The Tail of the Tip-Off

Winter has hit the small town of Crozet, Virginia with quite a blow, but Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen, the town postmistress, isn't shocked, or perturbed by the abrupt change in weather. After all, she and her friends (both furry and human) know exactly how to keep warm by indulging in warm treats, working hard, and...rooting for the University of Virginia's women's basketball team, in an effort to keep their spirits high, and bring the gold home for the team. But when local contractor, H.H. Donaldson, dies in the parking lot after one of the spirited games, word quickly spreads that it wasn't your average death...H.H. was killed, and his murderer's trail is cold. Harry is shocked to believe that one of her fellow basketball fans, and acquaintances is a cold-blooded killer, finding it hard to let H.H.'s death sit right with her. And everyone knows, best of all Harry's tiger cat Mrs. Murphy, that when something doesn't agree with Harry, she has a tendency to start poking her nose where it doesn't belong. Even if she risks putting herself, and her feline (and canine) friends in danger. Now, in an attempt to ensure that their curious (okay, downright nosy) mother doesn't waste one of her nine lives, Mrs. Murphy, along with her feisty feline pal, Pewter, and their canine relative, Tee Tucker have decided to join the amateur sleuth in uncovering who exactly H.H.'s killer is, and why he (or she) did him in. But with Harry constantly gallivanting off at all kinds of odd hours of the day and night, it's becoming complicated for the feisty furballs to keep their eyes on her 24/7, leaving Harry wide open for discovery, or, even worse...gambling with her own life. There's nothing that I love more than curling up with a cozy mystery on a cold day, especially one with felines and canines scurrying around. So, when the temperature made a quick drop, I headed directly for Mrs. Murphy and the Crozet gang, to see what new mysteries they were wrapping themselves up in. As per usual, Harry was her delightful self. A self-confident, brave, intrepid character, whose independence is admirable, as are her hard work and sleuthing skills. Accompanied by the always-hungry, often sarcastic, Pewter; the short-legged, stubby-tailed, flying solo canine, Tee Tucker; and the oft-times conceited, but lovable, Mrs. Murphy; along with handfuls of other enjoyable characters, THE TAIL OF THE TIP-OFF was certainly one-sitting-read worthy. The descriptions of the Virginian countryside were incredible; as were the additions of some new characters, who will hopefully be sticking around for awhile. The purr-fect mystery to accompany a nice, warm mug of cocoa on a cold winter's day. Erika Sorocco Freelance Reviewer

In one of the latest Mrs. Murphy mysteries, the citizens of Crozet are on the lookout for a sneaky murderer. At one of the University of Virginia's women basketball matches, wealthy construction tycoon H.H. Donaldson drops dead in the parking lot. What scares the amateur detective Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen is that the murderer could've been sitting right behind her. After Sheriff Shaw and Deputy Cooper confirm that it wasn't a heart attack that ended his life, cats Mrs.Murphy, Pewter, and corgi Tucker are searching for a cold-blooded killer who blends in among the residents of the small Virginian town. As the answer is within the mammal detectives' grasp, building inspector Mychelle is found stabbed to death in the sporting supply closet. Before the killer claims another victim, the animal trio must figure out who's behind the killings and why. This contemporary equivalent of Sherlock Holmes will leave you breathless. This baffling mystery includes the typical list of suspects. H. H. was widely known to be a ladies' man, so of course most thought of Anne Donaldson, his long time wife he recently left for a day. She would have motive of jealousy of his latest affair. It would also explain Mychelle's death if she were the mistress, who she surprisingly turned out to be. Harry also suspects BoomBoom, but that's mainly because she thinks BoomBoom is the mistress of every marriage, like she was in Harry's marriage to Fair. In addition, there was Fred Forrest, Mychelle's employer, and Matthew Crickenberger, a well-liked architect. During this time around, Harry's detecting skills plummet just a little. Procedures that should've been taken didn't cross her mind until it was too late. On some occasions, her typical character was shoved aside. For example, BoomBoom persuaded Harry to return to the crime scene at UVA after H.H.'s death. The two women, and Harry's pets of course, were greeted by a very nasty, tired, Sheriff Rick Shaw who had just begun his fifth cup of black coffee. His poor attitude and vicious tone scared them off the premises before Tucker could sniff around. Usually, if this situation were to present itself, Harry would ignore Shaw's orders and find a way to sneak in to search for clues. What really brings this book to the top is the whodunit. As mentioned Fred Forrest and Matt Crinkenburger were in the same business as H. H. Thanks to Fair and ice cubes, Harry was able to figure out what her pets had already known: how the two killed him. Someone at he game disguised a blowgun in a noisemaker at the fateful game. It whizzed by H.H. and released a poisonous icicle coated with batrachotoxin, or the toxin secreted by rare bright tropical frogs which happened to be in a terrarium at Matthew's office. H.H. had figured out Matthew's scam of using cheap materials and overcharging millions out of the clients, while Fred covered for him and approved the hazardous buildings. They put up an act of hating each other, but that didn't fool

Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie outdo themselves on this one. Full of the usual interaction between the animals and Harry. (Oh if she only could understand what they are trying to tell her!) A new friend "Brinkely" is added. Couldn't really figure out the "bad guy" on this one till the end. Would recommend it to any Rita Mae or Sneaky Pie fan. Very good, really enjoyed it.

I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of this book and I was not disappointed in the contents. The spotlight, this time, falls on the building and construction industry and some new arrivals in Crozet with all the old participants well to the fore. Sheriff Rick and Deputy Coop are deep in an investigation after a mysterious death at a Women's basketball game attended by most of our friends, Harry & Fair, Miranda & Tracy, Susan and family,Little Mim and Blair, Boom Boom et al. The mystery lies in the cause of death and the weapon used. Needless to say, the terrible trio (Mrs Murphy, Tee Tucker and Pewter) are the first to find the answer but their problem is communicating it to the humans, they make the acquaintance of a new canine (Brinkley) in town, a stray, befriended by a beautiful architect who is also new in Crozet. Harry, despite the usual warnings, rushes in where angels fear to tread and puts herself and an unlikely partner, Boom Boom, in danger. Harry is surprised by Boom Boom,(could this be the end to her animosity to Boom?) she also learns more about herself and her feelings for ex-husband Fair. After many alarms, bumps on head, another death, quarrels, fights etc., Harry, Boom and the trio bring things to a satisfactory conclusion. I find myself believing in Mrs Murphy more with each book. When's the next one?

When there is no murderer on the loose, there is no better place to be than Crozet, Virginia. It is a magical place where animals talk to each other crossing species lines. The only ones who can't understand the animals are the dumb human beings and the animals believe that is because have gotten away from nature. The tiger cat Mrs. Murphy, the large gray Cat Pewter, and Tucker the Corgi, owns Mary Minor Haristeen, known as Harry to her friends. The trio loves Harry and will do anything to protect her and keep her safe when she is busy sleuthing.Following a women's basketball game at the University of Virginia, HH Donaldson collapses and dies. An autopsy shows a one and a half-inch piercing in the back of his neck so the tentative conclusion is he was poisoned. A few days later, Mychelle Burns, a building code inspector is found in the closet inside the woman's basketball locker room with a knife wound through the chest. Harry, who has to be in the middle of a homicide investigation, tries to figure out who the murderer is and almost winds up as victim number three.One of the most charming facets of the Mrs. Murphy mysteries is the conversation the animals have with each other. The heroine's animals go to great lengths to save her from her actions and their love and tender displays of affections would warm the heart of pre-ghostly Scrooge. THE TAIL OF THE TIP-OFF is a not to be missed exciting cozy.Harriet Klausner