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Mrs. Murphy #5
Murder, She Meowed
alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780553572377
The annual steeplechase races at Montpelier, once the home of James and Dolley Madison, are the high point in the social calendar of the horse-mad Virginians of cozy Crozet. The race meet offers a cracking good time with old friends and a chance to get even--on the racecourse--with old enemies. Postmistress Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen will be in the thick of the action on this day of high spirits and fierce competition. But the glorious thoroughbreds and the pinks and greens and purples worn by the riders do not blind Harry to the dangerous undercurrents that start to surface. There's sure to be some emotional fireworks at Montpelier. Still, no one expects the day to end in tragedy.
Found dead in the main barn is one of the day's riders, a knife plunged through the jockey's heart. The only clue is a playing card, the Queen of Clubs, impaled over the fatal wound. Within the wealthy, tight-knit world of horse owners, trainers, and jockeys, the victim had both admirers and enemies.
Was the murderer's motive greed, drugs--a pervasive evil in the race world--or sexual rivalry? Luckily for Crozet's humans, the tiger cat Mrs. Murphy is right at home in the stable yard...and on the trail of the shocking truth. But will Harry catch on in time to stop a killer grown bloodthirsty with success?
In Murder, She Meowed Sneaky Pie Brown and her co-author, Rita Mae Brown, have penned another clever and sassy mystery that probes the depths of human depravity and the heights of feline genius.
"From the Paperback edition."
The annual steeplechase races at Montpelier, once the home of James and Dolley Madison, are the high point in the social calendar of the horse-mad Virginians of cozy Crozet. The race meet offers a cracking good time with old friends and a chance to get even--on the racecourse--with old enemies. Postmistress Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen will be in the thick of the action on this day of high spirits and fierce competition. But the glorious thoroughbreds and the pinks and greens and purples worn by the riders do not blind Harry to the dangerous undercurrents that start to surface. There's sure to be some emotional fireworks at Montpelier. Still, no one expects the day to end in tragedy.
Found dead in the main barn is one of the day's riders, a knife plunged through the jockey's heart. The only clue is a playing card, the Queen of Clubs, impaled over the fatal wound. Within the wealthy, tight-knit world of horse owners, trainers, and jockeys, the victim had both admirers and enemies.
Was the murderer's motive greed, drugs--a pervasive evil in the race world--or sexual rivalry? Luckily for Crozet's humans, the tiger cat Mrs. Murphy is right at home in the stable yard...and on the trail of the shocking truth. But will Harry catch on in time to stop a killer grown bloodthirsty with success?
In Murder, She Meowed Sneaky Pie Brown and her co-author, Rita Mae Brown, have penned another clever and sassy mystery that probes the depths of human depravity and the heights of feline genius.
"From the Paperback edition."
302 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
285 people are currently reading
1376 people want to read
About the author
Rita Mae Brown
177 books2,245 followersRita Mae Brown is a prolific American writer, most known for her mysteries and other novels (Rubyfruit Jungle). She is also an Emmy-nominated screenwriter.
Brown was born illegitimate in Hanover, Pennsylvania. She was raised by her biological mother's female cousin and the cousin's husband in York, Pennsylvania and later in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Starting in the fall of 1962, Brown attended the University of Florida at Gainesville on a scholarship. In the spring of 1964, the administrators of the racially segregated university expelled her for participating in the civil rights movement. She subsequently enrolled at Broward Community College[3] with the hope of transferring eventually to a more tolerant four-year institution.
Between fall 1964 and 1969, she lived in New York City, sometimes homeless, while attending New York University[6] where she received a degree in Classics and English. Later,[when?] she received another degree in cinematography from the New York School of Visual Arts.[citation needed] Brown received a Ph.D. in literature from Union Institute & University in 1976 and holds a doctorate in political science from the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C.
Starting in 1973, Brown lived in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. In 1977, she bought a farm in Charlottesville, Virginia where she still lives.[9] In 1982, a screenplay Brown wrote while living in Los Angeles, Sleepless Nights, was retitled The Slumber Party Massacre and given a limited release theatrically.
During Brown's spring 1964 semester at the University of Florida at Gainesville, she became active in the American Civil Rights Movement. Later in the 1960s, she participated in the anti-war movement, the feminist movement and the Gay Liberation movement.
Brown took an administrative position with the fledgling National Organization for Women, but resigned in January 1970 over Betty Friedan's anti-gay remarks and NOW's attempts to distance itself from lesbian organizations. She claims she played a leading role in the "Lavender Menace" zap of the Second Congress to Unite Women on May 1, 1970, which protested Friedan's remarks and the exclusion of lesbians from the women's movement.
In the early 1970s, she became a founding member of The Furies Collective, a lesbian feminist newspaper collective in Washington, DC, which held that heterosexuality was the root of all oppression.
Brown told Time magazine in 2008, "I don't believe in straight or gay. I really don't. I think we're all degrees of bisexual. There may be a few people on the extreme if it's a bell curve who really truly are gay or really truly are straight. Because nobody had ever said these things and used their real name, I suddenly became [in the late 1970s] the only lesbian in America."
Brown was born illegitimate in Hanover, Pennsylvania. She was raised by her biological mother's female cousin and the cousin's husband in York, Pennsylvania and later in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Starting in the fall of 1962, Brown attended the University of Florida at Gainesville on a scholarship. In the spring of 1964, the administrators of the racially segregated university expelled her for participating in the civil rights movement. She subsequently enrolled at Broward Community College[3] with the hope of transferring eventually to a more tolerant four-year institution.
Between fall 1964 and 1969, she lived in New York City, sometimes homeless, while attending New York University[6] where she received a degree in Classics and English. Later,[when?] she received another degree in cinematography from the New York School of Visual Arts.[citation needed] Brown received a Ph.D. in literature from Union Institute & University in 1976 and holds a doctorate in political science from the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C.
Starting in 1973, Brown lived in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. In 1977, she bought a farm in Charlottesville, Virginia where she still lives.[9] In 1982, a screenplay Brown wrote while living in Los Angeles, Sleepless Nights, was retitled The Slumber Party Massacre and given a limited release theatrically.
During Brown's spring 1964 semester at the University of Florida at Gainesville, she became active in the American Civil Rights Movement. Later in the 1960s, she participated in the anti-war movement, the feminist movement and the Gay Liberation movement.
Brown took an administrative position with the fledgling National Organization for Women, but resigned in January 1970 over Betty Friedan's anti-gay remarks and NOW's attempts to distance itself from lesbian organizations. She claims she played a leading role in the "Lavender Menace" zap of the Second Congress to Unite Women on May 1, 1970, which protested Friedan's remarks and the exclusion of lesbians from the women's movement.
In the early 1970s, she became a founding member of The Furies Collective, a lesbian feminist newspaper collective in Washington, DC, which held that heterosexuality was the root of all oppression.
Brown told Time magazine in 2008, "I don't believe in straight or gay. I really don't. I think we're all degrees of bisexual. There may be a few people on the extreme if it's a bell curve who really truly are gay or really truly are straight. Because nobody had ever said these things and used their real name, I suddenly became [in the late 1970s] the only lesbian in America."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
January 27, 2018
It is now five for five. Among my many reading goals, one is to read all the books in the 'Mrs. Murphy" series in chronological order. This story was especially good (although I've liked the previous four) or I am becoming more and more vested in Mrs. Murphy, Tucker, Pewter and their friends with each book. It would be hard not to be more entertained as I get to know them and their adventures better. What I truly enjoy about this series is the banter between the animals. They are quite the comedic characters and their relationship with one another reminds me very much of my own cats. Cats and dogs are not unlike people in that they have their distinct personality traits. Having three cats makes me quite aware of the naughty and the nice. Snaps to Rita Mae Brown for writing such an entertaining series!!!
November 8, 2019
I'm actually reviewing the audio version of this book which I listened to over the course of about a week (give or take) while sewing for craft shows. I had never read any of this series, but I really enjoyed hearing it narrated. The animals talking to each other about the murder was such a fun addition. I'm not sure if I would have appreciated it as much or been as entertained had I simply read it, but hearing the various cats, mice, horses and Tucker, the Corgi talk to one another was so much fun!
I had a good idea about halfway through as to who the killer was, but I enjoyed listening and getting swayed by some of the red herrings along the way. This was an enjoyable narrator to listen to, the story was entertaining as well as intriguing, and I might just see what other audio titles I can borrow from the series now that I've heard one. I probably should start with book one. ;)
I had a good idea about halfway through as to who the killer was, but I enjoyed listening and getting swayed by some of the red herrings along the way. This was an enjoyable narrator to listen to, the story was entertaining as well as intriguing, and I might just see what other audio titles I can borrow from the series now that I've heard one. I probably should start with book one. ;)
February 2, 2024
I vaguely think that I read one of these Mrs. Murphy mysteries decades ago; however, the only thing I remembered was the presence of a sentient cat and dog and that the main character was a bit of sighing sad sack. All of that is true; however, I enjoyed this less than I thought I would.
Tiger tabby Mrs. Murphy and corgi Tee Tucker are able to speak amongst themselves and to other animals, but, at least, they can’t talk to humans. (That shouldn’t happen in a book for adults, thank you very much.) Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen, postmistress of Crozet (a real-life place in Albemarle County, Va., the county where Monticello is located), still pines for her philandering ex-husband, although — thank God! — she’s smart enough to reject his overtures for a reconciliation. But enough about her.
This part of Virginia goes wild for steeplechase, and in seven days, two jockeys are murdered. What links the pair? And why would anyone want to eliminate jockeys? It’s not a spoiler to tell you that the animals are ahead of the humans all the way. If that’s the kind of thing you like, then this is definitely your thing. Murder, She Meowed is the fifth entry in a series featuring Harry and her animals, but it worked as a stand-alone. Will I be trying another of these books? Probably not, but it was OK.
Tiger tabby Mrs. Murphy and corgi Tee Tucker are able to speak amongst themselves and to other animals, but, at least, they can’t talk to humans. (That shouldn’t happen in a book for adults, thank you very much.) Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen, postmistress of Crozet (a real-life place in Albemarle County, Va., the county where Monticello is located), still pines for her philandering ex-husband, although — thank God! — she’s smart enough to reject his overtures for a reconciliation. But enough about her.
This part of Virginia goes wild for steeplechase, and in seven days, two jockeys are murdered. What links the pair? And why would anyone want to eliminate jockeys? It’s not a spoiler to tell you that the animals are ahead of the humans all the way. If that’s the kind of thing you like, then this is definitely your thing. Murder, She Meowed is the fifth entry in a series featuring Harry and her animals, but it worked as a stand-alone. Will I be trying another of these books? Probably not, but it was OK.
June 22, 2017
It was okay; not really a favorite.
January 23, 2020
This was cute as always. The animals were a bit high handed in this one, but it was okay. Sometimes cozy mysteries are very easy to figure out who is the bad guy, and sometimes it comes out of left field. I had an inkling as to who it was, then I would change my mind, but yeah, it was who I thought. Still was interesting though, as I've never really read a book involving horse racing.
February 12, 2012
You know how people are always looking for a light hearted read after a depressing and intellectually challenging book? This is the PERFECT (or should I say, PURRFECT) book for those situations.
There isn't a whole lot of depth to this book, and the logical train of the thought gets derailed in the first chapter. You'll often find yourself reading about random tidbits here and there that are completely irrelevant; i.e. certain characters cooking abilities, interjections by the animals, and many many more.
One recurring theme though is that men are tramps and will leave a woman no matter how much they love them. It's interesting to note the lack of committed, satisfied relationships in this book (even the cats), and the ones that are 'together' are either together because of money or because it is a may-december romance. I think Rita Mae Brown may be holding a small grudge against an ex of hers...
Anyways, this book is mostly light hearted and fun. Yes, people are murdered which adds a little damper to the book, but Rita Mae Brown makes it clear that if you don't do cocaine or lead men on you will be fine (unless you are the psychopathic murderer yourself). I found most of this book to be completely unrealistic fiction, but it was fun at the same time (as long as you never try to take this book seriously).
Despite the frequent cocaine references and blatant lack of prosecution for heavy cocaine use and possession (one of the characters has a kilo in her safety deposit box at one point, which the police know about and confiscate, and nothing happens to her. That would be a felony for anyone in the real world), I think this would make a good book to read to a 10 year old. I think as long as you make it clear that cocaine is never a good idea, Rita Mae Brown takes care of the rest (you abuse = you die).
Oh yes, liking cats and dogs is a must to read this book. They are the real heroes in the end :)
There isn't a whole lot of depth to this book, and the logical train of the thought gets derailed in the first chapter. You'll often find yourself reading about random tidbits here and there that are completely irrelevant; i.e. certain characters cooking abilities, interjections by the animals, and many many more.
One recurring theme though is that men are tramps and will leave a woman no matter how much they love them. It's interesting to note the lack of committed, satisfied relationships in this book (even the cats), and the ones that are 'together' are either together because of money or because it is a may-december romance. I think Rita Mae Brown may be holding a small grudge against an ex of hers...
Anyways, this book is mostly light hearted and fun. Yes, people are murdered which adds a little damper to the book, but Rita Mae Brown makes it clear that if you don't do cocaine or lead men on you will be fine (unless you are the psychopathic murderer yourself). I found most of this book to be completely unrealistic fiction, but it was fun at the same time (as long as you never try to take this book seriously).
Despite the frequent cocaine references and blatant lack of prosecution for heavy cocaine use and possession (one of the characters has a kilo in her safety deposit box at one point, which the police know about and confiscate, and nothing happens to her. That would be a felony for anyone in the real world), I think this would make a good book to read to a 10 year old. I think as long as you make it clear that cocaine is never a good idea, Rita Mae Brown takes care of the rest (you abuse = you die).
Oh yes, liking cats and dogs is a must to read this book. They are the real heroes in the end :)
October 22, 2019
It was great jumping back into the Mrs. Murphy series after about a year away.
I was a little turned off at first because of how in-depth the horse and steeplechase lingo and facts got, but as that was the entire setting, it quickly wore off as the excellent characters and mystery picked up speed. It took me a week to read this, usually during my lunch hour, but on this seventh day, I marathoned about half of it.
What I love about these books are how quick the pacing is and I'm glued to keep reading. The chapter frequency is great for pausing or changing perspective and I, of course, love the dialogue between all the animal as I myself love giving voices to animals and make up conversations.
I really can't stress enough how great of a mood these books put me in. The feeling is always a longing for their country life and feeling that great sense of community despite all the murder and drugs that seem to occur for 20+ books now. I find myself wanting to live in Crozet.
The mystery surrounding the murders of horse jockeys doesn't sound interesting to maybe the layperson such as myself, but I was right in there the whole time trying to piece together who the killer is. The inclusion of inheritance, a previous missing person/murder, drugs, and jealousy all ensnare this community to band together to weasel out who the killer is. I guessed right before the reveal whodunnit and was glad to be correct, but I was unable to get it right the whole time.
This series is great to follow all the characters and I enjoy growing with them and seeing who comes and goes. Like I forgot about Blair until he's mentioned towards the end. I'm glad he'll be returning sometime and fighting with Fair over Harry. BoomBoom and her Lifeline therapy was really funny, but I don't think a first-time reader would get it if they didn't read the previous books to follow her arc. Harry's abilities to help solve these mysteries is really outstanding and her pets are just hilarious at giving her the business. It's like the author was a cat in a past life.
I can't wait to start the next book and I highly recommend this to fans of the series. I guess starting with any book is okay since the (daunting) character list in the beginning gives some background info, but I really recommend reading in chronological order.
I was a little turned off at first because of how in-depth the horse and steeplechase lingo and facts got, but as that was the entire setting, it quickly wore off as the excellent characters and mystery picked up speed. It took me a week to read this, usually during my lunch hour, but on this seventh day, I marathoned about half of it.
What I love about these books are how quick the pacing is and I'm glued to keep reading. The chapter frequency is great for pausing or changing perspective and I, of course, love the dialogue between all the animal as I myself love giving voices to animals and make up conversations.
I really can't stress enough how great of a mood these books put me in. The feeling is always a longing for their country life and feeling that great sense of community despite all the murder and drugs that seem to occur for 20+ books now. I find myself wanting to live in Crozet.
The mystery surrounding the murders of horse jockeys doesn't sound interesting to maybe the layperson such as myself, but I was right in there the whole time trying to piece together who the killer is. The inclusion of inheritance, a previous missing person/murder, drugs, and jealousy all ensnare this community to band together to weasel out who the killer is. I guessed right before the reveal whodunnit and was glad to be correct, but I was unable to get it right the whole time.
This series is great to follow all the characters and I enjoy growing with them and seeing who comes and goes. Like I forgot about Blair until he's mentioned towards the end. I'm glad he'll be returning sometime and fighting with Fair over Harry. BoomBoom and her Lifeline therapy was really funny, but I don't think a first-time reader would get it if they didn't read the previous books to follow her arc. Harry's abilities to help solve these mysteries is really outstanding and her pets are just hilarious at giving her the business. It's like the author was a cat in a past life.
I can't wait to start the next book and I highly recommend this to fans of the series. I guess starting with any book is okay since the (daunting) character list in the beginning gives some background info, but I really recommend reading in chronological order.
April 19, 2019
Excellent cozy mystery. Didn’t figure it out. Love the voices of the animals.
December 30, 2018
Cualquiera que tenga gatos sabe que es prácticamente imposible escribir nada sin su "colaboración", así que me parece muy bien que Rita Mae Brown incluya como coautora a su gata atigrada, Sneaky Pie. Murder, She Meowed es una novela de misterio, asesinatos y unos detectives muy particulares: unos cuantos gatos y un Welsh Corgi. Normalmente no me hacen mucha gracia las historias que humanizan a los animales y los hacen hablar, pero aquí la autora lo hace desde la convicción de que ellos son más inteligentes y perceptivos que los humanos, así que no me ha disgustado. El misterio avanza de forma bastante pausada, y lo que hay sobre todo es mucha interacción entre los personajes y bastante información sobre el mundo de las carreras de caballos con vallas. Con esos mimbres podría ser un coñazo, pero resulta agradablemente entretenido. Una lectura ligerita, amena y simpática.
April 1, 2023
The mysteries are good, the characters are bad, bland, irritating, ridiculous, eyerolling. These don’t take up too much brain power so it’s nice escapism.
July 23, 2025
The annual steeplechase races are on at Montpelier which has everyone excited. Only when one of the jockeys is found dead in the stables, everyone is shocked and utterly horrified. Working at the post office gives Harry the advantage of the town gossip, but it’s her cat Mrs. Murphy who’s on the case, ready to solve the mystery. The fifth installment in the Mrs. Murphy cozy mystery series and this was an enjoyable read. As the reader had started to gather, there is a bit of a formula to the way these novels operate, which isn’t a bad thing, but read too many in a row and they can become stale quick. As for this one, the reader liked the mystery plot; it was easy to follow, even if it felt like it took a bit of a roundabout way to solving the murder, it kept us on our toes. What the reader liked was the addition of animals, namely the mice where Mrs. Murphy was out there making deals to gain information on the case. It was an interesting choice, but it worked well to keep things fresh and gave a new perspective on the series. Even the characters still felt refreshing to read as they tried to solve the murder. With each passing novel, Brown gives her characters’ something new to learn about them. In this one we learned more about everyone in the town’s love for horse racing. We knew that Harry liked horses before since she has a farm, and her ex-husband is an equine doctor. Speaking of Fair, we got to see him and Harry, as well as the rest of the town tell us their opinion on their relationship, which the reader still thinks is amusing, but we can see how this may start to get annoying soon. Blair seems to be out of the picture… for now. The reader wouldn’t be surprised if he makes some sort of return. The townspeople are funny in their own ways, Miranda is probably this reader’s favourite of the bunch with her quick wit and elder ways. In the end, this was a fun addition to an already entertaining series.
April 23, 2009
Ok, I'm going to do a standard review for the rest of the Mrs. Murphy books I read, because I really can't think of something smart to say about every single one of them. Actually, it's hard to come up with something smart to say about any one of them, because they are not really smart books.
Though, no, that's not true. They aren't trivial as such, they aren't too easy - or, in other words, they don't hurt my brain while I read them. But I think we can all agree that they are also not "great literature", and certainly not intellectually challenging, and as such, they are a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. (that and the talking animals, of course)
But they are pretty straight-forward crime stories, not overly complicated, but also never boring. They live from the interaction of the characters and the settings, both of which Brown handles brilliantly. That she also manages to make the reader fall in love with the characters, not only the familiar ones, but also the new ones she adds in each book, shows that a master she really is.
And so I have no problem admitting that I have read and loved every single one of the Mrs. Murphy books, and I'm convinced that I'll continue to love them for as long as she continues to write them, which I hope will be until forever.
Though, no, that's not true. They aren't trivial as such, they aren't too easy - or, in other words, they don't hurt my brain while I read them. But I think we can all agree that they are also not "great literature", and certainly not intellectually challenging, and as such, they are a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. (that and the talking animals, of course)
But they are pretty straight-forward crime stories, not overly complicated, but also never boring. They live from the interaction of the characters and the settings, both of which Brown handles brilliantly. That she also manages to make the reader fall in love with the characters, not only the familiar ones, but also the new ones she adds in each book, shows that a master she really is.
And so I have no problem admitting that I have read and loved every single one of the Mrs. Murphy books, and I'm convinced that I'll continue to love them for as long as she continues to write them, which I hope will be until forever.
February 22, 2013
This book was a delightful read. And Rita Mae Brown's characters come to life on the page. As usual it is up to the animals to steer the humans in the right direction to solve these murders. The backdrop is a a Steeples chase. Also, something was mysteriously buried in one of the horse stalls. When Ms Murphy and her owner Mary Harristien (Harry for short) get tangled up in the murders, well you know you are in for a ride. The writing is very colorful and the characters believable-but what makes this a great series is the voices and thoughts given to the animals about the humans around them. Want a light rollicking mystery? Try this book and let me know what you think.
I listened to this book via NLS Talking Book Program
I listened to this book via NLS Talking Book Program
June 19, 2021
At least five murders in this book; almost as many as a normal episode of Midsomer Murders. As usual, the story was hum-drum, but the animal conversations are top notch. I especially liked the truce with the barn mice and in the end Mrs. Murphy kept her word. The murderer is never very difficult to figure out because the animals usually know what’s happening long before the humans catch on. I love Mrs. Murphy; she is the spitting image of my darling Bandy who died of kidney failure in 2009. R.I.P. dear Bandy.
March 20, 2009
I am a sucker for the dead body books and this one was unique. You get to try and solve the mystery with the help of the assorted animals and it really works. My first but not my last.
January 19, 2016
I keep forgetting how much fun this series is. And I'm sure the animals are getting sassier.
October 21, 2024
This book is the Fifth in the series featuring Mrs. Murphy, a Grey tiger short-hair cat who, along with a Welsh corgi dog named Tee Tucker, solves mysteries with the assistance of Mary Minor Haristeen, the young Postmistress of the small town of Crozet, Virginia, some ten miles west of Charlottesville. (It should be noted that all animals can talk to each other, and that they all understand humans, but humans, being dense imperfect beings, cannot understand the animals.) And these are fun mysteries to read.
We begin the book at Montpelier, the home of James Madison, where a steeplechase race is about to happen. Mim (Big Marilyn) Sanburne has horses for the steeplechase, and the trainers for those horses are Charles and Adelia Valiant; Addie is also a jockey, and in about a week, on her twenty-first birthday, she (and her older brother) will come into the inheritance left them by their mother Marylou, Big Marilyn’s friend, who disappeared some five years ago. The inheritance has been managed for them by Arthur Tetrick, a distinguished lawyer and steeplechase official, who carried a torch for Marylou. Addie is currently enamored by Nigel Danforth, an English jockey who rides for the trainer Mickey Townsend, who also carried a torch for Marylou; Charles (called Chark) likes Arthur, and Addie likes Mickey. At the race, for which Harry Haristeen is the judge for one of the jumps, Nigel and Linda Forloines, one of the other jockeys, go at each other with their whips. Linda is not thought well of, as she is known to be underhanded, and is also suspected of being into drug dealing. After the race there is a murder, with a stiletto plunged into someone’s heart with the Queen of Clubs attached, and soon afterward another murder, with the same kind of stiletto, but with the Queen of Spades. Tucker applies herself to protecting Harry at races; Mrs. Murphy is not allowed to go to races, so she applies herself to working on the mystery.
I enjoyed this book, even though it was too horsey by far for my taste, and I look forward to the next book in the series.
We begin the book at Montpelier, the home of James Madison, where a steeplechase race is about to happen. Mim (Big Marilyn) Sanburne has horses for the steeplechase, and the trainers for those horses are Charles and Adelia Valiant; Addie is also a jockey, and in about a week, on her twenty-first birthday, she (and her older brother) will come into the inheritance left them by their mother Marylou, Big Marilyn’s friend, who disappeared some five years ago. The inheritance has been managed for them by Arthur Tetrick, a distinguished lawyer and steeplechase official, who carried a torch for Marylou. Addie is currently enamored by Nigel Danforth, an English jockey who rides for the trainer Mickey Townsend, who also carried a torch for Marylou; Charles (called Chark) likes Arthur, and Addie likes Mickey. At the race, for which Harry Haristeen is the judge for one of the jumps, Nigel and Linda Forloines, one of the other jockeys, go at each other with their whips. Linda is not thought well of, as she is known to be underhanded, and is also suspected of being into drug dealing. After the race there is a murder, with a stiletto plunged into someone’s heart with the Queen of Clubs attached, and soon afterward another murder, with the same kind of stiletto, but with the Queen of Spades. Tucker applies herself to protecting Harry at races; Mrs. Murphy is not allowed to go to races, so she applies herself to working on the mystery.
I enjoyed this book, even though it was too horsey by far for my taste, and I look forward to the next book in the series.
November 26, 2017
Review first posted on My Blog.
It's the day of the annual steeplechase and Mary 'Harry' Haristeen is enjoying helping down at the track with her dog, Tucker. It's a day that the entire town looks forward to and the races this day are good, except for an altercation between two of the jockeys during one race where Linda whips at Nigel and he retaliates. Harry dutifully reports it but no one thinks anything further about it, until Nigel is found dead later that night, stabbed through the heart with the Queen of Clubs stuck to him. Unfortunately, within a few days he is joined by another jockey, this time with the Queen of Spades pinned to him. Now Harry's cat, Mrs. Murphy, puts her nose to the case but even once they find several clues, it's so hard to get the dang humans to pay attention to them. Can the animals point them in the right direction before it's too late to save another one?
This is the 5th book in the series but the first one I read because this is the one my friend loaned me and my 11yr old is really getting into mysteries so I'm checking things out for him. Even though I hadn't read the previous books, I didn't feel like I was really missing anything in terms of backstory or understanding the characters relationships. This was cute, if fairly predictable but I doubt I'll read any more. I've read enough of this type to know that they tend to be pretty formulaic and get tedious after a while and there are just too many other more interesting books out there to read.
It's the day of the annual steeplechase and Mary 'Harry' Haristeen is enjoying helping down at the track with her dog, Tucker. It's a day that the entire town looks forward to and the races this day are good, except for an altercation between two of the jockeys during one race where Linda whips at Nigel and he retaliates. Harry dutifully reports it but no one thinks anything further about it, until Nigel is found dead later that night, stabbed through the heart with the Queen of Clubs stuck to him. Unfortunately, within a few days he is joined by another jockey, this time with the Queen of Spades pinned to him. Now Harry's cat, Mrs. Murphy, puts her nose to the case but even once they find several clues, it's so hard to get the dang humans to pay attention to them. Can the animals point them in the right direction before it's too late to save another one?
This is the 5th book in the series but the first one I read because this is the one my friend loaned me and my 11yr old is really getting into mysteries so I'm checking things out for him. Even though I hadn't read the previous books, I didn't feel like I was really missing anything in terms of backstory or understanding the characters relationships. This was cute, if fairly predictable but I doubt I'll read any more. I've read enough of this type to know that they tend to be pretty formulaic and get tedious after a while and there are just too many other more interesting books out there to read.
November 2, 2018
The annual steeplechase races at Montpelier, once the home of James and Dolley Madison, are the high point in the social calendar of the horse-mad Virginians of cozy Crozet. The race meet offers a cracking good time with old friends and a chance to get even--on the racecourse--with old enemies. Postmistress Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen will be in the thick of the action on this day of high spirits and fierce competition. But the glorious thoroughbreds and the pinks and greens and purples worn by the riders do not blind Harry to the dangerous undercurrents that start to surface. There's sure to be some emotional fireworks at Montpelier. Still, no one expects the day to end in tragedy.
Found dead in the main barn is one of the day's riders, a knife plunged through the jockey's heart. The only clue is a playing card, the Queen of Clubs, impaled over the fatal wound. Within the wealthy, tight-knit world of horse owners, trainers, and jockeys, the victim had both admirers and enemies.
Was the murderer's motive greed, drugs--a pervasive evil in the race world--or sexual rivalry? Luckily for Crozet's humans, the tiger cat Mrs. Murphy is right at home in the stable yard...and on the trail of the shocking truth. But will Harry catch on in time to stop a killer grown bloodthirsty with success?
In Murder, She Meowed Sneaky Pie Brown and her co-author, Rita Mae Brown, have penned another clever and sassy mystery that probes the depths of human depravity and the heights of feline genius.
Found dead in the main barn is one of the day's riders, a knife plunged through the jockey's heart. The only clue is a playing card, the Queen of Clubs, impaled over the fatal wound. Within the wealthy, tight-knit world of horse owners, trainers, and jockeys, the victim had both admirers and enemies.
Was the murderer's motive greed, drugs--a pervasive evil in the race world--or sexual rivalry? Luckily for Crozet's humans, the tiger cat Mrs. Murphy is right at home in the stable yard...and on the trail of the shocking truth. But will Harry catch on in time to stop a killer grown bloodthirsty with success?
In Murder, She Meowed Sneaky Pie Brown and her co-author, Rita Mae Brown, have penned another clever and sassy mystery that probes the depths of human depravity and the heights of feline genius.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2019
This is another delightful title in the Mrs. Murphy series, and I enjoyed it as much as the first four. I especially liked the details of steeplechasing in this novel, of which I knew nothing before, and so it was neat to learn about the dramas and illegalities that can go along with the sport.
The characters continue to evolve and their relationships among one another are constantly changing and growing. In this title, the saucy Boom Boom Craycroft, a widow and once-lover of Harry's ex-husband Fair, has discovered an amazing new life-coaching program called Lifeline, and it was entertaining to see her trying to recruit Harry; most of us know someone like that. With every title in this series, I find myself liking Miranda Hogendobber more and more; she continues her baking endeavor--beloved by the Crozet residents with two and four legs--and reluctantly admits that she has developed a fondness for Mrs. Murphy, Tee Tucker, and Pewter. And speaking of Pewter, she becomes more of a key player and even a hero in this story! We also meet some new furry friends, a handsome older ginger tom named Rodger Dodger and his slinky tortie girlfriend Pusskin, who live in the luxurious stables of Mim Sanburne and provide some invaluable information about the two murders that have stricken the small Virginia town.
These books are so much fun to read!
The characters continue to evolve and their relationships among one another are constantly changing and growing. In this title, the saucy Boom Boom Craycroft, a widow and once-lover of Harry's ex-husband Fair, has discovered an amazing new life-coaching program called Lifeline, and it was entertaining to see her trying to recruit Harry; most of us know someone like that. With every title in this series, I find myself liking Miranda Hogendobber more and more; she continues her baking endeavor--beloved by the Crozet residents with two and four legs--and reluctantly admits that she has developed a fondness for Mrs. Murphy, Tee Tucker, and Pewter. And speaking of Pewter, she becomes more of a key player and even a hero in this story! We also meet some new furry friends, a handsome older ginger tom named Rodger Dodger and his slinky tortie girlfriend Pusskin, who live in the luxurious stables of Mim Sanburne and provide some invaluable information about the two murders that have stricken the small Virginia town.
These books are so much fun to read!
March 1, 2023
Mrs. Murphy #5. I found a bunch of Mrs. Murphys on Audible Plus while looking for something not too taxing to listen to during dental work. I've been reading these out of order as I found them. This one is from early in the series, when Harry was still working at the Post Office and didn't spend as much time complaining about taxes and the government.
This takes place at the annual steeplechase. Two jockeys get into it during the race and one of them is found dead the next day, stabbed with the queen of clubs stuck to him. A few days later, another jockey is found with the queen of spades. Meanwhile, one of the other jockeys is about to come into a big inheritance on her 21st birthday. She's a partier and a bit irresponsible, introducing the possibility of drugs or gambling as motives and the man in charge of her Trust as a possible suspect. Her mother, also a horsewoman, disappeared years earlier and has been declared dead even though her body hasn't been found - at least by humans.
Mrs. Murphy, Pewter, and Tucker get help from horses, stable cats, stable mice, and various birds as they figure out what happened and try to help Harry, Rick, and Cooper figure it out for the humans. This is the first of the series that I've listened to rather than read. The narrator did a good job with the animals and I enjoyed the book.
This takes place at the annual steeplechase. Two jockeys get into it during the race and one of them is found dead the next day, stabbed with the queen of clubs stuck to him. A few days later, another jockey is found with the queen of spades. Meanwhile, one of the other jockeys is about to come into a big inheritance on her 21st birthday. She's a partier and a bit irresponsible, introducing the possibility of drugs or gambling as motives and the man in charge of her Trust as a possible suspect. Her mother, also a horsewoman, disappeared years earlier and has been declared dead even though her body hasn't been found - at least by humans.
Mrs. Murphy, Pewter, and Tucker get help from horses, stable cats, stable mice, and various birds as they figure out what happened and try to help Harry, Rick, and Cooper figure it out for the humans. This is the first of the series that I've listened to rather than read. The narrator did a good job with the animals and I enjoyed the book.
August 3, 2017
This book was a re-read for me. But reading about Harry Harristeen and her friends and pets is always interesting, even the second time around.
This time there has been a murder following the Montpelier Steeplechase event. One of the jockeys is found at the end of the day in one of the horse barns with a knife in his chest, plunged through a playing card.
There are a lot of possible connections. He owed money. He did drugs. There was his girlfriend, another jockey who was also an heiress about to come into her inheritance. Her brother was violently opposed to her relationship with the other jockey.
And then there is the old case of the heiress’s mother, who disappeared five years earlier and hasn’t been seen since. She has been presumed dead, but no one knows for sure whether that is really the case, or whether she simply disappeared on purpose.
There are other murders, and other complications as well. It takes Harry’s cat, Mrs. Murphy, and her dog, Tee Tucker, to uncover the real relevant clues to whodunnit, and to what exactly they did.
Even after both the current case and the older one are solved, there are still other deaths that only the animals are aware of.
This time there has been a murder following the Montpelier Steeplechase event. One of the jockeys is found at the end of the day in one of the horse barns with a knife in his chest, plunged through a playing card.
There are a lot of possible connections. He owed money. He did drugs. There was his girlfriend, another jockey who was also an heiress about to come into her inheritance. Her brother was violently opposed to her relationship with the other jockey.
And then there is the old case of the heiress’s mother, who disappeared five years earlier and hasn’t been seen since. She has been presumed dead, but no one knows for sure whether that is really the case, or whether she simply disappeared on purpose.
There are other murders, and other complications as well. It takes Harry’s cat, Mrs. Murphy, and her dog, Tee Tucker, to uncover the real relevant clues to whodunnit, and to what exactly they did.
Even after both the current case and the older one are solved, there are still other deaths that only the animals are aware of.
December 10, 2019
As I was heading to volunteer for three days of Kitty Con II in Tampa, Florida, i pushed myself to read one of this series. After reading a series of books I liked, the contrast i found with this one told me I really didn't care for this book.
The worse part of this book, and I don't know if this is true of the series, is that all of the chjaracters have multiple names. Unfortunately, author Brown interchanges the names throughout, making following the tale very difficult. Oddly, a cast of characters is listed prior to the start of the novel. yet, all of the various nicknames aren't included.
The plot is standard mystery stuff. There is the odd approach as the humans attempt to figure the murderer and so do the critters. The effort is clunky and, I found, the plot was convoluted to force the dual investigators.
The characters are weakly written. Much of the dialogue is similar. The critter dialogue is written as if that part of the novel was for children. A big difference in both cases is the surprising amount of cursing.
I was over all unsatisfied with the book. The conclusion seemed more a calculated effort, than logical. The reasoning written was pretty far fetched.
Bottom line: i don't recommend this book. 4 out of 10 points.
The worse part of this book, and I don't know if this is true of the series, is that all of the chjaracters have multiple names. Unfortunately, author Brown interchanges the names throughout, making following the tale very difficult. Oddly, a cast of characters is listed prior to the start of the novel. yet, all of the various nicknames aren't included.
The plot is standard mystery stuff. There is the odd approach as the humans attempt to figure the murderer and so do the critters. The effort is clunky and, I found, the plot was convoluted to force the dual investigators.
The characters are weakly written. Much of the dialogue is similar. The critter dialogue is written as if that part of the novel was for children. A big difference in both cases is the surprising amount of cursing.
I was over all unsatisfied with the book. The conclusion seemed more a calculated effort, than logical. The reasoning written was pretty far fetched.
Bottom line: i don't recommend this book. 4 out of 10 points.
March 21, 2022
I very much enjoyed Murder, She Meowed. I am thankful that the author put in a list of characters at the start because I consulted it a dozen times in the first 100 pages alone, and was still checking it towards the end. The animals talking to each other is great, making me wish I could hear the audio book [except then I couldn't easily consult the cast of characters]. This isn’t a spoiler alert, but because of what the animals witnessed yet couldn’t communicate to the humans early on, I thought I knew who done it, thus making the story a police procedural rather than a straight up murder mystery. But that was a red herring. Even with less than 30 pages to go, I still couldn’t decide who the murderer was, or murderers were. It seemed we weren’t much closer to knowing who done it. But at least we knew who didn't do it.
I only gave this book 4.5 stars instead of 5 because I’m not a horse racing fan and found those scenes boring. But I’m eager to read more of this series and I already have Volumes One and Two on hold at my local library.
I only gave this book 4.5 stars instead of 5 because I’m not a horse racing fan and found those scenes boring. But I’m eager to read more of this series and I already have Volumes One and Two on hold at my local library.
August 11, 2018
Everyone in Crozet is excited about the upcoming steeplechase races. However, the murder of one of the jockeys puts a damper on things. As speculation runs wild, another jockey is murdered in a similar fashion. The police are at a loss as to who is committing murder in the sleepy little town of Crozet. However, Mrs Murphy is on the case. She enlists the aid of other animals in the area, including cats, horses, and even mice. Harry puts her own sleuthing skills to work, and she unearths a clue that may uncover a killer, or lead to her own death.
Fantastic! Love these stories. The pace clips along, and I enjoy the interactions of the various animals almost more so than of the humans. The book didn't focus solely on the murder; Harry was left ducking Boom Boom, who wants her to attend group therapy with her, and she was also conflicted over her feelings for her ex-husband, Fair.
Very good, great characterizations (even the animals!), convoluted plot, and satisfying resolution.
Fantastic! Love these stories. The pace clips along, and I enjoy the interactions of the various animals almost more so than of the humans. The book didn't focus solely on the murder; Harry was left ducking Boom Boom, who wants her to attend group therapy with her, and she was also conflicted over her feelings for her ex-husband, Fair.
Very good, great characterizations (even the animals!), convoluted plot, and satisfying resolution.
December 25, 2025
It's not my favorite of the Mrs. Murphy Mysteries, however it was still entertaining. There is always enough clues that I think I know who is the baddie, but can not actually confirm until it is revealed. Murder, she meowed, was no different, however there were some loose ends that didn't get completely tied up, at least not for us humans. The pets certainly know the answers.
I was pretty confident from the get-go who had my suspicions, but the story has enough twists and tugs in different directions that I kept questioning if I was incorrect. Overall, solid 3.5 stars, not quite 4 because I would have loved for the lose end to also be tied up for the humans; as well as the fact that all the horse talk and old southern slang makes my head spin trying to follow along with it.
I was pretty confident from the get-go who had my suspicions, but the story has enough twists and tugs in different directions that I kept questioning if I was incorrect. Overall, solid 3.5 stars, not quite 4 because I would have loved for the lose end to also be tied up for the humans; as well as the fact that all the horse talk and old southern slang makes my head spin trying to follow along with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2017
The beginning was a bit slow for me, as I'm not that interested in horse racing, but when the murders started and then the first clues - I was hooked! A very suspenseful book. I liked the chapters where the animals (primarily cats and dogs) do some digging (pun intended) on their own, but I would've liked if there was a bit more 'interaction' between the humans trying to solve the murders and the animals, instead of the animals trying to get the human's attention and getting ignored. There are some plot points that aren't finished but as this is a series I have only myself to blame, and it's not of much importance either. Would read again and would recommend.
March 24, 2021
This time, the focus is on horses, specifically, races and steeple-chasing. A brother and sister about to come into their inheritance and at odds with one another over it. The administrator of the estate, once in love with their deceased(body never found) mother, trying in vain to resolve their differences. And an old flame of their mother's, with his own horses to race. Of course, Harry is there, along with her friend Miranda and her cat Mrs. Murphy and T Tucker her corgi. Even the horses get involved this time, trying to unravel murder, drugs, and old jealousies. A very cozy good read!
July 27, 2018
Even better than the last one, and this time, even though I had the murderer down to two possibilities pretty quickly (I suspect this was by design) I wasn't certain which one it was until just before the big reveal. I was disappointed in the ending because it seemed a little forced to me. It just doesn't seem likely that a person with his background and training would lose his cool over a confrontation with someone who had neither a badge nor, as far as he knew, proof. It was a little too pat, but it was exciting and that made up for it.
February 18, 2024
A good story in which I didn't know who the killer was until the end of the story.
Harry and Mrs. Hogendobber (Miranda) go to steeplechase events in North Carolina for a break...but murder in Crozet, Virgina is on their minds.
They meet up with a lot of folks from Crozet, enjoy the races...the dog, Tucker is the only animal Harry takes and he is very busy sniffing and guarding her. He even meets up with a group of corgies which really excites him.
I didn't know who the killer was until the last few pages which was a surprise to me...not a suspect as I was reading.
Harry and Mrs. Hogendobber (Miranda) go to steeplechase events in North Carolina for a break...but murder in Crozet, Virgina is on their minds.
They meet up with a lot of folks from Crozet, enjoy the races...the dog, Tucker is the only animal Harry takes and he is very busy sniffing and guarding her. He even meets up with a group of corgies which really excites him.
I didn't know who the killer was until the last few pages which was a surprise to me...not a suspect as I was reading.
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