What do you think?
Rate this book
Mrs. Murphy #32
Feline Fatale
A thrillingly purrr-fect new mystery from New York Times bestselling author Rita Mae Brown and her feline co-author Sneaky Pie Brown.
Death stalks the Blue Ridge Mountains once again and Mary Minor "Harry" Harristeen, along with her beloved cats and dogs, is on the case.
Death stalks the Blue Ridge Mountains once again and Mary Minor "Harry" Harristeen, along with her beloved cats and dogs, is on the case.
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2024
15 people are currently reading
8461 people want to read
About the author
Rita Mae Brown
174 books2,232 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."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
December 11, 2023
Feline Fatale is the 52 book in the Mrs. Murphy mystery series. I have read this series from the beginning, This book was different in it's theme as it dealt with the politics in congress. Mary Minor Haristeen, (Harry) is the main character who is married to Pharamond Haristeen (Fair) an equine vet who specialises in reproduction. Susan Tucker is her best friend whose husband, Ned, is the district's delegate for the lower house. Harry's animals, Mrs. Murphy and Pewter are her two cats and Tucker and Pirate are her two dogs. They talk to each other and are with Harry throughout the story. The other characters add to the story.
Susan and Harry are on their way to DC to hear Susan's husband, Ned, introduce a bill. While watching the lower house in session Aidan Harkness, an up and coming Democrat and Amanda Fields, also an up and coming Republican who wore Christian Louboutin shoes got into a name calling fight on the floor with Aidan Harkness which when she came and hit him with her shoe shocked the delegates. Lucas Dennison is Amanda's right hand man.
When Harry is visiting Aunt Tally who is now 93, get into a discussion about her grandfather and his using the ham radio on the destroyer during the war. Aunt Tally told her that she also had a ham radio and she and her grandfather use to communicate on them. Harry was very interested and went back home and found her grandfather's radio which she did. Harry found out that Miranda Hogendobber who she worked for in the post office also uses the ham radio. She teaches Harry how to use it and about how they did morse code.
News comes back that one of the school pages, Reid Ryder, was killed in an automobile accident. There was drugs in his system. He had borrowed Ellis Barfield's car.
This is where I will leave the story for the reader to enjoy. There is so much going on that it would be hard to put it all on paper. The build up at the end leaves the reader anxious to find out what the ending holds.
I love this series and look forward to the next adventure for Harry and her friends.
Thank you NetGalley and Bantam Books for the ARC.
Susan and Harry are on their way to DC to hear Susan's husband, Ned, introduce a bill. While watching the lower house in session Aidan Harkness, an up and coming Democrat and Amanda Fields, also an up and coming Republican who wore Christian Louboutin shoes got into a name calling fight on the floor with Aidan Harkness which when she came and hit him with her shoe shocked the delegates. Lucas Dennison is Amanda's right hand man.
When Harry is visiting Aunt Tally who is now 93, get into a discussion about her grandfather and his using the ham radio on the destroyer during the war. Aunt Tally told her that she also had a ham radio and she and her grandfather use to communicate on them. Harry was very interested and went back home and found her grandfather's radio which she did. Harry found out that Miranda Hogendobber who she worked for in the post office also uses the ham radio. She teaches Harry how to use it and about how they did morse code.
News comes back that one of the school pages, Reid Ryder, was killed in an automobile accident. There was drugs in his system. He had borrowed Ellis Barfield's car.
This is where I will leave the story for the reader to enjoy. There is so much going on that it would be hard to put it all on paper. The build up at the end leaves the reader anxious to find out what the ending holds.
I love this series and look forward to the next adventure for Harry and her friends.
Thank you NetGalley and Bantam Books for the ARC.
January 1, 2024
I haven't read every book in this long-running cozy-mystery series, co-written by the author and her cat, but I have read quite a few. In years past, I shared them with my elderly mother, who really enjoyed them. In this outing, Ms Brown has dropped the dual timelines that she has had in her most recent books in which she explored early Virginian history in the area where her stories are set and has gone back to concentrating on a modern-day mystery.
A lot of this story is about state politics. The main character, Mary Minor Haristeen, aka Harry, is a farmer whose best friend Susan Tucker is married to Ned, a state delegate to the Virginia statehouse, the House of Delegates. He has become so overwhelmed with paperwork that Susan has pitched in to help and enlisted Harry's help too.
A fellow Democrat named Aidan Harkness is currently at loggerheads with Amanda Fields, a first-term Republican delegate, over her doctrine of fiscal conservatism. Interesting since she has spent $1000 on a very fancy pair of red-soled high heels, which she wields as a weapon when Aidan calls her the b-word during a recent session. Both delegates are gaining a great deal of publicity for their antics. But all that is overshadowed when a young page is found dead with drugs in his system after a car accident. Have drugs invaded the statehouse?
The fun thing about these mysteries is that the animals are characters too. Harry's two cats and two dogs watch over Harry and can be quite hilarious as they squabble and debate, just like humans.
I found the issues brought up in this story to be quite interesting. This book could definitely be read as a standalone.
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc through NetGalley. My review is voluntary and opinions expressed are my own.
A lot of this story is about state politics. The main character, Mary Minor Haristeen, aka Harry, is a farmer whose best friend Susan Tucker is married to Ned, a state delegate to the Virginia statehouse, the House of Delegates. He has become so overwhelmed with paperwork that Susan has pitched in to help and enlisted Harry's help too.
A fellow Democrat named Aidan Harkness is currently at loggerheads with Amanda Fields, a first-term Republican delegate, over her doctrine of fiscal conservatism. Interesting since she has spent $1000 on a very fancy pair of red-soled high heels, which she wields as a weapon when Aidan calls her the b-word during a recent session. Both delegates are gaining a great deal of publicity for their antics. But all that is overshadowed when a young page is found dead with drugs in his system after a car accident. Have drugs invaded the statehouse?
The fun thing about these mysteries is that the animals are characters too. Harry's two cats and two dogs watch over Harry and can be quite hilarious as they squabble and debate, just like humans.
I found the issues brought up in this story to be quite interesting. This book could definitely be read as a standalone.
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc through NetGalley. My review is voluntary and opinions expressed are my own.
May 8, 2024
Thank you, Goodreads and author, for the book. Too much politics in the plot. Enjoyed the animals. 3 stars
Stacey Bankey
Stacey Bankey
March 29, 2024
This has been a terrific series, but this addition to the series missed the mark for me. The plot was to much politics and not enough mystery. I liked the fact that she was setting a mystery in the General Assembly of Virginia, and a little politics mixed with a whole lot of mystery and mayhem would have made this book so much better. I understand what the author was trying to say, but I don’t care to read it in my cozy mystery.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
April 25, 2024
I'm very glad the author got rid of the dual story line she has been using in the last several books. I felt it was disruptive to the main plot and thinned it out. Now if she would only get the rid of the political rigamarole and go back to more animals and country ways the books would be much more enjoyable, as her earlier ones were.
August 29, 2024
Huh. So Harry and Fair got remarried…Miranda’s husband must have died. Ned went into politics. Little Mim is married. I skipped over a whole bunch of books and just read the latest one.
July 19, 2024
This book is the latest of Ms. Brown's "Mrs. Murphy Mysteries."
And like her previous Mysteries, her pets are the center of the story. The animals: Mrs. Murphy is a tiger cat; Pewter is another cat who likes to upset Tucker, the corgi. And last but not least there is Pirate who is an Irish Wolfhound.
The setting is in Crozet, Virginia. It is a satire on the political machinery in the House of Delegates.
The main protagonist, Mary Minor Haristeen(Harry), has a friend, Ned Tucker, a House Delegate, is advocating a bill to improve road conditions in inclement weather. Both political parties are at odds over how best to implement the bill and make into law.
During the negotiations, back and forth, a fourteen year old page is found dead. His death is the mystery of this story. Was it foul play or a happenstance.
As an amateur sleuth, Harry starts to investigate.
The story was entertaining to read.
And like her previous Mysteries, her pets are the center of the story. The animals: Mrs. Murphy is a tiger cat; Pewter is another cat who likes to upset Tucker, the corgi. And last but not least there is Pirate who is an Irish Wolfhound.
The setting is in Crozet, Virginia. It is a satire on the political machinery in the House of Delegates.
The main protagonist, Mary Minor Haristeen(Harry), has a friend, Ned Tucker, a House Delegate, is advocating a bill to improve road conditions in inclement weather. Both political parties are at odds over how best to implement the bill and make into law.
During the negotiations, back and forth, a fourteen year old page is found dead. His death is the mystery of this story. Was it foul play or a happenstance.
As an amateur sleuth, Harry starts to investigate.
The story was entertaining to read.
April 29, 2024
What a fascinating story - Loved it. I am sorry that the 18th century story line wasn't included - I have enjoyed that, and become attached to those characters, as well. My primary love is Harry and her animals, though. Can't believe I have to wait a year for the next Mrs. Murphy Mystery, even though they are well worth the wait!
December 1, 2023
Enjoyed the book but I missed the story from back in the days that spoke of the history of that area.
October 14, 2024
I don’t really agree with the authors politics but the story was definitely interesting
March 21, 2024
“Feline Fatale” is the thirty-second book in Rita Mae Brown’s Mrs. Murphy Mystery series. While the past several books in the series have featured a dual story line set in both the present and the Revolutionary War era – this book takes place in just the present. While I had gotten used to the dual storylines (and think the Revolutionary War storyline would make a fine series in itself) I much prefer the single storyline – especially since it brings back characters who had been MIA – Big Mim, Miranda, Aunt Tally, even Boom Boom makes a cameo appearance. Brown’s books have always had a touch of politics to them but this book is totally about politics – Harry’s best friend’s husband is in the House of Delegates and much of this book, including the murder, involves politics. The mystery is well done – this isn’t one of those try to guess whodunit type of mysteries but one where you sit back and watch as Brown cleverly works clues into the book – even the most innocent things can turn out to be important. While I wasn’t surprised at who turned out to be guilty, I did feel terribly bad for one of the characters and hope this character shows up in future books in the series.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
February 23, 2024
I know the Mrs. Murphy Mysteries are popular so I am excited to give FELINE FATALE a read. I soon realize I am not a fan of anthropomorphism. I read on, despite the talking animals, in anticipation of solving a mystery. Harry (Mary Minor Haristeen) and her best friend, Susan Tucker, travel to Washington D.C. to support Susan’s husband, Ned, who is introducing a bill in the House of Delegates to get roads cleared during bad weather.
The characters freely express their opinions regarding politics in this book, giving me much to ponder. The narrative and dialogue flows well and is comfortable to read. There seems to be a lot of background leading up to the murder. After that, things move along slowly to an unusual, yet satisfying, conclusion. There are cute sketches interspersed throughout the pages of this cozy mystery. While this book isn’t exactly my “cup of tea,” I can see why many people like Rita May Brown’s writing. Thank you, Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review FELINE FETALE.
The characters freely express their opinions regarding politics in this book, giving me much to ponder. The narrative and dialogue flows well and is comfortable to read. There seems to be a lot of background leading up to the murder. After that, things move along slowly to an unusual, yet satisfying, conclusion. There are cute sketches interspersed throughout the pages of this cozy mystery. While this book isn’t exactly my “cup of tea,” I can see why many people like Rita May Brown’s writing. Thank you, Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review FELINE FETALE.
June 16, 2024
Really? A transgendered character in a Mrs. Murphy story? I have nothing against the transgendered but the trendiness of this being shoved in our faces on a daily basis is extremely annoying. Plus all the politics felt like preaching. I hope Rita Mae Brown can get back to the basics.
January 21, 2025
In the dead of winter in Crozet, Virginia, Harry’s friend Ned Tucker is in the House of Delegates trying to pass a bill for better snow removal and clearing. But his opponent, a feisty Amanda Fields is very much against it, saying it costs too much. When one of the young pages who assist the delegates dies, it’s seen as suspicious. Was it related to their political rivalry or was it something bigger than that? Harry and her pets are on the case. There is a lot that happens in this novel, but the reader didn’t feel bombarded by all the different plot points. Instead, Brown brings her reader in slowly and gently introduces each element step by step. Sure, it’s not always easy to follow, but the way she wrote this never felt overwhelming; it just felt cozy. One thing the reader really loved was how the animals that our main character, Harry, has, are also characters in this. The cats and dogs all talk to each other, but the humans can’t understand them, which worked really well because it was this fun element in a murder mystery. This is the latest book in the series, and this reader hasn’t read any of the past novels (although they are very tempted now), so they can’t say how much the animals play a role in solving mysteries in the past, this one, they didn’t really solve anything; they were just around for more moral support than anything else. Even though this novel was really heavy on the politics, this reader didn’t find that to be a bad thing. The reader could see how the addition of certain characters and statements could look like this was trying to be too inclusive or politically correct, but again, this reader didn’t find it too bashing over the head with it. It felt quite subtle in its approach. The ham radio plot felt really out of left field and the reader was curious what that had to do with anything; it did pay off in the end, really nicely. The way this ended was a bit lacklustre in the fact that we don’t really know what happens to these characters. Do they get caught? Will we ever find out what they were truly up to? Brown left it very open ended and the reader didn’t care for that. As for the characters though, they all felt very flushed out and were easy to tell who was who, as well they were compelling to read. Each of them had their own storyline where they each grew a bit as a character and they each came together in their stories. In the end, this was a fun cozy mystery where the reader can’t wait to read more from these characters and this world.
May 4, 2025
its been years since I've read a Sneaky Pie Brown book and I must say I'm disappointed in this book. All of her earlier books were so much better with the underlying story. I skipped over a lot of the storyline because it's based on politicians and their arguing over different political platforms and unfortunately, one of the main characters was a trans "man" named Lucas who was a college sorority sister of one of the other people in this murder. I read cozy mysteries to "escape" from today's political climate and this was NOT the "cozy mystery" style from her earlier books. I only finished reading the book to find out who the bad guys were. It's too bad that some cozy mystery authors feel they have to include the current political climate including the transgender philosophy that's being pushed on people, including elementary children in our schools. I know there are people that won't agree with MY review, but that's ok.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2024
There was a different theme in this long running series book that dealt
With state politics.The usual crowd was present including the talking
Animals who were characters. Harry is the main character and her husband
is a vet.
The delegates want publicity and all is over shadowed by a dead page who is
Found with drugs in his system. There is humor, antics, friendship, and
Questions to be answered. A fast read- not as enjoyable as previous tales.,
But still a cozy mystery. Enjoy!
With state politics.The usual crowd was present including the talking
Animals who were characters. Harry is the main character and her husband
is a vet.
The delegates want publicity and all is over shadowed by a dead page who is
Found with drugs in his system. There is humor, antics, friendship, and
Questions to be answered. A fast read- not as enjoyable as previous tales.,
But still a cozy mystery. Enjoy!
October 16, 2024
I grabbed this out of my wife’s stack from the library. Yes, it was too cute, and too quaint, and featured dialogue between cats and dogs, but this book had a surprising amount of insight about politics and the tough decisions that pert-time state legislators grapple with. It felt somehow cozy and real at the same time.
June 29, 2024
THIS USED TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE SERIES, BUT NO MORE! I DIDN'T MIND THE GOING BACK IN TIME SO MUCH BUT ALL OF THIS GOVERNMENT CRAP, STATISTICS AND FACTS IS JUST BORING! THERE WAS KIND OF A MURDER BUT NO ONE WAS INVESTIGATING. HARRY AND THE ANIMALS DIDN'T HAVE HARDLY ANY PART IN IT. HAM RADIO TO CONTACT A 100 YEAR OLD "NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR" WAS TOO FAR OUT. THIS IS THE WORST BOOK EVER! WHEN IT DID END, NOTHING WAS SOLVED. IT WAS "I THINK SHE WANTED TO DO THIS AND I THINK HE WAS DOING THIS OR THAT. WHAT KIND OF ENDING WAS THAT? I'M MORE CONFUSED THAN EVER! SORRY THIS SERIES HAS JUST TAKEN A DEEP NOSE DIVE IN MY OPINION. I STRUGGLED TO GET THROUGH THIS BECAUSE IT WAS SO BORING.
June 6, 2024
I have been a fan of Rita Mae Brown stories for years! Her insights and ability to expand one’s thinking through her creative writing skills is top notch. This book did not disappoint.
I enjoy revisiting Harry, Fair, the Tucker’s and their slew of friends and animated pets, who offer philosophical commentary and personal protection, as always, in this series. I appreciated both the fact that the author kept this book a secret from most of her staff while writing the story and that she streamlined this novel to reflect only one current era mystery. Rita Mae’s ability to incorporate historical events and educate readers about the past while solving a mystery and highlighting current political and social issues is still present in this book. Although we do not get to revisit some of the slaves and other historic characters Brown uses in her novels, the reader is exposed to information regarding war time communication and Ham radio usage as an important method of connecting and coding internationally and subversively. Once again, the reader is left with plenty of food for thought.
I enjoy revisiting Harry, Fair, the Tucker’s and their slew of friends and animated pets, who offer philosophical commentary and personal protection, as always, in this series. I appreciated both the fact that the author kept this book a secret from most of her staff while writing the story and that she streamlined this novel to reflect only one current era mystery. Rita Mae’s ability to incorporate historical events and educate readers about the past while solving a mystery and highlighting current political and social issues is still present in this book. Although we do not get to revisit some of the slaves and other historic characters Brown uses in her novels, the reader is exposed to information regarding war time communication and Ham radio usage as an important method of connecting and coding internationally and subversively. Once again, the reader is left with plenty of food for thought.
May 15, 2024
Feline Fatale is a cozy mystery featuring Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen and her pets -- cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, corgi Tucker, and Irish Wolfhound puppy Pirate. Harry's best friend Susan is married to a man who serves in the Virginia legislature. When a young page dies tragically from a drug overdose, Harry, Susan, and of course Harry's pets work to solve the mystery.
I wanted to read this mystery because I love the Mrs. Murphy mystery series -- it is probably my favorite cozy series. It is always comforting and enjoyable to be back in Crozet, Virginia for a while with these familiar characters. I love both cats and corgis, so that is another big draw for this series.
The mystery in this book, while tragic, felt a little more distant because there was not a lot of background about the young page before he tragically died. I still enjoyed Harry's clever sleuthing though!
There is a lot of state politics in this book, which is not a great interest of mine, but there was a surprising sub-plot featuring older friends who loved ham radio. I know nothing about ham radio but that sub-plot was so interesting to me! I even wondered for a moment if I have the time and energy to learn how to operate a ham radio. (The answer, for now, is no.) I also really liked the older ladies that Harry is friends with - Aunt Tally and Miranda.
As always, the pets are an important part of the book and they are charming. As well as the story, there are some sweet illustrations of the cats and Tucker together. (And an elderly dachshund even appears in the story!)
I recommend this series for fans of cozy mysteries featuring small town life, cats and dogs. It is a charming series that truly personifies cozy fiction.
I wanted to read this mystery because I love the Mrs. Murphy mystery series -- it is probably my favorite cozy series. It is always comforting and enjoyable to be back in Crozet, Virginia for a while with these familiar characters. I love both cats and corgis, so that is another big draw for this series.
The mystery in this book, while tragic, felt a little more distant because there was not a lot of background about the young page before he tragically died. I still enjoyed Harry's clever sleuthing though!
There is a lot of state politics in this book, which is not a great interest of mine, but there was a surprising sub-plot featuring older friends who loved ham radio. I know nothing about ham radio but that sub-plot was so interesting to me! I even wondered for a moment if I have the time and energy to learn how to operate a ham radio. (The answer, for now, is no.) I also really liked the older ladies that Harry is friends with - Aunt Tally and Miranda.
As always, the pets are an important part of the book and they are charming. As well as the story, there are some sweet illustrations of the cats and Tucker together. (And an elderly dachshund even appears in the story!)
I recommend this series for fans of cozy mysteries featuring small town life, cats and dogs. It is a charming series that truly personifies cozy fiction.
October 8, 2025
The book was entertaining, but it moved a little too slowly. I felt like I had to finish because I had to know who had done what. There were times that I felt like the author was repeating herself and that frustrated me. I just couldn’t lose myself in this one.
May 14, 2024
This is the 32nd book in this long-running series. It’s very politically oriented, as the husband of one of the main characters is in the Virginia House of Delegates, and is trying to get a bill passed. A young page dies under dubious circumstances, but it almost seems like it’s only a minor part of the plot. Back in Crozet, where most of the books take place, Harry Haristeen is learning to use a ham radio in order to communicate with an elderly neighbor. This part of the book harkens back to years gone by, as Harry learns more about her grandfather’s service during WWII. It also brings back Miranda Hogendobber, who was Harry’s co-worker at the post office in the series’ earlier books. That was nice. One thing I appreciate about this book is that it does not include the second storyline that takes place in the 18th century. That was confusing and distracting. As with any long series, it’s nice to revisit characters that are old friends. I didn’t quite enjoy the political storyline, and I don’t think the death was really solved.
January 11, 2024
#FelineFatale #NetGalley is an interesting addition to this well known series.
Harry and her sidekicks are back in this fantastic story by Rita Mae Brown.
Harry accompanies her long time friend Susan to a political hearing as Susan's husband is presenting a new bill for approval.
Things get heated quickly and two other delegates seem to disagree on everything.
Harry doesn't suspect anything until she begins learning about Ham Radio and Morse Code, thanks to a long time friend.
When Harry hears suspicious clicks, she realizes what's happening, but who is going to believe her?
Join Harry, Susan, Tucker, Pirate, Pewter and Mrs. Murphy as they sort out the clues and solve a diabolical mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for asking me to read and review this advanced copy of #FelineFatale #NetGalley.
Harry and her sidekicks are back in this fantastic story by Rita Mae Brown.
Harry accompanies her long time friend Susan to a political hearing as Susan's husband is presenting a new bill for approval.
Things get heated quickly and two other delegates seem to disagree on everything.
Harry doesn't suspect anything until she begins learning about Ham Radio and Morse Code, thanks to a long time friend.
When Harry hears suspicious clicks, she realizes what's happening, but who is going to believe her?
Join Harry, Susan, Tucker, Pirate, Pewter and Mrs. Murphy as they sort out the clues and solve a diabolical mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for asking me to read and review this advanced copy of #FelineFatale #NetGalley.
March 9, 2024
Harry and her long-time friend Susan are helping Susan's husband, Ned, at his office at the Virginia House of Delegates. One of the pages is found dead as the battle heats up between the parties over the snow-removal bill sponsered by Ned. Is it related to the feud between Ned's co-sponser and their opposing delegate, Amanda Fields?
I didn't like either Amanda with her trademark Louboutins or Ned's supposed ally, Aiden Harkness. They seem to represent the very worst of self-serving politicians.
I love that the clues for Harry to solve the mystery came from the beloved old ladies. Just shows that wisdom of the past is still relevant today.
This is really a clever mystery in a political setting.
A really great addition to a wonderful series.
I didn't like either Amanda with her trademark Louboutins or Ned's supposed ally, Aiden Harkness. They seem to represent the very worst of self-serving politicians.
I love that the clues for Harry to solve the mystery came from the beloved old ladies. Just shows that wisdom of the past is still relevant today.
This is really a clever mystery in a political setting.
A really great addition to a wonderful series.
May 11, 2024
Good to be back with the old gang. Naturally there’s political talk in this one, since it involves the House of Delegates, but that made it more ok than some of the other Mrs. Murphy books with a lot of political talk, because those times it had nothing to do with the plot, whereas this time it was germane to the plot. The animals don’t contribute to solving the mystery, as they did at the beginning of the series, they’re just there for the feeling of “old home week”. The Morse Code bit was interesting (all of it, don’t want to spoil it 😊). I’d never heard of this number shorthand. I do feel like the outcome of the guilty parties was left hanging tho.
As to the 18th century story line that was omitted this time, I hope she brings it back as a separate book.
As to the 18th century story line that was omitted this time, I hope she brings it back as a separate book.
June 11, 2024
I hadn’t read anything by Brown until this was given to me as a gift. Glad it’s over. Animals talking to each other is, to me, unnecessary. There is a cast of characters at the front of the book that contains more details about certain characters than the book itself, and that ain’t sayin’ much. For instance, the person who dies on page 100 is hardly mentioned before his demise, and hardly mentioned after. A meticulous and shrewd policewoman is mentioned in the same introduction but does not solve the crime, in fact doesn't show up at all. Murder at a political body can be intriguing, as demonstrated by legendary mystery writers Margaret Truman, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and Stacey Abrams, but this one falls short.
February 18, 2024
Some really serious stuff here that reflects the life happenings of 2023 in politics and the infiltration of the drug trade into too much of daily life. The historical learning (for those of us who geek history) relates to the use of Ham Radios and Morse Code from WW2 to the present as it pertains to the regular characters. There are several mysteries to solve and the furry ones continue to be essential. Always a good read from this author!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam via NetGalley. Thank you!
Pub Date 16 Apr 2024
#MrsMurphyMysteriesNo32 #Anthropomorphism
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam via NetGalley. Thank you!
Pub Date 16 Apr 2024
#MrsMurphyMysteriesNo32 #Anthropomorphism
April 2, 2024
Brown steps into the politics of the Virginia General Assembly in this latest in the series. Don't worry, though- there's plenty from the animals fans have come to love. This is a tad more complex and might be most appreciated by those who follow state politics, especially in Virginia. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.
January 30, 2024
I liked this one but not as much as previous books in the series. It was alot of politics and not much cozy.
January 30, 2024
We are back in Crozet, Virginia with farmer "Harry" Harristeen and her husband and friends, not to mention her furry pets Mrs. Murphy and Pewter (the cats), Tucker and Pirate (the dogs). Harry is braving the last of winter when the threat of another snowstorm prevails, making everyone wonder how long winter is going to last. But it is also the time when the state house representatives meet in Richmond, and both Harry and her best friend, Susan Tucker, travel there to support Susan's husband Ned while he presents a bill to the house.
Unfortunately, it isn't received well by the other side, and a heated argument ensues where delegate Amanda Fields reacts violently to a slur by Aiden Harkness of the other side, which causes more problems along the way. Amanda seems obsessed with Aiden and his antics, and Ned is just trying to keep the peace. But when a young page is killed while in the car of the videographer, questions arise. What was he doing, and was he murdered?
Harry wants answers, and if it lies in the state house, then she's going to find it. But along the way she's learning Morse code, as an elderly town resident still uses a ham radio and Harry wants to be able to speak with her on days she can't get over to see her. But what is going on in the house, and does anyone know the truth?...
This is the latest book in the Mrs. Murphy series, and I have read as many as I can. I simply love the writing style of Ms. Brown. Although in the beginning I was disappointed to learn that this was not a mystery where we travel back in time to Revolutionary days, I also read the back where she stated that not everyone enjoyed that. (Really? It's part of the charm of the books, but just my humble opinion on that! I also love history, so it's again, part of the charm of reading these novels.) Anyway, since I was already invested, I continued to read on.
In this installment, as you've probably already gathered, Harry and pals are concerned with what is happening in Richmond. Ned Tucker is too concerned with what is going on in his own office to even take time to wonder -- and here is where he avails himself of both Harry and Susan's help -- because they are trying to finish the session and that means endless paperwork (don't we all have that?).
When the young page is killed, his girlfriend and family both insist that it must have been murder, and Harry tends to believe them. So does Amanda's assistant, Lucas. But what can be done? No one is going to admit it, and someone's sudden disappearance points to them as the prime suspect.
There is a lot going on in this book; a lot about politics (and honestly, I don't read political books as there is so much in the world right now that is wrong and I read to relax, not have everything shoved at me), but I will tell you that this book doesn't do any of that, and I appreciate it. While we may not agree on our politics, the book is subtle about it and you don't feel that you are getting a lecture on what to believe or not believe. And that, my friends, is all the difference.
Once again, Ms. Brown has written another mystery that will keep you reading merely to get to the final outcome, if nothing else. It is a wonderful read, and I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher but this in no way influenced my review.
Unfortunately, it isn't received well by the other side, and a heated argument ensues where delegate Amanda Fields reacts violently to a slur by Aiden Harkness of the other side, which causes more problems along the way. Amanda seems obsessed with Aiden and his antics, and Ned is just trying to keep the peace. But when a young page is killed while in the car of the videographer, questions arise. What was he doing, and was he murdered?
Harry wants answers, and if it lies in the state house, then she's going to find it. But along the way she's learning Morse code, as an elderly town resident still uses a ham radio and Harry wants to be able to speak with her on days she can't get over to see her. But what is going on in the house, and does anyone know the truth?...
This is the latest book in the Mrs. Murphy series, and I have read as many as I can. I simply love the writing style of Ms. Brown. Although in the beginning I was disappointed to learn that this was not a mystery where we travel back in time to Revolutionary days, I also read the back where she stated that not everyone enjoyed that. (Really? It's part of the charm of the books, but just my humble opinion on that! I also love history, so it's again, part of the charm of reading these novels.) Anyway, since I was already invested, I continued to read on.
In this installment, as you've probably already gathered, Harry and pals are concerned with what is happening in Richmond. Ned Tucker is too concerned with what is going on in his own office to even take time to wonder -- and here is where he avails himself of both Harry and Susan's help -- because they are trying to finish the session and that means endless paperwork (don't we all have that?).
When the young page is killed, his girlfriend and family both insist that it must have been murder, and Harry tends to believe them. So does Amanda's assistant, Lucas. But what can be done? No one is going to admit it, and someone's sudden disappearance points to them as the prime suspect.
There is a lot going on in this book; a lot about politics (and honestly, I don't read political books as there is so much in the world right now that is wrong and I read to relax, not have everything shoved at me), but I will tell you that this book doesn't do any of that, and I appreciate it. While we may not agree on our politics, the book is subtle about it and you don't feel that you are getting a lecture on what to believe or not believe. And that, my friends, is all the difference.
Once again, Ms. Brown has written another mystery that will keep you reading merely to get to the final outcome, if nothing else. It is a wonderful read, and I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher but this in no way influenced my review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews