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"Sister" Jane #2
Hotspur
In her well-received novel Outfoxed , Rita Mae Brown vividly and deftly brought to life the genteel world of foxhunting, where hunters, horses, hounds, and foxes form a tightly knit community amidst old money and simmering conflicts. With Hotspur , we return to the Southern chase–and to a hunt on the trail of a murderer.
Jane “Sister” Arnold may be in her seventies, but she shows no signs of losing her love for the Hunt. As Master of the prestigious Jefferson Hunt Club in a well-heeled Virginia Blue Ridge Mountain town, she is the most powerful and revered woman in the county. She can assess the true merits of a man or a horse with uncanny skill. In short, Sister Jane is not easily duped.
When the skeleton of Nola Bancroft, still wearing an exquisite sapphire ring on her finger, is unearthed, it brings back a twenty-one year old mystery. Beautiful Nola was a girl who had more male admirers than her family had money, which was certainly quite a feat. In a world where a woman’s ability to ride was considered one of her most important social graces, Nola was queen of the stable. She had a weakness for men, and her tastes often ventured towards the inappropriate, like the sheriff’s striking son, Guy Ramy. But even Guy couldn’t keep her eyes from wandering.
When Nola and Guy disappeared on the Hunt’s ceremonial first day of cubbing more than two decades ago, everyone assumed one of two Guy and Nola eloped to escape her family’s disapproval; or Guy killed Nola in a jealous rage and vanished. But Sister Jane had never bought either of those theories.
Sister knows that all the players are probably still in place, the old feuds haven’t died, and the sparks that led to a long-ago murder could flare up at any time.
Hotspur brings all of Rita Mae Brown’s storytelling gifts to the fore. It’s a tale of Southern small-town manners and rituals, a compelling and intricate murder mystery, and a look at the human/animal relationship in all its complexity and charm.
Jane “Sister” Arnold may be in her seventies, but she shows no signs of losing her love for the Hunt. As Master of the prestigious Jefferson Hunt Club in a well-heeled Virginia Blue Ridge Mountain town, she is the most powerful and revered woman in the county. She can assess the true merits of a man or a horse with uncanny skill. In short, Sister Jane is not easily duped.
When the skeleton of Nola Bancroft, still wearing an exquisite sapphire ring on her finger, is unearthed, it brings back a twenty-one year old mystery. Beautiful Nola was a girl who had more male admirers than her family had money, which was certainly quite a feat. In a world where a woman’s ability to ride was considered one of her most important social graces, Nola was queen of the stable. She had a weakness for men, and her tastes often ventured towards the inappropriate, like the sheriff’s striking son, Guy Ramy. But even Guy couldn’t keep her eyes from wandering.
When Nola and Guy disappeared on the Hunt’s ceremonial first day of cubbing more than two decades ago, everyone assumed one of two Guy and Nola eloped to escape her family’s disapproval; or Guy killed Nola in a jealous rage and vanished. But Sister Jane had never bought either of those theories.
Sister knows that all the players are probably still in place, the old feuds haven’t died, and the sparks that led to a long-ago murder could flare up at any time.
Hotspur brings all of Rita Mae Brown’s storytelling gifts to the fore. It’s a tale of Southern small-town manners and rituals, a compelling and intricate murder mystery, and a look at the human/animal relationship in all its complexity and charm.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
83 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Rita Mae Brown
181 books2,243 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 66 reviews
October 23, 2014
A fun book in many ways, mostly because Brown captures horse & fox hunting people so well. It gets 5 stars for that. Sister reminds me a lot of my mother, who is also 71 (72 next week) and still charges about on horseback 4 or 5 times a week with her local hunt. Mom's not a Master, but was a Whip for a couple of decades & she carried a .38 pistol in that job. Some scenes were just perfect.
Brown really captures the thrill of the chase & the fact that's what it is. While it's called Fox Hunting & is modeled on the English sport of the same name, American hunts don't & never have (to the best of my knowledge) actually hunted the fox. They just chase them around until they go to ground & then call off pack. It's fun for all involved, including the fox. I've seen them lead packs into terrible situations & then sit off to the side watching the fun.
Terriers aren't carried & fox hounds can't fit into a fox den, so the fox is perfectly safe once inside. Kills are very rare, generally restricted to maimed (leg trap escapees) or dying (mange, distemper) foxes. Due to lack of space, many hunts are just drag hunts now. Those don't have anything to do with a wild fox. Folks just follow around the pack running on the scent laid down by a dragged sack.
There was a bit too much anthropomorphism for me. Fox, cats, dogs, & horses all chatter back & forth in a fairly ridiculous way, but they do provide good information & some might find it cute.
A few of Brown's facts seem off to me. She mentions what I thought were full grown red foxes weighing 5 & 8 lbs. I think adults average more like 20lbs. Shaker hunted a pack that was close to 3 times as large as what I'm familiar with. A dozen couple (24) was about usual, as I recall, but Brown has him hunting 20 to 30 couple hounds. I'd guess couples got counted as singles in an editing goof.
The murder mystery was good, although clues were sparse and there were a lot of characters. I didn't read (don't have) the first book, Outfoxed, & that probably would have helped with the characters. Perhaps that why the solution seemed pretty weakly done, but I don't think so. There weren't really enough clues to make it reader solvable. Well, it wasn't bad. I have the next book, Full Cry, but am not in a rush to read it.
Brown does provide a glossary of hunting terms at the end. I didn't bother to read it, but the few terms I looked at seemed to be right on the money.
Brown really captures the thrill of the chase & the fact that's what it is. While it's called Fox Hunting & is modeled on the English sport of the same name, American hunts don't & never have (to the best of my knowledge) actually hunted the fox. They just chase them around until they go to ground & then call off pack. It's fun for all involved, including the fox. I've seen them lead packs into terrible situations & then sit off to the side watching the fun.
Terriers aren't carried & fox hounds can't fit into a fox den, so the fox is perfectly safe once inside. Kills are very rare, generally restricted to maimed (leg trap escapees) or dying (mange, distemper) foxes. Due to lack of space, many hunts are just drag hunts now. Those don't have anything to do with a wild fox. Folks just follow around the pack running on the scent laid down by a dragged sack.
There was a bit too much anthropomorphism for me. Fox, cats, dogs, & horses all chatter back & forth in a fairly ridiculous way, but they do provide good information & some might find it cute.
A few of Brown's facts seem off to me. She mentions what I thought were full grown red foxes weighing 5 & 8 lbs. I think adults average more like 20lbs. Shaker hunted a pack that was close to 3 times as large as what I'm familiar with. A dozen couple (24) was about usual, as I recall, but Brown has him hunting 20 to 30 couple hounds. I'd guess couples got counted as singles in an editing goof.
The murder mystery was good, although clues were sparse and there were a lot of characters. I didn't read (don't have) the first book, Outfoxed, & that probably would have helped with the characters. Perhaps that why the solution seemed pretty weakly done, but I don't think so. There weren't really enough clues to make it reader solvable. Well, it wasn't bad. I have the next book, Full Cry, but am not in a rush to read it.
Brown does provide a glossary of hunting terms at the end. I didn't bother to read it, but the few terms I looked at seemed to be right on the money.
June 3, 2017
I'm really enjoying this series. The mysteries are okay, but the back stories and the social interactions of both the people and the animals are what make these books lots of fun to read. I love how well the author gives voices to the animals and has them talk with each other.
April 3, 2012
I loved this.
It's not the first in this series, but I totally fell in love with the whole thing: the crazy-privileged fox-hunters, the certainty within the text that American fox-hunting is very different from English fox-hunting, getting all the thoughts of the animals... All of a sudden it's not so odd that Rita Mae Brown credits her cat with co-authoring her mysteries.
It harked back to one of the guilty pleasures of my late teens - Francine Pascal's "Caitlin" series. I don't think Francine Pascal actually wrote them, as she often had ghostwriters, like other ridiculously prolific authors of the time. In any event, the Caitlin books were about a ridiculously rich Virginia heiress who adored horses. I don't recall there being any fox-hunting involved (although there may have been) but I loved them, for all their ridiculousness.
I loved this book for the same reason: the horses, the bizarre Englishness of this patch of the USA that I have had little to do with, and the fabulousness of Sister Jane.
Ah, Sister Jane. It seems a pity that she is so straight, and so very widowed. This is a series written by one of the great queer writers, and certainly in this book the queerness of Ralph Assumptio is very matter of fact and generally accepted by all the other characters. But Sister Jane could have been an awesome, AWESOME dyke heroine, but she's not. And I'm sad about that.
It's not going to keep me from reading every other book in this series that I can get my hands on. Because this is total mind candy. And as I said, I loved it.
It's not the first in this series, but I totally fell in love with the whole thing: the crazy-privileged fox-hunters, the certainty within the text that American fox-hunting is very different from English fox-hunting, getting all the thoughts of the animals... All of a sudden it's not so odd that Rita Mae Brown credits her cat with co-authoring her mysteries.
It harked back to one of the guilty pleasures of my late teens - Francine Pascal's "Caitlin" series. I don't think Francine Pascal actually wrote them, as she often had ghostwriters, like other ridiculously prolific authors of the time. In any event, the Caitlin books were about a ridiculously rich Virginia heiress who adored horses. I don't recall there being any fox-hunting involved (although there may have been) but I loved them, for all their ridiculousness.
I loved this book for the same reason: the horses, the bizarre Englishness of this patch of the USA that I have had little to do with, and the fabulousness of Sister Jane.
Ah, Sister Jane. It seems a pity that she is so straight, and so very widowed. This is a series written by one of the great queer writers, and certainly in this book the queerness of Ralph Assumptio is very matter of fact and generally accepted by all the other characters. But Sister Jane could have been an awesome, AWESOME dyke heroine, but she's not. And I'm sad about that.
It's not going to keep me from reading every other book in this series that I can get my hands on. Because this is total mind candy. And as I said, I loved it.
March 28, 2024
Have been a fan of Rita Mae for years. First read Ruby Fruit long ago. It is one of the only books I have ever reread .
I am a fan of her animal books that also have a story . My only complaint and why I gave a 4 is sometimes there are so many human and animals and since they all have dialogue I forget who is human. I like the fox hunt stories since I know nothing about the sport. I will read another in this series.
I am a fan of her animal books that also have a story . My only complaint and why I gave a 4 is sometimes there are so many human and animals and since they all have dialogue I forget who is human. I like the fox hunt stories since I know nothing about the sport. I will read another in this series.
November 11, 2015
I've read a lot of Rita Mae Brown books where animals talk, but this is the only one where my heart beat faster at the description of the fox hunt! I grew up in Virginia so always enjoy these books set in Virginia because of the colloquial language etc. but I am from a part of Virginia where fox hunting was not well known, so it was all news to me. She certainly is able to catch (or remember?) the ways in which Virginians are able to say what they think without saying specifics. Living by hinting! When I left Virginia and moved even further south I wrote to friends, "everyone is so friendly that you can't tell who your enemies are." There is a certain degree of that in the society of Rita Mae Brown's books, as well. No one wants to offend anyone else, or do more than scratch the surface for fear of doing so. Even in the face of murder? Always takes one strong character to break the southern mold, and remain southern!
January 15, 2016
The question above this dialogue box is "What did you think?" Well, only into the second book and I think that the Jefferson Hunt Club is going to be quite small at the end of the series. I like the human intrigues. For instance, Sister Jane wonders why she is attracted to the newcomer Walter Lungrun, he somehow reminds her of her deceased husband. Of course we all know this is because he is her husband's son from a dalliance long ago. Can it get better? Yes. Guess who is the murderer in this book! Tangled webs.
July 4, 2017
DNF. Really boring.
April 18, 2021
Fox hunting is a bit of a misnomer. I think fox chasing would be a better way of phrasing it. In America, the fox is not killed but chased until it finds protection in its den or another safe place. Learning this right off made my reading of this fascinating tale by the author of the Mrs. Murphy mysteries much more pleasant and exciting.
Jane Arnold, commonly known as Sister, is Master of the Jefferson Hunt. On an early morning walking of hounds with Huntsman Shaker Crown, she notices that a beloved horse on the Bancroft’s After All Farm has died. Since it is summer, a prompt burial is in order. However, once the large hole is dug, a set of human remains is found. Even before dental records confirm the skeleton’s identity, it is clear that this was Nola Bancroft by the large sapphire and diamond ring on her finger. Twenty years earlier Nola disappeared on the first day of cubbing at the same time as Guy Ramy. Ever since, it had been pure speculation as to what had happened to them both.
Nola was a raving beauty, drawing all male eyes to her, even over her sister Sybil, herself quite beautiful. Now that Nola’s body has been found, the community again begins to wonder what happened that fateful day years ago. Then Sister receives a phone call that alerts her to look in a nearby river. A 55-gallon drum is dredged up with another set of bones that are identified to be Guy Ramy. Now two murders need to be solved.
Following this close-knit hunt club is not easy work. Rita Mae Brown gives a vividly detailed look into the life of a Hunt Club. The raising of hounds, training them in the ways of the hunt, their personalities and quirks are lovingly detailed. The work a Master and Huntsman must do each day to facilitate the hunts are fascinating and quite substantial. Detailed descriptions are given of each club members’ duties in the hunt, with a glossary backing up the many positions.
Perhaps more difficult than tracking the foxes was keeping the large cast of characters in order. Not only are we introduced to the human participants but also the horses of each rider. A particularly spirited cow and her calf bring a bit of humor to the neighborhood. One cat seems to own the entire territory. A couple of owls, a crow, and the foxes round out the animals we get to know. Each had personalities that came to life in their conversations with each other. While it seemed daunting at first to keep these all straight, I soon realized that all these creatures, human and otherwise, contributed to the complex life on the farms which the Hunt Club utilized and therefore were important to the numerous hunts we joined as a participant.
There was plenty of action taking place in this novel; unfortunately, not a whole lot of it concerned the mysteries of the dead bodies. Much more of this book was about the process of fox hunting and the details involved. The story was quite pleasant, but not extremely suspenseful. A leisurely pace continued throughout, punctuated by the excitement of various hunts, but even they followed a strict schedule.
I had no idea that so many rituals and so much history colored the world of fox hunting. I imagine that a book outlining them all would make up several volumes on its on. As it is, Rita Mae Brown has shown me an exciting glimpse into this world that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Jane Arnold, commonly known as Sister, is Master of the Jefferson Hunt. On an early morning walking of hounds with Huntsman Shaker Crown, she notices that a beloved horse on the Bancroft’s After All Farm has died. Since it is summer, a prompt burial is in order. However, once the large hole is dug, a set of human remains is found. Even before dental records confirm the skeleton’s identity, it is clear that this was Nola Bancroft by the large sapphire and diamond ring on her finger. Twenty years earlier Nola disappeared on the first day of cubbing at the same time as Guy Ramy. Ever since, it had been pure speculation as to what had happened to them both.
Nola was a raving beauty, drawing all male eyes to her, even over her sister Sybil, herself quite beautiful. Now that Nola’s body has been found, the community again begins to wonder what happened that fateful day years ago. Then Sister receives a phone call that alerts her to look in a nearby river. A 55-gallon drum is dredged up with another set of bones that are identified to be Guy Ramy. Now two murders need to be solved.
Following this close-knit hunt club is not easy work. Rita Mae Brown gives a vividly detailed look into the life of a Hunt Club. The raising of hounds, training them in the ways of the hunt, their personalities and quirks are lovingly detailed. The work a Master and Huntsman must do each day to facilitate the hunts are fascinating and quite substantial. Detailed descriptions are given of each club members’ duties in the hunt, with a glossary backing up the many positions.
Perhaps more difficult than tracking the foxes was keeping the large cast of characters in order. Not only are we introduced to the human participants but also the horses of each rider. A particularly spirited cow and her calf bring a bit of humor to the neighborhood. One cat seems to own the entire territory. A couple of owls, a crow, and the foxes round out the animals we get to know. Each had personalities that came to life in their conversations with each other. While it seemed daunting at first to keep these all straight, I soon realized that all these creatures, human and otherwise, contributed to the complex life on the farms which the Hunt Club utilized and therefore were important to the numerous hunts we joined as a participant.
There was plenty of action taking place in this novel; unfortunately, not a whole lot of it concerned the mysteries of the dead bodies. Much more of this book was about the process of fox hunting and the details involved. The story was quite pleasant, but not extremely suspenseful. A leisurely pace continued throughout, punctuated by the excitement of various hunts, but even they followed a strict schedule.
I had no idea that so many rituals and so much history colored the world of fox hunting. I imagine that a book outlining them all would make up several volumes on its on. As it is, Rita Mae Brown has shown me an exciting glimpse into this world that I thoroughly enjoyed.
April 29, 2019
Hotspur is the second mystery in the "Sister" Jane Arnold Foxhunting Mysteries. Before there are objections: yes it is foxhunting, but it's American foxhunting which chases the fox to ground, not to death. And, as with other Rita Mae Brown mysteries, the animals, including the foxes are characters in the mystery and have insight the Humans do not.
The mystery of Hotspur is an historical one, in that the initial murder(s) took place well before the action of the book. It was an interesting mystery, but in the end, neither the historic mystery nor the current one were really enough to make me want to read the book. They were, frankly, lackluster.
My reading this book through to the end was all down to the animal characters. The animal characters are the main reason I read Rita Mae Brown's mysteries. Her weaving them and the animal insight into the story, making them important rather than just background description is magical. I'm always eager to get into the latest, next-in-series to have a great visit with the animals. Those are definitely the best parts. And I am glad this series features as many animal characters as her (and Sneaky Pie Brown's) Mrs. Murphy series.
While I haven't read further into the series and I can't really see how this mystery fits in the series to carry an overarching plot forward, I don't think it is strictly necessary to read. The foxhunting information and glossary are interesting, but the book is not worth it just for that. I will continue to read the series, for the visits with the animals if nothing else.
The mystery of Hotspur is an historical one, in that the initial murder(s) took place well before the action of the book. It was an interesting mystery, but in the end, neither the historic mystery nor the current one were really enough to make me want to read the book. They were, frankly, lackluster.
My reading this book through to the end was all down to the animal characters. The animal characters are the main reason I read Rita Mae Brown's mysteries. Her weaving them and the animal insight into the story, making them important rather than just background description is magical. I'm always eager to get into the latest, next-in-series to have a great visit with the animals. Those are definitely the best parts. And I am glad this series features as many animal characters as her (and Sneaky Pie Brown's) Mrs. Murphy series.
While I haven't read further into the series and I can't really see how this mystery fits in the series to carry an overarching plot forward, I don't think it is strictly necessary to read. The foxhunting information and glossary are interesting, but the book is not worth it just for that. I will continue to read the series, for the visits with the animals if nothing else.
September 10, 2019
The second “Sister Jane”novel, set in the world of humane fox hunting in Virginia, seeks to solve an old murder. One of their own disappeared years ago but her body has just been discovered. Then Sister Jane receives a phone call that leads to another body. Does the killer want to be found? Is he or she a member of the hunt? In this second installment it becomes clear that Sister will solve mysteries. Intelligent foxes, hounds and horses that communicate with each other, exciting descriptions of hunts and terrain all make this an enjoyable read.
May 10, 2024
This book is perfectly well-written, but neither the characters nor the plot really grabbed me. Perhaps it's just that I have no background in foxhunting, horses, or hounds, so it really just didn't speak to my interests. Maybe if I had those interests, I would have been more taken with it. But it really didn't do a good job of reaching out to the outsider; this is definitely a story for the members of that niche. It is a moderately tolerable story for anybody else.
September 13, 2017
Love the Sister Jane Series!
This is the 2nd time I've read the Sister Jane series and each time, I find out something I missed the last time I read the book!
My favorite of Rita Mae Brown's books is Riding Shotgun ~ a fantastic time travel novel! Check it out!
Although I normally don't care for science fiction unless it's time travel, then I usually love it!🐱
This is the 2nd time I've read the Sister Jane series and each time, I find out something I missed the last time I read the book!
My favorite of Rita Mae Brown's books is Riding Shotgun ~ a fantastic time travel novel! Check it out!
Although I normally don't care for science fiction unless it's time travel, then I usually love it!🐱
February 14, 2022
Rita Mae Brown wrote a murder mystery which took place in Virginia. It occurs in fox hunting territory. A cold case is unraveled by a most skillful woman. A woman is unearthed which brings up long ago family feuds. If you like the hunt and want to know more about fox hunting, this is the book for you.
May 25, 2022
Sister is a hoot and so are the animals in the woods. I love how the animals talk to one another and know so much about the humans. Rita Mae Brown writes in such a way that talking animals is not silly. I learned a lot about the history and art of fox hunting. I would not just call this a mystery but also historical fiction. Tally Ho! and Boo!
April 20, 2024
This book looks at two deaths that happen 25 years ago when the Graves are found. The last times the victims were seen was following a Hunt Party,was there a concoction? When Sister Jane figures out who murder them everyone is surprised.
April 5, 2025
Very good book. I would have gave it a five but I really didn't understand why the killer fled. It made no sense. Characters were good and compelling. Plot and storyline was interesting. Good suspense and fun humor. Recommend.
October 6, 2017
way too much detail about fox hunting, which is too pompous for me. But the plot was entertaining
March 19, 2018
Great story.
January 13, 2019
Not quite the mystery of the first one, this was still an enjoyable and quick read.
January 15, 2019
As usual I have enjoyed reading a sister Jane Book. I recommend them to animal lovers too.
June 28, 2019
Amazing
Love the story. It's captivating and exciting to see the harmony with nature and creatures while solving mysteries. Definitely reading more
Love the story. It's captivating and exciting to see the harmony with nature and creatures while solving mysteries. Definitely reading more
September 9, 2019
I enjoyed this, like the characters including all the animals!
October 14, 2019
I love this series. One of my 17 best mysteries read in 2002.
January 25, 2020
Magnificent mystery
June 25, 2020
I learned interesting information about American fox hunting in this mystery.
October 28, 2020
3.5 stars
November 22, 2020
Unfortunately this one is too easy to figure out but the characters and writing are stiill good.
March 16, 2021
Loved this book and the history and literary story about foxhunting and and all the great Virginian families. The interplay between the characters was so intriging and fascinating .
July 7, 2021
Rita Mae Brown is so good with dialogue. Great cozy mystery.
October 25, 2022
A favorite, Rita Mae Brown, Sister Jane series!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews