Murder, She Meowed: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery

I've been reading the Mrs. Brown books in order. This one, the fifth, is my favorite so far. I found it to be funnier than the earlier books. A character named Boom Boom who pops in and out of the action, trying to get Harry to go with her to a pop therapy group called Lifeline; Mrs. Murphy negotiating with the mice to get information from them; Mrs. Murphy musing on the food chain and mice as prey; the animals comments on the humans....all were entertaining to me. The negative reviews posted earlier give a good clue I think as to who won't like this novel. "Murder, She Meowed" is not only a mystery "cozy"; it is also a bit of whimsy, of silliness. Like children's books, it includes a story, and some substantive information and some philosophizing are included, but if you can't tolerate the whimsy, you won't like the book.

The 5th installment in the Mrs. Murphy and Tucker Mystery series is going to the races. Mary Minor Haristeen (aka Harry) has been asked to be a fence judge for the Montpelier steeplechase race, and being a huge fan of the sport, she readily agrees. She is a witness to a violent confrontation between two jockeys, and when one of the jockeys is found dead later in the day, she quickly begins to suspect that this was not a simple misunderstanding. The murderer leaves a calling card, and when another jockey turns up dead with a similar card attached to the body, Harry fears that there may be at least two more victims. Along with help from Mrs. Murphy (a tiger cat), Tee Tucker (a Welsh corgi), Pewter (a fat grey cat), and some new animal characters (including mice, several cats, and horses), Harry is able to stop this murderous spree in the competitive world of steeplechase. I have become a big fan of this series, and really enjoy the banter between the animals. The relationships between the members of the town have been evolving, and I like the way that Harry is loved and embraced by the people who have known her all of her life. She works hard, cares for her animals, and genuinely cares for the town and its residents. I look forward to future books in the series, and am hopeful to see more of a love interest for Harry. The setting in the town of Crozet, Virginia is so quaint and lovely, that it makes you want to pack your bags for a wonderful vacation. If you enjoy "The Cat Who" mysteries by Lilian Jackson Braun, you might want to give this series a try. The first book in the series is called "Wish You Were Here". Enjoy!

Although the plot is simple and the murder easy to figure out in this book, I still enjoyed it. I like the characters in this series. I also enjoyed the look at steeplechase racing that we get with the book. In the story there is someone going around Croznet killing steeplechase jockeys. There doesn't seem to be a connection between the killings, unless it was a gambling debt or drugs. Never fear, Mrs. Murphy, Tucker, Pewter and a few other animals are hot on the trail, and they figure out what's going on long before the humans do. These mysteries are a lot of fun, and especially so for animal lovers. I enjoy this light series.

Crozet, Virginia is an unusual community: aside from having what must be the highest per capita murder rate in North America, it is also a place where cats and dogs sometimes assist humans to uncover killers in their midst. The premise is extremely whimsical, and hardcore mystery fans will find the plots of the "Mrs. Murphy" series very loose indeed--but Rita Mae Brown has a talent for creating memorable characters and turns of phrase, and her lighter-than-air mystery novels are an enjoyable way to wile away a lazy afternoon or two.MURDER, SHE MEOWED has a particularly transparent plot--but even so it is one of Brown's more interesting entries in the "Mrs. Murphy" series, reacquainting us with all the Crozet residents (both human and animal) we've come to know and love and introduces one or two new ones as well. In this particular novel, Brown sets her tale against the snobbish Virginia steeplechase community, and when a jockey of questionable background is found stabbed to death in a stable the roots of the crime may be as close at hand as the local drug dealer or as far removed in time as an old missing person mystery. As usual, Brown writes with considerable flair and elan, and fans of the series will find MURDER, SHE WROTE a particularly enjoyable outing.

I have read every one of Rita Mae Brown's and Sneaky Pie Brown's books, and they are all terrific. Good mystery, good writing--what more can you ask? And don't forget Tucker--she adds her touch to each book as well. I thoroughly enjoy each book and look forward to the next one