The Black Cat, by Martha Grimes

It's been years since I've read a Richard Jury novel, but I'm glad I paid attention to the exceptionally good reviews this one had been receiving. Happily, the book was largely about solving the mystery of the murdered escorts. Ms. Grimes offered just enough about Melrose Plant, the increasingly annoying Carole-ann, the dying former lover Lu Aguilar, pathologist and current love-interest Phyllis Nancy, and nemesis Harry Johnson to bring me up to date on the folks who make up Jury's private life, but not so much as to weigh the story down. I was surprised to find myself eavesdropping a couple of times on the conversation of a cat and dog, but not annoyed. Maybe it's time to read a few more in the series. I liked the reader, John Lee, very much.