The Anodyne Necklace

Richard Jury, Book 3

By: Martha Grimes

Narrated by: Steve West

A spinster whose passion was bird-watching, a dotty peer who pinched pennies, and a baffling murder made the tiny village of Littlebourne a most extraordinary place. And a severed finger made a ghastly clue in the killing that led local constables from a corpse to a boggy footpath to a beautiful lady's mansion.

But Richard Jury refused, preferring to take the less traveled route to a slightly disreputable pub, The Anodyne Necklace. There, drinks all around loosened enough tongues to link a London mugging with the Littlebourne murder and a treasure map that would chart the way to yet another chilling crime.

©1983 Martha Grimes (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Another goodie by Ms Grimes

I so enjoy these audio books that are available read by someone with an accent! The mystery keeps you listening and it is fun!

Great narration

Loved this third installment of the Jury and Plant pub mysteries. This one had a perfect blend of mystery solving and humor/whimsy.

Love this series

read or listen from the beginning of the series. The character development is wonderful.

One of the best in the series

This is where the characters that appear in future books come out and Melrose & Jury’s friendship & working relationship appear at ease. The Cripps’ is the funniest of all & how Melrose interacts with them.

Ahhh, Richard Jury!

Even though many of the regular characters are missing from this story, it is my favorite of the Richard Jury series available on Audible and I am anxiously awaiting the addition of more titles. One of my favorite mystery writers, Martha Grimes continues to add new cast members and develop their relationships as the series progresses. I particularly appreciate her characterizations of self sufficient children in books 2 and 3. Sorry to say Aunt Agatha is not a continuing presence in this story and I missed her but she will return! Years ago I owned the series on audio cassettes, read by Tim Curry, and I personally prefer Steve West's less stilted narration

Rughard Jury- sigh ❤️❤️

This is #3 in the Richard Jury saga and I remember being a young woman reading the book and falling in love with the Scotland Yard detective. Great story, wonderful characters, good narrator.

Very enjoyable

One of Ms.Grimes’s fine stories. I can confidently recommend this one. Aside from one odd jarring use of the f word, there’s nothing here to impede one from enjoying an old fashioned mystery - a set of suspects in a village scene, descriptive character portrayals, likeable central characters (not one but two), intriguing plot, some red herrings and so on. I couldn’t solve it but quite frankly this was one of those remarkable audiobooks wherein I completely forgot at several points that I was in fact immersed in a mystery. And I do so like a good mystery - without the blood, gore, profanity and sleek, cold forensic touch. So many Audible mysteries have gone by, and now I’ll just have to start the wait again, until I come across another good yarn of this caliber. There’s some humor but don’t worry, it’s not overly done. And the narrator is pitch perfect.

Rattling good tale

Steady fun yo listen to. Steve West - Excellent narrator!! . Looking forward to the next Jury mystery.

More laughter

situational-humor, verbal-humor, law-enforcement, murder-investigation, friendship

Despite some of the aspects of the murders and attempted murder, some of the characters are the wackiest I've seen in a while! Of course there are dastardly ones, and the two coppers along with some of their friends, but it's the locals who will have you laughing yourself silly. Very enjoyable!
Steve West narrates it all without cracking up.

Great series, not the greatest book in it

I very much like the Jury series and will definitely continue on with it.

That said, this wasn't my favorite so far. The characters were their usual quirky, interesting selves, but the plot fell a bit short. The killer was a bit out in left field and was one of those mystery tropes that generally annoy me. Alas I can't expand on that without spoiling the book.

I didn't hate it and it didn't ruin the series for me. I just didn't enjoy it as much as the first two.