My 2018 Musical Advent Calendar - Day 15 and a Reading Update

The puppies had an exciting day today. They have just returned from the groomers, both looking trim and clean. They're both asleep right now.. lol

Bill's 2018 Musical Advent Calendar

Day 15 - Gallant, Table and Eric Nam, Cave Me In
I first heard this song on Trevor Nelson's show back in Jan. Gallant is an American singer who teamed up with Korean / Canadian rapper Tablo and Eric Nam, a Korean / American song writer for this song. Perfect mix of everything...

Just Finished

1. The Old Fox Deceiv'd by Martha Grimes (Inspector Jury #2).









"The Old Fox Deceiv'd is the 2nd book in the Inspector Richard Jury mystery series by American author Martha Grimes. I have read 3 or 4 others in the series already but had decided in the past couple of years to start the series in order, hence now finishing #2.

Points about the series - Inspector Jury works for the Murder Squad in Scotland Yard and finds himself sent around the UK to work on cases; his boss Superintendent Racer is a bit of a flash and doesn't like Jury; Jury regularly gets assistance from his friend, Lord Melrose Plant which adds a nice twist; and the story titles all are based on a pub in the locale of the mystery.

So there you go. A young woman is murdered in the town of Rackmoor on the North Sea coast. Jury is sent to assist the local constabulary, in the person of Detective Inspector Harkins who is somewhat upset by having London assist. Jury is assigned Sgt Wiggins, a hypochondriac but who actually is quite helpful to Jury. Melrose Plant happens to be visiting the local Lord and instigates himself into the investigation.

The woman is purported to be a long lost ward of the Crails (the Lord) and showed up maybe to claim an inheritance. This puts Lord Crails' son in the frame as a suspect. Gemma (the victim) was dressed in costume for the annual party of the Crails, a costume loaned her by Lucy Siddon, who thinks that she might have been the intended victim.

Into this scenario arrives Jury and Wiggins. They find themselves in an interesting town peopled with fascinating characters; Lucy Siddon for one, young 12-year old Bertie and his dog Arnold, who lives on his own, seemingly abandoned by his mother and others who might have an involvement in the murder. (Grimes does have a way with child characters; they are intelligent, independent and interact fantastically with Jury).

The case is a slow burn, with Jury, Wiggins, Harkins and Plant interviewing witnesses and suspects. The case brings Jury back to London to find out more about Gemma Plant and also to find out more about young Bertie. It moves along nicely and then finishes with a splash of well-crafted excitement as the story reaches its climax. All in all, I love the humor, the relationships, the characters and the overall story. Grimes is a great story-teller and mystery crafter. (4 stars)"

I hope your weekend is going well.