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Mrs. Murphy #6
Murder on the Prowl
an alternate cover edition can be found here
As the principal of St. Elizabeth's, an exclusive private school that caters to Crozet, Virginia's, best families, Roscoe Fletcher has proven himself to be a highly effective and vastly popular administrator. So when his obituary appears in the local paper, everyone in town is upset. Yet nothing compares to the shock they feel when they discover that Roscoe Fletcher isn't dead at all. Someone has stooped to putting a phony obituary in the newspaper. But is it a sick joke or a sinister warning? Only Mrs. Murphy, the canny tiger cat, senses the pure malice behind the act. And when a second false obit appears, this time of a Hollywood has-been who is Roscoe Fletcher's best friend, Mrs. Murphy invites her friends, the corgi Tee Tucker, and fat cat Pewter, to do a bit of sleuthing. It's obvious to this shrewd puss that two phony death notices add up to deadly trouble. And her theory is borne out when one of the men is fiendishly murdered. "Harry" Haristeen, in her position as Crozet's postmistress, is the first to hear all the theories on whodunit - starting with the man's jealous wife. Then a second bloody homicide follows, and a third. People are dropping like flies in Crozet and no one seems to know why.
As the principal of St. Elizabeth's, an exclusive private school that caters to Crozet, Virginia's, best families, Roscoe Fletcher has proven himself to be a highly effective and vastly popular administrator. So when his obituary appears in the local paper, everyone in town is upset. Yet nothing compares to the shock they feel when they discover that Roscoe Fletcher isn't dead at all. Someone has stooped to putting a phony obituary in the newspaper. But is it a sick joke or a sinister warning? Only Mrs. Murphy, the canny tiger cat, senses the pure malice behind the act. And when a second false obit appears, this time of a Hollywood has-been who is Roscoe Fletcher's best friend, Mrs. Murphy invites her friends, the corgi Tee Tucker, and fat cat Pewter, to do a bit of sleuthing. It's obvious to this shrewd puss that two phony death notices add up to deadly trouble. And her theory is borne out when one of the men is fiendishly murdered. "Harry" Haristeen, in her position as Crozet's postmistress, is the first to hear all the theories on whodunit - starting with the man's jealous wife. Then a second bloody homicide follows, and a third. People are dropping like flies in Crozet and no one seems to know why.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1998
245 people are currently reading
1145 people want to read
About the author
Rita Mae Brown
176 books2,238 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 152 reviews
July 21, 2010
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 what 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 what 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 19, 2019
It's a straight-forward story and not too complicated or boring. There is enough interaction of the characters and the settings. It's a light read with likable characters and creative storylines.
The author makes you fall in love with the characters, not only the familiar ones, but also the new ones.
It was a good story with a proper mystery, just the way I like it.
The author makes you fall in love with the characters, not only the familiar ones, but also the new ones.
It was a good story with a proper mystery, just the way I like it.
February 19, 2017
Once again, a good story with a proper mystery. Sadly, there few clues to what was actually going on: one v slim final chapter in which something never previously mentioned turned out to be the cause of the mystery. Shame, because these are usually well thought out, with just enough clues that help you figure things out if you're concentrating!
July 27, 2014
When I want a little mindless mystery filled with cozy characters and an intelligent mystery-solving animal (and human) cast I come to Mrs. Murphy series. There is no real thinking involved, I figured out the whodunit before they finished doing everything they did (and less than halfway through the book). So while not the most elaborate mystery it is still a fun read. I say this mostly because of Mrs. Murphy, Tucker and Pewter - the animal cast. Implausible though they are, I love 'em. Their interactions are just charming to me. The people - they develop slowly. Like, really slowly (I mean over the course of books slow - and still not really seeing much of a change in Harry - but she's a pretty steadfast character and sometimes that's what you want). But if you keep reading you get to know them.
In this particular book there is trouble going on at St. Elizabeth's, involving obituaries that come out (before the person mentioned is actually dead), students, a convolution of whose sleeping with who (a fairly common theme in these books is that apparently everyone is a "cheater"), and of course what's going on at St. Elizabeths school causing all this. The main "villain" is fairly obvious as the book unfolds, but there are more that are revealed towards the end (also rather expected). I would've liked a bit more development of the villain - I mean what made them tick - why were they such a sociopathic psychopath? Their choices weren't really explained - was it really as simple as materialistic greed and then revenge? But to be honest - I didn't like that character when they first appeared and by the end of the book I would've happily seen them shot or fed to a bobcat.
The mystery did take a while to get started and isn't the most elaborate, so if that's what you're looking for I'd suggest another book. If you're tired and not wanting to think too much and just want something light this fits the bill.
In this particular book there is trouble going on at St. Elizabeth's, involving obituaries that come out (before the person mentioned is actually dead), students, a convolution of whose sleeping with who (a fairly common theme in these books is that apparently everyone is a "cheater"), and of course what's going on at St. Elizabeths school causing all this. The main "villain" is fairly obvious as the book unfolds, but there are more that are revealed towards the end (also rather expected). I would've liked a bit more development of the villain - I mean what made them tick - why were they such a sociopathic psychopath? Their choices weren't really explained - was it really as simple as materialistic greed and then revenge? But to be honest - I didn't like that character when they first appeared and by the end of the book I would've happily seen them shot or fed to a bobcat.
The mystery did take a while to get started and isn't the most elaborate, so if that's what you're looking for I'd suggest another book. If you're tired and not wanting to think too much and just want something light this fits the bill.
November 6, 2022
It’s been years since I read this series. I enjoyed reacquainting with the characters, the animal’s dialogues, and the pet’s assistance in solving the mystery. This was an interesting plot. Very light nd enjoyable read.
August 26, 2025
Something is afoot in Crozet, Virginia, the small town where Mrs. Murphy, a tiger cat and her pal, Pewter a corgi, live with their human, Harry. When someone starts sending in fake obituaries, only for those people to wind up dead, the town is in an uproar to find the killer. Harry with her pets are on the case. This was the sixth instalment in the Mrs. Murphy cozy mystery series, and this was a solid mystery. It did feel like we saw less of the animals in this one, and when we did see them, they kinda didn’t feel like they added more to the story. Usually, they add bits that the humans miss because they can smell or see things better; but this one felt like they were added in at random times, or like the author forgot to add them, because they felt a bit like an afterthought. It’s unfortunate because they can be quite fun and silly. What the reader did like was the incorporation of some of the kids at the high school, namely Harry’s best friend, Susan’s daughter and some of the people she goes to school with. This made us feel like we were getting more of the town without it feeling like characters were coming out of left field, where it’s felt like that in the past. The mystery itself was a bit of a stickier topic as it dealt with underage sex and sex tapes, but it was still a good plotline. The reader had an inkling on who was behind it all, but we weren’t given too much to help us put it all together until the end. Overall, though this was an entertaining read that had the reader flipping the pages.
November 24, 2024
This is the 6th book in the Mrs. Murphy series. It's been awhile since I read the first five. I own this book and since I'm trying to clear out some books I own I finally got around to reading it. The main premise of the book is that you hear from the main characters three pets throughout the book and they help solve the case. This time around someone has put phony obituaries in the newspaper for two people connected to the local private high school St. Elizabeth's. Then two murders occurred. I can't remember if the previous books in the series did this but this book jumped around between a lot of perspectives which was confusing and unnecessary. I also felt the ending was really rushed and didn't make a lot of sense. There are apparently now 33 books in the series but I don't feel compelled to continue reading them.
December 23, 2024
Another great Southern cozy mystery set in Crozet, Virginia. This one involves some pretty dark business happening at an upscale private school, leading to several murders. The animals, Mrs. Murphy (cat) and Tee Tucker (Corgi),along with their friend Pewter (cat) figure it out before the humans do (again). These novels are a fresh take on the cozy mystery genre, and they’re incredibly entertaining!
January 3, 2024
Great book
March 25, 2019
Love Mrs Murphy. As a mystery, I found few clues that lead to the murder. The characters are becoming familiar. The sad part was involving school age kids. Just glad the animals are so smart.
December 18, 2025
This book is about a newspaper obituary with a man's obituary notice and the man isn't dead. This is a story that is a prank, that becomes true. It's an enjoyable read and Harry and her animal pals, are the stars of the book, as always.
November 18, 2019
Unfortunately, this time around, I don't have much time to write a proper review as I have in the past but there are some points I want to touch on for why I enjoyed this book so much.
There is not a whole lot in the way of action in this book. There are lacrosse games and drama of obituaries and two murders, but they are so quick and the real action in this book is the cat and mouse process of elimination.
The best part about this book is the character development. I loved the dialogue and find that that is where Brown's strengths lie. I also adore the setting, of course, and Brown's descriptions of the season and surroundings of Crozet. I always get lost in the town and find myself wishing I could visit the post office and catch up on the gossip.
The two murders we see happen are quick and mysterious because they were surrounded by people yet the suspects are too numerous to narrow down. The extramarital affairs sometimes got too complex and I forgot who's who, but it was funny and reminds me of Desperate Housewives in a way, only also throwing in the aspect of more high schoolers and how they're school world is mixed up in it.
I think Mrs. Murphy, Tucker, and Pewter are so much more hands on this time and I love the efforts they go through to get the lowly humans to follow their helpful hints. They are hilarious and I think this has been their best role yet.
I'm also glad that I was able to guess the killer a few chapters before it starts to become obvious. My only mistake was in thinking the killer was pregnant because of a different character, but I guess that's where my character development confusion happened as well. Still, I'm glad I could solve it and see just how hilarious and intense the reveal was. Really great reveal and I clapped out loud as the killer was caught.
This book was perfect in its complexity and I fell down the rabbit hole once again, I just wish it didn't take me almost a month to get through it.
There is not a whole lot in the way of action in this book. There are lacrosse games and drama of obituaries and two murders, but they are so quick and the real action in this book is the cat and mouse process of elimination.
The best part about this book is the character development. I loved the dialogue and find that that is where Brown's strengths lie. I also adore the setting, of course, and Brown's descriptions of the season and surroundings of Crozet. I always get lost in the town and find myself wishing I could visit the post office and catch up on the gossip.
The two murders we see happen are quick and mysterious because they were surrounded by people yet the suspects are too numerous to narrow down. The extramarital affairs sometimes got too complex and I forgot who's who, but it was funny and reminds me of Desperate Housewives in a way, only also throwing in the aspect of more high schoolers and how they're school world is mixed up in it.
I think Mrs. Murphy, Tucker, and Pewter are so much more hands on this time and I love the efforts they go through to get the lowly humans to follow their helpful hints. They are hilarious and I think this has been their best role yet.
I'm also glad that I was able to guess the killer a few chapters before it starts to become obvious. My only mistake was in thinking the killer was pregnant because of a different character, but I guess that's where my character development confusion happened as well. Still, I'm glad I could solve it and see just how hilarious and intense the reveal was. Really great reveal and I clapped out loud as the killer was caught.
This book was perfect in its complexity and I fell down the rabbit hole once again, I just wish it didn't take me almost a month to get through it.
December 4, 2016
Not a review. These notes are for my own reference and may contain spoilers!
Reread on audio.
Opens in late September.
Centers around Susan Tucker's daughter, Brooks, and her classmates at St. Elizabeth private school. Brooks is 15.
Tee Tucker, Mrs. Murphy, and Pewter all have a significant role in this book. More interaction among the animals than in previous books.
Regulars:
Harry, Fair, Mrs. Hogendobber, Susan Tucker, Brooks, Big Mim, Little Marilyn, Boom Boom, Rev. Jones, Cynthia and Rick (police).
Reread on audio.
Opens in late September.
Centers around Susan Tucker's daughter, Brooks, and her classmates at St. Elizabeth private school. Brooks is 15.
Tee Tucker, Mrs. Murphy, and Pewter all have a significant role in this book. More interaction among the animals than in previous books.
Regulars:
Harry, Fair, Mrs. Hogendobber, Susan Tucker, Brooks, Big Mim, Little Marilyn, Boom Boom, Rev. Jones, Cynthia and Rick (police).
November 6, 2007
Another in the "Harry" Haristeen Crozet, Virginia mystery series. The background setting is a private school in the town with a number of related staff problems along with problems among the student in relationships. Harry, with her two cats and Welsh corgi are in the middle of an investigation regarding two murders as well as unraveling the various personal relationship problems affecting several characters.
August 8, 2021
Crozet, where the animals are smart, the land beautiful, and the people good, salt of the earth types, except where they are bloody murderers.
I'm never going to be able to leave Crozet entirely behind. There is charm and fun to be found here, but there is also awkward writing, stilted plotting, and an unbelievable number of coincidences.
When you are in the right mind for this, it's fine. But it's best taken sparingly, so that it can remain somewhat charming, rather than frustrating.
I'm never going to be able to leave Crozet entirely behind. There is charm and fun to be found here, but there is also awkward writing, stilted plotting, and an unbelievable number of coincidences.
When you are in the right mind for this, it's fine. But it's best taken sparingly, so that it can remain somewhat charming, rather than frustrating.
December 20, 2020
The book was ok, a little slow though. I kept getting people confused in my head because a few could be either gender. Also so many animals I was getting those confused too. But by the end I had most everyone sorted out. I’m probably not going to read another book from this author, I find going back and forth between normal (humans) and italic (animals) a bit tiring.
January 26, 2012
Someone is placing obituaries in the newspaper for proplr who are still living. Then they are murdered shortly afterwards. The story development is slow and the numerous conversations between animals is distracting and not related.
January 8, 2019
I read this book in 2 days because I enjoyed it so much I didn't want to put it down. These cozy mysteries are fun, light reads with likable characters and creative storylines. This installment in the Mrs. Murphy series actually dabbled in some pretty sketchy topics not previously explored (no spoilers here), and the ending was a little bit dark. Granted, these books are about murders, but this one had some real-life, hard-hitting issues that came up in addition to the murders of St. Elizabeth's headmaster Roscoe Fletcher and his associate, film director Maury.
One of my favorite parts of this book came when Harry sat down with her ex-husband Fair, who was trying to win her back, and she told him that she liked being her own boss and not having to answer to anyone anymore. I think the exact quote was, "I don't want to bring out the best in you, Fair. I want to bring out the best in me." I LOVE that Rita Mae Brown set up the foundation for a love triangle among Harry, Fair, and Harry's neighbor Blair Bainbridge, but then had Harry keep being her own independent self. Her neighbors and friends took Fair's side when she filed for divorce, and she hadn't forgotten how lousy that felt, and as a result, she is in no hurry to welcome him back in with open arms. And Fair is a really sweet guy, I love his character, but he messed up big time by stepping out on Harry and then getting bent out of shape when she became friends with Blair.
Boom Boom's foray into all-natural curing essentials (essential oils, anyone?) made me snicker, because every single one of us has been badgered by a friend or coworker to purchase some kind of snake-oil tonic or join a multi-level marketing scheme. I really like her character, though, and even though she's easy to make fun of, she's not entirely a one-dimensional cliche. Her husband was murdered in the first book in the series, and since then she's found herself without any kind of purpose or real friends, so I can see why she's flitting around different self-help programs and multi-level marketing rackets. She married Kelly Craycroft to be a happy trophy wife, and without him, she's kind of lost.
The critters are as cute and entertaining as ever. Pewter is spending her nights at Harry's house with Mrs. Murphy and Tucker, and she helps to save the day again. The animals provide some great philosophical points throughout the series, and this installment delivers more of them. Mrs. Murphy reflects on how people worry about abstract things in the future that may or may not even happen, but they neglect to remember that they might not wake up in the morning and so they don't enjoy their days. Even though these books are cozy mysteries, they offer many of these valuable life lessons, and I think I enjoy them so much because they get me out of my own anxious thoughts and remind me that there's more to life than worrying about the future. Animals have a lot they can teach us, and sometimes it's best to just slow down and watch them play.
One of my favorite parts of this book came when Harry sat down with her ex-husband Fair, who was trying to win her back, and she told him that she liked being her own boss and not having to answer to anyone anymore. I think the exact quote was, "I don't want to bring out the best in you, Fair. I want to bring out the best in me." I LOVE that Rita Mae Brown set up the foundation for a love triangle among Harry, Fair, and Harry's neighbor Blair Bainbridge, but then had Harry keep being her own independent self. Her neighbors and friends took Fair's side when she filed for divorce, and she hadn't forgotten how lousy that felt, and as a result, she is in no hurry to welcome him back in with open arms. And Fair is a really sweet guy, I love his character, but he messed up big time by stepping out on Harry and then getting bent out of shape when she became friends with Blair.
Boom Boom's foray into all-natural curing essentials (essential oils, anyone?) made me snicker, because every single one of us has been badgered by a friend or coworker to purchase some kind of snake-oil tonic or join a multi-level marketing scheme. I really like her character, though, and even though she's easy to make fun of, she's not entirely a one-dimensional cliche. Her husband was murdered in the first book in the series, and since then she's found herself without any kind of purpose or real friends, so I can see why she's flitting around different self-help programs and multi-level marketing rackets. She married Kelly Craycroft to be a happy trophy wife, and without him, she's kind of lost.
The critters are as cute and entertaining as ever. Pewter is spending her nights at Harry's house with Mrs. Murphy and Tucker, and she helps to save the day again. The animals provide some great philosophical points throughout the series, and this installment delivers more of them. Mrs. Murphy reflects on how people worry about abstract things in the future that may or may not even happen, but they neglect to remember that they might not wake up in the morning and so they don't enjoy their days. Even though these books are cozy mysteries, they offer many of these valuable life lessons, and I think I enjoy them so much because they get me out of my own anxious thoughts and remind me that there's more to life than worrying about the future. Animals have a lot they can teach us, and sometimes it's best to just slow down and watch them play.
October 25, 2024
This book is the sixth 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.
With the school year having started, the town is excited about two happenings; the new car wash that has opened up in town (which is hiring several of the high school students), and the obituary for the headmaster of St. Elizabeth’s, the Catholic school in town. It turns out he is not dead (the star of the football team at St. Elizabeth’s had called it in to the paper), and is busy trying to get a film school started at the school, with the help of a film director from Hollywood who is now at the school. However, the English professor at the high school thinks that a film school is totally unnecessary, and thinks that he should be the headmaster. In due course an obituary insert appears in the paper about the film director. This is considered to be just pranking, until the headmaster is found dead in his car at the car wash (he was quite alive when the car went in, and dead when the car came out of the tunnel), and at the Halloween dance the film director is found skewered with a very sharp sword. Mrs. Murphy and Tucker, with the help of Pewter, the cat that belongs to the market next to the post office (Harry is now taking her home at night, along with her own dog and cat) decide that if the humans cannot figure out what is happening and why it is happening, they will take matters into their own paws.
This was a great book, and did not turn out like I expected, which is always a plus in genre mysteries. And I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
With the school year having started, the town is excited about two happenings; the new car wash that has opened up in town (which is hiring several of the high school students), and the obituary for the headmaster of St. Elizabeth’s, the Catholic school in town. It turns out he is not dead (the star of the football team at St. Elizabeth’s had called it in to the paper), and is busy trying to get a film school started at the school, with the help of a film director from Hollywood who is now at the school. However, the English professor at the high school thinks that a film school is totally unnecessary, and thinks that he should be the headmaster. In due course an obituary insert appears in the paper about the film director. This is considered to be just pranking, until the headmaster is found dead in his car at the car wash (he was quite alive when the car went in, and dead when the car came out of the tunnel), and at the Halloween dance the film director is found skewered with a very sharp sword. Mrs. Murphy and Tucker, with the help of Pewter, the cat that belongs to the market next to the post office (Harry is now taking her home at night, along with her own dog and cat) decide that if the humans cannot figure out what is happening and why it is happening, they will take matters into their own paws.
This was a great book, and did not turn out like I expected, which is always a plus in genre mysteries. And I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
February 26, 2019
When the local paper prints the obit of a popular high school headmaster, the entire town of Crozet is shocked...including the headmaster himself. Was it a joke or a threat? A second phony obituary appears shortly thereafter, leaving the entire town buzzing. However, when the obits are followed by murder, no one is laughing anymore.
As postmistress, Harry is in a unique position to hear the latest scuttlebutt and gossip, and she can't help but think the deaths are related and that they have something to do with the school. Mrs Murphy is equally convinced that something is afoot, and she conducts her own investigation, finding clues that no human could. Between the official police investigation, Harry's meddling, and the animals' deductions, they may just be able to find out whodunnit.
This book was just as fabulous, witty, and charming as the others. Harry is pragmatic and down-to-earth, and I also enjoy the other characters. My favorites are probably the animals, though. They shine in this series.
As postmistress, Harry is in a unique position to hear the latest scuttlebutt and gossip, and she can't help but think the deaths are related and that they have something to do with the school. Mrs Murphy is equally convinced that something is afoot, and she conducts her own investigation, finding clues that no human could. Between the official police investigation, Harry's meddling, and the animals' deductions, they may just be able to find out whodunnit.
This book was just as fabulous, witty, and charming as the others. Harry is pragmatic and down-to-earth, and I also enjoy the other characters. My favorites are probably the animals, though. They shine in this series.
April 30, 2021
This one was a bit darker than the previous ones, to me. Someone has murdered the Headmaster at St. Elizabeth's School, while he was in line to get his car washed. Turns out he was poisoned. Then, the man in charge of the film making department, a producer in his own right, was stabbed outside of a school Halloween dance by someone wearing a Musketeer costume. And unknown to the humans, a body sits rotting in a car on an old farm track...of course Mrs. Murphy and Tee Tucker discovered it, but can't figure out how to let Harry know about it. Lots of suspects, and many hints. I was sad to discover that I was right about it being one of the girl students. Even worse, the Headmaster and his producer friend were molesting the girls, and had them starring in porn movies. Luckily, the animals and Harry figured it all out, almost too late. Good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2022
Murder on the Prowl is my favorite Mrs. Murphy mystery so far. I loved how the animals bantered with each other while trying to solve the crime. They were so much more hands-on this time and I enjoyed the efforts they went through to get the lowly humans to follow their leads. They were delightful and I think this has been their best role yet. The plot was well thought-out, Harry's first involving children, albeit high school students. But I was surprised by who did it and why. In retrospect it should have been obvious , but that's the point of a good murder mystery.
May 7, 2024
This one was 100% disturbing. Here’s the spoiler in a nutshell: An underage, high school girl is tricked into making a s*x film with the school principal, who is also sleeping with her mother… Oh wait, it gets better: the girl gets pregnant. No, don’t go, Brown can top it: the girl tries to get the film back and when she fails (the film has been sent to the production company already), she murders three people involved in the production, and attempts a fourth murder.
And I guess Brown didn’t think that the killer’s motivation was heinous enough because her main characters reason that “there are bad people but they don’t deserve to die”. I agree, but there is almost no sympathy for the child tricked into adult behavior. It’s mind blowing.
What’s so weird is that this was one of the better Murphy novels until the big reveal at the end.
And I guess Brown didn’t think that the killer’s motivation was heinous enough because her main characters reason that “there are bad people but they don’t deserve to die”. I agree, but there is almost no sympathy for the child tricked into adult behavior. It’s mind blowing.
What’s so weird is that this was one of the better Murphy novels until the big reveal at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2021
This is the first title in this series that disappointed me. Mostly this centers on the setting and the resolution. Especially the resolution. Mrs. Murphy prepared us by saying she worried they were missing it because the key to the whole thing was so terrible: that was an understatement. It was borderline horrific. What makes it even more awful is how the "good" people in the story react to the primary victim. Apparently, if she had been content being a victim and simply had a nervous breakdown they would have felt sorry for her, but because her reaction went in another direction- granted, a bad one- they write her off. That's not even the only icky moment. There are a lot of old fashioned ideas in these books, and Harry's emotional immaturity had already started grating on me, but this is extra. (not Hamish MacBeth extra, so don't worry Mrs. Murphy, I'll still read you with affection).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2023
I am so torn about this series! On the one hand, I love the characters of Harry and her pets. I love that the animals talk to each other and have such great personalities. And most of the mysteries are fun with a good plot. But (and it's a big but), the casual racism that might have been deemed ok when the books were first published is really off-putting. In this book, someone goes dressed to a Halloween party ad Stonewall Jackson and there is a scene where the cause of the Civil War is described as "states rights." Also, this particular book reads especially poorly in the post-MeToo era. I really wanted to like this one because the story centers on the students and faculty at a high school, and high schools are my jam. But ultimately there was too much cringy stuff.
December 24, 2019
I loved the plot. The teens at St. Elizabeth's were interesting and fun. It was also a compelling mystery. The only thing keeping this from a four-star rating from me was the parts with Fair. Again, I don't think Harry necessarily belongs with anyone else, but Fair has no character besides his regret about cheating on Harry. As an reader, I don't know enough about Fair to think he deserves Harry's forgiveness. It's a shame that it seems like Brown is trying to bring him more into Harry's story and fade out other matches like Blair.
June 14, 2021
Several murders, high school students getting pregnant, porn films—again the animals figured it out and set a trap for the villain. The animals get more savvy, and their conversations get more humorous; humans, except Harry, Miranda, and Big Mim, get more stupid and dense. I hope Blair sees the good in Cynthia and tosses Little Mim to the wolves—she’s a dork. I dearly hope Harry does not give up her serene, solitary life for Fair. He’s not worth it.
April 5, 2022
I was looking for something a little light and mindless. This book delivered.
Thankfully the critter dialogues were in different type set, to set them apart from actual conversations. I needed a score card for all of the characters, which Ms. Brown provides, but short of ripping that page out of the book, it was confusing keeping up with who is who - and then you're introduced to nicknames... Oy Vey! A simple story, over-complicated with too many characters, and a painfully slow plot.
Thankfully the critter dialogues were in different type set, to set them apart from actual conversations. I needed a score card for all of the characters, which Ms. Brown provides, but short of ripping that page out of the book, it was confusing keeping up with who is who - and then you're introduced to nicknames... Oy Vey! A simple story, over-complicated with too many characters, and a painfully slow plot.
October 3, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. The characters weren't overly complicated and yes you do figure out who did it early on but the why they did it is still puzzling. I like the description of the characters and the flow of the story I didn't feel like it dragged unnecessarily. I like how the author and the characters didn't try to get you to sympathize with the killer or why they killed. I would definitely read another book in the series
June 13, 2017
Always enjoy Rita Mae Brown. I am not as keen on all the animal stuff so I just skip a lot but when they are working at solving the murders I try to think of them as human characters . Kept me guessing at the murderer. Not sure I agree with the choice. Can't say more cause I wouldn't want to give it away.
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