The Recurring Cast
Character · Jury and his friends · 26 books

Melrose Plant

Aristocrat who gave up his titles, Jury’s friend · Martha Grimes

Melrose Plant is an aristocrat who gave up his titles, Jury’s clever friend.

Spoiler-free profile written for The Recurring Cast.

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Character facts

First appearance
The Man with a Load of Mischief (1981)
Latest appearance
The Red Queen (2025)
Books
26 (1 as lead, 25 major)
Series
Richard Jury
Author
Martha Grimes
Circle
Jury and his friends

Where to meet Melrose Plant

Melrose Plant first appears in The Man with a Load of Mischief (1981), in a major role, book 1 of the Richard Jury series.

Buy The Man with a Load of Mischief

Every book with Melrose Plant

In publication order, with the size of their role in each.

  1. 1981MThe Man with a Load of Mischiefmajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  2. 1982MThe Old Fox Deceiv’dmajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  3. 1983MThe Anodyne Necklacemajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  4. 1984MThe Dirty Duckmajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  5. 1984MJerusalem Innmajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  6. 1985MHelp the Poor Strugglermajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  7. 1985MThe Deer Leapmajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  8. 1986MI Am the Only Running Footmanmajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  9. 1987MThe Five Bells and Bladebonemajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  10. 1989MThe Old Silentmajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  11. 1991MThe Old Contemptiblesmajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  12. 1993MThe Horse You Came in Onmajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  13. 1995MRainbow’s Endmajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  14. 1997MThe Case Has Alteredmajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  15. 1998MThe Stargazeymajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  16. 1999LThe Lamorna Winklead · Richard JuryTakes the lead while Jury is absent for much of the bookBuy
  17. 2001MThe Blue Lastmajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  18. 2002MThe Grave Mauricemajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  19. 2004MThe Winds of Changemajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  20. 2006MThe Old Wine Shadesmajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  21. 2007MDustmajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  22. 2010MThe Black Catmajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  23. 2014MVertigo 42major role · Richard JuryBuy
  24. 2018MThe Knowledgemajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  25. 2019MThe Old Successmajor role · Richard JuryBuy
  26. 2025MThe Red Queenmajor role · Richard JuryBuy

Appears most often with

CharacterBooks together
Chief Superintendent RacerJury’s scheming boss26
Lady Agatha ArdryMelrose’s meddling aunt26
Marshall TruebloodLong Piddleton antiques dealer26
Richard JurySuperintendent at Scotland Yard26
Sergeant WigginsJury’s hypochondriac sergeant26
Carole-anne PalutskiJury’s young neighbour18