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"Sister" Jane #9
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
The chase is on in New York Times bestselling author Rita Mae Brown’s gripping new foxhunting mystery, featuring the irrepressible “Sister” Jane Arnold and the wily antics of her four-legged friends. In Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, a century-old crime reawakens bad will—and stirs up a scandal that chills Sister to the bone.
Sister Jane and the Jefferson Hunt Club have traveled from Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains to the Bluegrass State of Kentucky to ride with the members of the Woodford Hounds—in the teeth of foul weather. Sister knows better than anyone that an ill wind blows no good.
After the hunt, Sister Jane and her boyfriend, Gray Lorillard, head to a sumptuous party on a nearby estate, also home to a historic equine graveyard. The revelry is interrupted by jarring The discovery of grisly remains in the cemetery that are decidedly not equine.
Now Sister and her hounds are on the case, digging up clues to an old murder that links three well-connected Southern families. When mayhem follows the Jefferson Hunt back to Virginia, the deadly doings become all too A dear friend of Sister’s is found murdered. Sister and her animal friends must work fast to find a clever killer determined to keep deep-rooted secrets buried.
A rollicking, riveting mystery, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie is a masterly novel full of colorful characters, gorgeous country landscapes, and the breathtaking thrill of the hunt.
Praise for Rita Mae Brown
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
“[Brown’s] foxhunting titles are great for readers who like gentility with a wicked little twist.” —Library Journal
Fox Tracks
“[Brown] enlivens a timely tale with . . . amusing accounts of her four-legged creations and delightful descriptions of the central Virginia countryside.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch
Hounded to Death
“Fast-paced and filled with scenes from the world of fox hunting . . . Brown delivers the brush.” —The Baltimore Sun
The Tell-Tale Horse
“Grabs readers from the opening scene and gallops through to the very surprising end.” —Horse Illustrated
The Hounds and the Fury
“An intriguing story.”—Associated Press
From the Hardcover edition.
Sister Jane and the Jefferson Hunt Club have traveled from Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains to the Bluegrass State of Kentucky to ride with the members of the Woodford Hounds—in the teeth of foul weather. Sister knows better than anyone that an ill wind blows no good.
After the hunt, Sister Jane and her boyfriend, Gray Lorillard, head to a sumptuous party on a nearby estate, also home to a historic equine graveyard. The revelry is interrupted by jarring The discovery of grisly remains in the cemetery that are decidedly not equine.
Now Sister and her hounds are on the case, digging up clues to an old murder that links three well-connected Southern families. When mayhem follows the Jefferson Hunt back to Virginia, the deadly doings become all too A dear friend of Sister’s is found murdered. Sister and her animal friends must work fast to find a clever killer determined to keep deep-rooted secrets buried.
A rollicking, riveting mystery, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie is a masterly novel full of colorful characters, gorgeous country landscapes, and the breathtaking thrill of the hunt.
Praise for Rita Mae Brown
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
“[Brown’s] foxhunting titles are great for readers who like gentility with a wicked little twist.” —Library Journal
Fox Tracks
“[Brown] enlivens a timely tale with . . . amusing accounts of her four-legged creations and delightful descriptions of the central Virginia countryside.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch
Hounded to Death
“Fast-paced and filled with scenes from the world of fox hunting . . . Brown delivers the brush.” —The Baltimore Sun
The Tell-Tale Horse
“Grabs readers from the opening scene and gallops through to the very surprising end.” —Horse Illustrated
The Hounds and the Fury
“An intriguing story.”—Associated Press
From the Hardcover edition.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2014
175 people are currently reading
687 people want to read
About the author
Rita Mae Brown
144 books2,247 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
July 29, 2015
Rita Mae Brown's tales are amazingly crafted works of art. In her Fox Hunter's series, there's a wealth of information about a sport many of us know little about. Every volume speaks to another sometimes thorny issue in the world of horse breeding, racing and riding to the hounds. Did you know that there is DNA linking today's equines with prototypical horses of 200,000 years ago? Horse people take lineage very seriously, and the reader of LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE will learn some amazing lessons. Then there are the scenes involving fox hunting and the general day-to-day activities of a hunt Master. Truly brilliant descriptions and highly informative. The characters are so fully fleshed-out that I feel I know them. And then there's the plot! I can't wait for the next one in this delightful series.
February 9, 2020
Perhaps this book would be better titled "Foxhunting for Dummies". True, the author provides an extensive glossary of terms associated with the sport as well as a description of the book's characters, hunting dogs, and horses (the animals are all anthropomorphized with speaking parts in the book).
Granted, the facts learned about this activity were quite interesting as were the by-laws, ritual, physiology of horses, breeding, and veterinary practices required for maintaining this sport.
However, that and endless details of hunts made up 95% of the book. If the intent was to learn about this sport, I could have borrowed a non-fiction source and been rid of the indulgently endless galivanting of these "beautiful people". The mystery of two murders served as a weakly developed and poorly motivated crime literally revealed in the last five pages of the book. How fortunate that the culprit confessed everything out of shame, but then again, these are people of superior breeding!
While it was commendable that the majority of characters were more mature in years, their elitist attitudes and effete snobbery virtually oozed from every page, continually emphasizing the fact that this is a sport for the "true warrior" attired in a weaselbelly with a silver spoon in mouth.
Notwithstanding the informative knowledge acquired from Brown's book, this reading experience left me with a very negative impression of those who engage in this past time.
Granted, the facts learned about this activity were quite interesting as were the by-laws, ritual, physiology of horses, breeding, and veterinary practices required for maintaining this sport.
However, that and endless details of hunts made up 95% of the book. If the intent was to learn about this sport, I could have borrowed a non-fiction source and been rid of the indulgently endless galivanting of these "beautiful people". The mystery of two murders served as a weakly developed and poorly motivated crime literally revealed in the last five pages of the book. How fortunate that the culprit confessed everything out of shame, but then again, these are people of superior breeding!
While it was commendable that the majority of characters were more mature in years, their elitist attitudes and effete snobbery virtually oozed from every page, continually emphasizing the fact that this is a sport for the "true warrior" attired in a weaselbelly with a silver spoon in mouth.
Notwithstanding the informative knowledge acquired from Brown's book, this reading experience left me with a very negative impression of those who engage in this past time.
November 23, 2014
I usually love Rita Mae Brown's mystery novels, but her "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" did not grab my attention like many of her past novels did. On a positive note, even though it is part of a series, it can stand alone.
The story itself seems to revolve more around the world of fox hunting, and less about the actual mystery. It is written well and would probably be interesting to fans of fox hunting. I was more interested in the mystery aspect of the book, so I felt a bit let down. I really did enjoy the character of Sister Jane Arnold and found her to be quite likable. I wouldn't mind seeing her featured again in future works.
I will definitely purchase more of Rita Mae Brown's novels in the future, though maybe not from this series, and look forward to her future releases.
The story itself seems to revolve more around the world of fox hunting, and less about the actual mystery. It is written well and would probably be interesting to fans of fox hunting. I was more interested in the mystery aspect of the book, so I felt a bit let down. I really did enjoy the character of Sister Jane Arnold and found her to be quite likable. I wouldn't mind seeing her featured again in future works.
I will definitely purchase more of Rita Mae Brown's novels in the future, though maybe not from this series, and look forward to her future releases.
October 25, 2015
Just started this mystery, but wanted tosay how much I love the series: horses, dogs, foxes, Sister Jane and all the hunters. Heaven."
"It seems that fellow MFH, Jane Winegardner aka, O.J. (Other Jane) on her last hunt with Sister Jane in Kentucky (OJ home turf) due to weather conditions a horse's grave atone was broken. Forensics found along with the horse's skeleton a human one."
"Sister Jane and various members of the Jefferson Hunt serve on the board of the private school, Custis Hall and are trying to find ways to bring more scholarship students to the school. Nice to give intelligent kids a chance to get a better education than in public schools."
"Sister Jane as MFH was hunting with the Jefferson Hunt and former member now rogue fox hounds hunter Crawford Howard's pack joined the Jefferson Hunt and had to be brought back to Crawford, a self made multi-millionaire. Crawford is a thorn in Sister Jane's life but she deals with him in true Southern style as befitting a great lady."
"Waiting for the idenity of the skeleton. More nifty hunts and lots of neat horses."
"long comment missing again. Skiff. Crawford motive for murder of vet. Ms. Hinson."
"I figured out the murderer's identity when Mercer was killed."
"It seems that fellow MFH, Jane Winegardner aka, O.J. (Other Jane) on her last hunt with Sister Jane in Kentucky (OJ home turf) due to weather conditions a horse's grave atone was broken. Forensics found along with the horse's skeleton a human one."
"Sister Jane and various members of the Jefferson Hunt serve on the board of the private school, Custis Hall and are trying to find ways to bring more scholarship students to the school. Nice to give intelligent kids a chance to get a better education than in public schools."
"Sister Jane as MFH was hunting with the Jefferson Hunt and former member now rogue fox hounds hunter Crawford Howard's pack joined the Jefferson Hunt and had to be brought back to Crawford, a self made multi-millionaire. Crawford is a thorn in Sister Jane's life but she deals with him in true Southern style as befitting a great lady."
"Waiting for the idenity of the skeleton. More nifty hunts and lots of neat horses."
"long comment missing again. Skiff. Crawford motive for murder of vet. Ms. Hinson."
"I figured out the murderer's identity when Mercer was killed."
October 5, 2015
Another Rita Mae Brown fox hunting mystery, featuring Sister Jane and her cohorts. An old crime resurfaces eprevealing some bad behavior decades old, and an ancient scandal, long forgotten resurfaces.
The Jefferson Hunt Club has travelled to Kentuckey to ride with members of the Woodford Hounds, unfortunately the weather is not cooperating, and an ill wind blows no good as they say.
After the hunt as Jane and her partner Gray head out to lunch and a terrible discovery of the remains of a human in an equine cemetery upsets everyone.
This is determined to be a murder that ties well connected Southern families. When the Jefferson Hunt returns to Virginia Janes friend is found murdered, and Jane and all her friends, both two legged and four legged must work together to find the killer determined to keep this secret buried.
I've always enjoyed the relationship between the humans and animals in these stories, and the descriptions of Virginia, and it's beautiful landscapes are worth the read.
The Jefferson Hunt Club has travelled to Kentuckey to ride with members of the Woodford Hounds, unfortunately the weather is not cooperating, and an ill wind blows no good as they say.
After the hunt as Jane and her partner Gray head out to lunch and a terrible discovery of the remains of a human in an equine cemetery upsets everyone.
This is determined to be a murder that ties well connected Southern families. When the Jefferson Hunt returns to Virginia Janes friend is found murdered, and Jane and all her friends, both two legged and four legged must work together to find the killer determined to keep this secret buried.
I've always enjoyed the relationship between the humans and animals in these stories, and the descriptions of Virginia, and it's beautiful landscapes are worth the read.
May 1, 2015
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie by Rita Mae Brown I received a free kindle copy of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie by Rita Mae Brown, published by Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
I gave this cozy mystery about fox hunting in Virginia three stars. I learned more about fox hunting than I wanted to know. It was a slow read. I had to encourage myself to finish. The points of view varied. Sometimes it seemed that humans heard the animals speak. I found that confusing.
The mystery was one from the past & one for the present. It did keep me guessing, it just wasn't my 'cup of tea'.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Let-Sleeping-Do...
I gave this cozy mystery about fox hunting in Virginia three stars. I learned more about fox hunting than I wanted to know. It was a slow read. I had to encourage myself to finish. The points of view varied. Sometimes it seemed that humans heard the animals speak. I found that confusing.
The mystery was one from the past & one for the present. It did keep me guessing, it just wasn't my 'cup of tea'.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Let-Sleeping-Do...
December 2, 2014
Sister Jane and her friends are back in this ninth book in the series, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie. When a body is found with a small dog buried next to it, underneath a slab set up to commemorate Benny Glitters, a failed race horse who became a young woman's prized mount over a hundred years ago, Mercer Laprade is determined to prove that the body belongs to his grandfather, who went missing from a whorehouse, leaving his clothes behind.
The problem is, there has to be a reason why the body was placed beneath the stone slab, along with the dog. And the reason could have repercussions even into today.
With a lot of great scenery of Virginia, beautiful foxhounds and horses, the mystery slowly unspools throughout the glories of foxhunting, with the foxes, hounds, and horses offering a lot of background color and character.
The problem is, there has to be a reason why the body was placed beneath the stone slab, along with the dog. And the reason could have repercussions even into today.
With a lot of great scenery of Virginia, beautiful foxhounds and horses, the mystery slowly unspools throughout the glories of foxhunting, with the foxes, hounds, and horses offering a lot of background color and character.
May 31, 2015
Read this book only if you are interested in reading about fox-hunting. The mystery was probably only about 30 pages of the book. And Brown of course has to get some of her political viewpoints in- and based on incorrect data. For example she blames the end of the Shakers on the Industrial Revolution and gets the dates all wrong because the Industrial Revolution ended long before the Shakers did- and actually there still are Shakers. Their demise was caused by celibacy and lack of orphans to bring into their religion. As for fox-hunting Brown betrays her supposed concern for animals by her support of fox-hunting and anthropormorphising the foxes as liking the chase. I seriously doubt they like being hunted and I'm sure it leads to a lower reproductive rate among the females.
October 21, 2014
I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I've read almost all of Rita Mae Brown's Sister Jane series and Mrs. Murphy series. I grew up foxhunting in Virginia and love to read about it. I love the character, "Sister Jane Arnold". I did enjoy the mystery, centering around Thoroughbred bloodlines, in this book. Having read so many of Brown's novels, I am finding them all a bit similar at this point. I wish the mystery was a little more in depth. I will continue reading the series because I do like the characters and it's not often that I get to read a story about foxhunting.
January 10, 2015
The usual great story from Rita Mae Brown! Sister Jane is back with a slightly more sophisticated mystery involving DNA. The ending was quite a surprise. I always enjoy the descriptions of the hunt days, and the chase after the wily fox. All the usual characters are here again, including foxes Uncle Yancy and Aunt Netty, the hounds, the horses, and the spoiled cat, Golly. Sister Jane is one of my favorite characters, and it is always a joy when a new book comes out. This story really does seem different from previous books, in that the subject matter is more contemporary, and yet Ms. Brown sticks to her usual background of the foxhunt and the Central Virginia lifestyle. A great read!
August 8, 2014
I received a free digital copy via Netgalley. Thanks for the opportunity!
Review will be published shortly before the publication date (end of October/beginning of November).
Review will be published shortly before the publication date (end of October/beginning of November).
August 19, 2019
Another Rita Mae Brown lecturethon about foxhunting customs, horse-breeding, pogonips (Don't ask, you'll find out more than you want) and what foxhounds are saying to eachother when they are baying. Sister Jane Arnold's Jefferson Hunt travels to Kentucky to hunt with the Woodford Hounds. While hunting, the two hunts get caught in a pogonip and surprise, find a 113 year old skeleton of a human, a dog and a horse, all in the horse's grave.
It transpires that the body is none other than that of Harlan Laprade, grandfather of Mercer Laprade, successful bloodstock agent (don't ask me. It has something to do with breeding horses.) and of course, a member of the Jefferson Hunt. Harlan is also the grandfather of Gray and Sam Lorrilard. Gray is Sister Jane's main squeeze. Sam works for Crawford Howard, arrogant rich man who has his own private hunt. And this is only a fraction of the cast of characters..
Readers may wonder why I keep reading Rita Mae Brown's books. Somebody bought me this book, and I like her descriptions of the Virginia countryside. What I don't like, among other things, are her gratutious physical descriptions of various characters. Here's an example. Alida Dalzell, one of about a million minor characters, is described in the cast of characters as "flat out gorgeous." So that was established even before the story begins, and is reinforced when she shows up in the narrative. However, toward the end of the book, when she appears to catch the eye of a widower with the hunt, Brown feels the need to use the words the beauty when quoting her. Really?
However, the good thing about the Sister Jane books is, there's less lecturing about political issues than there are in the Harry Hairsteen books.
It transpires that the body is none other than that of Harlan Laprade, grandfather of Mercer Laprade, successful bloodstock agent (don't ask me. It has something to do with breeding horses.) and of course, a member of the Jefferson Hunt. Harlan is also the grandfather of Gray and Sam Lorrilard. Gray is Sister Jane's main squeeze. Sam works for Crawford Howard, arrogant rich man who has his own private hunt. And this is only a fraction of the cast of characters..
Readers may wonder why I keep reading Rita Mae Brown's books. Somebody bought me this book, and I like her descriptions of the Virginia countryside. What I don't like, among other things, are her gratutious physical descriptions of various characters. Here's an example. Alida Dalzell, one of about a million minor characters, is described in the cast of characters as "flat out gorgeous." So that was established even before the story begins, and is reinforced when she shows up in the narrative. However, toward the end of the book, when she appears to catch the eye of a widower with the hunt, Brown feels the need to use the words the beauty when quoting her. Really?
However, the good thing about the Sister Jane books is, there's less lecturing about political issues than there are in the Harry Hairsteen books.
May 2, 2021
Sister Jane and the Jefferson Hunt Club are in Kentucky to ride with Woodford Hounds for a hunt. The weather is foul, but the members’ dedication to the hunt doesn’t deter them.
A grand party is help after the hunt, but it is interrupted by the destruction of the grave of an historic horse. When human remains are also found in the grave, it brings up a century-old crime and bad feelings among some of the members. There are connections to the crime from current families through family members of the past.
Sister takes on hunting down the real story of the old crime to solve what really happened. She is assisted by her hounds, horses and other critters that live in and around her farm.
Being the series takes place in the fox hunt world, Virginia and Kentucky in particular, there is a list of terms and definitions provided along with a list of the characters and their descriptions. There were a huge help in making the reading enjoyable. It also was educational about the customs and protocol of the sport.
The various animals are given voices and interaction between themselves, regardless of whether they are dog, cat, fox, horse or bird. A trait Brown also does in her Mrs. Murphy and Sneaky Pie series.
One thing I appreciated was the club's focus on the ride for the chase rather than to kill the foxes. In fact,Sister Jane is an owner who makes sure the foxes are provided for and protects their dens.
An interesting thing, to me, is Rita Mae Brown is a MFH (Master of Foxhounds) as is the lead character.
A grand party is help after the hunt, but it is interrupted by the destruction of the grave of an historic horse. When human remains are also found in the grave, it brings up a century-old crime and bad feelings among some of the members. There are connections to the crime from current families through family members of the past.
Sister takes on hunting down the real story of the old crime to solve what really happened. She is assisted by her hounds, horses and other critters that live in and around her farm.
Being the series takes place in the fox hunt world, Virginia and Kentucky in particular, there is a list of terms and definitions provided along with a list of the characters and their descriptions. There were a huge help in making the reading enjoyable. It also was educational about the customs and protocol of the sport.
The various animals are given voices and interaction between themselves, regardless of whether they are dog, cat, fox, horse or bird. A trait Brown also does in her Mrs. Murphy and Sneaky Pie series.
One thing I appreciated was the club's focus on the ride for the chase rather than to kill the foxes. In fact,Sister Jane is an owner who makes sure the foxes are provided for and protects their dens.
An interesting thing, to me, is Rita Mae Brown is a MFH (Master of Foxhounds) as is the lead character.
December 17, 2017
Rita Mae Brown's "Sister Jane" series are among my favorites. I am surprised by many of the comments/reviews. I think it's incumbent on the shopper to realize that this is the 9th book in the series, and that the series is focused on foxhunting in Virginia - with the added interest of a murder in each. RMB offers not only a cast of characters, but a working glossary of hunting terms in each book so the novice can understand what's going on.
The world of horse used to be more versatile than it is today. We'd show our horse in hunter and equitation divisions during 'the season' and the week after Penn National, get out and foxhunt that same horse.
Rita Mae's knowledge of the animals, the sport, and the people is evident - as is her love of and respect for all three. The conversations among the animals is hilarious. In each book, I have gained hours of pleasure and more than a little education on a variety of topics. In this one, the education is in DNA and bloodlines - and that there is no specific horn call for "Climbed a tree", so when that happens, the huntsman blows "Gone to Ground".
The world of horse used to be more versatile than it is today. We'd show our horse in hunter and equitation divisions during 'the season' and the week after Penn National, get out and foxhunt that same horse.
Rita Mae's knowledge of the animals, the sport, and the people is evident - as is her love of and respect for all three. The conversations among the animals is hilarious. In each book, I have gained hours of pleasure and more than a little education on a variety of topics. In this one, the education is in DNA and bloodlines - and that there is no specific horn call for "Climbed a tree", so when that happens, the huntsman blows "Gone to Ground".
July 6, 2017
Another awesome Sister Jane novel. I am so depressed that there aren't any more after this one! I'll be honest, I was hoping for a blaze of glory ending. Like Crawford gone rogue trying to murder Sister and they have a showdown... bang! Sister quick on the draw! Haha, I guess not. I was still intrigued by the whole murder of a man and his dog to cover up the fact that a breeder had switched two look-a-like stallions to make more money on stud fees and foal sales. But I think I might have missed the part where the murderer kills his accomplice, if it was in there, or the part where he confesses all... again if it was in there. I think I will need to collect these novels for my mystery shelf. Now on to Sneaky Pie Brown novels!!!
May 31, 2017
Sorry, this was largely boring and a bit of a mess. The ending was good, but too little too late. Way too much social commentary and too many facts we really didn't need, including blood lines if both humans and horses. It didn't help that some of that is repeated later in the book. The author needs a good editor who is able to stop her using a story for her own personal soapbox. A shame because I really liked both this series and her other about Harry and Sneaky Pie. No one does a better job describing a fox hunting scene but whether I buy another of her books is in question.
April 27, 2020
Interesting plot and the main characters were well written. I thought I would enjoy reading about a piece of American culture that I don't know anything about - horse breeders and fox hunters. However, the author went too deep in detailing the lineage part, and each ride. I think the part I liked best was reading the parts written from the dog and fox perspectives. I don't think I'll be reading any other "Sister Jane" books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2023
5* for the foxhunting, 2* for the mystery/thriller/murder plot. The voice of the book feels extremely authentic, for better and for worse - it's clear that Rita Mae Brown is local, and she has an ear for turns of phrase that sound just like the things I've heard local horse folk say, but on the flip side this reads more like a transcription of an oral history taken down from said local horse folk. In conversation, the cadence can be charming. Reading it was a bit of a slog at times.
September 8, 2019
Not being interested in fox hunting, hunting dogs, or horses, this book was a complete bore. Flat characters who all seemed to be very fond of each other and endless blow-by-blow recaps of hunting episodes...that was about 90% of the book. I didn't make it to the end to see if the mystery part picked up. Not recommended unless you like detailed descriptions of hunting scenes.
June 25, 2020
Interesting series, hard to know all the hunt terms but good characters and stories. This is the one with the hunt in Kentucky when Mercer's grandfather's body is found in the grave of a famous horse Lots about the DNA of horses as well.
May 13, 2017
I like these foxhunting cozies, and there's even some up-to-date technology that comes into play here. I did figure out the murderer before the story got there, but still a fun romp.
June 17, 2017
I have learned so much about fox hunting from these books! Apparently fox hunting is all about environmental stewardship. And, at least the way Rita Mae Brown tells it, not cruel at all.
October 20, 2019
3-1/2 stars
Enjoyed it, a fun series.
Enjoyed it, a fun series.
November 7, 2019
Filled with interesting info that some desired to hide.
February 10, 2020
I was disappointed. A lot - too much - hunting detail. Every second chapter was hunting. I ask “how does this advance the story line?” Answer, it doesn’t.
October 6, 2023
I've got to stop finding book series I want to read this month. I usually only read mysteries in October
August 3, 2025
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
August 29, 2025
I really enjoyed this book except, for solutions, only two of the three murders are really explained. However, it’s fascinating to see how crimes over different time periods are connected.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2017
I enjoyed this book more than I honestly thought I would. Usually I'm into books that teach you something directly, however this book I enjoyed since it had a story and still taught me quite a bit. The story was fun to read, it was a nice mix of the modern age (since they had cellphones and computers with internet) and an old-fashioned feel with all of the family history and the practices of horse breeding that their families have been doing for many generations. And, as I mentioned this book teaches you a fair share of what it is telling you. Such as, hydrofluoric acid helps your joints as well as horse's. I won't say much because if you're interested in learning more with this book, which by the way mostly teaches about horses and horse related things, then you will have to read the book. One more thing I would like to add would be that this book gives a wise personality to some characters while still managing to be some what funny such as the quote in chapter 11, (don't worry it won't spoil anything) "Son, the truly stupid people are the ones who think they know everything." Great quote, I wanted to add it to the quotes I liked but couldn't find it.
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