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Martha Grimes
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The Case Has Altered Mass Market Paperback – November 1, 1998

by Martha Grimes (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 504 ratings
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The thirteenth mystery for Richard Jury finds the detective investigating the murder of two women in the Lincolnshire fens. Both victims are connected to the wealthy owner of the Fengate estate: one a kitchen maid, and the other, the owner's ex-wife. But Jury has more at stake than just catching a killer, as the prime suspect is a woman who's presence in his life is becoming meaningful in a way he can't explain....
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  1. Book 14 of 25
    Richard Jury Mysteries
  2. Print length
    432 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Berkley
  5. Publication date
    November 1, 1998
  6. Dimensions
    4.22 x 1.2 x 6.75 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    9780451408686
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0451408686
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Martha Grimes is the bestselling author of eighteen Richard Jury mysteries and also the acclaimed fiction Foul Matter, Cold Flat Junction, Hotel Paradise, The End of the Pier, and The Train Now Departing.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0451408683
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley; Reissue edition (November 1, 1998)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780451408686
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0451408686
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.22 x 1.2 x 6.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 504 ratings

About the author

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Martha Grimes

Martha Grimes

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Martha Grimes is the bestselling author of twenty-one Richard Jury novels, as well as the novels Dakota and Foul Matter, among others. Her previous two Jury books, The Old Wine Shades and Dust, both appeared on the New York Times bestseller list.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
504 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Paige M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Tim Curry reads the story brilliantly. Delivered fast and well packaged.
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
The YardSale Book Shop are quick and packaged well. Price was fantastic. I love books on tape so I have several cassettes players, new ones even have speakers and ear jacks best of both worlds. The sellers excellent and even included a pretty little handkerchief which was so nice of them. They have many tapes and cds that are priced great and allows me to listen to the older recordings with the likes of Tim Curry reading Martha Grimes Richard Jury’s mysteries. They also have cds which are used library cd books and are well cleaned and play like new. This seller has is a good honest seller. Love Martha Grimes stories with TIM CURRY even better. The Jury series includes so many interesting characters love the mystery and the fun. Listen or read you will enjoy them all.
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PlantBirdWoman
4.0 out of 5 stars The Case Has Altered by Martha Grimes: A review
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2015
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When it comes to light summer reading, perfect for sweltering days spent in air-conditioned comfort in one's favorite chair, it's hard to beat one of Martha Grimes' Richard Jury mysteries. She's up to her usual standard in The Case Has Altered although there were one or two things that annoyed me. But I'll get to those in a moment.

In this fourteenth entry in the series, the mystery involves the murder of two women. One was a guest at a country home of local gentry in the isolated fens. She was the ex-wife of the owner of the estate and a thoroughly self-centered and evil person who was disliked by everyone who knew her. Plenty of possible suspects for her murder.

The second victim, killed a few days after the first, was a barmaid at the pub called "The Case Has Altered" who also worked part time in the kitchen and as a sometimes maid at the estate. She seemed to be a thoroughly inoffensive person, one who would go unnoticed in a crowd, and there doesn't seem to be any obvious motive for her to have been killed.

It turns out that another guest at the estate at the time that the ex-wife was killed was Lady Jennifer Kennington, whom Richard Jury has long carried a torch for, but, being Richard Jury, he's never mentioned it to the object of his affection. Through a convoluted set of circumstances, Lady Kennington becomes the prime suspect in the murders. Superintendent Jury and his friend Melrose Plant begin their independent investigation to try to clear her.

Things do not go well with the investigation. They are unable to come up with any other plausible suspects and eventually Jenny is arrested for the murders. Her situation is not enhanced by the fact that she withholds information from the police. She keeps secrets even when it isn't necessary. However, the evidence against her is purely circumstantial and at the hearing, the judge decides there is not enough reason to hold her.

The investigation continues.

Meanwhile, back in Long Piddleton, Melrose's obnoxious Aunt Agatha is pursuing her own case against a local shop owner. She claims to have been attacked by the owner's tiny dog, causing her to trip over the shop's sidewalk display and injure her ankle. She is suing the owner who has no money and who will be bankrupted if she loses.

Since she has no money for a solicitor, the flamboyant local antiques dealer, Marshall Trueblood, takes on her case and represents her at the trial. The trial itself is a hoot and it turns out exactly as any reader in her right mind - and heart - would want it to.

The murder case, too, is eventually resolved, although it is never really clear why Jenny is so secretive. She could have saved herself and everyone else an awful lot of trouble if she had just told the whole truth to begin with. In fact, I find Jenny to be an extremely unlikable character. I think it's time Jury moved on from his infatuation with her.

The character of Lady Jenny Kennington was one of the things that annoyed me about this story. The other was the author's description of the second murder victim - the barmaid/cook's assistant/maid. Every time her name is mentioned, Grimes goes into excruciating detail about how the woman was ugly. She was not attractive to men and so the only way she could ever get one was by falling into bed with them. Which she did. Because she was unattractive and tried to make up for it by being willing. Willing to do anything.

Over and over the author drives home just how plain the woman was. Her plainness did, it is true, have something to do with the resolution of the case, but she didn't have to beat her readers over the head with it in every chapter. Once or twice would have been more than enough. P.D. James would have made the point in one.
7 people found this helpful
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Anna Priscilla
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2023
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Rereading these books after 20 years is still a joy. I just love the characters, and the terrific writing by the author.
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Nancy Wikoff Leetch
5.0 out of 5 stars A Murder and Humor Mix
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2014
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The Richard Jury mysteries are always full of sub plots, with friends of Jury--Melrose Plant, Aunt Agatha, Wiggins, Carol Anne and many other friends and neighbors, who are humorous. If you're a Martha Grimes mystery reader, you already know the characteristics of these people, like a family. Then the main plot is a nice change and vice versa! I would never have thought that a pub would have the name, "The Case Has Altered!" These mysteries are rich with suspense and humor and I love reading them!
5 people found this helpful
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RoseMary Griffith
5.0 out of 5 stars Took a long time, still liked it
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2016
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Having just finished "Vertigo 42" published in 2015, it was interesting to go back to 1997 to read "The Case Has Altered." When you read a well-published and great writer like Grimes and see that the early work was good, but not as fantastic as the later work, it gives you (if you're a writer) hope. While I still enjoyed the cast of characters in this book, it plodded on a bit longer than I felt it could have. By the time the murders were solved, I had begun to reach the, who cares, point. Wondering more about how things would go with Melrose Plant's crazy Aunt and her current lawsuit. That said, the way the murders ended up becoming unraveled was, of course, well done. Shows more my impatience as a reader than Grimes as writer! In the end, I'm going to continue to catch up on the books I missed between these two and appreciate the tangled webs she weaves. By the way, you'll fall madly in love with Parker and Zel and want them to make repeat appearances in future stories!
3 people found this helpful
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The Skeptic
4.0 out of 5 stars because usually I love the books in this series
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2015
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I've read all of the Richard Jury novels and for the past 14 months or so I've been rereading them. I think I've overdone it, because usually I love the books in this series. I got impatient with this one, but I don't think it was about the book. I did enjoy the resolution of the Ardry vs Crisp affair, which gives us a chance to learn something more about Marshall Trueblood. I wouldn't recommend reading this book as an introduction to the series, but I do recommend it.
2 people found this helpful
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Sandra Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars If you love a good mystery, get acquainted with Richard Jury Mysteries.
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2018
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If you are not acquainted with Martha Grimes character, Richard Jury and love a good mystery...best get the
first one and read it. A Man With a Load of Mischief ! Also it is set in England, mostly London and I like reading
about London, its various areas as well. Very good books.
2 people found this helpful
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Denise
3.0 out of 5 stars Another Good Read in the Series
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2017
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Another good read. This one's not as good as the others, and a lightly sketched character, who quickly crosses through a couple of other books makes a bigger appearance, to be blamed and quickly destroy yet another relationship for the main character. I have to keep asking, what does she have against women. Even the cartoonish neighbors.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Ulla Loberg
4.0 out of 5 stars Condition of book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 12, 2020
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The condition is ok as promised, and it arrived more or less at the estimated time, so all is Well ☺️
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Larry Pearson
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on October 11, 2016
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First Class !!!
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Pat Culham
5.0 out of 5 stars I love it
Reviewed in Canada on September 9, 2014
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Excellent read. As usual, good character development and just enough twists to keep you wondering.
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