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Mrs. Murphy #27
Probable Claws
Rita Mae Brown and her feline co-author Sneaky Pie Brown return to Albemarle County, Virgina, as tangled mysteries past and present converge in the bestselling Mrs. Murphy series. “As feline collaborators go, you couldn’t ask for better than Sneaky Pie Brown.”—The New York Times Book Review With the New Year just around the corner, winter has transformed the cozy Blue Ridge Mountain community of Crozet, Virginia, into a living snow globe. It’s the perfect setting for Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen to build a new work shed designed by her dear friend, local architect Gary Gardner. But the natural serenity is shattered when out of the blue, right in front of Harry and Deputy Cynthia Cooper, and in broad daylight, Gary is shot to death by a masked motorcyclist. Outraged by the brazen murder, Harry begins to burrow into her friend’s past—and unearths a pattern of destructive greed reaching far back into Virginia’s post-Revolutionary history. When Harry finds incriminating evidence, the killer strikes again. Heedless of her own safety, Harry follows a trail of clues to a construction site in Richmond, where the discovery of mysterious remains has recently halted work. Aided as always by her loyal, if opinionated, companions, crime-solving cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and Tee Tucker the Corgi, Harry hunts for a link between the decades-old dead, the recently violently deceased—and ancient secrets that underlie everything. And while other deaths are narrowly averted in a flurry of fur, the killer remains at large—ever more desperate and dangerous. The deep-rooted legacy of corruption that’s been exposed can never be buried again. But if Harry keeps pursuing the terrible truth, she may be digging her own grave.Praise for Probable Claws“Series fans will know exactly what to animals who talk to one another, [Rita Mae] Brown’s personal views on an array of topics, and a healthy dose of Virginia history.”—Publishers Weekly “The animal crew, joined by a surprising new addition, is in rare form. . . . Beautiful illustrations bring the pet personalities to life.”—Kirkus Reviews
424 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 29, 2018
438 people are currently reading
1736 people want to read
About the author
Rita Mae Brown
174 books2,231 followersRita Mae Brown is a prolific American writer, most known for her mysteries and other novels (Rubyfruit Jungle). She is also an Emmy-nominated screenwriter.
Brown was born illegitimate in Hanover, Pennsylvania. She was raised by her biological mother's female cousin and the cousin's husband in York, Pennsylvania and later in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Starting in the fall of 1962, Brown attended the University of Florida at Gainesville on a scholarship. In the spring of 1964, the administrators of the racially segregated university expelled her for participating in the civil rights movement. She subsequently enrolled at Broward Community College[3] with the hope of transferring eventually to a more tolerant four-year institution.
Between fall 1964 and 1969, she lived in New York City, sometimes homeless, while attending New York University[6] where she received a degree in Classics and English. Later,[when?] she received another degree in cinematography from the New York School of Visual Arts.[citation needed] Brown received a Ph.D. in literature from Union Institute & University in 1976 and holds a doctorate in political science from the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C.
Starting in 1973, Brown lived in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. In 1977, she bought a farm in Charlottesville, Virginia where she still lives.[9] In 1982, a screenplay Brown wrote while living in Los Angeles, Sleepless Nights, was retitled The Slumber Party Massacre and given a limited release theatrically.
During Brown's spring 1964 semester at the University of Florida at Gainesville, she became active in the American Civil Rights Movement. Later in the 1960s, she participated in the anti-war movement, the feminist movement and the Gay Liberation movement.
Brown took an administrative position with the fledgling National Organization for Women, but resigned in January 1970 over Betty Friedan's anti-gay remarks and NOW's attempts to distance itself from lesbian organizations. She claims she played a leading role in the "Lavender Menace" zap of the Second Congress to Unite Women on May 1, 1970, which protested Friedan's remarks and the exclusion of lesbians from the women's movement.
In the early 1970s, she became a founding member of The Furies Collective, a lesbian feminist newspaper collective in Washington, DC, which held that heterosexuality was the root of all oppression.
Brown told Time magazine in 2008, "I don't believe in straight or gay. I really don't. I think we're all degrees of bisexual. There may be a few people on the extreme if it's a bell curve who really truly are gay or really truly are straight. Because nobody had ever said these things and used their real name, I suddenly became [in the late 1970s] the only lesbian in America."
Brown was born illegitimate in Hanover, Pennsylvania. She was raised by her biological mother's female cousin and the cousin's husband in York, Pennsylvania and later in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Starting in the fall of 1962, Brown attended the University of Florida at Gainesville on a scholarship. In the spring of 1964, the administrators of the racially segregated university expelled her for participating in the civil rights movement. She subsequently enrolled at Broward Community College[3] with the hope of transferring eventually to a more tolerant four-year institution.
Between fall 1964 and 1969, she lived in New York City, sometimes homeless, while attending New York University[6] where she received a degree in Classics and English. Later,[when?] she received another degree in cinematography from the New York School of Visual Arts.[citation needed] Brown received a Ph.D. in literature from Union Institute & University in 1976 and holds a doctorate in political science from the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C.
Starting in 1973, Brown lived in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. In 1977, she bought a farm in Charlottesville, Virginia where she still lives.[9] In 1982, a screenplay Brown wrote while living in Los Angeles, Sleepless Nights, was retitled The Slumber Party Massacre and given a limited release theatrically.
During Brown's spring 1964 semester at the University of Florida at Gainesville, she became active in the American Civil Rights Movement. Later in the 1960s, she participated in the anti-war movement, the feminist movement and the Gay Liberation movement.
Brown took an administrative position with the fledgling National Organization for Women, but resigned in January 1970 over Betty Friedan's anti-gay remarks and NOW's attempts to distance itself from lesbian organizations. She claims she played a leading role in the "Lavender Menace" zap of the Second Congress to Unite Women on May 1, 1970, which protested Friedan's remarks and the exclusion of lesbians from the women's movement.
In the early 1970s, she became a founding member of The Furies Collective, a lesbian feminist newspaper collective in Washington, DC, which held that heterosexuality was the root of all oppression.
Brown told Time magazine in 2008, "I don't believe in straight or gay. I really don't. I think we're all degrees of bisexual. There may be a few people on the extreme if it's a bell curve who really truly are gay or really truly are straight. Because nobody had ever said these things and used their real name, I suddenly became [in the late 1970s] the only lesbian in America."
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August 7, 2020I love this fun and exciting series!!
Probable Claws by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown is the twenty-seventh book of the Mrs. Murphy cozy mystery series.
I read the first novel in this series, Wish You Were Here, many years ago and was immediately drawn by all the characters. By the third book I came to love these clever mysteries and lovable characters with each new instalment.
As always, the storyline drew me in from the very beginning, making it difficult to put down until the mystery was solved.
Harry's good friend, Gary, is shot to death by a masked man on a motorcycle in broad daylight, right in front of her and Crozet's local deputy, Cynthia Cooper. Harry, angered by the death of her friend, is not about to brush off his death as a tragic event and vows to find the reason behind his murder. As Harry digs deeper into Gary's past she begins to uncover some alarming facts. Harry and her human companions soon find themselves in grave danger from someone who will do anything to keep the secrets from being exposed. As always, her loyal animal children, Mrs. Murphy, Harry's 'smarter than her human' tiger cat and Tee Tucker, Harry's resourceful corgi, do their best to keep Harry out of harms way but the consequences could be deadly.
This cozy mystery series is a favorite of mine as they're just the ticket for those times when I need to take a break from my usual diet of intense psychological suspense novels and brutal, gruesome crime thrillers I read in great number.
I adore Mary Minor Harristeen (Harry) and her closest human friends as they're animal lovers through and through. The animals are her children which wins huge points from me as I have a number of children with paws myself.
It's been a number of years since I've visited the characters and the goings on in this series and now that I've become reacquainted with them I will be going back to the very first book and read them one by one all over again! 5 bright ★'s!
I recommend reading this series in order as the characters stories build with each novel.
With thanks to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for giving me this advanced reading copy to enjoy in return for my honest review.
Probable Claws by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown is the twenty-seventh book of the Mrs. Murphy cozy mystery series.
I read the first novel in this series, Wish You Were Here, many years ago and was immediately drawn by all the characters. By the third book I came to love these clever mysteries and lovable characters with each new instalment.
As always, the storyline drew me in from the very beginning, making it difficult to put down until the mystery was solved.
Harry's good friend, Gary, is shot to death by a masked man on a motorcycle in broad daylight, right in front of her and Crozet's local deputy, Cynthia Cooper. Harry, angered by the death of her friend, is not about to brush off his death as a tragic event and vows to find the reason behind his murder. As Harry digs deeper into Gary's past she begins to uncover some alarming facts. Harry and her human companions soon find themselves in grave danger from someone who will do anything to keep the secrets from being exposed. As always, her loyal animal children, Mrs. Murphy, Harry's 'smarter than her human' tiger cat and Tee Tucker, Harry's resourceful corgi, do their best to keep Harry out of harms way but the consequences could be deadly.
This cozy mystery series is a favorite of mine as they're just the ticket for those times when I need to take a break from my usual diet of intense psychological suspense novels and brutal, gruesome crime thrillers I read in great number.
I adore Mary Minor Harristeen (Harry) and her closest human friends as they're animal lovers through and through. The animals are her children which wins huge points from me as I have a number of children with paws myself.
It's been a number of years since I've visited the characters and the goings on in this series and now that I've become reacquainted with them I will be going back to the very first book and read them one by one all over again! 5 bright ★'s!
I recommend reading this series in order as the characters stories build with each novel.
With thanks to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for giving me this advanced reading copy to enjoy in return for my honest review.
May 27, 2018
I've been a long-time fan of this series set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia which features both human and animal characters. Rita Mae Brown even gives writing credit to her cat, Sneaky Pie Brown, haha. But it looks like I stopped at book #20 in the series, so it was a pleasure to revisit these familiar characters.
This is a very intriguing mystery--a bold murder committed in front of witnesses, including Mary Minor 'Harry' Haristeen, local farmer and the hero of these stories, who can't help sticking her nose in where it doesn't belong.
Ms Brown has begun weaving a bit of historical fiction into her mysteries in occasional chapters, which I really enjoyed--the scene being the same locale in the years following the Revolutionary War.
I recommend this as a quick summer read. If you love an intriguing mystery and books about Virginia, animals and love of the natural environment, I predict you will enjoy these books. The animals are quite amusing too. Don't worry about jumping in in the middle of a series--Ms Brown thoughtfully includes a 'Cast of Characters.' And as always, there are some delightful pen and ink drawings that enhance the enjoyment of the story.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me with an arc of this new mystery for an honest review. It was a delight to spend some time with old 'friends.'
This is a very intriguing mystery--a bold murder committed in front of witnesses, including Mary Minor 'Harry' Haristeen, local farmer and the hero of these stories, who can't help sticking her nose in where it doesn't belong.
Ms Brown has begun weaving a bit of historical fiction into her mysteries in occasional chapters, which I really enjoyed--the scene being the same locale in the years following the Revolutionary War.
I recommend this as a quick summer read. If you love an intriguing mystery and books about Virginia, animals and love of the natural environment, I predict you will enjoy these books. The animals are quite amusing too. Don't worry about jumping in in the middle of a series--Ms Brown thoughtfully includes a 'Cast of Characters.' And as always, there are some delightful pen and ink drawings that enhance the enjoyment of the story.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me with an arc of this new mystery for an honest review. It was a delight to spend some time with old 'friends.'
June 5, 2018
I love myself some Mrs Murphy mysteries. All of the animals crack me up on their adventure. I want a "Fair" of my very own :). Great mystery to solve in this latest RMB novel. I have to admit she stumped me to the very end this time. I enjoy reading her reflections back to the 18th century and the characters of that time. I have always liked the Ewing sisters and their spouses. Great new characters and animal friends in this one. Can't wait to see what's up next for Harry and her furry friends!
June 9, 2018
Another recently released cozy mystery in the Mrs. Murphy series. I love that her series features Mary Minor "Harry" Haristean and her menagerie of dogs, cats, and horses. The dogs and cats have the fantastic ability to talk to one another and always seem one step ahead of Harry when she is trying to solve a mystery. I felt that their dialogue somehow had lost the wittiness that it usually contained and by the end of the story was very tired of the "big spider" thread. Usually they were much more involved in solving the mystery and seemed to be left out this time other than one factor.
This mystery is a bit different from it's usual format; but since I hadn't read the last 2 or 3, I had difficulty following a new spin these mysteries have taken. There is a dual time line with the cozy mystery taking place in the present and the other time line following the development of the US post Revolution. I enjoyed the historic timeline but didn't see the correlation to the present day mystery. Then reading the post note from the author, it appears the historical timeline started in the previous book and will conclude in the next book. I would recommend that the author or publisher somehow note this so that other readers don't attempt to read this as a standalone.
Overall, felt this book wasn't quite the quality and cleverness of her previous books.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
This mystery is a bit different from it's usual format; but since I hadn't read the last 2 or 3, I had difficulty following a new spin these mysteries have taken. There is a dual time line with the cozy mystery taking place in the present and the other time line following the development of the US post Revolution. I enjoyed the historic timeline but didn't see the correlation to the present day mystery. Then reading the post note from the author, it appears the historical timeline started in the previous book and will conclude in the next book. I would recommend that the author or publisher somehow note this so that other readers don't attempt to read this as a standalone.
Overall, felt this book wasn't quite the quality and cleverness of her previous books.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
August 11, 2018
Sneaky Pie, this post is for you. I really enjoy the Mrs. Murphy series, but I have one concern. While each of the characters are engaging and the mystery intriguing, I wish that you would curl up on Rita Maw Brown's lap, purr engagingly, and whisper into her ear that she needs to tone down the constant political commentary. It distracts from the flow of the story. While I agree with most of the views presented, that really isn't the point. Not all readers will. Even if the political comments were cut in half, I think that would improve these books. Sneaky Pie, thank you for your time and your consideration.
April 13, 2018
My favorite characters continue to be Mrs. Murphy, Tucker, Pewter, the barn critters--and the spider! And I enjoyed the present story line with Harry and her friends, especially Cooper this time--more than the eighteenth century story line, though I'm impressed by all the research! (I'm learning a lot--also from the author's note.), but I lose track of those characters sometimes. (I appreciate the cast of characters listed in the front as I needed to refer to it.) This story line is continued from the last book, A Hiss Before Dying.
The mystery and suspense make for an exciting story (present day), and I especially enjoyed the scene with Pewter and Mrs. Murphy protecting Harry. Btw, I see that that story line (beginning in November 1876) will be continued and concluded in the next book. The settings are well done, and the history is actually interesting. Oh, and a new character--in Harry's story line--is introduced.
Note: I read the present day story first and then the second one to help me keep track.
The mystery and suspense make for an exciting story (present day), and I especially enjoyed the scene with Pewter and Mrs. Murphy protecting Harry. Btw, I see that that story line (beginning in November 1876) will be continued and concluded in the next book. The settings are well done, and the history is actually interesting. Oh, and a new character--in Harry's story line--is introduced.
Note: I read the present day story first and then the second one to help me keep track.
June 22, 2018
"Harry" and Deputy Cynthia Cooper watch a motorcyclist gun down architect Gary Gardner. With little to go on besides the fact the motorcyclist wore a black jacket, the police are grateful for any clues--even those provided by Harry's pets. Gary kept building codes for each year, but the 1984 file seems to be missing, and when a skull halts construction at a building site, it dates back to that period. Eventually another murder occurs. The cats, of course, assist in capturing the guilty party.
A late eighteenth century story line is also present. It depicts slavery, including ill-treatment by some, escape for some, and freedom for others. Much of this story line shows the attitudes of the plantation owners and their families toward the Constitutional Convention and what it might do to class distinctions.
Two non-related story lines in different time periods does not work for me. I think I would have enjoyed either story on its own, but I simply saw no need for the eighteenth century story, which took up less space (about one-third of the book). The main story would "just get going good" when the older story interrupted its flow.
I received this through LibraryThing Early Reviewers program with the expectation of an honest review. I have not kept current with this series, and I suspect the alternating story lines are why I made them low priority. While I will probably go back and try to read earlier missed installments, mainly because I love the cats, I will not rush to do so.
A late eighteenth century story line is also present. It depicts slavery, including ill-treatment by some, escape for some, and freedom for others. Much of this story line shows the attitudes of the plantation owners and their families toward the Constitutional Convention and what it might do to class distinctions.
Two non-related story lines in different time periods does not work for me. I think I would have enjoyed either story on its own, but I simply saw no need for the eighteenth century story, which took up less space (about one-third of the book). The main story would "just get going good" when the older story interrupted its flow.
I received this through LibraryThing Early Reviewers program with the expectation of an honest review. I have not kept current with this series, and I suspect the alternating story lines are why I made them low priority. While I will probably go back and try to read earlier missed installments, mainly because I love the cats, I will not rush to do so.
June 26, 2018
As a cat lover, I adore this series, but I do have a beef. Brown has too many animals and people, and too much conversation among the animals. The animals seem to act as a Greek chorus in explaining what is happening. Brown does use italics when the animals are speaking, but this disrupts the flow of the story. As usual, Rita Mae Brown utilizes her expertise is filling the book with lengthy and tedious information concerning some aspect of the story. The discussion of building and architecture went on and on, and lead to very little pertinent data. I enjoyed the jump back into 1787 and learning about the financial woes of the new country.
May 25, 2018
I have been enjoying this series from the start so this is the 27th Sneaky Pie I have read. The draw for me is the present day, in every book. Like a letter from home, I look forward to finding out how life is going for Harry and the animals and various friends and family, of course. My problem with the last book, this one and probably will be for the next one is the two stories in one book. I really have a hard time focusing on two time periods and two story lines. Just my opinion but I would rather have the colonial period as one stand alone book and continue Sneaky Pie as a series. I want to give each my undivided attention as a reader, without confusion. I would say to any reader to read this three book series as a unit, not out of order. Yes, I want a full book of each.
My three stars reflects my difficulty with keeping my focus, not a reflection of the writing or the two stories. I felt the tension in the present day story, shocked by the first murder and eager to figure out who would go to such extreme lengths to silence another person. Humor is added, as usual, by the animals. Pewter cracks me up and this time it"s her reaction to a rather large spider. We also meet a new dog, such a sweet puppy, I wanted to hug him. All of the animals continue to protect Harry from various dangers as we have come to expect in every book. In the mystery and the animals, I was more than satisfied. I have no doubt I will be reading #28 because of Harry and her animals.
My thanks to the publisher Bantam and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
My three stars reflects my difficulty with keeping my focus, not a reflection of the writing or the two stories. I felt the tension in the present day story, shocked by the first murder and eager to figure out who would go to such extreme lengths to silence another person. Humor is added, as usual, by the animals. Pewter cracks me up and this time it"s her reaction to a rather large spider. We also meet a new dog, such a sweet puppy, I wanted to hug him. All of the animals continue to protect Harry from various dangers as we have come to expect in every book. In the mystery and the animals, I was more than satisfied. I have no doubt I will be reading #28 because of Harry and her animals.
My thanks to the publisher Bantam and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 12, 2020
I read this book to knock off a “book with a pun in the title” item on a 2020 reading challenge, and I cannot say I would recommend it, but since I did read it here is my review:
this book follows a rather bland woman as she solves the murders of two acquaintances whose deaths she reacts to with the passion of someone mourning a sweater they left behind on an airplane. the killer, when confronted, pulls a glock on her and is defeated when a spider drops from the ceiling, triggering the killer’s arachnophobia and distracting her enough to disarm her as the protagonist’s dogs bite the killer’s calves. it turns out the killings were directed by construction companies fearful that environmentalists would force them to halt construction in downtown Richmond to excavate dinosaur bones. the police are unable to find the Ducati the killer was riding during the first murder and conclude that the only reasonable explanation for this is that the killer is tied to organized crime.
all of this is interspersed with commentary amongst a small army of pets, flashbacks to a colonial farming family unrelated to the dinosaur murder plot (except by an apparent dinosaur bone found by the family corgi in 1787 and used as a doorstop in 2017), deeply uncomfortable and unrealistic portrayals of “kindly” slaveholders, facts about horse breeding and the benefits of wood versus propane furnaces in 21st century Virginia, dialogue I can only describe as something out of a libertarian philosophical novel, and a reference to “the war of 1861-1865”
a fever dream from start to finish. i read this book so you do not have to
this book follows a rather bland woman as she solves the murders of two acquaintances whose deaths she reacts to with the passion of someone mourning a sweater they left behind on an airplane. the killer, when confronted, pulls a glock on her and is defeated when a spider drops from the ceiling, triggering the killer’s arachnophobia and distracting her enough to disarm her as the protagonist’s dogs bite the killer’s calves. it turns out the killings were directed by construction companies fearful that environmentalists would force them to halt construction in downtown Richmond to excavate dinosaur bones. the police are unable to find the Ducati the killer was riding during the first murder and conclude that the only reasonable explanation for this is that the killer is tied to organized crime.
all of this is interspersed with commentary amongst a small army of pets, flashbacks to a colonial farming family unrelated to the dinosaur murder plot (except by an apparent dinosaur bone found by the family corgi in 1787 and used as a doorstop in 2017), deeply uncomfortable and unrealistic portrayals of “kindly” slaveholders, facts about horse breeding and the benefits of wood versus propane furnaces in 21st century Virginia, dialogue I can only describe as something out of a libertarian philosophical novel, and a reference to “the war of 1861-1865”
a fever dream from start to finish. i read this book so you do not have to
June 3, 2018
Rita Mae Brown's Mrs. Murphy books are always so good to read! Each book is like a visit with old friends that you have not seen in a while...Harry gets involved with the unexplained murder of her architect friend, Gary Gardner, who is designing a new shed for Harry...and is shot to death righ in front of her and Deputy Cynthia Cooper! Then the killer strkes again...but how and why are the two murders related? Love the way the books go from the present to the past..I always learn at least one thing that I did not previous know in each book in the series! Loved it!
April 22, 2018
A motorcycle roars to a stop in Crozet and the rider shoots at a group of three people standing outside a storefront. And Harry is drawn into another murder investigation. What is the motivation for the killing? Is a second killing linked to the first? Mrs. Murphy, Pewter, and Tucker are entertaining, as always, and now are joined by an Irish Wolfhound puppy. The modern day story is interwoven with the story of early settlers in the area. Their story is equally fascinating and I am anxiously waiting for the next part of their history.
April 6, 2018
I received an ARC from Netgalley and I'm glad I did. I love this series and I eagerly await the next. I normally don't like books that switch back and forth in time but Rita Mae Brown does a fabulous job. I feel like these people are my friends and of course who doesn't love the animals. Definitely 5 stars and please hurry with more!
May 23, 2018
I read about half of this book and found myself not caring much how it ended. The modern day murder mystery part was mildly engaging, but I felt like I was handicapped in not having read previous books in the series. I kept having to refer to the list of characters in the front and even then, didn't really understand who everyone was. The 18th century storyline interspersed throughout just made no sense at all in relation to the other story. I did find the pets' conversations amusing.
November 26, 2023
I was disappointed in this book, for a number of reasons. First, I am tired of bouncing back and forth between the 1700s and the present. In this one, I couldn't even figure out the point. And in the present, Harry shows a vicious side that not only surprised me, but I lost a bit of respect for the character. The fact that the Sheriff and Deputy watched it happen and said/did nothing shocked me, as well. This was no longer a cozy mystery, and there is way too much politics inserted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2018
No wonder this series is so enduring (27 entries so far!), it’s as cozy as a cozy mystery can be and clever to boot. At first, I thought the talking animals would be over-the-top cute but they added a welcomed touch of insight and humor to the process of figuring out who-dun-it. And even though this was my first Mrs. Murphy mystery (Mrs. Murphy is a cat, btw), I didn’t have any trouble keeping up with the characters and plot of the present day story line. I can’t say the same about the 18th-century backstory, though. It seemed like it was part of an ongoing post-revolutionary drama that I’m guessing will be picked up in the next book. Probably a good incentive to keep up with the series. I may just go back and read a few of the previous books so I'll be up to speed when the next Mrs. Murphy mystery comes out. 3 1/2 stars.
My thanks to Bantam Books and LibraryThing for the copy this review was based on.
My thanks to Bantam Books and LibraryThing for the copy this review was based on.
February 21, 2025
I am enjoying this cozy mystery series immensely. I find it very different, and a cut above, other cozy mysteries I have read. Without giving anything away, I will say that the animals, who talk and squabble among themselves while their humans act as detectives, are a fun addition to the storyline. And the historical chapters are fascinating and informative. Highly recommend!
June 23, 2018
Well what can l say? The animals were the same as usual. Their is a change in Harry and Fair's life a nice one. The 18th century story line was for me was interesting and l am looking forward to reading the next book as it wraps up. The modern day mysteries was okay. But the spider story line went far to long in the book. The other thing l found odd a lot of Cooper in this book,very little of Susan. Makes me wonder if Rita Mae Brown is getting ready to wrap up the series.
June 27, 2018
This was a decent mystery, although the animals were not nearly as involved as in the past. Many of the characters that we have come to know and love weren't in the book either, and I feel that the writing style has changed some. Maybe I haven't read one of these books in a while, but the sentences were really choppy, and sometimes they responded with one word. I don't remember that from her other books. This story also contained one of my pet peeves, which is referring to the safety on a Glock. It does not take long to research a weapon, which would have shown the author that Glock's don't have a safety.
I did enjoy the book, but not as much as ones in the past.
I did enjoy the book, but not as much as ones in the past.
June 27, 2018
Review also posted on my blog: https://bennilovesbooks.wordpress.com...
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This book has content warnings for death, murder, poison, gun violence, physical violence, racist/xenophobic language, and miscarriage/pregnancy loss.
I had expected better of this book than what I got; though it wasn't the worst, overall it was quite disappointing. One thing that is less the book's fault and more my own is that the dual timelines did not work for me at all; though cozy mysteries like this one are usually fine read as standalone books, the historical plot that takes place in the 18th century apparently spans across the book before this one in the series as well as the book following this one. Because of this, the storyline felt incredibly disconnected from the modern-day narrative because it didn't have anything at all to do with Gary's murder. What was more odd was that the modern-day storyline read as expected -- as if it could be a standalone read out of order even though it's part of a series. The historical plot was also pretty boring and dry, and I didn't care for anything that happened during those chapters. Even though reading the books in this series out of order and not getting the previous part of the 18th century narrative from the previous book, I still expect the characters and the narrative to be interesting, and they just weren't.
The modern-day narrative was self-contained and more interesting, although I wasn't impressed by it, either. The human characters mostly spent their time bumbling around almost as if they were waiting for the animals to give them clues, and while the animals were snarky and kind of funny when they talked to each other, their scenes were almost entirely consumed by Pewter the cat complaining about a giant spider. I know cozy mysteries often have a very leisurely pace to them, but this was just too slow and repetitive. I don't mind a book being a leisurely read, but if it's going to do that then the narrative needs to have enough content to keep my attention. This book felt as if it could have been half the length and still keep its leisurely pace and storylines without sacrificing anything.
Additionally, I was pulled out of the narrative on multiple occasions because of the racism and xenophobia contained in the book. I realize that this book takes place in the south and maybe phrases like "you can pinch a nickle until the Indian rides the buffalo" (9%) might be more commonplace than they are where I live, but it was still off-putting to see in the text. There was also a really weird scene where Harry's new Black friend, Marvella, basically starts explaining institutionalized oppression to Harry and sort of even tries to turn enduring institutionalized oppression into a "positive," and it feels really unnatural and weird. This isn't my lane so it'd be better to seek out opinions of Black readers (or other readers who are PoC for the racism issues as a whole), but these scenes left a funny taste in my mouth.
I was also a bit uncomfortable with physical violence in the book. There is a scene where a "good" character is breaking the bones of a "bad" character in order to keep them in line, and I was cringing through the whole scene because that felt incredibly wrong to me for a number of reasons. It's just odd to me that something like that would be depicted as acceptable and heroic when it's pretty terrible and the character clearly has other options or has started doing it just because they can. This just did't sit well with me.
I found myself really just wishing there was more to this book. It's pretty average for a cozy mystery and there definitely could have been more to this one. It wasn't the worst read, but it was underwhelming at best. If you're a regular Mrs. Murphy reader then you might like this one; otherwise it might be better to look at other cozy cat mysteries instead.
Final rating: 3 of 5 stars
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This book has content warnings for death, murder, poison, gun violence, physical violence, racist/xenophobic language, and miscarriage/pregnancy loss.
I had expected better of this book than what I got; though it wasn't the worst, overall it was quite disappointing. One thing that is less the book's fault and more my own is that the dual timelines did not work for me at all; though cozy mysteries like this one are usually fine read as standalone books, the historical plot that takes place in the 18th century apparently spans across the book before this one in the series as well as the book following this one. Because of this, the storyline felt incredibly disconnected from the modern-day narrative because it didn't have anything at all to do with Gary's murder. What was more odd was that the modern-day storyline read as expected -- as if it could be a standalone read out of order even though it's part of a series. The historical plot was also pretty boring and dry, and I didn't care for anything that happened during those chapters. Even though reading the books in this series out of order and not getting the previous part of the 18th century narrative from the previous book, I still expect the characters and the narrative to be interesting, and they just weren't.
The modern-day narrative was self-contained and more interesting, although I wasn't impressed by it, either. The human characters mostly spent their time bumbling around almost as if they were waiting for the animals to give them clues, and while the animals were snarky and kind of funny when they talked to each other, their scenes were almost entirely consumed by Pewter the cat complaining about a giant spider. I know cozy mysteries often have a very leisurely pace to them, but this was just too slow and repetitive. I don't mind a book being a leisurely read, but if it's going to do that then the narrative needs to have enough content to keep my attention. This book felt as if it could have been half the length and still keep its leisurely pace and storylines without sacrificing anything.
Additionally, I was pulled out of the narrative on multiple occasions because of the racism and xenophobia contained in the book. I realize that this book takes place in the south and maybe phrases like "you can pinch a nickle until the Indian rides the buffalo" (9%) might be more commonplace than they are where I live, but it was still off-putting to see in the text. There was also a really weird scene where Harry's new Black friend, Marvella, basically starts explaining institutionalized oppression to Harry and sort of even tries to turn enduring institutionalized oppression into a "positive," and it feels really unnatural and weird. This isn't my lane so it'd be better to seek out opinions of Black readers (or other readers who are PoC for the racism issues as a whole), but these scenes left a funny taste in my mouth.
I was also a bit uncomfortable with physical violence in the book. There is a scene where a "good" character is breaking the bones of a "bad" character in order to keep them in line, and I was cringing through the whole scene because that felt incredibly wrong to me for a number of reasons. It's just odd to me that something like that would be depicted as acceptable and heroic when it's pretty terrible and the character clearly has other options or has started doing it just because they can. This just did't sit well with me.
I found myself really just wishing there was more to this book. It's pretty average for a cozy mystery and there definitely could have been more to this one. It wasn't the worst read, but it was underwhelming at best. If you're a regular Mrs. Murphy reader then you might like this one; otherwise it might be better to look at other cozy cat mysteries instead.
Final rating: 3 of 5 stars
April 9, 2018
Harry and her animal friends are once again witness to a murder. As they work to solve the crime the story goes back in time to the time of slavery and how the area was during that time. Another great book by RMB and Sneaky Pie.
September 22, 2025
While I generally enjoy the Mrs. Murphy series, this one just didn't do it for me. The murder of a friend of Harry's, done right in front of her, and the next murder of someone she knew were enough for the story. But all the flashbacks to 1787, talking about horse racing and slavery, seemed to have no connection to the rest of the story. Rather than adding to the story, I found it detracted from the mystery instead. I found it rather boring, as it had no relevance to the rest of the story. And the storyline of Pewter's battle with a giant spider dragged on way too long. This just was not one of her best books.
November 7, 2022
Probable Claws by Rita Mae Brown
I was very disappointed in this book. I’m a huge fan of Mrs. Murphy’s books, they were my favorite series. I have read them from 1 to around 20. I devoured them. My husband read them too. He would always ask if there was another book out yet. Then life got in the way and I missed reading the last 10 books. Retired now I decided to get back to reading. I checked out Probable Claws from my local library very excited to read it. I don’t know when Rita Mae Brown’s writing style changed, but I don’t think I will be reading anymore of her books.
Instead of the lovable Harry, she is now a very unlikable character. The rest of the people who before were fun and quirky, were boring and bland. Even the animals, who’s antics use to keep me laughing, were just boring, and really not involved in solving the crime at all. And what happened to Boom Boom and Susan and all the other familiar characters?
A cute fun series has now become so politically slanted it’s not enjoyable to read at all. Why does politics need to be involved at all? And what is with the secondary time line? I had trouble switching back and forth between the timelines and I never understood the point of it. All the stuff about racism was very off putting. And the violent way Harry dealt with the murderer was uncalled for, and not the Harry Haristeen I had come to love in past books. If you want to write about all that stuff start a new series. Why ruin a perfectly good one?
I don’t think I will be reading any more of her books. This is one of the most disappointing books I have ever read.
I was very disappointed in this book. I’m a huge fan of Mrs. Murphy’s books, they were my favorite series. I have read them from 1 to around 20. I devoured them. My husband read them too. He would always ask if there was another book out yet. Then life got in the way and I missed reading the last 10 books. Retired now I decided to get back to reading. I checked out Probable Claws from my local library very excited to read it. I don’t know when Rita Mae Brown’s writing style changed, but I don’t think I will be reading anymore of her books.
Instead of the lovable Harry, she is now a very unlikable character. The rest of the people who before were fun and quirky, were boring and bland. Even the animals, who’s antics use to keep me laughing, were just boring, and really not involved in solving the crime at all. And what happened to Boom Boom and Susan and all the other familiar characters?
A cute fun series has now become so politically slanted it’s not enjoyable to read at all. Why does politics need to be involved at all? And what is with the secondary time line? I had trouble switching back and forth between the timelines and I never understood the point of it. All the stuff about racism was very off putting. And the violent way Harry dealt with the murderer was uncalled for, and not the Harry Haristeen I had come to love in past books. If you want to write about all that stuff start a new series. Why ruin a perfectly good one?
I don’t think I will be reading any more of her books. This is one of the most disappointing books I have ever read.
April 5, 2018
Love love this series how delicious a new pet.thanks #netgaley
December 20, 2024
Does the author honestly reach into a bowl of political issues and write about them? This is supposed to be a Mrs. Murphy mystery, and yet, the animals are barely in here except that they travel around with Harry and chase spiders. Also, since when is Harry a violent character? This one has her breaking bones and assaulting someone who is tied up. REALLY???? In the historical parts, there is a scene where the two sisters are talking about the pain of childbirth and having kids, and the very next sentence they are talking about politics that have nothing to do with the conversation. Like, get off the soapbox and start writing the books like they were back in the beginning.
April 28, 2024
I have enjoyed the continuing story of characters in the present and in the past, but I was really disappointed when Harry bullied and used physical violence with the perpetrator. She “should” be above that sort of behavior.
August 26, 2018
Read this in print (took one renewal). Repeat characters/18th c. storyline from previous Hiss of Death.
November 1, 2022
I miss Crozet, the post office, and all the interesting characters from the first 15 or so books in the series.
July 10, 2023
Not a favorite in this series
October 28, 2018
Do not read this book first.
My guess is that part of the reason I did not enjoy it is that I'd had no previous happy experiences with the characters. I understood that going in, and this is not the first series that I jump into halfway. However, I did expect to enjoy the plot and characters without having any previous introduction to them being that I both love cats and mystery.
This turned out to not be the case. The animals were completely irrelevant to solving the mystery, and the mystery itself turned out to be "solved" without in fact resolving any of the plot points. The back and forth to post-revolutionary times was not obtrusive, but at some point I hoped the two time streams would relate in some way. If there was an ancestor to one of the current characters that I was supposed to catch, I did not see that. There was no other relationship between the time streams except for location. Nor was the storyline of the past very meaningful. Something about horse racing, elite gossip, and escaped slaves: in short New World "first world problems." Again, none of which were actually resolved. **SPOILERS** Nothing comes of the slave escaping and we never find out what happened to him, we don't actually know if the two slaves that were courting end up together, for all the concern that the slave-owning family had about politics (although we obviously know the outcome) they never resolved that either, nor did we get any idea what that entire story had to do with the mystery of the present except for the dinosaur bone that the dog is chewing on for the last two chapters of the 1700 timeline.
Which brings me to the mystery being solved by pitting the deaths on the construction companies' fear that archaeologists would make them stop construction to dig up dinosaur bones.
1. There were never any archaeologists actually mentioned in the story.
2. It's stated very clearly several times that there are bones all over that area... Literally everywhere. Why would a construction company think that archaeologists would prevent them from digging in that one specific spot? Let them find bones somewhere else. Also, if it's such common knowledge, why are there no archaeologists already there?
3. Sure, they solve the murders, but we never know if the construction company was indicted, or even questioned regarding them! Which is odd since we're introduced to the son of the owner several times and it's implied that he's important somehow. But hey we caught the killer, time to end the story?
4. Are you seriously telling me that a woman who will don a leather jacket and shoot a man in cold blood is afraid... of... a spider? The author shows women in very strong roles throughout the entire series, but an armed female assassin can be overpowered by 2 late middle-age women?
5. I love cats. I love talking cats in stories. How did this possibly make me groan audibly every time the cat started talking? I almost took offense to Pewter's obsession with idiotic plot devices and overt narcissism. I get that all cats are narcissistic, but this was nauseating. The other animals could be completely removed from the story with no effect, and Pewter's only purpose was to haranguingly "foreshadow" that the spider was going to be important.
I hate being critical about a skill I don't possess. The storytelling was extensive, that's the most I can say.
Again, my guess is that if I had started this series at the beginning and had some happy moments with the characters, I would have enjoyed this much more just out of fondness for familiar characters. I'm assuming, optimistically, that some of the first books have coherent plots with fewer holes and alternate time streams that actually relate to the current mystery.
I plan to read at least some of the first book to test this theory. I may return to edit this review at that time.
My guess is that part of the reason I did not enjoy it is that I'd had no previous happy experiences with the characters. I understood that going in, and this is not the first series that I jump into halfway. However, I did expect to enjoy the plot and characters without having any previous introduction to them being that I both love cats and mystery.
This turned out to not be the case. The animals were completely irrelevant to solving the mystery, and the mystery itself turned out to be "solved" without in fact resolving any of the plot points. The back and forth to post-revolutionary times was not obtrusive, but at some point I hoped the two time streams would relate in some way. If there was an ancestor to one of the current characters that I was supposed to catch, I did not see that. There was no other relationship between the time streams except for location. Nor was the storyline of the past very meaningful. Something about horse racing, elite gossip, and escaped slaves: in short New World "first world problems." Again, none of which were actually resolved. **SPOILERS** Nothing comes of the slave escaping and we never find out what happened to him, we don't actually know if the two slaves that were courting end up together, for all the concern that the slave-owning family had about politics (although we obviously know the outcome) they never resolved that either, nor did we get any idea what that entire story had to do with the mystery of the present except for the dinosaur bone that the dog is chewing on for the last two chapters of the 1700 timeline.
Which brings me to the mystery being solved by pitting the deaths on the construction companies' fear that archaeologists would make them stop construction to dig up dinosaur bones.
1. There were never any archaeologists actually mentioned in the story.
2. It's stated very clearly several times that there are bones all over that area... Literally everywhere. Why would a construction company think that archaeologists would prevent them from digging in that one specific spot? Let them find bones somewhere else. Also, if it's such common knowledge, why are there no archaeologists already there?
3. Sure, they solve the murders, but we never know if the construction company was indicted, or even questioned regarding them! Which is odd since we're introduced to the son of the owner several times and it's implied that he's important somehow. But hey we caught the killer, time to end the story?
4. Are you seriously telling me that a woman who will don a leather jacket and shoot a man in cold blood is afraid... of... a spider? The author shows women in very strong roles throughout the entire series, but an armed female assassin can be overpowered by 2 late middle-age women?
5. I love cats. I love talking cats in stories. How did this possibly make me groan audibly every time the cat started talking? I almost took offense to Pewter's obsession with idiotic plot devices and overt narcissism. I get that all cats are narcissistic, but this was nauseating. The other animals could be completely removed from the story with no effect, and Pewter's only purpose was to haranguingly "foreshadow" that the spider was going to be important.
I hate being critical about a skill I don't possess. The storytelling was extensive, that's the most I can say.
Again, my guess is that if I had started this series at the beginning and had some happy moments with the characters, I would have enjoyed this much more just out of fondness for familiar characters. I'm assuming, optimistically, that some of the first books have coherent plots with fewer holes and alternate time streams that actually relate to the current mystery.
I plan to read at least some of the first book to test this theory. I may return to edit this review at that time.
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