11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best, October 3, 2008
Rita Mae Brown delivers a winner in this installment of her Sister Jane "Outfoxed Series". Where her last title seemed rushed to production and the plotline was not well-developed, "Hounded to Death" is a welcome return to a great read for Rita Mae fans.
The story begins in late Spring in Kentucky at the Mid-America Hound Show where evil quickly raises its ugly head and starts the novel on its "whodunit" path while simultaneously explaining hound shows and searching for a stolen hound. Then, a suicide of a friend occurs, but Sister is not willing to believe that it was a suicide. Hmmm. Intermingled are interesting discussions of Kentucky bourbon, human nature, descriptions of opening new hunt territory, carrion eating habits, graduation from Custis Hall by "the girls", moonshining, and animal cruelty allegations.
As usual with this series, Rita Mae gives great accounts that educate us on foxhunting and animals without the feeling that we are being educated. And yes, the animals have some great conversations--a Rita Mae device to give us more clues and education.
While the book moves through the summer, there are no accounts of actual hunts so the reader must wait until hunting season just as foxhunters must wait. As with real foxhunting, the wait is worthwhile, as several wonderful accounts finally take place. As often happens in this series, a body is discovered during a hunt, and similarly, the unmasking of the killer is discovered, and he is accounted for at the end of a hunt.
Several old friends from previous books play important parts, including Tootie, Shaker and Gray. New characters include the despicable Mo Schneider; a horse vet--Hope Rogers; retired Judge Barry Baker; pet food maker, Grant Fuller; and new landowners, Dr. and Mrs. Mitch Fisher.
The writing is entertaining and sometimes thought provoking. It is also quite poetic and descriptive as evidenced by the following passage:
"Red!" Dreamboat called out.
As this hound was only in his second year, Cora checked it.
Asa came over, put his nose down, then lifted his head along with Cora and the curtain was raised.
This is a fun read, and we are there with them. I'll recommend this one to all my friends.
+
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This is getting better, October 6, 2008
I was glad to see a return to some better plot lines. Although I miss my "friends" like Crawford Howard, being a foxhunter myself, I know how these relationships tend to take a back seat in the summer. I am waiting for that Jane Arnold mystery that will make me not want to put the book down, like earlier ones Outfoxed and Hotspur. I must say that hound shows are a part of hunting I know nothing about, so it was quite interesting to read the ins and outs of hound showing. It has made me want to go view one next year. So, all in all, this one was better, not her best work but I'm glad to see a return to more storyline.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Hounded to sleep, January 27, 2009
I am a big fan of Rita Mae Brown's fox hunting series. However, her latest intallment is way off the mark. The wonderful characters that are so important to the books are lost. The wonderful animal characters are almost non existant. I love to read the foxes' comments and thoughts, but Inky, (my personal favorite) the wonderful Balck fox, is not involved. The rest of the animal characters are also absent. These characters have always added depth, humor and interest to the previous books. Sister Jane has always been a wonderful warm, honest and above board person. She is different in this book, and not a good different. Shaker is also different in this book, and not very involved. Shaker and Lorraine's relationship has gone no further and is lost to us readers. The rest of the members of the Jefferson Hunt are mere shadows of themselves and not truly involved in the investigations of the murders. The murderer himself is also a huge contradiction and confusing character. I don't know whether to like, dislike, hate or what to feel about him. The young girls from Custis Hall are back, but are not quite what we are used to, much more shallow and in Felicity's case BLAH. Crawford, Sister Jane's great nemisis, makes only a short uninteresting appearance. Character development has not only stopped in this book, it has regressed. The hunting sequences are absent until the end and are very drab. The plot is also convoluted and at times does not make any sense. The death of the vet is deeply troubling and is never truly explained in a satisfactory manner. The several deaths involved in the book are especially cruel and their explanations trite. This book feels like a rough draft of what could have been a great addition to the Sister Jane fox hunting books. Instead, it is lack luster, confusing and a big disapointment. I recieved this book as a gift. If I had purchased it for myself, I may have asked for a refund.
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