Breakaway Books

Authored by Martha Grimes; Published 1981; Mystery

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🏖️🏖️🏖️

The Man with a Load of Mischief is a cozy mystery that came out way before such things were cool. A winter wonderland for a setting and a comical cast of characters make for a quick and easy read. 

In The Man with a Load of Mischief, Inspector Richard Jury is called to the town of Long Piddleton to investigate two murders, with the victims gruesomely displayed in front of local inns. As Jury’s tenure in the village continues, the bodies begin to pile up, and tensions skyrocket as the residents start to suspect a psychopath randomly targeting victims. Jury, though, believes that something far more ordinary is happening.

This is another one of those classic mysteries solved by nothing more than a series of interviews carried out by the brilliant inspector. Yes, there are a few references to forensics, but the heart of the investigation is unraveling a riddle, and it’s a pretty good one. There are plenty of red herrings bandied about by the denizens of the village, and as the lies are peeled back, it becomes obvious that everyone has something to hide. The novel is definitely an ode to Inspector Jury, who seems to be the only police officer willing to do… anything… to solve the murders, but that works just fine for me. 

The characters are definitely what tip this novel into memorable territory. The personalities in the village are big: outsized, in fact, for such a small village. The nosy aunt, the witty noble, even the flamboyant gay shopkeeper add a certain joy to the novel. I was somewhat surprised by Jury immediately falling in love with one of the locals, especially since this is the first in a series, and I assume not all of Jury’s novels take place in Long Piddleton. But the most heartwarming scenes are not with Jury’s lady friend, but with two young children that Jury befriends and truly delights with his tutelage. It’s probably the single action that endeared me to Jury the most. 

There are times when I want nothing more than an old-school mystery with characters entertaining enough to keep me hooked. The next time you feel that way, pick up The Man with a Load of Mischief.