Martha Grimes is a highly regarded American author, best known for her exceptional work in the genre of detective fiction. She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and spent much of her childhood at the Mountain Lake Hotel in Western Maryland, which her mother owned. Grimes later went on to earn her B.A. and M.A. at the University of Maryland and has since then taught at various institutions including the University of Iowa, Frostburg State University, and Montgomery College.
Grimes is most famous for her series of novels featuring Richard Jury, a chief inspector at Scotland Yard, and his friend Melrose Plant, a British aristocrat. What makes Grimes' work unique is that each of the Jury mysteries is named after a pub. Her writing style falls into the mystery subdivision of "cozies," which are known for their page-turning, character-driven tales. Grimes' work has received critical acclaim and commercial success, with many of her novels appearing on the New York Times bestseller list. In 1983, she received the Nero Wolfe Award for best mystery of the year for The Anodyne Necklace.
Grimes is a self-described Anglophile and sets most of her novels in England, drawing on her love for the country. Her personal experiences, including summers spent at her mother's hotel, have also influenced her work. For instance, the background to Hotel Paradise is drawn from her experiences at the Mountain Lake Hotel.
Grimes currently splits her time between homes in Washington, D.C., and Santa Fe, New Mexico. She continues to write and publish novels, and her fans eagerly await each new addition to the Richard Jury series. Grimes' work has left a lasting impact on the genre of detective fiction and will continue to be enjoyed by readers for years to come.