Customer Reviews

Murder, She Meowed (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

Harry and her witty cat, Mrs. Murphy are hot on the trail of another case. This time, it will be even more dangerous than the last. When a jockey is found dead in the stable at the Montpelier races, it is up to Harry and her animal friends to figure out who has put this horrible fright on the little town of Crozet. When a package comes to the post office in Crozet and is addressed to the Charlottesville Cuttery, she knows something is up because she has lived in this town all her life and has never heard of this place. She recognizes the handwriting on the recipe as a friend, or so she though, and is off to get this person for the murders of three Crozet people. She knows the forth will happen soon.
This book will surprise the reader every time they read it. Slowly, Rita Mae Brown will pull you off the trail of the murder and then back on it for a surprising ending. She does not drop any loose clues on the way that would give the ending away. Murder She Meowed kept me interested the whole time. This is however, is not a book that I would read over and over again.

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.

The other novels by Sneaky Pie Brown were better - definitely. I would not say this book is bad, but it is not great either. In those novels the characters were credible and the plot was very well developed. Here the characters of Chark, Adelia and most of the other horse racing professionals are stereotype, clumsy and wooden in their presentation. Chark and Adelia are hardly characters of flesh and blood. The plot is not of the same quality as the plots of the other books I have read. The solution does not come as a surprise, but like in a classical English soap mystery you accept it, but the development of the plot does not help you to sharpen your qualities as a detective. It is not logical and you'd rather not think much about it. Because there is no argumentation that necessarily leads to the ending. The animals are too intrusive and their "help" a little too erratic as well. So on the whole this novel is readable, but it is not a pageturner and not as hilarious a story as the other ones I have read.

I have all the Mrs. Murphy mysteries. They are lots of fun to read and are a real diversion from True Crime (which I also like). The setting is in the beautiful Virginia horse country, the characters are delightful, the mystery always engaging. Start with "Wish You Were Hear" to see how it all began.

i really love rita's and sneaky's books, although they tend to be light reading, they are always fun. this book lives up to the past and comes complete with one of rita's trademark surprise endings. it will keep you on the edge of your seat, and you won't want to put it down. plenty of intervention by mrs.murphy, tucker, pewter, and many others, which is alwys my favorite part of the book!

Mary Minor Haristeen (Harry), local postmistress and farmer, is Mom to Mrs Murphy (a grey tabby-cat)and T Tucker (a blonde Corgi-dog). She's also surogate Mom to Pewter, and extremely fat & lazy grey cat. Harry is involved in the racing crowds so when first one jockey is found with a stiletto and a Queen stuck in his heart, then another one with another Queen, Harry kicks into high gear, trying to find out who dun it. The animals, of course, talk it up with the other animals, mice, horses, etc, and they are WAY ahead of the people. This is a cozy murder mystery, with Harry, her animals, and all the locals in Crozet, VA. The Mrs. Murphey Mysteries aren't meant to be heavy reading, and are just fun, light mysteries.

What a great book! I love Rita Mae Brown's casual writing style. She really has a grasp of what everyday folk speak and act like, even in situations that aren't everyday. This is a great mystery, fun and exciting! This mystery has it all: money, gambling, betrayal, drugs, and of course, intriguing murders. It all starts at the racetrack where Harry and her friends are in attendance. A murder occurs, then another, and Mrs. Murphy and Tee Tucker just can't keep their noses out of it! They employ the help of Pewter, another cat, and even a racehorse Orion.

As an animal communicator, I always say that we ought to listen to the animals. And in this case, that's absolutely vital. While the humans try to solve this mystery, Mrs. Murphy and her animal friends are hot on the trail, solving it right along with them. The book's main showdown happens--where else?--at the local church. Harry knows who the killer is and goes to warn the sheriff, but her emotions get the better of her and she publicly accuses the killer. In all the drama and commotion, it's hard to say if they'll all get out of there alive!

I don't want to spoil the mystery, but this one is definitely a page-turner. Very funny, short chapters, an overall easy read!

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!