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Mrs. Murphy #25
Tall Tail
When the governor of Virginia passes away from a telling disease, Harry and her furry detective cohorts look for answers in the 18th century, where they discover a secret ancestry that originated in brutality and silence. By the author of the "Sister" Jane Arnold Outfoxed series. (mystery & detective). Simultaneous.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published May 17, 2016
About the author
Rita Mae Brown
161 books2,320 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 to an unmarried teenage mother and her married boyfriend 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 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 where she received a degree in Classics and English. In 1968 she received another degree in cinematography from the New York School of Visual Arts. 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. 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."
Edited with information from Wikipedia
Brown was born to an unmarried teenage mother and her married boyfriend 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 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 where she received a degree in Classics and English. In 1968 she received another degree in cinematography from the New York School of Visual Arts. 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. 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."
Edited with information from Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
May 18, 2016
I used to read these book years ago and I loved them to death because of all the animals in them and that the cats and dog talked. Well they talk to each other, the humans have no idea what they are saying.
For awhile back then it was just Mrs. Murphy the cat and Tucker the Corgi, I think it was Pewter, the cat, that came in later. My brain doesn't remember that far back. I love Harry's land and her horses, the critters in the barn. But in this book and the one before they didn't really concentrate on the animals and fun mysteries. This book and the one before had more political and I don't know what in it. Unfortunately for ME they are not as wonderful as they were before.
This one starts out with the death of a woman Harry and her husband Fair, well mostly everyone knew. Her name was Barbara Leader and she supposedly died of a heart attack and wrecked her car.. or did she?
The story also goes back and forth from the present to the past. Back to 1784 and the plantation days. I don't know what it is but it just didn't do much for me. The three stars for the book goes all to the animals even though not much is going on with them in the book. They did get to help in an attack at one point :-)
I do love when they take time out to be with old friends like Susan or talking to their cop friend Cooper. Just some of the old gang the way it should be in a small town. I also love Harry talking about owning her truck since 1978 and working on it herself to keep it up. I want to do all of that stuff and it does work, I know a mechanic that can take them apart and put them back together to run forever. Until all of the parts become obsolete.
Anyway, don't let this drive you from reading these books. If you loved them in the past you might still love them whether they are the same or not.
I want to leave with a little letter from Pewter (the cat) from the book. The animals rock!
--->EXCERPT<---
Dear Reader,
I am not fat. I have big bones. When I eat, I have good manners. You should see Tucker eat. Furthermore, she'll eat anything. I, at least, display discretion.
Mrs. Murphy and Tucker are either criticizing me or telling me what to do. When I need a second opinion, I'll look in the mirror.
Yours,
Pewter
*I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
For awhile back then it was just Mrs. Murphy the cat and Tucker the Corgi, I think it was Pewter, the cat, that came in later. My brain doesn't remember that far back. I love Harry's land and her horses, the critters in the barn. But in this book and the one before they didn't really concentrate on the animals and fun mysteries. This book and the one before had more political and I don't know what in it. Unfortunately for ME they are not as wonderful as they were before.
This one starts out with the death of a woman Harry and her husband Fair, well mostly everyone knew. Her name was Barbara Leader and she supposedly died of a heart attack and wrecked her car.. or did she?
The story also goes back and forth from the present to the past. Back to 1784 and the plantation days. I don't know what it is but it just didn't do much for me. The three stars for the book goes all to the animals even though not much is going on with them in the book. They did get to help in an attack at one point :-)
I do love when they take time out to be with old friends like Susan or talking to their cop friend Cooper. Just some of the old gang the way it should be in a small town. I also love Harry talking about owning her truck since 1978 and working on it herself to keep it up. I want to do all of that stuff and it does work, I know a mechanic that can take them apart and put them back together to run forever. Until all of the parts become obsolete.
Anyway, don't let this drive you from reading these books. If you loved them in the past you might still love them whether they are the same or not.
I want to leave with a little letter from Pewter (the cat) from the book. The animals rock!
--->EXCERPT<---
Dear Reader,
I am not fat. I have big bones. When I eat, I have good manners. You should see Tucker eat. Furthermore, she'll eat anything. I, at least, display discretion.
Mrs. Murphy and Tucker are either criticizing me or telling me what to do. When I need a second opinion, I'll look in the mirror.
Yours,
Pewter
*I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
March 15, 2016
Feline author Sneaky Pie Brown and her human co-writer Rita Mae Brown’s favorite civilian snoop and her four-legged sleuths are at it again in twenty-fifth Mrs. Murphy book, Tall Tail. After nurse Barbara Leader crashes her car and dies right in front of them in Crozet, Virginia, Mary Minor Haristeen, “Harry”, and her pets eventually become suspicious. Those who are familiar with the series know quite well that Harry, cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and corgi Tee Tucker cannot leave the investigation up to the police. Oh, heavens no! Adding to the drama, Barbara was caring for the elderly former governor of Virginia, Samuel Holloway, the great-grandfather of Harry’s best friend Susan. Governor Holloway, at age 96, is dying of leukemia. Despite his age and illness, he is alert and mentally sharp.
Ms. Brown takes her time sowing the seeds of her tale. True to form, there are humorous interactions between the cats and dog, usually fat jokes and insults at Pewter’s expense. Pewter is awfully full of herself, so she is not blameless. I credit the accuracy of those exchanges to Sneaky Pie, as she would best know how animals think. She makes her human characters quite clueless as to what their furry companions are actually saying! There are plenty of other witticisms and details of farm life, some of which I found slowed the pace down too much for my liking. This story seemed to meander more than previous novels, as if it needed to meet a criterion for length, perhaps.
As in the previous book, Tail Gait, the reader is also graced with a story line from the eighteenth century, picking up where Tail Gait left off with Charles West, his dog Piglet, and several of the other characters from the Revolutionary War. Now it is the post-war era, and the plot is fraught with slavery, danger, and murder. I had difficulty settling into this part of the book initially because there were so many names to keep track of. Despite the cast of characters listed at the beginning of the book, this confused me, and I lost track of the story at times. I found myself skimming over parts just wanting to get to the meat of the action. Then, just when I felt I was rolling along in the late 1700s, the scene would shift back to Harry and friends in the 21st Century. In the end, the two centuries and the generations tied together, but it didn’t work as well for me as it did in the last book, I’m afraid. The human characters, though, are well written. The dialogue is believable and clever. There are good and bad humans in both the past and present day worlds.
While the final revelation was clever, and it was apparent that Ms. Brown did her research, I’m not certain that it could possibly happen quite as she describes it. I did appreciate, however, that Rita Mae Brown was able to incorporate her beliefs, education, and experience with the Civil Rights Movement into the story. Some readers may find it preachy, but I appreciated the entertaining way that she made her point. She points a finger at politicians, I might add, which is quite timely.
In spite of the fact that this is cozy Crozet, there are some serious issues raised in this book. Was it the best of Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie’s work? In my opinion, no, but that won’t stop me from reading the next one.
My thanks go to the NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and to the author(s) for providing me with a copy of Tall Tail in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
3 stars
Ms. Brown takes her time sowing the seeds of her tale. True to form, there are humorous interactions between the cats and dog, usually fat jokes and insults at Pewter’s expense. Pewter is awfully full of herself, so she is not blameless. I credit the accuracy of those exchanges to Sneaky Pie, as she would best know how animals think. She makes her human characters quite clueless as to what their furry companions are actually saying! There are plenty of other witticisms and details of farm life, some of which I found slowed the pace down too much for my liking. This story seemed to meander more than previous novels, as if it needed to meet a criterion for length, perhaps.
As in the previous book, Tail Gait, the reader is also graced with a story line from the eighteenth century, picking up where Tail Gait left off with Charles West, his dog Piglet, and several of the other characters from the Revolutionary War. Now it is the post-war era, and the plot is fraught with slavery, danger, and murder. I had difficulty settling into this part of the book initially because there were so many names to keep track of. Despite the cast of characters listed at the beginning of the book, this confused me, and I lost track of the story at times. I found myself skimming over parts just wanting to get to the meat of the action. Then, just when I felt I was rolling along in the late 1700s, the scene would shift back to Harry and friends in the 21st Century. In the end, the two centuries and the generations tied together, but it didn’t work as well for me as it did in the last book, I’m afraid. The human characters, though, are well written. The dialogue is believable and clever. There are good and bad humans in both the past and present day worlds.
While the final revelation was clever, and it was apparent that Ms. Brown did her research, I’m not certain that it could possibly happen quite as she describes it. I did appreciate, however, that Rita Mae Brown was able to incorporate her beliefs, education, and experience with the Civil Rights Movement into the story. Some readers may find it preachy, but I appreciated the entertaining way that she made her point. She points a finger at politicians, I might add, which is quite timely.
In spite of the fact that this is cozy Crozet, there are some serious issues raised in this book. Was it the best of Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie’s work? In my opinion, no, but that won’t stop me from reading the next one.
My thanks go to the NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and to the author(s) for providing me with a copy of Tall Tail in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
3 stars
September 5, 2016
It's been a while since I visited Crozet, Virginia, and I'm glad I returned for this "Tall Tail". Some secrets try very hard to stay buried, but eventually even centuries later, the truth has a knack of clawing its way to the surface to be discovered.I do SO enjoy a parallel plot, especially when both of them are equally relevant.
Zigzagging between racial injustice, political ambition, slave trading, computer hacking, murder, mayhem, rape, and a storm that savagely whips the Southeastern coast like a bad plantation owner once punished his 'property'.
'Harry' with the help of her intrepid animal detectives, discovers an evil deed that leaves a taint on a famous local family that may never survive the horrible behavior of ancestors long dead, and a secret within their blood that can never be washed away.
Told in often alternating past and present chapters, this one (complete with cat and dog commentary) is a must.
Zigzagging between racial injustice, political ambition, slave trading, computer hacking, murder, mayhem, rape, and a storm that savagely whips the Southeastern coast like a bad plantation owner once punished his 'property'.
'Harry' with the help of her intrepid animal detectives, discovers an evil deed that leaves a taint on a famous local family that may never survive the horrible behavior of ancestors long dead, and a secret within their blood that can never be washed away.
Told in often alternating past and present chapters, this one (complete with cat and dog commentary) is a must.
undecided
December 5, 201712/5/17 $1.99 for Kindle.
January 20, 2016
Two stories are featured in this visit to Cross, Virginia. There is not much mystery as Harry and friends seek to solve a Barbara Leader's death, a nurse for former governor Sam Holloway. Next, we find ourselves in the 18 century where a plantation owner is murdered by one of his slaves, Moses who is was wrongly accused. Several of another member of community hide Moses and his woman, Ailee who was badly injured in the incident. Piglet is a nice addition to the story. Mrs. Murphy and pals are present but are minor characters. The in information about life in Crozet in 1784 was superb. Harry and Susan's early life is stress. The stories are brought together revealing the importance of genetic inheritance.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Random House Publishing Group -Ballantine through Netgalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Random House Publishing Group -Ballantine through Netgalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.
July 7, 2016
It seems that Ms. Brown has taken this series in a different direction with her last few novels. They seem to feature the animals less than the earlier novels did. Instead, the novels make a social or political statement, this one with historical significance. The murder and its solution seem secondary in nature to the main thrust of the story. In this tale, the story vacillates from the present day to just after the Revolutionary War. While this inclusion of history is interesting and indeed, does tie in to the present day story, it is disappointing that the animals hardly made an appearance in the novel. Indeed, the murder itself takes a backseat to the political and social statements presented in the novel. It was an interesting and thought-provoking story, but not what we’ve come to expect and want from this series.
dnf-dont-try-again
December 26, 2018I skimmed/skipped in this, but didn't read enough to call it 'read'. This is the first of currently three related books which skip back and forth between current day Crozet and 1784 or thereabouts. I skimmed/skipped through the other two, reading even less. So I'm not calling this 'read', and I won't try again. No stars for an unfinished book.
February 10, 2019
This is actually the 24th book in the Mrs. Murphy Series (Sneaky Pie for President isn’t a Mrs. Murphy mystery.) I have two more to read before I pull current with the series and I see that a new one is scheduled to be published this May 2019. For the second time, the author flips back and forth from families in the 1700’s to present day which I found entertaining.
July 15, 2018
I was honestly disappointed by this installment from Rita Mae Brown. I usually love her books for multiple reasons, but this one felt rushed, the whodunit wasn't terribly engaging, and there were so many errors throughout the story that interrupted suspension of disbelief.
(For example, there's a parallel storyline from 1784 and Brown wrote it so a good stock breeding horse sold for $4,000 to $7,000. In 1784??? You mean more like $75 to $150, right? Because those prices are closer to today's prices than to anything in the 1700s.)
So while I would recommend this series, I wouldn't recommend this specific book. I did enjoy parts of it - the animals' involvement remains my favorite thing by far that this series has introduced - but not enough that I'd reread it voluntarily. The quality of the writing actually made me sad because I've seen what Rita Mae Brown can do, and this just wasn't her anywhere near her best.
(For example, there's a parallel storyline from 1784 and Brown wrote it so a good stock breeding horse sold for $4,000 to $7,000. In 1784??? You mean more like $75 to $150, right? Because those prices are closer to today's prices than to anything in the 1700s.)
So while I would recommend this series, I wouldn't recommend this specific book. I did enjoy parts of it - the animals' involvement remains my favorite thing by far that this series has introduced - but not enough that I'd reread it voluntarily. The quality of the writing actually made me sad because I've seen what Rita Mae Brown can do, and this just wasn't her anywhere near her best.
Read
January 9, 2017Love the historical part of the book and hope that it continues. The parts of the soldiers and their wives is great. Will we see more?
October 17, 2017
Il passato non muore, semplicemente si trasforma, e trova il modo di far arrivare le sue lunghe dita fino all'oggi, di solito lasciandosi dietro una traccia di sangue. Così l'omicidio di una infermiera superspecializzata che segue a domicilio un vecchio governatore, un tentativo di furto presso una società di informatica e altri avvenimenti poco piacevoli hanno le radici piantate profondamente nella tomba di un piantatore schiavista apparentemente ucciso da uno schiavo del quale aveva violentato l'innamorata. Altalenando tra il passato e il presente la narrazione espone i fatti del passato e le conseguenze nel presente, il tutto punteggiato dalle considerazioni dei numerosi animali che costellano la storia e che, nel passato come nel presente, sono decisivi per lo svolgimento dei fatti.
Libro divertente, anche se la parte storica è migliore e, a mio parere, meglio scritta di quella ambientata nel presente, senza contare che a volte i battibecchi tra gli animali risultano un po' noiosi.
Ringrazio Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine e Netgalley per avermi fornito una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.
Past doesn't die, it simply transforms itself, and finds a way to get its long fingers to the present , usually leaving behind a trace of blood. Thus the murder of a super-specialized nurse who takes care of an old governor at his place, an attempt at theft at a computer company and other unpleasant events have roots deeply planted in the tomb of a slave owner planter apparently killed by a slave of wich he raped the sweetheart. As the narrative alternates between past and present, it exposes the facts of the past and the consequences in the present, all punctuated by the considerations of the many animals that dotted the history and that, in the past as in the present, are decisive for the development of the facts.
A fun book, even if the historical part is better and, in my opinion, better written than the one set in the present, not to mention that sometimes the squabbles among animals are a bit boring.
I thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in return for an honest review.
Libro divertente, anche se la parte storica è migliore e, a mio parere, meglio scritta di quella ambientata nel presente, senza contare che a volte i battibecchi tra gli animali risultano un po' noiosi.
Ringrazio Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine e Netgalley per avermi fornito una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.
Past doesn't die, it simply transforms itself, and finds a way to get its long fingers to the present , usually leaving behind a trace of blood. Thus the murder of a super-specialized nurse who takes care of an old governor at his place, an attempt at theft at a computer company and other unpleasant events have roots deeply planted in the tomb of a slave owner planter apparently killed by a slave of wich he raped the sweetheart. As the narrative alternates between past and present, it exposes the facts of the past and the consequences in the present, all punctuated by the considerations of the many animals that dotted the history and that, in the past as in the present, are decisive for the development of the facts.
A fun book, even if the historical part is better and, in my opinion, better written than the one set in the present, not to mention that sometimes the squabbles among animals are a bit boring.
I thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in return for an honest review.
July 20, 2017
I am not sure who writes these reviews, but I found the book very slow in the beginning (NOT "fast-paced"). It did get very interesting, but there was no (or very little) thought (discussion) given to the rightness or wrongness of actions made by the protagonists (the "good guys"), which were as bad as the actions of "the bad guys." The good guys can do bad things, but if they are the good guys, they should feel remorse and change their behavior. (IM [not so] HO!) So, I have a copy of this book, in hardcover, but I will NOT be passing it on to my kids or friends.
The book takes place in 2016 and in 1784 and 1785. The premise is interesting compelling. It relates to slaves and African Americans. Three and maybe four murders occur in two different time periods that are related (and interestingly). What I object to are too many unrelated details and the lack of a conscience in the main characters. But maybe that is just me. I loved another book by this author, but am now discouraged from buying more.
I did enjoy the cats and dogs in the book, and their part in it. But I could see where some people might find that annoying or unbelievable.
The book takes place in 2016 and in 1784 and 1785. The premise is interesting compelling. It relates to slaves and African Americans. Three and maybe four murders occur in two different time periods that are related (and interestingly). What I object to are too many unrelated details and the lack of a conscience in the main characters. But maybe that is just me. I loved another book by this author, but am now discouraged from buying more.
I did enjoy the cats and dogs in the book, and their part in it. But I could see where some people might find that annoying or unbelievable.
October 10, 2017
An easy light read with Harry and her pet friends trying to find out why
nurse Barbara Leader was found slumped over the steering wheel of her
car. The tale is told in two time periods—1784 and the present day-2016.
Both time periods deal with murder. There are a lot of characters as well
As talking animals in this whodunit mystery that takes place in Virginia.
Enjoy reading and uncovering the secret that refuses to stay buried.
nurse Barbara Leader was found slumped over the steering wheel of her
car. The tale is told in two time periods—1784 and the present day-2016.
Both time periods deal with murder. There are a lot of characters as well
As talking animals in this whodunit mystery that takes place in Virginia.
Enjoy reading and uncovering the secret that refuses to stay buried.
October 17, 2022
Nach langer Zeit habe ich wieder einen Sneaky Pie-Krimi gelesen und er hat mich gut unterhalten.
Gerade die Rückblicke in die Zeit nach dem Unabhängigkeitskrieg mit den großen Farmen und der damals üblichen Sklavenhaltung wurden gut geschildert. Interessant ist die Verknüpfung zum Fall in der Gegenwart.
Auch wenn ich den Täter geahnt habe, war ich dennoch über das Motiv überrascht.
Wie aus jedem Krimi von Rita Mae Brown nehme ich etwas aus der Kultur, Agrarwirtschaft und Geschichte mit.
Gerade die Rückblicke in die Zeit nach dem Unabhängigkeitskrieg mit den großen Farmen und der damals üblichen Sklavenhaltung wurden gut geschildert. Interessant ist die Verknüpfung zum Fall in der Gegenwart.
Auch wenn ich den Täter geahnt habe, war ich dennoch über das Motiv überrascht.
Wie aus jedem Krimi von Rita Mae Brown nehme ich etwas aus der Kultur, Agrarwirtschaft und Geschichte mit.
March 4, 2023
have not been happy with this story. (But is one if my fave series) The flow was fine however the quality was not (to me) on par with the previous stories ive read in this series. The back and forth between times felt like it took away any momentum and interest from either.
May 2, 2017
I enjoyed the contrasting stories of present day and the 18th century stories but felt the whole of the related mysteries to be a bit contrived and forced. I have enjoyed this series but sometimes the author sacrifices good storytelling for her soapbox and the result can be a bit preachy, as in this book. I felt that too many of the characters in the 18th century portion were unrealistic for the attitudes and mores of the time. While there is an element of fantasy in these books, in the parallel world of the animals' reality, this last bit was too much for me.
August 24, 2017
I'll admit right up front that I've missed five or so of the predecessors to Tall Tail, the twenty-third installment in the "Mrs. Murphy" series. I'll also admit that only two weeks out from the racial violence associated with a neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville, Virginia, that any book opting to tackle race in Virginia, slavery, and/or the Civil War had better do a damn sight better than to conclude that: "All our ancestors made decisions that affect us today. It has always been thus. They did the best they could with what they had, and so must we" (p. 320). I call BS! There are historical figures in this story who were utterly despicable people and others who rose to the occasion. Ditto for individuals within the novel's ethnographic present. To credit them all equally with having "done their best" affords the same moral equivalency to outright murderers--past and present (not naming names so as not to ruin the mystery)--as to those individuals who risked their lives to care for and about the vulnerable, injured, and/or ill-served.
The animals (i.e., Tucker the corgi and cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter) are as adorable as ever, but the rest felt a bit tired. The topical racial violence, sexual violence, and political posturing could have been mitigated by a better historical "lesson." Sadly, not only was there no lesson, but the book felt like one of those half-hearted apologies that instead of owning any sort of remorse, instead, tells the aggrieved party that "Well, I'm sorry you feel that way."
In sum, the mystery is so-so, Harry seems tired and a bit adrift, and the takeaways about slavery and twentieth-century (let alone twenty-first century!) racism are not how I want to remember this series. Sad to say, but I think this may be my last outing with Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie Brown.
The animals (i.e., Tucker the corgi and cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter) are as adorable as ever, but the rest felt a bit tired. The topical racial violence, sexual violence, and political posturing could have been mitigated by a better historical "lesson." Sadly, not only was there no lesson, but the book felt like one of those half-hearted apologies that instead of owning any sort of remorse, instead, tells the aggrieved party that "Well, I'm sorry you feel that way."
In sum, the mystery is so-so, Harry seems tired and a bit adrift, and the takeaways about slavery and twentieth-century (let alone twenty-first century!) racism are not how I want to remember this series. Sad to say, but I think this may be my last outing with Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie Brown.
April 30, 2016
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Random House, Ballantine, Bantam.
I have been seeing books written by Rita Mae Brown on bookshelves and websites for a long time and had promised myself I would try one. So......now I've tried one.
Reading the list of characters starting with the eighteenth century humans (12), eighteenth century animals (9) the slaves of Big Rawly (4), the slaves of Cloverfields (11), the present times humans (10), and the present times animals (6) made me seriously wonder how I would ever keep everybody straight. Okay, so I got a little confused at times, maybe even more than a little at other times. That's a daunting list to contemplate even if this is book number 25 in the series. I persevered through to the end, but my pleasure wasn't enhanced by not ever really liking any of the human or animal characters. I've never read a novel before where EVERY animal talks. Even if the humans can't hear them they still hold conversations among themselves. Whew!
The mysteries to be solved were interesting, especially concerning the tracing of family history being done by Samuel Holloway. However, the unfortunate thing is that my puzzle solving antenna activated at warp speed when I read the description of one of the characters and, darn it, I was right. Hopefully Ms. Brown doesn't telegraph information like that in all her novels.
Okay, so what did I like? The illustrations. It has been a very long time since I've seen scenes from a novel illustrated along with the story and I thought those were charming. Not charming enough to raise my star rating, though.
I have been seeing books written by Rita Mae Brown on bookshelves and websites for a long time and had promised myself I would try one. So......now I've tried one.
Reading the list of characters starting with the eighteenth century humans (12), eighteenth century animals (9) the slaves of Big Rawly (4), the slaves of Cloverfields (11), the present times humans (10), and the present times animals (6) made me seriously wonder how I would ever keep everybody straight. Okay, so I got a little confused at times, maybe even more than a little at other times. That's a daunting list to contemplate even if this is book number 25 in the series. I persevered through to the end, but my pleasure wasn't enhanced by not ever really liking any of the human or animal characters. I've never read a novel before where EVERY animal talks. Even if the humans can't hear them they still hold conversations among themselves. Whew!
The mysteries to be solved were interesting, especially concerning the tracing of family history being done by Samuel Holloway. However, the unfortunate thing is that my puzzle solving antenna activated at warp speed when I read the description of one of the characters and, darn it, I was right. Hopefully Ms. Brown doesn't telegraph information like that in all her novels.
Okay, so what did I like? The illustrations. It has been a very long time since I've seen scenes from a novel illustrated along with the story and I thought those were charming. Not charming enough to raise my star rating, though.
March 14, 2016
I was excited and grateful for the opportunity to read this addition to the Mrs. Murphy series.
I am a fan of Harry and Tucker. I love cozy mysteries and historical fiction. So many wonderful elements combined. Even though I am not much of a political or ecumenical reader, having it shared in historical context made it both interesting and enjoyable. Even those parts that are hard to digest.
Taking place between two eras, with alternating narration, I can not tell you which viewpoint I preferred. I think my choice also went back and forth. The characters are well enough developed that I could choose who to detest and who to worry about. Of course the animal antics added flavor and color. So too does weather, as the book opens.
The comparisons between the ages and topics still of relevance today, added depth to the telling.
I have enjoyed many books by these authors (and their typist) and look forward to reading many in the future. I did get a copy via Netgalley to review.
I am a fan of Harry and Tucker. I love cozy mysteries and historical fiction. So many wonderful elements combined. Even though I am not much of a political or ecumenical reader, having it shared in historical context made it both interesting and enjoyable. Even those parts that are hard to digest.
Taking place between two eras, with alternating narration, I can not tell you which viewpoint I preferred. I think my choice also went back and forth. The characters are well enough developed that I could choose who to detest and who to worry about. Of course the animal antics added flavor and color. So too does weather, as the book opens.
The comparisons between the ages and topics still of relevance today, added depth to the telling.
I have enjoyed many books by these authors (and their typist) and look forward to reading many in the future. I did get a copy via Netgalley to review.
May 19, 2016
Harry and her furry crime solving gang is back and better than ever!
Harry almost gets into an accident with red car while trying to prepare for a wicked squall coming in. No surprise that she discovers a murder that links an old secret with the current one dragging both her and her beloved 'talking' pets into a mess that will transcend several centuries.
I have been a fan of Sneaky Pie and Ms Brown from the first book they wrote and I absolutely can't wait for the next new one to come out. I was extremely pleased when Random House and Netgalley allowed me to review it. As always, Harry and her human characters are overshadowed by the antics of the animals. Though they do not 'talk' to the humans, their communication with each other is funny and so 'human' in feeling. One of my favorites is Pewter, the 'fat' kitty who has gone from the grocery store window to live with Harry. I loved seeing all the old folk we have grown to love and the mystery will keep you guessing to the very end.. Picture Purrrrfect!!
Harry almost gets into an accident with red car while trying to prepare for a wicked squall coming in. No surprise that she discovers a murder that links an old secret with the current one dragging both her and her beloved 'talking' pets into a mess that will transcend several centuries.
I have been a fan of Sneaky Pie and Ms Brown from the first book they wrote and I absolutely can't wait for the next new one to come out. I was extremely pleased when Random House and Netgalley allowed me to review it. As always, Harry and her human characters are overshadowed by the antics of the animals. Though they do not 'talk' to the humans, their communication with each other is funny and so 'human' in feeling. One of my favorites is Pewter, the 'fat' kitty who has gone from the grocery store window to live with Harry. I loved seeing all the old folk we have grown to love and the mystery will keep you guessing to the very end.. Picture Purrrrfect!!
July 14, 2016
FINALLY!! Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown have gotten off their politically correct green high horses and have returned to writing a good solid mystery. While there were bits and pieces of political correctness in this mystery, it was mostly just a good solid story.
This book flashes back and forth from the summer of 2016 to the fall of 1784, just after the end of the American Revolution. The two stories come together in the end and are quite interesting in their telling.
I'm a big fan of the earlier mysteries by these authors, but quit reading them when the stories got filled with ecological self righteousness. My own father was an early proponent in the fight against air pollution, so having grown up with it, I really didn't need Ms. Brown to cram attempt to cram down my throat what I already knew way back in the 1960's.
I found this to be an excellent and relaxing mystery. Read this book for yourself and make your own decision.
This book flashes back and forth from the summer of 2016 to the fall of 1784, just after the end of the American Revolution. The two stories come together in the end and are quite interesting in their telling.
I'm a big fan of the earlier mysteries by these authors, but quit reading them when the stories got filled with ecological self righteousness. My own father was an early proponent in the fight against air pollution, so having grown up with it, I really didn't need Ms. Brown to cram attempt to cram down my throat what I already knew way back in the 1960's.
I found this to be an excellent and relaxing mystery. Read this book for yourself and make your own decision.
January 15, 2019
Another thoroughly enjoyable book. I'm so glad that these are stand-alones, as I have been reading them VASTLY out of order, and having no problem keeping up with who's who and what's what. HOWEVER...since I only own 4 of these wonderful books, I've already ordered the first 10 in the series, and will be re-reading every thing in order. That's a quirk of mine.
Anyone who loves animals and enjoys a bit of fantasy will enjoy the Mrs. Murphy series. Mrs. Murphy is a redoubtable tabby with a talent for solving mysteries, along with her sidekicks, Pewter (a fat gray purring diva who lives to eat) and T. Tucker, a feisty little terrier. Their conversations are sprightly as they solve the mysteries that their owner is involved in. OH, that Mary Minor Hairsteen (Harry) could only understand what her furry companions are trying to tell her!
Anyone who loves animals and enjoys a bit of fantasy will enjoy the Mrs. Murphy series. Mrs. Murphy is a redoubtable tabby with a talent for solving mysteries, along with her sidekicks, Pewter (a fat gray purring diva who lives to eat) and T. Tucker, a feisty little terrier. Their conversations are sprightly as they solve the mysteries that their owner is involved in. OH, that Mary Minor Hairsteen (Harry) could only understand what her furry companions are trying to tell her!
March 25, 2016
This is the 25th installment of the Mrs. Murphy series. It has a duel story line from today and the 1780's that explains how the sickle cell anemia gene got into Susan's family line. I enjoyed the modern day story line but found myself skimming the historic story. As always, Pewter, Mrs. Murphy and Tucker save the day for Harry. I like most of Rita Mae Brown's books but she tends to get just a little preachy on certain subjects.
January 21, 2016
I received a copy via netgalley and to be honest I am not sure if the book deserves 3 or 4 stars. But since I like almost all her previous books I decided 4 stars. I do not want to divulge any plot hints, but I did enjoy the story pace (even if I times it has too many unnecessary details which hinder the dynamics) and I am comfortable with the characters. A nice read for an easy day.
February 7, 2016
In Tall Tail, Rita Mae Brown entwines the past and the present to make a fascinating mystery. I especially enjoyed the historical story and the way it tied into the present day murder. Harry and her friends (two-legged and four-legged) continue to be engaging characters and the mystery well done. A great addition to the series!
February 7, 2016
I received a complimentary copy through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Still a little too preachy but kept my interest. I enjoyed the historical aspect as well but wish she'd bring back some of the oldest characters. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
Still a little too preachy but kept my interest. I enjoyed the historical aspect as well but wish she'd bring back some of the oldest characters. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
June 8, 2016
I have been meaning to read this series for a long time. I really wish that I had started at the beginning. While the book is very well written, I think that I need to start from the very first book to appreciate the story. I will try that and start again.
May 24, 2019
One of the best thing about this book is the cast of characters list at the front. I wish all books had this. I usually have to maintain my own list in my iPad. Quite inconvenient compared to just flipping back to the front of the book.
The above paragraph was written about a quarter of the way through the book. But, even then, I was finding that when writing about the 1700s, everything was so engrossing. As I got further and farther along, the book became more interesting. All in all, it was worth the read.
I liked Rita Mae’s dialogue on the current political realm.
She is pretty spot on both for the Republicans and the Democrats.
It seems we are going through another shameful part of history. We have a man who is completely immoral in our White House and he has many followers.
I loved the parts placed in the 1700s and how it came together in modern times. But his history is fascinating to me. I imagine there was a lot of this going on. Eventually, I knew what the connection would be, but not how it would be discovered. Good one, Rita Mae.
The sad part is that so many people knew it was wrong but were just too afraid to speak up. I believe that’s the case now with our Republican congressman.
The Republican Party used to be the party of family values.
Nothing should’ve been able to take the stink off of people who dealt with human beings as if they were cattle. And worse. So much worse. The fact that some of these people may have been slaves in Africa counts for naught. With that statement and the absurd statement that many slaves were happy in their lives, is nothing but a very convenient form of justification of evil.
And to not call them slaves… such amazing hypocrisy!
I’m sure there were slave owners who took care of their slaves in a humane manner. But speaking of humane, look at the Humane Society and you can see that there are many people who abuse animals. Remember that many people of that era considered slaves no more than animals and that they did not have feelings like white people.
And speaking of which, maybe I’m too sensitive to the subject matter but, “Alie began to cry. Father Gabe patted her head a soothing touch as one would comfort an animal.“ This sentence could have been smoothed her hair instead of petted her head. Instead of comparing Ailee to an animal, she could’ve been compared to a distressed child. Am I seeing too much? Or is something leaking through this story?
“… the herd was thin.“ “You would be surprised at how some families in England have madness, generation after generation.”
And somehow they never realized that marrying your first cousin and other nearby relatives caused deformities and madness.
The same happened in America’s high societies in New York, Boston and other large cities as late as the 1800s. With any society, if there are strong restrictions on whom it is proper to marry, inbreeding can’t help but occur. Thank goodness such tight restrictions don’t plague our society today. There’s enough madness going on already.
The above paragraph was written about a quarter of the way through the book. But, even then, I was finding that when writing about the 1700s, everything was so engrossing. As I got further and farther along, the book became more interesting. All in all, it was worth the read.
I liked Rita Mae’s dialogue on the current political realm.
She is pretty spot on both for the Republicans and the Democrats.
It seems we are going through another shameful part of history. We have a man who is completely immoral in our White House and he has many followers.
I loved the parts placed in the 1700s and how it came together in modern times. But his history is fascinating to me. I imagine there was a lot of this going on. Eventually, I knew what the connection would be, but not how it would be discovered. Good one, Rita Mae.
The sad part is that so many people knew it was wrong but were just too afraid to speak up. I believe that’s the case now with our Republican congressman.
The Republican Party used to be the party of family values.
Nothing should’ve been able to take the stink off of people who dealt with human beings as if they were cattle. And worse. So much worse. The fact that some of these people may have been slaves in Africa counts for naught. With that statement and the absurd statement that many slaves were happy in their lives, is nothing but a very convenient form of justification of evil.
And to not call them slaves… such amazing hypocrisy!
I’m sure there were slave owners who took care of their slaves in a humane manner. But speaking of humane, look at the Humane Society and you can see that there are many people who abuse animals. Remember that many people of that era considered slaves no more than animals and that they did not have feelings like white people.
And speaking of which, maybe I’m too sensitive to the subject matter but, “Alie began to cry. Father Gabe patted her head a soothing touch as one would comfort an animal.“ This sentence could have been smoothed her hair instead of petted her head. Instead of comparing Ailee to an animal, she could’ve been compared to a distressed child. Am I seeing too much? Or is something leaking through this story?
“… the herd was thin.“ “You would be surprised at how some families in England have madness, generation after generation.”
And somehow they never realized that marrying your first cousin and other nearby relatives caused deformities and madness.
The same happened in America’s high societies in New York, Boston and other large cities as late as the 1800s. With any society, if there are strong restrictions on whom it is proper to marry, inbreeding can’t help but occur. Thank goodness such tight restrictions don’t plague our society today. There’s enough madness going on already.
January 30, 2025
This book is the Twenty-Fifth in the series featuring Mrs. Murphy, a Grey tiger short-hair cat who, along with a Welsh corgi dog named Tee Tucker, and the stout grey cat Pewter, solves mysteries with the assistance of Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen, a farmer married to Fair Haristeen, an equine veterinarian, outside the small town of Crozet, Virginia, some ten miles west of Charlottesville. (It should be noted that all animals can talk to each other, and that they all understand humans, but humans, being dense imperfect beings, cannot understand the animals.) And these are fun mysteries to read.
Harry is driving home with her animals, and passes the Avenging Angel on the grounds of Big Rawley Plantation; the statue stands over the grave of Francisco Selisse, who was murdered in 1784 by a person or persons unknown. The estate is now owned by the Holloways. Her best friend Susan is the granddaughter of old Governor Samuel Holloway, who was Governor of Virginia during the Civil Rights Era and was for segregation (a stance he has since repudiated). He is dying of leukemia at the age of ninety-six, and is writing his autobiography. Susan’s cousin Edward Holloway Cunningham is a State Senator, but he is now running for a Senate Seat in Washington, and is not above using his grandfather’s coattails and legacy to achieve his aims. As Harry passes the Avenging Angel, a car speeds past her into the ditch; the driver is Barbara Leader, a home nurse for Governor Holloway, but she was dead before the car crashed. The book then moves to 1784 Virginia; the widowed Ewing Garth is on his plantation, Cloverfields, and living on the grounds in separate houses are his daughter Catherine (married to farmer John Schuyler), and his daughter Rachel (married to architect Charles West). On the neighboring plantation of Big Rawley is Francisco Selisse and his wife Maureen Selisse; Francisco is known for using female slaves on the plantation carnally, which causes Maureen to take it out on the female slave rather than on her husband. In the present time, Harry tries to find out what happened to Barbara Leader and why, while in the past Francisco Selisse is murdered, and events eventually make clear the why of what is happening in 2016 Virginia. As usual, Harry comes into danger, and her animals are determined to keep her from getting killed.
This was a very good book, and I enjoyed seeing characters from 1780’s Virginia (whom we had met in the previous book in the series) again. And I look forward to the next book in the series.
Harry is driving home with her animals, and passes the Avenging Angel on the grounds of Big Rawley Plantation; the statue stands over the grave of Francisco Selisse, who was murdered in 1784 by a person or persons unknown. The estate is now owned by the Holloways. Her best friend Susan is the granddaughter of old Governor Samuel Holloway, who was Governor of Virginia during the Civil Rights Era and was for segregation (a stance he has since repudiated). He is dying of leukemia at the age of ninety-six, and is writing his autobiography. Susan’s cousin Edward Holloway Cunningham is a State Senator, but he is now running for a Senate Seat in Washington, and is not above using his grandfather’s coattails and legacy to achieve his aims. As Harry passes the Avenging Angel, a car speeds past her into the ditch; the driver is Barbara Leader, a home nurse for Governor Holloway, but she was dead before the car crashed. The book then moves to 1784 Virginia; the widowed Ewing Garth is on his plantation, Cloverfields, and living on the grounds in separate houses are his daughter Catherine (married to farmer John Schuyler), and his daughter Rachel (married to architect Charles West). On the neighboring plantation of Big Rawley is Francisco Selisse and his wife Maureen Selisse; Francisco is known for using female slaves on the plantation carnally, which causes Maureen to take it out on the female slave rather than on her husband. In the present time, Harry tries to find out what happened to Barbara Leader and why, while in the past Francisco Selisse is murdered, and events eventually make clear the why of what is happening in 2016 Virginia. As usual, Harry comes into danger, and her animals are determined to keep her from getting killed.
This was a very good book, and I enjoyed seeing characters from 1780’s Virginia (whom we had met in the previous book in the series) again. And I look forward to the next book in the series.
February 5, 2023
First thought—& should’ve said this in my review of the previous book of this series: how come the animals in the historic part of the story don’t talk to each other?? Something magical happened to them after the 18th century??
I was at first annoyed that the author used the same technique as the last book, going back & forth between the 1700’s & present day, but then, as the last time, I got into the historic part. The linking between the 2 time periods is interesting; it’s an interesting technique to create suspense, wondering how they’ll connect.
I almost gave it 5 stars, but for the info about genes at the end. I don’t think it’s ENTIRELY accurate. e.g. “If 2 people with a [recessive] trait have 4 children, 1 will be clear, 2 will have the genetic trait, & 1 will have the disease.” No. That’s not how statistics work. The chart you do of the 4 possible outcomes based on parental genes shows you the possibility for EACH child. Assuming the trait is recessive (so the child must get the trait gene from BOTH parents to have the disease—which, altho she didn’t say that, I have since looked up & confirmed that Sickle Cell is), & that each parent is only a carrier (i.e. one trait gene & one non-trait gene), then EACH child would have a 25% chance of being clear, a 50% chance of being a carrier, & a 25% chance of getting the disease. EACH time a parental sperm & egg unite, each parent could have sent either of their genes. Theoretically, they could have 4 kids that are all clear of the trait, if each conception received the non-trait gene from each parent. Likewise, they could have 4 kids that all have the disease, if they each received the trait gene from both parents. The %’s above are ODDS, not guarantees. Misunderstanding of odds is what keeps gambling operations in business. (“Oh, if the odds are 1 in 10 & I buy 10 lottery tickets, that guarantees one will be a winner!” No.) Also (now this part is fiction—I assume—so she can make them be anything she wants), both Ailee (don’t know the spellings, I listened to the audiobook) & her rapist could have actually had the disease, but we couldn’t know because one was murdered & the other committed suicide, thus dying before having symptoms? But even if you go with the idea that they were each just carriers, it does not then follow, mathematically, that the baby Marcia “probably” had the disease; it in fact means she only had a 25% chance of having the full disease.
I was at first annoyed that the author used the same technique as the last book, going back & forth between the 1700’s & present day, but then, as the last time, I got into the historic part. The linking between the 2 time periods is interesting; it’s an interesting technique to create suspense, wondering how they’ll connect.
I almost gave it 5 stars, but for the info about genes at the end. I don’t think it’s ENTIRELY accurate. e.g. “If 2 people with a [recessive] trait have 4 children, 1 will be clear, 2 will have the genetic trait, & 1 will have the disease.” No. That’s not how statistics work. The chart you do of the 4 possible outcomes based on parental genes shows you the possibility for EACH child. Assuming the trait is recessive (so the child must get the trait gene from BOTH parents to have the disease—which, altho she didn’t say that, I have since looked up & confirmed that Sickle Cell is), & that each parent is only a carrier (i.e. one trait gene & one non-trait gene), then EACH child would have a 25% chance of being clear, a 50% chance of being a carrier, & a 25% chance of getting the disease. EACH time a parental sperm & egg unite, each parent could have sent either of their genes. Theoretically, they could have 4 kids that are all clear of the trait, if each conception received the non-trait gene from each parent. Likewise, they could have 4 kids that all have the disease, if they each received the trait gene from both parents. The %’s above are ODDS, not guarantees. Misunderstanding of odds is what keeps gambling operations in business. (“Oh, if the odds are 1 in 10 & I buy 10 lottery tickets, that guarantees one will be a winner!” No.) Also (now this part is fiction—I assume—so she can make them be anything she wants), both Ailee (don’t know the spellings, I listened to the audiobook) & her rapist could have actually had the disease, but we couldn’t know because one was murdered & the other committed suicide, thus dying before having symptoms? But even if you go with the idea that they were each just carriers, it does not then follow, mathematically, that the baby Marcia “probably” had the disease; it in fact means she only had a 25% chance of having the full disease.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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