CD Grimes PI Series

CD Grimes Mysteries a collection of the first two books in the series, featuring the orignak -cd Grimes, PI. It takes us from the time CD had his first murder case, meets and marries Sheila, raises a family, and ends his regular practice. From the fifties through the sixties. Meet the Original - 14 shorts in the style of the fifties The Later Years - 15 shorts in the style of the sixties and seventies

Mysteries in the style of the 60's Takes the original CD Grimes from the early 60s to the mid 70s Critics comment A lot like book one. The detective ages and has a family in a realistic enough way, and the stories are the type printed in the magazines. I personally liked a couple of them and thought they were above average. Moulton shows some talent, which is more than can be said of too many writers anymore. – JM Rtng: I'd buy it

Introduces the original CD Grimes, PI, grandfather of the present CD Grimes, PI Critic comment: 1984 The kind of stuff you'd find in those older magazines. Most of them were average, but a couple were pretty good. Certainly worth the price JM Rtng: I'd buy it Critic comment: 2011 Agree totally with JM. I read this on a trip between Ontario and Los Angeles, was almost through, and sat in the terminal forty minutes to finish. I recommend this book to all who like the old style mysteries. Alton F. rating: ***½

Anyone may someday get a case he/she can't quite get a handle on. At least CD gets to meet a number of very interesting characters Critic comment JM asked me to look at this one. He said it was an approach I would  appreciate, considering that I tried to write a story with the type outcome and couldn't pull it off. I had to turn it into a psychological thing that never worked. This was very well done. Moulton has a way to make oddballs human, and they really are. I'd give this one four and a half to five stars. – GL

A boat explodes and burns in the gulf. Those things happen – but two of the victims died of cyanide in the soup. Critic comment Rather too involved for my taste, but all-in-all a good story. Rather a surprise toward the end. - GGL ***½

The old CD Grimes handles his last case with the new CD Grimes. Critic comment This one, I liked. It's a bit more modern without getting into the "blow-em-all-up" mode. The old CD is much like a grumpy old man and the new CD is believable. The one thing I didn't like was the use of confusing characters – in the way they were presented. It becomes clearer as the story proceeds, so doesn't detract too greatly. – JM   Rtng: more than worth the price

CD gets some cases in Florida, falls in love with the place and builds a home there. A developer is murdered. A stock broker is murdered. A young boy is murdered. Thereis a druggie execution that wasn't. CD gets to know some of the continuing characters. The lifestyle is different from that in Nicely.

Two CD Grimes Mysteries. The final two books of the series are more of  the action adventure form, though not to the popular extremes. Deadly Island, one of the "kids" is charged with murder on St. Whartons. CD goes there to see what is really going on. He finds a situation where some world criminal leaders are plotting to take over South America through economic manipulation. A Step Too Far, Shirley's sister is murdered. It seems to somehow be directed at CD. He can't figure who or why - at first. When he finds out, he has to try to stop some old foes in prison who are manipulating people into doing their dirty work for them.

11 shorts Critic comment These are rather standard fare for the detective magazines, though they tend to be among the better type. People who enjoy shorter works will tend to like these. CD is developing into a distinct character, one a person can't know if he likes or not. The rest of the cast I find rather likeable. - GGL ***

A very powerful behind-the-scenes politician witnesses several murders, but they were obviously staged – then she is murdered  What does money laundering and NASA have to do with it? Critic comment A little confusing in spots, but that was the idea behind the tale. Confusion was a weapon being used against CD and the police. Actually, quite good     – GGL ***1/2

Cliff Ashton in Nicely is charged with murder. CD goes back there to straighten out the mess. He uncovers a national theft ring, but what is so important that a few hundred million is a secondary business? CD gets to use his favorite "Noigel from Belize" disguise. Critic comment The story was good and the flow was good, but I never knew what CD was saying. – GGL ***1/2 I found this one to be rather good. It took a moment to get to understand what "Noigel" was saying, but was much easier as I proceeded. Moulton sneaks in little political viewpoints and his style leaves something to be desired. He could leave out the orchids, but that's not much of the work. Having said that, it's still a very good read. – Ann G. ***½

Locked rooms are old hat. What about a locked security vault under 24 hr. surveillance? (If you are one who feels Israel can do no wrong, skip this one. It was written at the time there were Israeli spies in this country and Israeli mercenaries training drug cartels in Colombia in guerilla tactics.) 2014 Interesting look at what was happening in 1989. A news story about Israelis training drug cartels in jungle warfare inspired this story, I believe. We are taken from a report of a murder in a sealed and constantly observed vault in a genetics research facility. It seems impossible that it was murder, yet it is equally impossible that it was not. Modern technology (of which part did not exist at the time of the writing) intervenes. International intrigue, in a minor way, is soon a part of the tale. I feel this was far above the average works available. **** HSSS

CD throws a New Year party. A flashy woman attends, then is found dead in the morning at the community center. Pt. Two, Sean and Lorna find a body in Estero Bay. Critic comment 2014 I find the first story, A Local Murder, to be rather a good read. This is a partially revised edition, and was matched with the original. I find it reads much better. The characters are well-distinguished and consist of types we all know. A woman crashes a New Year Party, then is found murdered.. It eventuates that she was a famous artist who painted male nudes. The question is; was one of her models the killer? Moulton has stated that the solution was stated near the beginning of the book, and that was true. I did not spot it. Actually, quite good. **** Don't Push was more or less standard fare. While it was readable, it was a bit too ordinary for my personal tastes. *** Arthur H. Renquist 22-11-2014

14 shorts. This book was originally compiled to help raise frunds for a scholarship in botany. The first several are previously published, but most were written for this book.

A pool party. A  man is murdered. There is an old gun in a chest. Investigation leads to murders ten years ago. A brothel that is now a private home. an attic full of valuable antiques. How is all thia connected? Critic comment Very good, if a bit involved. I have said before, concernong the Nick Storie series by Moulton, these kinds of things would make for an excellent TV series, more on the order of the Trapper John things. people doinbg their jobs, and doing them well. Believable If barely, (in a few cases). Not someone who gets knocked over the head or shot once a week. I rate this one as four stars. **** Randolph James Estridge

CD looks at some old files and comes across a cryptic note to himself, checks on it and ends up on a Caribbean Island involved with murder in Florida and there. Critic comment 1992: This one is moving toward a more action-oriented format, which suits CD well. It's better than the average in a better than average series. - JDM  **** 1997: I almost didn't read this. The prologue is a real turnoff to me. It is nothing more nor less than a diatribe on political situations. Having said that, the story was far above average. Overall, I give this three and a half stars. It would be four except for that prologue- - LLTD ***½ 2015: I have to agree with LLTD to a great extent, but what has happened since it was first published has borne out too much in the prologue. Moulton seems prophetic, almost. CD goes to a Caribbean Island in disguise and finds murder waiting for him. It is a bit more action-oriented than the former works, but isn't extreme. Far from it. Grimes, as usual, ends up with even more. - FvR ****

Mrs. Bellows from the community center is found dead in a canal. CD investigates and finds there is a kiddie porn ring operating from the mobile home village. Critic comment: This is a very good book. It is also disturbing. Moulton has taken a news story and built a murder mystery around it that is chilling, not for the murder part, but because of the rest of it. Very well done. - JMD *****

Threaten CD Grimes' family? What? You're totally crazy ? This is the final book of the CD Grimes Mystery series Critic comment Another one more in an action vein. I've stated before I like this kind of crap, and Moulton handles it far better than most. – JDM ****