Martha Grimes Biography, Books, and Similar Authors

Martha Grimes Biography

The Man with a Load of Mischief was published in 1981, and from there Martha Grimes has published a book (sometimes two) every year for the past 25 years.

By her fourth and fifth books, Grimes received major review attention that not only lauded her ability as an American to write authentic British mysteries, but also to merge the conceits of the British form with the tone and atmosphere of the American. In 1987 The Five Bells & Bladebone was her "breakthrough" book, landing on the New York Times bestseller list. Her next two books, The Old Silent and The Old Contemptibles, were also New York Times bestsellers in both hardcover and paperback.

In 1992, with the publication of The End of the Pier, Grimes departed from her beloved cast of characters in the Richard Jury series to write a contemporary novel based in Western Maryland that combined a serial killer murder mystery with a poignant story of the problems in a mother and son relationship. The book established her as a writer of merit outside of mystery fiction. The second book in the series — Hotel Paradise — was published four years later.

Cold Flat Junction (2001) and Belle Ruin (2005) continues the adventures of twelve-year-old detective, Emma Graham.

In 1993, with the release of The Horse You Came in On, Grimes brought Richard Jury and Melrose Plant to America for the first time to the pub of that name in Baltimore, Maryland. It was such a success and fan reaction was so positive (the Mayor of Baltimore gave her the key to the city and declared August 12, 1993 as "Martha Grimes Day") she brought Richard Jury over again in Rainbow's End to investigate a mystery that leads him to Sante Fe, New Mexico.

In 1997, Grimes returned Richard Jury and Melrose Plant to England in The Case Has Altered. It was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.

The Stargazey, the fifteenth Richard Jury novel, published on November 5, 1998, became an instant bestseller.

The publication of Biting the Moon on April 15, 1999, marked a departure for Grimes, for it was the first book in a new series of books focusing on the prevention of animal abuse and featuring two teenage heroines. She donated two-thirds of her royalties to animal abuse organizations across the country.

With the publication of The Blue Last in September, 2001,. Grimes found herself back on the New York Times Bestseller list for the first time in a decade. She received more fan mail than for any other book by distraught fans worried about the "death" of Richard Jury. Her following four Jury mysteries, The Grave Maurice (2003), The Winds of Change (2004), The Old Wine Shades (2006), Dust (2007) and The Black Cat (2010) were also New York Times bestsellers.

Martha Grimes's website

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