`The Old Wine Shades'; `The Deep Blue Alibi'.

Publication: South Florida Sun-Sentinel (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service)

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COPYRIGHT 2006 South Florida Sun-Sentinal

Byline: Oline H. Cogdill

ENGROSSING STORY ON TAP

"The Old Wine Shades" by Martha Grimes; Viking ($25.95)

So here's the plot of Martha Grimes' 20th Richard Jury novel: A man walks into a bar ...

Seriously, a man walks into a bar _ or in this case, a wine bar that gives the novel its title _ and has quite a story to tell about a mother, son and their dog who disappeared after house-hunting in the English countryside.

The kicker is, as the teller of tall tales, Harry Johnson, says, "The dog came back."

And, yes, there's more; and because Scotland Yard detective Richard Jury has been suspended, he's more than in the mood to hear a yarn. And so are the readers since the best-selling Grimes is spinning the yarn.

The American-born Grimes' British-based series has always turned...

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