Customer Reviews

Pawing Through the Past

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Harry gets a little braver, Miranda and Mim get a little looser, and other characters become more well known. Crozet is holding a twentieth year high-school reunion (Harry's) and a fiftieth year reunion (Miranda's) at the same time, the only difference in the two being the cause for excitement. In Harry's a killer is running loose and class members are dropping like flies. In Miranda's a love interest comes. The suspense steadily mounts throughout the book as Brown creates a web of age-old secrets. The book is slightly reminiscent of "Wish You Were Here" in the way the victims are notified of their impending death. This mystery has a mind-boggling, suspense-filled ending.

The animals are a little more sensible in this book as compared to Brown's last one. They no longer do outlandish things such as drive cars, but they continue with their catty and sarcastic remarks.

The past of several town members becomes more well-known in this book and anchors them in our minds better. When I finished it, for a day or two I found myself slightly lost without these witty and wonderful characters.

All in all, this is a great mystery sure to be enjoyed. Just remember, in a small town, nothing is ever as it seems!

Ms. Brown's latest adventure featuring the folks of Cozet is just delightful. I've been a avid fan of this Mrs. Murphy series from the beginning and this 8th book is one of the best. Ms. Brown has weaved a delicious murder mystery centering around Harry's 20th class reunion. But although the construction of the mystery would be enough to keep most mystery readers turning the pages until the early hours, it is the continuation of the evolution of the characters that had me saying, "OK--just *one* more chapter before bed." I just had to know what was happening between Harry and Fair and, to my delight--Miranda and an old beau! This latest Mrs. Murphy Mystery is a true "must read" for all the fans of the folks and critters of this wonderful series.

When the toast at the 20th class reunion is "To the class of '80 - or what's left of it" you know there is more going on than reminiscing about old times. This book is an excellent mystery in Crozet as members of Harry's class are mysteriously murdered - and Harry may be next! The author's grasp of human nature is dead on here - and her grasp of animal nature can't be beat. Mrs. Murphy, Pewter and Tucker, who talk to each other and can understand humans, but cannot be understood by them, are hilarious. The animals' personalities really come forth in this book, which triples the fun. This is a delightful, original mystery which I would recommend to anyone, and I look forward eagerly to reading her other Mrs. Murphy books.

In Pawing Through The Past, Rita Mae Brown [and Sneaky Pie Brown] have knocked off the best Mrs. Murphy Mystery since the early books in the series. In the 8th novel in this series, the Crozet High School Classes of 1950 and 1980 are preparing for silmultaneous class reunions. Harry Haristeen, postmistress of Crozet, and her amazing companion animals are helping to set up the 1980 reunion. Strange mass mailings start appearing in the mailboxes of the classmates of 1980 and the dead bodies begin to pile up. The killings continue at the reunions and, of course, Harry is hip deep in the mysteries. As always, I found it easy to ignore the fact that animals don't really solve mysteries [Cat On The Scent was the only book that pushed too hard on my ability to suspend disbelief] and that the real town of Crozet, Virginia isn't really the world capitol of serial killers. Beyond the usual audience, I recommend this one to anyone who is going to or has just been to their high school class reunion. This also would be a good place to start with this wonderful series of mysteries. Read this light, but highly entertaining novel with your favorite cat on your lap.

Sneaky Pie does it again! Rita Mae Brown's talent for bringing mystery and furry friends together really shines in Pawing Through The Past. Harry Hairston is getting ready for her high school reunion, will her classmates live through it? Harry begins to wonder when strange notes arrive in everyone's mailbox. Sneaky Pie is on the trail of an elusive killer without some of the antics of the previous book, Cat on the Scent. A must read for any fans of Rita Mae, Sneaky Pie and Tee Tucker!

In Virginia, there is a special place that some might consider magical. Crozet is a small charming hamlet where Southern gentility holds sways and everybody knows one another. However, the magic resides with the animals who are at least as intelligent as the humans, communicate between the species because they understand one another, and comprehend what the humans say even if Homo Sapiens fails to reciprocate.

A tiger cat Mrs. Murphy, a Welsh Congi Tee Tucker, and a gray tiger cat named Pewter own human Mary Minor "Harry" Hairsteen. Harry and friends are planning the high school's twentieth reunion when a strange anonymous note arrives. Mrs. Murphy thinks that there is something weird about the note and her fears prove right when someone kills the local lothario. A second note arrives followed by a second murder. Harry begins sleuthing with her animals planning to stealthily assists her so they can keep her safe.

Talented author Rita Mae Brown beguiles her audience with a special tale that taps into the fantasy believer in all of us. PAWING THROUGH THE PAST makes readers accept animals talking with one another and understanding human speech, and caring about their "pets" so as to insure their safety. The mystery is cleverly crafted so that it captures and uses the ambiance of small town Southern living to propel the story line forward. Fans of the Mrs. Murphy series will want to immediately read this novel while newcomers will search for the previous books.

Harriet Klausner

Not a dedicated mystery reader, I don't comparison shop for them much, but I feel this is in the 5 star range. I've found comfort in the Rita Mae Brown/Sneaky Pie Brown series and this is where I tend to vacation when in need of a lighter touch. This is one of the stronger entries of recent volumes in the line. I like the human characters, the animals they love and who love them foibles and all in return, as well as the rural Virginia small town world. That world is well observed as are human quirks. Brown is at her best when she stays true to that sense of community and how it functions when evil descends or blooms from within. Mrs. Hoggendopper gets a pleasant new lease on life in Pawing Through the Past through the occasion of her 50th high school reunion while the series' human heroine, Harry, and her friends get a deadly deal out of their 20th. Harry is moody this time out, looks like it will take at least another book in the series to work out her feelings about things. FYI to the Browns: no need to (re)marry Harry off to keep my allegiance. As for the mystery--yeah, I figured it out, but the Browns kept me guessing as to the correctness of my suspicions right up to the denoument.

We are in Crozet, Virginia and the clerk at the post office is nicknamed Harry. A twentieth year reunion is being planned. There is a conceited classmate named Boom Boom who is helping to run the show. Harry, Mary Minor Haristeen, is irritated. Next a particularly obnoxious member of the class, Charlie Ashcraft, turns up dead.

Harry's ex-husband Fair helps her to make a downpayment on a new truck. This is a book where two cats and a dog talk to the reader and to each other. We read their contributions in italics. This should not work, but it does. The story improves as one reads on. Initially one fears the whole thing will expire of cuteness.

Parallel reunions are going on, and so the author has given herself a vehicle to write of different generations--neat. The dead man had been an egotist. Tracy Raz, newly arrived for one of the reunions, arranges to rent some rooms from Harry at her farm. Tracy is going to be attending the fifty year reunion. Tracy is an old friend of Harry's employer at the post office.

A body of another classmate is found in the dumpster of the grocery store next to the post office. The two men were killed in the same manner. The second victim is Leo Burkey. The next death is a suicide.

Harry dreads the question at her high school reunion of her failure to achieve greatness. She is going to have to say that she has made a conscious choice to put her inner life ahead of her outer life. Someone is killed at the reunion of twenty years. One of the people present says they could market the idea of murder at the reunion.

Oh my, another body is discovered at the school, site of the reunion. At this stage I really do not want to give away more of the plot. Read how the cats end up saving the day. I am impressed.

The author has written a good book. She uses the animals well and creatively. Her plotting skills are of the highest order. I would welcome the opportunity to read another title in this series.

Crozet is one of my favorite small towns :)

I love Harry's pets so much that I just named "my" stray cat's kittens Tucker, Murphy, and Pewter.

Pawing Through the Past is another brilliantly-written mystery by Rita Mae Brown. Her characters are rich as chocolate mousse, and just about as satisfying. Brown's love of animals makes me want to read her books; her style makes me want to read them again.

This mystery was not only "right up my alley" but reminiscent of personal friends. However, while I figured out Who Done It, I didn't figure out the REAL mystery until it was spelled out for me. It was clever, and I admire Brown for pulling the wool over my eyes.

I not only knew animals could talk, but I always knew that cats felt themselves superior to all others....I love this series of books and loved the one they turned into a tv movie, wish they would make them all into movies. I read a lot of books that have cat slueths as the central caracter! Can't wait for the next book!