THE OLD SUCCESS is Martha Grimes’ 25th police procedural featuring Inspector Richard Jury. The publisher tantalizes readers from the start in their About the Book summary: “When the body of a French woman washes up on a wild inlet off the Cornish coast, Brian Macalvie, divisional commander with the Devon-Cornwall police, is called in. Who could have killed this beautiful tourist, the only visible footprints nearby belonging to the two little girls who found her?” These children, Zoe and Zillah Noyes, become important to the investigation as it unfolds.

Two other murders occur within a short period of time. A man is shot on a Northamptonshire estate by his wife, and a woman is found murdered at the Exeter Cathedral. In some instances, the same names surface as suspects, while other deaths are questioned.

"Fans of Martha Grimes will enjoy THE OLD SUCCESS, while newcomers will be ready to tackle her extensive body of work, which is an entertaining array of several approaches to mystery novels."

Jury joins forces with Macalvie and former CID detective Tom Brownell (the latter of whom is “renowned for solving every case he undertook. Except one.”) to solve these puzzling murders. His longtime friend and occasional helper, Melrose Plant, steps in to assist this unlikely trio. Other regulars also make appearances, as does Sydney, a young woman who takes care of Plant’s horse, Aggrieved. Later on, Aggrieved is entered into a race under the tutelage of trainer George Jenks.

Within the “society” of police personnel, reputations are made and remembered with a sense of awe. In THE OLD SUCCESS, discussions are ongoing by the active investigators who share their ideas and opinions with each other. None are trying to outdo the others; rather, they are building on the successes they have achieved, showing nothing but mutual respect. The mysterious deaths are eventually solved thanks to careful detective work and an open-minded approach to evaluating the evidence.

Fans of Martha Grimes will enjoy THE OLD SUCCESS, while newcomers will be ready to tackle her extensive body of work, which is an entertaining array of several approaches to mystery novels. Her books take place in England, even though she lives in Bethesda, Maryland. No one would ever suspect that she is not writing from the UK.