending came out of no where and made no sense, as if Grimes had suddenly woken up and said, "Gotta wrap this one up!". Ultimately a hollow book, full of tired Grimes cliches and no substance. For the die-hard Jury fan only, and only from the library.
Rating:
Summary: "Last" but not Best
Review: I've been a loyal reader of Martha Grimes books, but this one was a disappointment. There were too many loose ends (and sloppy editing mistakes), too many rambling thoughts, and not enough substance (as much as I tried I couldn't "buy" the motive for the murder of Simon Croft). I also hated the cliffhanger ending (before this book, Grimes wouldn't have had to resort to such tricks to sell the next book).
That's not to say there weren't bright spots. As always the literary references were compelling and well-placed, and her well-known and loved Long Pidd characters didn't disappoint.
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