The Deer Leap

By: Martha Grimes

Narrated by: Steve West

Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this Richard Jury adventure, Martha Grimes takes listeners to Ashdown Dean, a little English village where animals are dying in a series of seemingly innocuous accidents. While the puzzling deaths of village pets may raise some idle gossip over a pint or two at the Deer Leap, the village pub, this hardly seems a case for Superintendent Jury of Scotland yard. Nor does it seem much of a challenge for the combined deductive powers of Jury and Melrose, the affable former Earl of Caverness.

It is his mystery writing-writing, amethyst-eyed friend, Polly Praed, who drags Plant and Jury to Ashdown Dean. The impatient Polly, having yanked open a call box in the pouring rain, is ill prepared for what lands at her feet. The now-deadly case is cause for calling in Scotland Yard.

©1985 Martha Grimes (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Grimes sets a more serious tone--good listen

I am enjoying listening to the books of Martha Grimes which I read in paper form many years ago. With this book, she has shifted her tone a bit--there is less emphasis on the silliness of some of the characters (though that is there a bit) as she has crafted this mystery around a more serious social/ethical concern--animal abuse.

I think Grimes appropriately down-played the amusing characters (such as Aunt Agatha, Melose Plant's impossibly pompous and irritating relative) so as not to detract from what I presume was her intent to blend the usual good mystery with attention to animal needs and rights.

This book begins with pets mysteriously disappearing and dying, and one of the main characters is a young girl who has dedicated herself to trying to rescue abandoned or injured animals. Against this background, murder occurs in the oddest way--and is discovered by Polly Praed, who calls in Melrose Plant and their friend from Scotland Yard, Richard Jury... and the detecting process begins.

Does this mixture of a mystery for reading enjoyment mix well with commentary on a serious ethical concern? Well, yes and no. Yes, because she has worked the plot around it sufficiently well to have an interesting story, but maybe not totally because (as much as I genuinely believe in and support her message) it felt a little forced. I would have preferred her point to have been a bit more subtle. I hate to make any criticism of Martha Grimes--I so enjoy all she has written, so please don't let that keep you from reading this book. I would say that if her emphasis on the plight of animals was a little heavy-handed, her heart was in the right place. The message is important. The book is good and I quite recommend it.

8 people found this helpful

I like the series, usually.

I hate throw away endings where it feels the author could not figure out how to wrap it up so gives an unfulfilling ending instead.

Decent story, crap ending. Ah, well, give it a try, it might be your cup of tea.

1 person found this helpful

Unsatisfying ending

This story is pretty good until the last chapter. Would a Constable in the UK have been carrying a handgun? Also, it was really surprising for Melrose Plant to use his sword stick that way. Seems like he would have used it instead to disable the person’s gun arm. And, the fate of the girl is left hanging. Was there supposed to be another chapter?

Another good one

pets, family-dynamics, law-enforcement, suspense, friendship -----.
The characters are clear and interesting, the police work is good on the part of Sgt Wiggins and highly imaginative on Jury's part, the suspense grows as the tale moves along. The ending is sad. 'Nuf said.
Steve West did a fine job as narrator.

Great series...sorry I read this one

I have very much enjoyed the Jury/Plant novels up to this point, but I really didn't enjoy this book.

There was precious little of the quirkiness and banter that makes the books charming and the tone was very dark. As odd as it may seem for a fan of murder mysteries, the animal abuse/killing in this book bothered me a lot. The plotting was also very heavy handed in this one and a bit predictable.

I was also disappointed in the end (or lack of one). I do wish authors would tie up the stories and threads they start.

I will keep going with the series (since I already purchased the next book), but if this "serious crime" bent continues, I will be returning them. These were quirky cozy-esque mysteries. That was what gave them charm and made them fun. This was just grim.

a good read

I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Endings

Again I feel I've been cheated out of things I want to know. Perhaps that why I keep coming back for more.