Rainbow's End

By: Martha Grimes

Narrated by: Steve West

When three women die of “natural causes” in London and the West Country, there appears to be no connection-or reason to suspect foul play. But Scotland Yard Superintendent Richard Jury has other ideas, and before long he’s following his keen police instincts all the way to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
There, in the company of a brooding thirteen-year-old girl and her pet coyote, he mingles with an odd assortment of characters and tangles with a twisted plot that stretches from England to the American Southwest. And while his good friend Melrose Plant pursues inquires in London, Jury delves deeper into the more baffling elements of the case, discovering firsthand what the guide books don’t tell you; that the Land of Enchantment is also a landscape ripe with tragedy, treachery, and murder.

Wandered

I kept getting distracted, as it wandered a bit. I didn't give it the 5 stars I give most of my books.

Some disturbing aspects

I found the references to very young girls being sexualized extremely disturbing. Come on, getting candy was like a sexual experience for a little girl?? And the men being attracted to a very young girl? These pedophilic additions did nothing for the story and made me question the author’s motives. The homophobic and sexist remarks from a well-loved character were also very disappointing. I could listen to Steve West read a dictionary, and I might prefer it if this kind of crap continues.

Always interesting, but bad American stereotypes

Jury mysteries are always witty and amusing, but this one seems to veer out of its comfort zone by adding ridiculous American stereotypes, bad dialogue, and bad American accents. Kind of seemed as though the author took a trip to New Mexico and just had to make Jury fit into it. He didn't.

Good, but easy to figure out

Once again, Jury and Plant are unable to find (or commit to) True Love. We get more hints about Plant's background, showing us that it's not just Jury who has issues involving his mother. Once again, a child is in danger, not just from the murderer, but from Jury and another character's discussion of the 13-year-old's attractiveness. Ew! Post "Me Too," Jury's assertion that EA Poe's marriage to his 14-year-old cousin was not only perfectly OK, but led to some good poems - is sickening. Honestly, the best character is Sunny the coyote. The murder method is easy to figure out, but somehow, Jury doesn't.

confusing

the narrator 's voice is perfect for the richard jury series!
this book,however, was confusing and sometimes hard to.follow.