Vertigo 42

A Richard Jury Mystery, Book 23

By: Martha Grimes

Narrated by: Steve West

The inimitable Scotland Yard Superintendent Richard Jury returns in another "literate, lyrical, funny, funky, discursive, bizarre" (The Washington Post) mystery, now with a tip of the derby to Alfred Hitchcock’s famous movie Vertigo.

Richard Jury is meeting Tom Williamson at Vertigo 42, a bar on the 42nd floor of an office building in London’s financial district. Despite inconclusive evidence, Tom is convinced his wife, Tess, was murdered 17 years ago. The inspector in charge of the case was sure Tess’ death was accidental - a direct result of vertigo - but the official police inquiry is still an open verdict and Jury agrees to re-examine the case.

Jury learns that a nine-year-old girl fell to her death five years before Tess at the same country house in Devon where Tess died. The girl had been a guest at a party Tess was giving for six children. Jury seeks out the five surviving party guests, who are now adults, hoping they can shed light on this bizarre coincidence.

Meanwhile, an elegantly dressed woman falls to her death from the tower of a cottage near the pub where Jury and his cronies are dining one night. Then the dead woman’s estranged husband is killed as well. Four deaths - two in the past, two that occur on the pages of this intricate, compelling novel - keep Richard Jury and his sidekick Sergeant Wiggins running from their homes in Islington to the countryside in Devon and to London as they try to figure out if the deaths were accidental or not. And, if they are connected.

Witty, well-written, with literary references from Thomas Hardy to Yeats, Vertigo 42 is a pitch perfect, "pause-resisting" novel from a mystery writer at the top of her game.

©2014 Martha Grimes. All rights reserved. (P)2014 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

A lovrly English thriller

With time and people and even a dog with a clue
A charming mystery solved by the eminent Richard jury

The best

This is the best mystery series in my collection. The narrator is incomparable. Not to be missed

Very confusing keeping track of some characters toward the end

Some books are difficult on audio due to similarity of names or a lot of popping around in location. This is one of those. Unusually like Richard Jury stories but I still cannot figure out why I e of the characters was killed.

Grimes is great

A book-length series of perfectly timed and executed vignettes, featuring the familiar chapters and dry humor, as Jury solves another crime.
Narration was perfection.

Misadventure and Death

If you could sum up Vertigo 42 in three words, what would they be?

Death, Heartbreak, Revenge

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love Carol Ann. She plays dumb but is very clever. This book is so dark she helps provide some comic relief. Love her interactions with Jury.

Which character – as performed by Steve West – was your favorite?

Jury as always.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

He is still heartbroken and wants answers.

Any additional comments?

I hope this is not the last Jury book. I really look forward to them.

As always, Martha Grimes comes through

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. The author always weaves an interesting story, and this time it has a great twist, in an extended reference to a classic movie.

Have you listened to any of Steve West’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to others, but I certainly will. His presentation enhanced the story. I kept forgetting that the same person was reading all the different characters' lines!

Too long!

I have t sa that although I've thoroughly enjoyed most of the jury books, this was.no one of them.
it was too long and boring. I would not recommend this book.

Story and Narrator well matched.

One of the best narrators on Audible or anywhere for that matter. I got lost in the story.

A new Martha Grimes-Richard Jury fan

A huge fan of the "armchair mystery" genre of Agatha Christie (intelligent plots and puzzles requiring thought sans gratuitous violence), I thoroughly enjoyed Jury's crime solving methodology. While not as much of a fan of the narrator's scope of characterization (why did the sergeant's voice have to be created with the narrator seemingly holding his nose closed?), the clues were all there (fair play a la Christie), and it was just a race to see whether the reader could put the puzzle together before Jury. Jury was a little biased in favor of his personal emotional instincts (Poirot would never do that), but nonetheless, it was a good puzzle and very satisfying mystery. I look forward to reading more of Grimes, and hope there are just as many interwoven literary references, as it makes it all the more enjoyable!

Enjoyed the book very much

But I always do. Have followed Martha Grimes her entire career. Wish Jury could find peace. Some people never do.