The Old Contemptibles (A Richard Jury Novel)

Book Description

A passionate affair comes to a crashing halt when Richard Jury's lover is found dead. And since Jury is himself a suspect, he must send Melrose Plant to her family's Lake District home, where secrets that rise to the surface threaten to pull the contentious clan under.

Customer Reviews:

great book.......2006-07-28

This was a very interesting and good book with alot of
great mystery to it.

Unusual.......2006-06-19

I've tried to start this book about ten times before I got over the hump. This book has an interesting plot along with fascinating charachters but there are many parts where you snooze off and then it becomes rather fast paced again.

Also there are a few things in the story that are confusing. Why did the doctor kill Millie's mother? It says she did but I couldn't figure out a reason for why. Also the ending is quite far fetched compared to the rest of the book.

Too many plot shifts.......2005-06-20

The author seems to know where she is going with this story, but seems to drift about getting there. I had a hard time maintaining an interest. Part of the problem is the writing style, and references to some locations in England that I had a difficult time visualizing. Perhaps it needed a map. Part of the plot seems to revolve around possible gay relationships but, as Inspector Jury notes, does anyone in today's world really care.

The story starts out with characters from Long Piddleton who are off in Venice. The time period is about ten years after Jury made his first appearance. There is concern that a woman may marry the wrong person, and schemes are hatched to redirect the romance. Apparently you need to read a prequel to completely understand the situation.

The scene then shifts back to London with a plot involving the death of a woman Jury has just become acquainted with. From London, the plot shifts to an estate in a country village, and the various family members and associated individuals who are connected to the dead woman. A couple of previous deaths are brought into the plot.

Along the way, you get a description of driving on a bad road, which really has nothing to do with the plot, and a description of various characters at the Old Contemptibles, an Inn in the village, who don't really figure into the main plot (the author has a habit of putting various excess baggage into her stories).

It becomes a question of who has any advantage from the deaths that have occurred. It is a question of power, and the ending seemed a bit strange. The original plot reimerges briefly. Then some of the characters mete out their own form of justice, at which point the story ends.

Curry and Grimes are magic!.......2004-07-27

In #11 of the Jury-Plant mysteries, finds Jury a suspect himself! The delightfully droll British Mysteries - named after Brit Pubs - see this one taking place in the beautiful Lake District. Jury is considering marriage with a widow Jane Holdsworth. Things become complicated when son Alex finds Jane dead. At first it's deemed a suicide, but it becomes clear it was murder. Since Jury is a suspect, he sends Melrose Plant to the Lake District to suss out what he can about the Holdsworth family. The family is rich and eccentric, but four murders in one family is just a wee bit beyond the pale. The Holdsworth family is loaded with delightful, charming, if oddball characters, such as Alex, who is quite adapt at cheating at poker. Curry shines when doing 11-year-old Millie Thale (Melrose always has a soft spot for dotty children). Millie has a bond with Alex, since her mother died unexpected five years before.

Grimes once again brings such quirky characters to life with her witty prose and Curry takes those words and makes magic! A winning combination not to be missed.

Outstanding!.......2002-03-07

I've read every Richard Jury, and this one reaches near the top of my list. I couldn't put it down. Martha is wonderful, she keeps you guessing till the very end. By far my favorite author.

If you like Martha Grimes, you'll most likely find Jill McGowan just as delightful! I recommend checking out her first in a wonderful series, "Perfect Match"

Book Description

In the autumn of 1914 the original British Expeditionary Force faced a heavily reinforced German drive. Field Marshal Sir John French, the British Commander-in-Chief, had sent his men north in an attempt to take the fight into Flanders, so they could fight across open ground. History tells us that this was not to be the case. David Lomas chronicles the first of the trench-warfare battles, where lines that would remain almost static for the rest of the war were established. Although the Germans failed to reach the channel ports, the death knell had rung for the BEF, which was virtually wiped out in this brave defence.

Customer Reviews:

great maps.......2007-10-09

i noted that this book focuses mainly on the heroism of the British units at first ypres.In the artwork ,the Germans sort of have the look of a "foreign horde"(hunnish)look like they're not too bright.When you see the German casualty lists it seems like just so many ants,anywhere from 100,000 to 300,000 according to the author,British casualties at 60,000.The British soldiers portrayed in the illustrations are notably in heroic poses bayonetting,machine gunning, or taking the Huns prisoner.At first Ypers the German stategic Vonschliffen plan officially ended and the western front settled pretty much into trench warfare.Britains professional army was decimated and the German high command was forced to accept the prospect of an unwinnable war.The opponents were just too evenly matched from the descriptions in this book.You will also note from the pictures that although the Germans are wearing wearing stahlhelms,the British are still wearing the softcaps,more useful for policing a soccer game but of no use in war,with flying bullets and shrapnel.This just reinforces how unprepared most countries were for this war,and this chaos and lack of organization are discussed in the book.It seemed from a study of the maps in the book, like the Germans were trying to find the British flanks,but too often found themselves enfiladed instead.There are also pictures and a discussion of some of Britains foreign troops mainly the Indian Sepoys which were vital and are too often overlooked.

I was disappointed.......2005-04-21

Perhaps my expectations have been raised too high by the many excellent Osprey campaign books I have read recently, but this book fell short for me. It is told almost entirely from the British point of view and can be easily summarized: the gallant Tommies hold off the German hordes despite terrible casualties. There is very little discussion of the German point of view and even less about the French, who played a key role in the battle. I give it three stars because the story is told competently, but that is all. Being a relatively early book in the series (they are now up to about 150), it does not meet the standard of the later books.

The book also suffers from having to devote a section to wargaming the battle (something dropped in the later books). The author wastes six pages on this -- wastes, as his ideas on wargaming are useless. He would have done much better to keep this section to a minimum and use the pages elsewhere -- either in more descriptions of small unit actions or to flesh out the sections on leaders and the opposing forces, which are terse to the point of being virtually useless. He does include a very detailed order of battle -- for the British. The orders of battle for the French and Germans are skimpy by comparison. In particular, the German heavy artillery, which he repeatedly mentions as having a big impact on actions, is left out completely.

The occasional detailed description of small unit actions are the high point of the book; the rest of the battle is told at such a high level (and in such a dry style) that I was not engaged. I would have happily given up some of the high level narrative for more small unit 'vignettes'. I was particularly intrigued by the author's mention of some of the more experienced German units using 'infiltration'. Since infiltration tactics are not normally considered to have been used until 1917, I would have liked to learn just what these units were doing. But to do that would have detracted from the relentlessly British focus of the book and so, apparently, would not do.

I did gain some interesting insights into this period. Although the standard image of World War 1 is the generals living in chateaus far from the front line, which they never visited, that was not true at this point. In fact, one divisional commander and most of two division's staffs were killed by a single German shell. Haig, in particular, comes across as a hero -- visiting the front lines, scraping together reserves to meet each German breakthrough and generally performing just as a good commander should. Although the author does not make this point, it is obvious that the Germans giving up the attack just when the British line was on the verge of collapse made a strong impression on him. Haig's determination to keep up attacks at (for instance) the Somme was probably based on his intention not to make this mistake; to 'out last' the Germans in the attack, as he had on the defense at First Ypres.

First Ypres 1914 - Publisher's Requirements.......2003-08-09

Given the obvious limitations imposed by the publisher, I think David Lomas has done a most competent job in this title. Anybody familiar with the Osprey Campaign series should realise that they get a basic primer - 'Look & Learn Famous Battles' as it were. Each book is less than 20000 words, has a set number of monochrome pix and an equally fixed number of colour plates. They are designed, I suspect, for a particular market and I don't doubt that the author(s) receive a specific brief - so many words on the commanders, so many words on this aspect, so many words on that angle.
Osprey's titles on some other WW1 campaigns are far worse. I don't name names but 19000 words to cover seven months bitter fighting, for instance, is a near impossibility.
Certainly I don't find Lomas' prose stilted, quite the reverse. It's a darned sight better than some of the turgid stuff that comes out of a few mid-Western universities I could name. It's clear and concise, the photographs are good and the artwork (Brits bashing Germans) is nothing to do with the author - at least if the jacket artwork of some of my books is anything by which to judge. It's the publisher's decision, dudes!
It's true the book concentrates on Ypres 1914 from the British angle. Again, I suggest editorial requirements and, in truth, there ain't the space to do much else. But it is a British publisher who turned this out, presumably for an essentially British market. I personally found the book a lot less one-sided than many similar publications penned by US authors.
Not that I get personal here but I wonder how many rejection slips some of your reviewers have received - if they've ever tried to write a book, that is. I'm not referring to this particular review but across the board. I sometimes think, psrticularly with non-fiction, that every single-issue fanatic in the world sounds off about what a lousy job the author has done. Of course, there are turkeys out there - mostly from graduates of CA Writing seminars - but no book makes it to print without editorial input. In theory, if the damned thing is unreadablr, it gets bounced. Unless, I suppose, your godfather happens to own the publisher but I don't think that is the case with Lomas.

Perhaps there should be a rule that critics should mention their own achievments. I've written 12 published books, as it happens, under a nom-de-plume and cheap fiction granted, so I do know something about what it takes.

Good Campaign Narrative.......2001-06-08

First Ypres 1914, David Lomas' sequel to his earlier Mons 1914, is a decent summary of the relatively neglected period of October-November 1914 in Belgium. During this period after the Battle of the Marne, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) fought the Germans to a standstill over a fairly small patch of Belgian mud, thereby denying the Germans access to the Channel ports. However in the process, the old pre-war British regular army was virtually destroyed. The BEF of 1914 was an elite force, but not designed for the grinding attrition warfare that was quickly developing on the Western Front.

The weakest part of this volume is the early sections on opposing commanders, opposing armies and opposing leaders. David Lomas seems to feel that he has done his duty in regard to this vital introductory sections by jotting down a few paragraphs and moving on. For example, the section on leaders barely amounts to one page of text and only comments on army-level commanders like Sir John French. Similarly, the section on opposing armies is far too brief. The Indian Corps that was dispatched to the Western Front was significantly different in training from the remainder of the BEF and this should have been highlighted in this section. Although the extensive order of battle partly covers up the deficiencies of this section, it is skimpy on the French. Opposing plans are also covered in far too brief a section.

Good Campaign Narrative.......2001-06-04

Book Description

On 19 August 1914 Kaiser Wilhelm II ordered General von Kluck, commanding the German First Army, to 'exterminate the treacherous English and walk over General French's contemptible little Army'. The 'Old Contemptibles' adopted the aspersion like a treasured regimental title, their subsequent successes earning them a more accurate evaluation as 'the best trained, best organised and best equipped British Army that ever went forth to war'. This book examines the history, organization and uniforms of the British Expeditionary Force of the early 20th century. The text is accompanied by numerous illustrations, including maps, photographs, and colour plates.

Customer Reviews:

Even for Osprey, Very Weak.......2002-08-29

Osprey books are, by their very nature, a compromise between the wide scope of their subjects and the detail they attempt to bring to uniforms and appearance of their subjects. They often serve as a very good introduction to a military subject and provide insight otherwise unavailable to an interested reader. Readers who know Osprey understand and accept this compromise -- especially in a 64-page volume.

"The Old Contemptibles" (TOC), however, accomplishes neither a broad overview nor pointed detail. It addresses the British Expeditionary Force (BEF)of 1914 and it precedent years beginning in 1902. Its scope is so broad that it only mentions the highlights of the 1902 Army and it reforms, the overseas Army, the home based reserves, and the planning for and creation of the BEF.

The BEF's actions in France and Belgium are essentially addressed in a one-line chronological list of actions. Several examples of brigade level actions follow, but they are placed in almost no context. The BEF Order of Battle is not mentioned and there is no feeling of the committment and grinding destruction of what may have been Britian's finest fighting force. The author often mentions the quality of the BEF and does provide some background in the genisis of that quality, but its base in the regimental system in scarcely addressed.

The uniform plates are adequate. Again, they cover 12 years of evolution and the entire globe in geography and barely scratch the surface. Once more, context is nearly absent.

I conclude that the scope of the volume was simply too wide for the standard Osprey approach. The subject would have been much better served as two or even three volumes. With the exception of the color plates and several excellent B&W photographs, I cannot recommend TOC as an introduction to the BEF. The text certainly does not meet any reasonable standard.

Good for modelers, brief for historians.......2000-05-26

From the point of view of a modeler, this book is a great source on all details about the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) in WWI. It has plenty of (black and white) photos as well as the usual Osprey center color plates, with complete explanations at the end. For historians, it's a bit too thin, but for modelers it comes out great.

You could add Osprey's "MONS 1914" for a more complete view of the BEF.

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The Old Contemptibles

Manufacturer: Ballantine 1992
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GZCDV8

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The Forgotten Battles

Old Contemptibles
Robin Neillands
Manufacturer: John Murray
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Strategy | Military | History | Subjects | Books
World War I | Military | History | Subjects | Books
General | World | History | Subjects | Books
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Ypres: The First Battle 1914

ASIN: 0719556465

Customer Reviews:

The Forgotten Battles.......2007-09-04

I found this a well written, fast moving read. The early battles of the Great war are largely forgotten today. They do not have the hard hitting effect of the Battle of the Somme or the tragedy that was the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). But don't let the obscure nature of the first months of the Great war put you off reading this book. It should at last bury the most enduring myth of the Great war, that only Allied Generals committed Infantry against dug-in positions.
The book tells the story of the little army that left Britain in August 1914 to fight a Glorious war, a war the likes of which they could never have imagined. Trained to fire 15 aimed shots a minute, as a minimum, the eighty Thousand Rifleman of the BEF (Britsh expeditionary Force) Shot the German Infantry to pieces. From Mons and Le Cateau to the miracle on the Marne, their actions wrecked German war strategy for the rest of the war.
The tragic, if not Glorious story ends with the virtual destruction of the BEF at the First Battle of Ypres in October-November 1914.
A good read and one you will find difficult to put down.

3 PBs by Martha Grimes: Old Contemptibles, Lamorna Wink + 1 More

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3 PBs by Martha Grimes: Old Contemptibles, Lamorna Wink + 1 More
Martha Grimes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VGES1K

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Paperbacks

DIARY OF AN OLD CONTEMPTIBLE: From Mons to Baghdad 1914-1919Private Edward Roe, East Lancashire Regiment

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Inspirational tale of courage and comradeship

DIARY OF AN OLD CONTEMPTIBLE: From Mons to Baghdad 1914-1919Private Edward Roe, East Lancashire Regiment
Edited by Peter Downham
Manufacturer: Pen and Sword
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Military & Spies | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

World War I | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This is a most unusual chronicle of the events of one man during the Great War. A professional soldier at the outbreak, Edward Roe was one of the first to cross over to France in 1914 and as such fought in the early battles of the war and took part in the Retreat from Mons. He was there for the crossing of the Marne and Aisne, the dreadful fighting at Ploegsteert and for the extraordinary events during the first Christmas.

Remarkably he witnessed the debacle at Gallipoli and was part of the rear-guard of the Army during the re-embarkation and evacuation of the Peninsula. Thereafter the scene shifts to Mesopotania and the Tigris Corps in the attempt to relieve General Townshend at Kut. Wounded he returned for the final campaign that captured Baghdad.

Customer Reviews:

Inspirational tale of courage and comradeship.......2005-05-03

A fascinating read told in the first person following a brave private through every front in WW1. It is humbling to see how brave and strong these men were. It puts perspective onto any bad day I may have thought I have had.

I really enjoyed the tales of fun and mischief that keep a human touch to what was an utterly unbearable war. Can't recommend it more.

Enjoy

Farewell, Leicester Square: The Old Contemptibles, 12 August-19 November 1914

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Farewell, Leicester Square: The Old Contemptibles, 12 August-19 November 1914
Kate Caffrey
Manufacturer: Wm Collins & Sons & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

Honours and awards of the Old Contemptibles;: The officers and men of the British Army and Navy mentioned in despatches, 1914-1915

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Honours and awards of the Old Contemptibles;: The officers and men of the British Army and Navy mentioned in despatches, 1914-1915

Manufacturer: Arms and Armour Press; J. B. Haywood and Son
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Intelligence & Espionage | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0853680744

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Los Old Contemptibles
Michael Barthorp
Manufacturer: Ediciones del Prado
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Lady Arabella Blydon has beauty and a brain, and she's tired of men who can see only one without the other.

When a suitor tells Arabella he's willing to overlook her appalling bluestocking tendencies on account of her looks and fortune, she decides to take a break from the Marriage Mart. During an extended stay in the country, she never expects to meet Lord John Blackwood, a wounded war hero who intrigues her like no other man.

Lord John has lived through the worst horros of war...but nothing could have been as terrifying to his tormented heart as Lady Arabella. She is intoxicating, infuriating...and she makes him want to live again. Suddenly he's writing bad poetry and climbing trees in the pitch-dark night...just so he can dance with her as the clock strikes midnight. And even though he knows he can never be the sort of man she deserves, he can't help wanting her. But when the harsh light of day replaces the magic of midnight, can this tormented soul learn to love again?

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Lady Arabella Blydon has beauty and a brain, and she's tired of men who can see only one without the other.

Customer Reviews:

Passionate and tender- she loves him!.......2007-08-08

Beauty and the Beast revisited! Lady Arabella Blydon (Belle) meets solitary, gruesomely injured ex-soldier Lord John Blackwood. Scarred internally and out, John has true war survivor guilt. Something extra horrible happened while he was in drunken command, that he would have - and should have - given his life to change. He carries this crushing guilt very heavily in his heart, to the point where he thinks he doesn't deserve to fall in love, or be loved by any woman. Aaah. Thank goodness for Belle, who is absolutely fascinated by John and falls head over heels in love with him. His kisses set her on fire, and when he can't help himself and becomes a little more intimate (and aren't those scenes incredible, whew), Belle knows he is the only man for her. Ever! But poor John is still on shaky ground, his damaged heart is still reluctant to accept the love she pours out his way. Oh, this is truly a wonderful love story, electrifying with passion and healing love. You'll put it down at the end with a big sigh and a smile, and a tear in your eye. Simply beautiful.

OK Book, Not Great Story.......2007-02-20

I have read almost all of Quinn's books. I have enjoyed most of them.

This story was ok. It was kind of boring at times. It didn't have enough substance. All of her books seem to follow the same story lines, without much variance except for it being a different family member. Im tired of the Bridgerton family.

Dancing at Midnight.......2006-11-10

Great story by a great writer. Keeps you reading even when you should be doing other things. LOL

Beautiful story!!!!.......2006-08-01

I am rather surprised by some of the reviews. I for one really loved this very sweet, fun and romantic story!!!

Wonderful characters and story line!!!!

Adorable!.......2006-05-10

I loved this book..absolutely loved it. It was witty, fun, and sensual, and the characterization was excellent. Loved the story as well. I would definitely read it again and it is on my keeper shelf along with all my many other Julia Quinns. She is an excellent writer. She could write the phone book and I would read it in a heartbeat.

At the Sign of Midnight: The Concheros Dance Cult of Mexico

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At the Sign of Midnight: The Concheros Dance Cult of Mexico
Martha Stone
Manufacturer: University of Arizona Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Customs & Traditions | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0816505071

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DANCING AT MIDNIGHT

Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GQFS1E

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Dancing Till Midnight
Rosie Goodwin
Manufacturer: Magna Large Print Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Family Saga | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1846520444

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Midnight Found You Dancing
John Smith
Manufacturer: Gynergy Books/Ragweed Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0920304478

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Mr Midnight #37: The Dead Are Dancing
James Lee
Manufacturer: Angsana Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9814193313

Product Description

Turn off your lights, get ready for frights! When the clock strikes midnight and the moon's full and bright, it's time for dread and fear. For Mr. Midnight is here with two stories, double the danger and twice the terror! STORY ONE: The world's most feared ghost, The Ballerina, haunts Sherilyn Sum's ballet school and casts an evil spell on her. Can Sherilyn escape and save her soul while THE DEAD ARE DANCING? STORY TWO: Computer wiz Yue Jie and his friends call themselves the Brave Devils. But when they journey to the United States in search of the OLD GHOSTS OF NEW YORK, their courage is tested as they battle horrors beyond their wildest imagination.

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Dancing at Midnight

Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 1417661569

Julia Quinn Two-Book Set: Dancing at Midnight and To Catch an Heiress

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Delicious Reads

Julia Quinn Two-Book Set: Dancing at Midnight and To Catch an Heiress
Julia Quinn
Manufacturer: Harpercollins (Short Disc)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

Delicious Reads.......2002-10-18

Julia Quinn has some wonderful novels... I gave this package four stars because Dancing at Midnight is my least favorite Julia Quinn book. It is funny but just doesn't have the delightful flair that her other books have.

Belle, Emma's cousin from Splendid, finally meets a man who doesn't fall at her feet over her beauty. He's definitely brooding over something in his past, but it doesn't keep the sparks from flying between them. This book has a litle more intrigue than other Quinn's books and sometimes drags because the characters are a bit shallow. However, there are some wonderfully memorable moments when Belle and Blackwood finally decide to marry. How many interruptions can one wedding take from a drunk priest to an angry brother... it's hilarious!

To Catch an Heiress has some of the funniest dialogue ever! It has some sexy love scenes that make this book sizzle a little more than other Quinn books. Caroline Trent and Blake Ravenscroft's romance involves a mistaken identity. Blake thinks Caroline is a spy. Caroline is trying to escape her fortune-hunting guardian's son and potential marriage to him. All in all, I laughed my head off throughout this entire book. It's a fast read. You will want it on your shelf because you will be re-reading it many times when you are bored or just in the mood for a delicious laugh.

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