A Woman Scorned
September 2003
Who? What woman? Martha Grimes, of course, well-known mystery writer whose Richard Jury novels have been best sellers for years. Her books, named for British pubs, were at one time published by Knopf, and were dropped by the company when its head didn’t want the next Jury book. That was ten years ago. (Note: Mrs. Grimes’ original publisher wasLittle, Brown).
Now Ms.Grimes has published Foul Matter, a publishing term
for an unedited manuscript (Viking ($25.95). It’s aroman a clef
of the publishing industry, and a send-up worthy of what ElmoreLeonard
did to the movie industry in Get Shorty.
Accordingto an article in the New York Times, you don’t want to
mess with Martha. In the book she has a best-selling mysterywriter
named Paul Giverney agreeing to jump ship at his old publisher and sign
up with a new one if the new one gets rid of another, more literate, author
who makes less money than does Paul.
Is the head honcho of the new publishing firm Sonny Mehta of Knopf? In the Times story, Ms. Grimes says no, he’s an amalgam of publishing company leaders. But she has a great deal of fun at the expense of these leaders and their companies in Foul Matter.
Ms.Grimes, 1993 Jury mystery, The HorseYou Came in On (Knopf) was reported to stem from a grievance she had againstmystery writer Elizabeth George, also an American who sets books in England. Recently Ms. Grimes said that the book has no relationship to Elizabeth George.
Who, by the by, has a new book out that’s quite special. A
Place of Hiding (Bantam; $26.95). George’s novels starring
Inspector Thomas Lynley have won allsorts of awards (an Anthony and an
Agatha come to mind for Best First Novel),and translations to film can
now be seen on PBS Mystery! series.
A Place of Hiding is set on the island of Guernsey, one of Britain’s ChannelIslands. I’d forgotten that duringWorld War II those islands were overrun and run by the Germans—that that small bit of Britain was under siege for several years. Here forensic scientist Simon St. James and his wife Deborah travel to Guernsey because an old friend ofDeborah’s, an American woman, stands accused of killing the island’s wealthiest benefactor. This, however, is an island where all the residents have secrets to hide. It’s a story of love and devotion and betrayal and loss, war and remembrance, and perfect fodder for George’s storytelling gifts.
Where TheTruth Lies (Random House;; $24.95; 385 pages) is a first novel by RupertHolmes. It is a sexy, intriguing story told by a writer who calls herself K O’Connor. The story happened back in the Seventies, and it is about a popular comedy couple of the time, Vince Collins and Lanny Morris (think Martin & Lewis)and their sudden break-up as a team. There was a death, that of a redhead who had been a waitress at the hotel the team recently played in Miami who was found dead in the bathroom of the suite the partners shared at their next date, a new club at Palisades Park, New Jersey. Who was responsible for Maureen’s death? Vince? Lanny? Or various Mafia types interested in the New Jersey club? O’Connor is hired by a large publishing firm to put together a book about Collins and Morris and perhaps solve the mystery. The book, then, consists of O’Connor’s interviews with Collins, and a manuscript written by Morris as his own autobiography. And what the answers are makes as compelling a suspense story as we’ve seen in years.
Not exactly a household name, but nevertheless a well-known player on many stages, Rupert Holmes received a Grammy back in the Seventies as a singer andsongwriter (The Pina Colada Song); earned three Tonys in the ‘80’s as thecreator of the musical “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”;and in the ’90’s theEdgar-award winning playwright of the Broadway thriller “Accomplice.” To which he adds his latest Tony as thewriter of “Say Goodnight, Gracie” currently on Broadway. Film rights for “Where The Truth Lies” have already been acquired. Is there anOscar to be added to this fruitful collection of mantel decorations?
***