Rating: 3.5 starsThis is the first time I've read Martha Grimes, so I really didn't know what to expect. It's about 10% mystery and 90% character-driven. The story takes place in a small New England town where several women have been murdered in a similar fashion. This mystery, however, isn't explored very deeply. I loved the character of Sam (the small-town sheriff), and his interactions with Maud (divorced mother, waitress) made me chuckle many times; his quiet exasperation with her was very funny! However, I didn't care so much for Maud, as she seemed to live in a world driven by fantasty and denial and emotional over-dependence on her college-aged son Chad. I found her little games with Sam (making him follow a certain line of conversation before answering his questions, etc) to be highly annoying. Her internal thoughts dragged on and on at times and went off on crazy tangents. I didn't care much one way or another for her son Chad.Mainly slice-of-life, with a tiny side of murder mystery thrown in. If not for Sam, I'd probably give it a lower rating. Conversely, if I'd liked Maud a little more, I may have given it a higher one.
Not to my present interests, so quit early. An unambitious waitress, after work in a pokey redneck cafe, drinks martinis alone at the end of a dock, to observe lights from a summer cottage party across the lake, seek meaning in poor poetry, avoid participation in life, and wish her son not to leave for university early. I could not be curious about the where, who, why, and obscure un-rhymes, enough to read beyond a tiny positive - wry humor from a silent customer and his quiet pal, named for their similar license plates. I prefer heroes and lovers to love, villains to hate and fear, and situations to cause real laughter and tears.
What do You think about The End Of The Pier (1993)?
This is a departure from her Richard Jury novels but I think you might enjoy this one. In a quiet town, three women are brutally murdered by a man who hates women to the core, but ironically it's not the male sherriff--but his wife!--who stares her killer down and solves the murder. Cool!The descriptions of the small town of Hebrides adds flavor and suspense, and the soiree is straight out of F. Scott Fitzgerald, who I think woulda been proud of Ms. Grimes. She's one of the best mystery writers living today and I hope you enjoy 'em!
—Edward Creter
I loved this book. I always thought it took place in Maryland but after reading a subsequent book, believe it must have been in the Southwest.I think one reason I liked it so much was because it reminded me of my aunt's cottage on the Magothy River in Maryiand. They had a pier, they were right near an island where the wealthy people lived, Gibson Island. And there was a bar down the road that sold kids pop out of the back door. It just all seemed very familiar to me.I'd never felt that in a book before - like I might have been to that exact place. And the author was, at that time, still living in the area. It is also a good story.
—Jan C
This is a tough one for me. I so enjoyed Hotel Paradise by Martha Grimes and immediately set out to read some of her other books. I was excited to see that this one, although written quite a few years earlier, had some of the same characters as in HP. However, Maud and Sam just weren't as appealing in this book. The book itself is nicely written and is a fairly quick read. It really delved in to the strong and yet delicate mother/son relationships. Not to through the baby out with the bath water.....I will read Martha Grimes again.
—Melissa
