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Mags Rogers #1
A Nose for Justice
Explosive sabotage and the startling unearthing of a hundred-year-old skeleton on a Nevada ranch thrillingly start off this debut novel in a tail-wagging new series from New York Times bestselling author Rita Mae Brown.
With the ruins of her high-powered Wall Street job now far in the rearview mirror of her rented silver Camaro, thirty-two-year-old Mags Rogers arrives at her great-aunt Jeep’s sprawling Wings Ranch to reassemble her life. In the passenger seat, with his suspicious nose to a cracked window, is Mags’s beloved wirehaired dachshund, the urbane Baxter.
Mags was named for her great-aunt, Magdalena—though everyone calls the spry octogenarian rancher Jeep. From piloting planes in World War II to discovering one of America’s largest gold deposits, Jeep has enjoyed a lifetime jam-packed with love and adventure, and she’s not done yet. At her side—to Baxter’s low-down distress—is Jeep’s loyal German Shepherd mix, King. The growlings are King sniffs that Baxter is a “fuzzy sausage.”
Meanwhile, someone pipe-bombs Red Rock Valley’s pumping station, endangering the water supply near and far. Deputy Pete Meadows links the sabotage to a string of local murders, but he doesn’t yet know if it’s a corporate plot or twisted eco-terrorism. He’s also called out to Wings Ranch when human bones are dug up in Jeep’s barn; the dead man’s ring identifies him as an elite Russian military officer from the late 1800s, apparently knifed to death. In her search to find out whodunit, Mags uncovers fascinating history about Jeep’s ranch, including an intriguing connection to Buffalo Bill.
Mags and Pete have mysteries to solve, among them why they are so drawn to each other. Baxter and King team up when it comes time to protect their humans. And all the while, Jeep Reed, the sassiest wit in the West, has a bold plan for Red Rock Valley in which they all will play a part.
With the ruins of her high-powered Wall Street job now far in the rearview mirror of her rented silver Camaro, thirty-two-year-old Mags Rogers arrives at her great-aunt Jeep’s sprawling Wings Ranch to reassemble her life. In the passenger seat, with his suspicious nose to a cracked window, is Mags’s beloved wirehaired dachshund, the urbane Baxter.
Mags was named for her great-aunt, Magdalena—though everyone calls the spry octogenarian rancher Jeep. From piloting planes in World War II to discovering one of America’s largest gold deposits, Jeep has enjoyed a lifetime jam-packed with love and adventure, and she’s not done yet. At her side—to Baxter’s low-down distress—is Jeep’s loyal German Shepherd mix, King. The growlings are King sniffs that Baxter is a “fuzzy sausage.”
Meanwhile, someone pipe-bombs Red Rock Valley’s pumping station, endangering the water supply near and far. Deputy Pete Meadows links the sabotage to a string of local murders, but he doesn’t yet know if it’s a corporate plot or twisted eco-terrorism. He’s also called out to Wings Ranch when human bones are dug up in Jeep’s barn; the dead man’s ring identifies him as an elite Russian military officer from the late 1800s, apparently knifed to death. In her search to find out whodunit, Mags uncovers fascinating history about Jeep’s ranch, including an intriguing connection to Buffalo Bill.
Mags and Pete have mysteries to solve, among them why they are so drawn to each other. Baxter and King team up when it comes time to protect their humans. And all the while, Jeep Reed, the sassiest wit in the West, has a bold plan for Red Rock Valley in which they all will play a part.
267 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
145 people are currently reading
600 people want to read
About the author
Rita Mae Brown
173 books2,232 followersRita Mae Brown is a prolific American writer, most known for her mysteries and other novels (Rubyfruit Jungle). She is also an Emmy-nominated screenwriter.
Brown was born illegitimate in Hanover, Pennsylvania. She was raised by her biological mother's female cousin and the cousin's husband in York, Pennsylvania and later in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Starting in the fall of 1962, Brown attended the University of Florida at Gainesville on a scholarship. In the spring of 1964, the administrators of the racially segregated university expelled her for participating in the civil rights movement. She subsequently enrolled at Broward Community College[3] with the hope of transferring eventually to a more tolerant four-year institution.
Between fall 1964 and 1969, she lived in New York City, sometimes homeless, while attending New York University[6] where she received a degree in Classics and English. Later,[when?] she received another degree in cinematography from the New York School of Visual Arts.[citation needed] Brown received a Ph.D. in literature from Union Institute & University in 1976 and holds a doctorate in political science from the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C.
Starting in 1973, Brown lived in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. In 1977, she bought a farm in Charlottesville, Virginia where she still lives.[9] In 1982, a screenplay Brown wrote while living in Los Angeles, Sleepless Nights, was retitled The Slumber Party Massacre and given a limited release theatrically.
During Brown's spring 1964 semester at the University of Florida at Gainesville, she became active in the American Civil Rights Movement. Later in the 1960s, she participated in the anti-war movement, the feminist movement and the Gay Liberation movement.
Brown took an administrative position with the fledgling National Organization for Women, but resigned in January 1970 over Betty Friedan's anti-gay remarks and NOW's attempts to distance itself from lesbian organizations. She claims she played a leading role in the "Lavender Menace" zap of the Second Congress to Unite Women on May 1, 1970, which protested Friedan's remarks and the exclusion of lesbians from the women's movement.
In the early 1970s, she became a founding member of The Furies Collective, a lesbian feminist newspaper collective in Washington, DC, which held that heterosexuality was the root of all oppression.
Brown told Time magazine in 2008, "I don't believe in straight or gay. I really don't. I think we're all degrees of bisexual. There may be a few people on the extreme if it's a bell curve who really truly are gay or really truly are straight. Because nobody had ever said these things and used their real name, I suddenly became [in the late 1970s] the only lesbian in America."
Brown was born illegitimate in Hanover, Pennsylvania. She was raised by her biological mother's female cousin and the cousin's husband in York, Pennsylvania and later in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Starting in the fall of 1962, Brown attended the University of Florida at Gainesville on a scholarship. In the spring of 1964, the administrators of the racially segregated university expelled her for participating in the civil rights movement. She subsequently enrolled at Broward Community College[3] with the hope of transferring eventually to a more tolerant four-year institution.
Between fall 1964 and 1969, she lived in New York City, sometimes homeless, while attending New York University[6] where she received a degree in Classics and English. Later,[when?] she received another degree in cinematography from the New York School of Visual Arts.[citation needed] Brown received a Ph.D. in literature from Union Institute & University in 1976 and holds a doctorate in political science from the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C.
Starting in 1973, Brown lived in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. In 1977, she bought a farm in Charlottesville, Virginia where she still lives.[9] In 1982, a screenplay Brown wrote while living in Los Angeles, Sleepless Nights, was retitled The Slumber Party Massacre and given a limited release theatrically.
During Brown's spring 1964 semester at the University of Florida at Gainesville, she became active in the American Civil Rights Movement. Later in the 1960s, she participated in the anti-war movement, the feminist movement and the Gay Liberation movement.
Brown took an administrative position with the fledgling National Organization for Women, but resigned in January 1970 over Betty Friedan's anti-gay remarks and NOW's attempts to distance itself from lesbian organizations. She claims she played a leading role in the "Lavender Menace" zap of the Second Congress to Unite Women on May 1, 1970, which protested Friedan's remarks and the exclusion of lesbians from the women's movement.
In the early 1970s, she became a founding member of The Furies Collective, a lesbian feminist newspaper collective in Washington, DC, which held that heterosexuality was the root of all oppression.
Brown told Time magazine in 2008, "I don't believe in straight or gay. I really don't. I think we're all degrees of bisexual. There may be a few people on the extreme if it's a bell curve who really truly are gay or really truly are straight. Because nobody had ever said these things and used their real name, I suddenly became [in the late 1970s] the only lesbian in America."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
December 31, 2010
This book is the first in a new series by Rita Mae Brown. All of her previous books have had some social commentary in them, about country living, humans getting away from nature, population growth, federal government regulations, etc. but this book was an overload of social commentary. Previous books would have a paragraph or two, at most, a page or two of it every few chapters before getting back to the story. This one, the beginning of a new series and set in a new state for her (Nevada not Virginia) was more like a page or two of story pushed in among lots and lots an lots of social commentary then a couple more pages of story before returning to the theme, and the social commentary came across as very, very much more preachy than previous books. At times I felt like I was reading non-fiction, not a murder mystery.
Another problem with this book was the lack of animals. There are two dogs but they really do not get much time compared to Mrs Murphy and friends or Dragon, Cora and the gang in the Sister Jane books.
It was an okay book but be prepared to be preached at through most of it.
Another problem with this book was the lack of animals. There are two dogs but they really do not get much time compared to Mrs Murphy and friends or Dragon, Cora and the gang in the Sister Jane books.
It was an okay book but be prepared to be preached at through most of it.
January 9, 2020
Thought I'd try this because it has dogs but didn't get beyond a couple of hours. The dogs were not playing a big part and there was kind of an info-dumping thing going on about water issues in Nevada and California that really sidetracked the story. The aunt character was kind of preachy which really started to grate after awhile.
Not for me.
Not for me.
October 4, 2010
I normally wouldn't rate a book I'd given up on after 14 pages. Considering I read Cat of the Century, this book was her last chance to redeem herself. I was pretty much irritated after reading the character descriptions at the beginning of the book. I just kept getting more and more irritated as I read and decided no more, I have better things to read. (Like Fall of Giants) Recycled characters, utterly bland and boring writing. After "Cat" and this book, I'm done with this author for good. My only question is, is there any way to give this book zero stars? Because that's what her last two books actually deserve.
September 30, 2010
This is the first in a new "dog mystery" series from Rita Mae Brown who writes a "cat mystery" series with her cat Sneaky Pie.
The mystery in “A Nose for Justice” involves water rights in Nevada, and there is a bonus mystery about hundred-year-old bones found buried in the barn. Water pumps are blown up out in the desert around Reno, then bodies start dropping. The protagonist—I think, it’s not real clear, because as much attention is paid to all the other characters—is a nod to the current economy, because she’s lost her Wall Street job and come home to her great-aunt’s ranch to pick up the pieces.
And here come my likes and dislikes. As a writer myself, there are technical, writerly things that can annoy me about books I’m reading—things we give names like “infodump” and “researchitis.” Infodump is when the story action stops completely to give us background information, whether we need it or not. Researchitis is where the characters spend time telling each other about little things the author found while researching that don’t have much bearing on the story. Brown has a bad case of both of these. I’m also not fond of talking animal stories—unless it’s something like “Hank the Cowdog” or "Watership Down." But if those things don’t bother you, the mystery is interesting.
I just expected more from such a popular author.
The mystery in “A Nose for Justice” involves water rights in Nevada, and there is a bonus mystery about hundred-year-old bones found buried in the barn. Water pumps are blown up out in the desert around Reno, then bodies start dropping. The protagonist—I think, it’s not real clear, because as much attention is paid to all the other characters—is a nod to the current economy, because she’s lost her Wall Street job and come home to her great-aunt’s ranch to pick up the pieces.
And here come my likes and dislikes. As a writer myself, there are technical, writerly things that can annoy me about books I’m reading—things we give names like “infodump” and “researchitis.” Infodump is when the story action stops completely to give us background information, whether we need it or not. Researchitis is where the characters spend time telling each other about little things the author found while researching that don’t have much bearing on the story. Brown has a bad case of both of these. I’m also not fond of talking animal stories—unless it’s something like “Hank the Cowdog” or "Watership Down." But if those things don’t bother you, the mystery is interesting.
I just expected more from such a popular author.
May 10, 2011
It's probably unfair of me to rate this book when I never finished it, or even finished half of it...I so dislike the idea of giving up on a book that I have a five tries or fifty pages rule. I gave it five tries and I never made it fifty pages. The characters annoyed me...the author preaching at me annoyed me...I don't read cozies to read politics and the last few RMB cozies have felt like thinly veiled non-fic. She's welcome to her political views; I even agree with a few of them, but I don't want lectured in my cozy.
April 23, 2017
On a frosty winter in Reno, Nevada, former Wall Street executive Mags Rogers moves in with her great aunt Jeep Reed and brings along her wire-haired dachshund Baxter. During her stay, she becomes entangled in a mystery that involves blown up water pumps and dead bodies. Deputy Pete Meadows and his partner Lonnie investigate these strange events and unravel a conspiracy dealing with water rights, environmentalism, and land purchasing. The entire political landscape of Nevada is at stake and the killer must be found before everything descends into chaos.
As to be expected with a title like “A Nose For Justice”, you’re going to see some animal cuteness during your reading journey. I’ve already mentioned the little dachshund Baxter, but there’s also a bigger puppy-duppy named King, owned by Jeep Reed. The two dogs start off as distrustful strangers, but over time they form a much needed friendship in order to help unravel this water rights conspiracy. They run around together, they nibble on steak bones, they sleep by each other, and they even play in important role in the conclusion of the story, though I won’t give away how. While it’s true that the dogs aren’t seen as often as Pete Meadows and the Reed/Rogers family, you can’t help but want to reach through the pages and rub the dogs’ heads and bellies. They’ve certainly earned it.
The political and historical content is another upside to this story, though some reviewers argue that Miss Brown is too preachy. I don’t believe that’s the case. The lessons she teaches feel more like a college history class rather than a Sunday sermon. She reminds us all how precious water is and how it shouldn’t be squandered so easily. We think we’re going to have it forever, but in places like Nevada, characters in this book would commit acts of terrorism and murder for it, especially if money is involved. Extremism, big business, environmentalism, and even LGBT rights are among the topics discussed in this novel. These topics are handled with sensitivity and the points in favor or against them are made with the skill of a world class debater. You don’t have to agree with everything Rita Mae Brown’s characters talk about, but you’d better listen and give the author a chance.
The final high point I want to talk about is the characters and how quirky and lovable they really are. Mags Rogers is a woman trying to get back on her own two feet and you genuinely want to root for her all the way. Jeep Reed is a salty, but warm-hearted war veteran with more wisdom in her pinky finger than most businessmen and politicians have in their whole bodies. Pete Meadows is a true professional when it comes to his work as a cop; he asks the right questions and evokes the right emotions from his interviewees. Pete even has a little bit of a crush on Mags and she feels the same way. At first they tiptoe around each other, but when they come together for the good of the case and for the sake of true romance, you genuinely feel the love. Even the minor characters are worth investing your emotions into since they’re friendly small town folks you’d want to have as neighbors. There are also characters you love to hate, but I’m here to pick the flowers, not the weeds.
If you’re looking for a well-orchestrated detective novel with a crafty mystery, poignant wisdom, and lovable puppy-dups, pick up a copy of “A Nose For Justice”. At first I was hesitant about reading this since the last Rita Mae Brown book I read (Wish You Were Here) made me feel old due to its small town stereotypes. A Nose For Justice might feel that way for the first few pages, but if patience is one of your virtues, then I encourage you to read on and enjoy this book for the well-written prose it is. A passing grade goes to this amazing author. Great work!
As to be expected with a title like “A Nose For Justice”, you’re going to see some animal cuteness during your reading journey. I’ve already mentioned the little dachshund Baxter, but there’s also a bigger puppy-duppy named King, owned by Jeep Reed. The two dogs start off as distrustful strangers, but over time they form a much needed friendship in order to help unravel this water rights conspiracy. They run around together, they nibble on steak bones, they sleep by each other, and they even play in important role in the conclusion of the story, though I won’t give away how. While it’s true that the dogs aren’t seen as often as Pete Meadows and the Reed/Rogers family, you can’t help but want to reach through the pages and rub the dogs’ heads and bellies. They’ve certainly earned it.
The political and historical content is another upside to this story, though some reviewers argue that Miss Brown is too preachy. I don’t believe that’s the case. The lessons she teaches feel more like a college history class rather than a Sunday sermon. She reminds us all how precious water is and how it shouldn’t be squandered so easily. We think we’re going to have it forever, but in places like Nevada, characters in this book would commit acts of terrorism and murder for it, especially if money is involved. Extremism, big business, environmentalism, and even LGBT rights are among the topics discussed in this novel. These topics are handled with sensitivity and the points in favor or against them are made with the skill of a world class debater. You don’t have to agree with everything Rita Mae Brown’s characters talk about, but you’d better listen and give the author a chance.
The final high point I want to talk about is the characters and how quirky and lovable they really are. Mags Rogers is a woman trying to get back on her own two feet and you genuinely want to root for her all the way. Jeep Reed is a salty, but warm-hearted war veteran with more wisdom in her pinky finger than most businessmen and politicians have in their whole bodies. Pete Meadows is a true professional when it comes to his work as a cop; he asks the right questions and evokes the right emotions from his interviewees. Pete even has a little bit of a crush on Mags and she feels the same way. At first they tiptoe around each other, but when they come together for the good of the case and for the sake of true romance, you genuinely feel the love. Even the minor characters are worth investing your emotions into since they’re friendly small town folks you’d want to have as neighbors. There are also characters you love to hate, but I’m here to pick the flowers, not the weeds.
If you’re looking for a well-orchestrated detective novel with a crafty mystery, poignant wisdom, and lovable puppy-dups, pick up a copy of “A Nose For Justice”. At first I was hesitant about reading this since the last Rita Mae Brown book I read (Wish You Were Here) made me feel old due to its small town stereotypes. A Nose For Justice might feel that way for the first few pages, but if patience is one of your virtues, then I encourage you to read on and enjoy this book for the well-written prose it is. A passing grade goes to this amazing author. Great work!
January 19, 2015
Can't call this one "furry" though the dogs are great, as are the illustrations which all show scenes involving the dogs. I notice that this book received some negative reviews for length, complexity, and the amount of descriptive or background material. I just want to say that I enjoyed the book immensely and it was largely because of those elements. The plot line is complex, involving multiple murders, other violence, and a time span covering more than a century. Yes, it all comes together at the end, something that Rita Mae Brown is usually good at. Jeep Reed is a fantastic character with a backbone of steel, even if I don't always agree with her politics.
August 19, 2016
I would give this book an almost two. When I read a book, I am hoping to like what I read. I found very little to like about this one. I guess this is the first of a new series of "Mags Rogers" mystery crime books. I kept waiting for this novel to get interesting. It never did. The plot is not one to try and get into. It revolves around a wealthy landowner{who is one of the "good guys" } and water rights. Talk about BOOOOORRRRRRINNNG.!! the only relief I found was when the rare times it was focused on the two dogs in the story and what their thoughts and involvement was to the plot. I was glad when I got to then end. Would not recommend this one.
September 27, 2010
Rita Mae Brown used to write some very good stuff. Lately her books seem to be both preachy and phoned in (please, no more of the stock feisty old lady characters who know just how the world has gone to hell in a handbasket). This mystery probably would have gotten 2 stars but I'll admit to being swayed into an extra star by the presence of a dachshund on the cover and in the story.
December 21, 2018
I found Jeep very interesting and I did get a history lesson. Not one of her best
January 27, 2014
Tedious and preachy, it is a disappointment.
April 13, 2019
New series. Magdaleine Rogers (Mags) used to work on Wall Street. With the big crash she was wiped out and has come to her Aunt Jeep's in Nevada to stay and get back on her feet. She helps out her aunt with the work on the ranch. Mags also has a sister, a beautiful actress, who is not the best of people. She keeps trying to get hold of some of Jeep's money and has been cut out of Jeep's will. She's still trying, through Mags. Mags meets a detective in the police department who's investigating the well pumps that are being blown up. The first one is near Jeep's ranch and she is one of the first to notify the police. Jeep is having an old barn on the ranch restored and renovated, digging up the stalls to put in drainage pipes, her adopted son Enrique discovers a body. Not a new body, a very old one, from the early 1900s. He is wearing a Russian cavalry officer's ring, from an elite Russian school. Jeep and Mags are determined to find out who he is and how he came to be buried under the stalls on the ranch. Then some of the people involved with the water usage clash turn up dead.
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June 25, 2025DNF
My first Rita Mae Brown and most likely my last. Any book that begins with a Cast of Characters usually winds up being disappointing. This wound up being more stupid than disappointing. I gave up when the dog started talking.
Christ on a cracker.
Is there no decent mystery series featuring dogs? Apparently not.
My first Rita Mae Brown and most likely my last. Any book that begins with a Cast of Characters usually winds up being disappointing. This wound up being more stupid than disappointing. I gave up when the dog started talking.
Christ on a cracker.
Is there no decent mystery series featuring dogs? Apparently not.
March 17, 2022
Nope!
For years I’ve read various “animal” adjacent bases series by Rita Mae Brown. They are well written fun!
This one was a dud! Poorly written where time after time we are Told instead of Shown (sermon after sermon) and Sooooo Poorly Edited!! Even the dogs don’t get to be well rounded characters. Nope! What a waste of time.
For years I’ve read various “animal” adjacent bases series by Rita Mae Brown. They are well written fun!
This one was a dud! Poorly written where time after time we are Told instead of Shown (sermon after sermon) and Sooooo Poorly Edited!! Even the dogs don’t get to be well rounded characters. Nope! What a waste of time.
May 26, 2017
Interesting book. Nice mysteries and I didn't guess either killer until the end. I liked the characters and the animals. There was a little much about Nevada water rights, but other than that, I enjoyed this book. :)
March 3, 2013
I wanted to like this book. In fact, parts of it I liked very much, but..
The "core dump" feeling that other reviewers expressed was valid. I believe this is because the author feels that the setting is also "a character" in the book. While Reno, NV does seem an interesting place, I wish she would have revealed the quirkiness and major issues of the setting more slowly. Say, over the first couple of books (since it was indicated that this was the start of a series.)
The two mysteries (the dead Russian and the Water RIghts stuff) really didn't have much to do with each other (except for a reference that the real killer thinks is about him.) It would have been nice if there had been SOME parallels between the historic case and the "present day" case.
There was WAY too much discussion of politics, especially when the characters seemed to voice the same viewpoint over and over.
Catherine was a waste and probably shouldn't have even been introduced in this book (or at least not "appear" in it.) The killer was given a very sketchy motivation and no character development. He was referred to several times, but I don't remember him interacting with the "main cast" more than once or twice.
That said, I did like the dogs and Jeep, although not as much as Mrs Murphy and her "crew". I felt Mags and Pete were revealed more in a "talked about" fashion rather than an "observed actions" fashion, but that might just be a quibble. The WASP angle was fun. Enrique and Carlotta appeared often, but really weren't given much chance at character development. They were likable enough.
I felt this was kind of a rocky start to a series and I'm not sure I liked it enough to read the rest (although I didn't hate it enough to put it in my "don't-finish-series" bookshelf.")
The "core dump" feeling that other reviewers expressed was valid. I believe this is because the author feels that the setting is also "a character" in the book. While Reno, NV does seem an interesting place, I wish she would have revealed the quirkiness and major issues of the setting more slowly. Say, over the first couple of books (since it was indicated that this was the start of a series.)
The two mysteries (the dead Russian and the Water RIghts stuff) really didn't have much to do with each other (except for a reference that the real killer thinks is about him.) It would have been nice if there had been SOME parallels between the historic case and the "present day" case.
There was WAY too much discussion of politics, especially when the characters seemed to voice the same viewpoint over and over.
Catherine was a waste and probably shouldn't have even been introduced in this book (or at least not "appear" in it.) The killer was given a very sketchy motivation and no character development. He was referred to several times, but I don't remember him interacting with the "main cast" more than once or twice.
That said, I did like the dogs and Jeep, although not as much as Mrs Murphy and her "crew". I felt Mags and Pete were revealed more in a "talked about" fashion rather than an "observed actions" fashion, but that might just be a quibble. The WASP angle was fun. Enrique and Carlotta appeared often, but really weren't given much chance at character development. They were likable enough.
I felt this was kind of a rocky start to a series and I'm not sure I liked it enough to read the rest (although I didn't hate it enough to put it in my "don't-finish-series" bookshelf.")
July 19, 2012
It's a good thing amateur sleuths have dogs and cats to solve crimes for them. At least, that's been Rita Mae Brown's thesis for years. And she's right! If it weren't for Baxter, Mag Rogers' wire-haired dachshund, and King, her Aunt Jeep's German Shepherd mix, these two ladies might not solve the case.
Of course they do, but I haven't got that far yet and it's keeping me up nights!
Okay, finished.
Rita Mae Brown knows how to write a mystery that keeps you in suspense until the last minute. The story and characters--especially the real heroes,Baxter & King--were so engaging. While the police officers investigate sabotage and murder, Meg and Jeep track down a century-old mystery of their own. One effects the other. Which does what and when is part of the fun of the story.
Although her message about conserving our natural resources and wild life can sound a bit sermonish at times, it doesn't get in the way of a good mystery.
Of course they do, but I haven't got that far yet and it's keeping me up nights!
Okay, finished.
Rita Mae Brown knows how to write a mystery that keeps you in suspense until the last minute. The story and characters--especially the real heroes,Baxter & King--were so engaging. While the police officers investigate sabotage and murder, Meg and Jeep track down a century-old mystery of their own. One effects the other. Which does what and when is part of the fun of the story.
Although her message about conserving our natural resources and wild life can sound a bit sermonish at times, it doesn't get in the way of a good mystery.
July 19, 2015
Absolutely terrible. I can't think of a single thing I liked about the book. Not only were the two mysteries uninteresting, the author needs to take a class on writing in such a way that things are SHOWN instead of TOLD. For example, early on in the book two characters who supposedly have romantic tension meet. This is unnoticeable until the attraction is pointed out by commentary by the dogs. In fact, throughout the book that dogs are nothing more than a plot device. Never mind the .
If that wasn't enough, this book is preachy. Paragraphs and paragraphs, pages and pages of dialogue are dedicated to the author spouting her opinions about government, water rights, and young people.
Honestly, I think I kept reading this book because it was like a train wreck. It was so bad, I couldn't look away.
If that wasn't enough, this book is preachy. Paragraphs and paragraphs, pages and pages of dialogue are dedicated to the author spouting her opinions about government, water rights, and young people.
Honestly, I think I kept reading this book because it was like a train wreck. It was so bad, I couldn't look away.
March 9, 2013
Interesting first entry in another new series from Rita Mae Brown. As an attorney, I found the discussion of riparian rights thoroughly interesting, thank you, Professor Freyfogle. Like her other cozy mystery series, Ms. Brown preaches the importance of nature, but I found the discussion of water rights in the American West so fascinating that I didn't feel as chastised as I normally do. It could also be that this time I happen to agree with her and believe that urban planning in desert areas needs to take into account the increasing strain on aquifers, and while building multi-million dollar developments brings in more short term profit than agricultural use, America has some of the most fertile land which will be necessary in the long run to feed the world. *end of soap box*
October 24, 2012
I have read many of Rita Mae Brown's previous mysteries and especially liked her Mrs Murphy series. This is the first of a new series starring Mags Roger and her dachshund Baxter. I'm sorry to say after 75 pages I gave up. The mystery revolves around a dead body and water rights. I found myself bogged down and bored in all the extraneous information about Nevada water rights. Even some of the character development contained a great deal of unnecessary information. Just felt it wasn't up to the usual storyline I expect to find from Rita Mae Brown.
June 21, 2012
I love her books with Mrs. Murphy. I have read most of them; so I was looking forward to this new series. What a bore! I read fiction to escape. I do not want a political diatribe on every page coming out of every character's mouth. Yes I'm sure Nevada has a water problem. So does Texas. I don't care to hear about it to the exclusion of plot and character development!!
March 27, 2025
Rita Mae Brown is one of my favorite authors. I have read everything she's written, with the exception of her "cozy" mysteries starring Sneaky Pie. At times, her writing is fully joyful. Two of her backlist, "Southern Discomfort" and "Six of One" are among the best novels I've ever read. She also has had a successful series about a MFH in rural Virginia, "Sister Jane" and her friends, family, and her hounds, horses, and domestic pets.
"A Nose for Justice" is the first book in what will evidently be a new series. Set in Reno, Nevada, this novel is a strange mishmash of water-rights, Wall Street survivor guilt, murders, and an elderly - though still feisty - woman who flew for the WASPs during WW2 and found a fortune after the war on her large ranch outside of Reno. The problem is that the characters aren't particularly interesting and neither is the plot. Now, maybe a first-book-in-a-series should "set up" the ongoing characters, which this one did, but they're so uninteresting that I won't be back for book two.
For me to give any Rita Mae Brown book less than 5 stars is amazing. As I wrote before, I've been a long-time fan of Brown's. I've loved all her stand-alone books, as well as the "Six of One" series and "Sister Jane" series.
Rita, please go back to Sister Jane, or, better still, return to "Six" characters and give us some "back stories" on characters like Celeste Chalfonte. You have a lot of fans out there who'd love to see you return to any/all of your old characters and update them.
The only thing I liked about "A Nose for Justice" are the sketches scattered throughout the book of the plot's two dogs. They are delightful.
"A Nose for Justice" is the first book in what will evidently be a new series. Set in Reno, Nevada, this novel is a strange mishmash of water-rights, Wall Street survivor guilt, murders, and an elderly - though still feisty - woman who flew for the WASPs during WW2 and found a fortune after the war on her large ranch outside of Reno. The problem is that the characters aren't particularly interesting and neither is the plot. Now, maybe a first-book-in-a-series should "set up" the ongoing characters, which this one did, but they're so uninteresting that I won't be back for book two.
For me to give any Rita Mae Brown book less than 5 stars is amazing. As I wrote before, I've been a long-time fan of Brown's. I've loved all her stand-alone books, as well as the "Six of One" series and "Sister Jane" series.
Rita, please go back to Sister Jane, or, better still, return to "Six" characters and give us some "back stories" on characters like Celeste Chalfonte. You have a lot of fans out there who'd love to see you return to any/all of your old characters and update them.
The only thing I liked about "A Nose for Justice" are the sketches scattered throughout the book of the plot's two dogs. They are delightful.
December 7, 2017
Takes place in and around Reno NV from November to January with lots of references to Christmas. Main story line is about murders related to acquisition of water rights for expensive housing development outside Reno. Unusual subplot about discovery of skeletal remains and search for his identity; turns out to be unrelated to the other murders. Two dogs serve as "sideline commentators" but are not involved in solving the mystery until the murderer is revealed and they jump into action. Much of the book is author's commentary and opinions about urbanization, value of water rights, politics, sex, taxation, abortion and the treatment of WASPS, the Womens AirForce Service Pilots, who ferried airplanes during WW II. The skeleton turns out to be a Russian soldier who may have been part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West shows, but this story line is not pursued. The characters who have most to do with solving the mystery are a couple of local cops who are serious about their work and investigate every lead until they know who was responsible.
This book is not listed in cozy mystery lists as a Christmas mystery, but there are many references to gift giving, parties, decorations and preparation for Christmas, so it should be included. I have found from reading many books in these lists that the compilers do not actually read the books since many books they list have no references to Christmas at all; the book title may contain words like Christmas, wreath, holiday or snowman, but the story is not about Christmas.
This book is not listed in cozy mystery lists as a Christmas mystery, but there are many references to gift giving, parties, decorations and preparation for Christmas, so it should be included. I have found from reading many books in these lists that the compilers do not actually read the books since many books they list have no references to Christmas at all; the book title may contain words like Christmas, wreath, holiday or snowman, but the story is not about Christmas.
January 3, 2021
I’ve read a good number of Rita Mae Brown’s Mrs. Murphy series and enjoyed them. This book is a different series with similarities to the Mrs. Murphy series.
Set in Nevada, Mags Rogers and her wirehaired dachshund, Baxter, have relocated to the Wings Ranch, owned by Jeep Reed. Jeep is Mags’ great-aunt and the owner of Wings Ranch. Along with Jeep, her Shepard mix, King, and her son and daughter-in-law live and run the ranch.
When one of the Red Rock Valley’s water pumping stations is sabotaged by a pipe bomb, and then another station is, it becomes apparent someone has it in for Silver State Resource Management, the company who handles water distribution for the area. Water is a precious commodity and also can be big business. These vandalisms not only affect SSRM but also the community.
Deputy Pete Meadows is heading the investigation and when he and Mags meet up it looks like there is a strong attraction between them. A little romance is in the plot?
The two dogs, Baxter and King, initially are unsure of each other but then find they each have complimenting strengths and both are loyal to their humans. In light of this they team up to help solve the bombings.
A side plot is while Mags is doing online research to help with the investigation, she stumbles on a connection between Buffalo Bill and Jeep’s ranch. A side trip into the history of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show is interesting.
An enjoyable cozy read in a Western setting. This appears to be the first in the series.
Set in Nevada, Mags Rogers and her wirehaired dachshund, Baxter, have relocated to the Wings Ranch, owned by Jeep Reed. Jeep is Mags’ great-aunt and the owner of Wings Ranch. Along with Jeep, her Shepard mix, King, and her son and daughter-in-law live and run the ranch.
When one of the Red Rock Valley’s water pumping stations is sabotaged by a pipe bomb, and then another station is, it becomes apparent someone has it in for Silver State Resource Management, the company who handles water distribution for the area. Water is a precious commodity and also can be big business. These vandalisms not only affect SSRM but also the community.
Deputy Pete Meadows is heading the investigation and when he and Mags meet up it looks like there is a strong attraction between them. A little romance is in the plot?
The two dogs, Baxter and King, initially are unsure of each other but then find they each have complimenting strengths and both are loyal to their humans. In light of this they team up to help solve the bombings.
A side plot is while Mags is doing online research to help with the investigation, she stumbles on a connection between Buffalo Bill and Jeep’s ranch. A side trip into the history of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show is interesting.
An enjoyable cozy read in a Western setting. This appears to be the first in the series.
August 25, 2019
Generally speaking, when a book begins with a list of the "Cast of Characters" I'm done. I skipped that part. Initially I read about 30 pages and thought I was done, but then, maybe because I didnt have any other reading material I picked it up again and eventually finished it. So, it was "OK" there were a lot of small details that maybe make things interesting for others, but I'm not a super fan of long winded descriptions of vehicles - using brand names and such. I also commend Ms. Brown for attempting to discuss Water Rights in the state of Nevada in a book of popular fiction. It WAS boring, but, to her credit, I skimmed those sections and moved on. The book kind of wrapped up a surprise ending with the dogs killing the suspect, which...seems somewhat unrealistic- dogs usually just kind of attack . This one goes back to the Little Free Library where I got it. There were a few phrases that were sort of shockingly beautiful in the book and stuck out because they were so nice - on what it means to be an American, etc. I did appreciate the strong older woman character that the author created, she was refreshing, though I wondered about anyone at 86 riding about in an ATV, but... who knows! Also a good beach read.
July 20, 2019
I used to really enjoy Brown’s books and couldn’t wait for the next Sneaky Pie book to come out. The combination of mystery and the animals’ perspective is unique. However, in the past ten years or so, Brown spends as much time preaching on environmental and social issues as she does telling the story. She also lately tends to have some random side plot that, while historically interesting, has nothing to do with the main plot.
I had hoped this new series (?) would get me interested again. This book would have been much more entertaining with half (or less) of the preaching and side plot. I like Mags and Pete. Jeep is a spunky old lady with an old mix of views—liberal socially, more traditional in other aspects. Baxter and King haven’t gripped me the way the animals in the previous series did, but they might eventually.
Will I read the next book? I’ll probably try it. Hope springs eternal!
I had hoped this new series (?) would get me interested again. This book would have been much more entertaining with half (or less) of the preaching and side plot. I like Mags and Pete. Jeep is a spunky old lady with an old mix of views—liberal socially, more traditional in other aspects. Baxter and King haven’t gripped me the way the animals in the previous series did, but they might eventually.
Will I read the next book? I’ll probably try it. Hope springs eternal!
July 17, 2019
#1 in the Mags Rogers mystery series. After her Wall Street career abruptly ends, 32 year old Mags, relocates to her 85 year old great Aunt Magdalena’s (called Jeep who's the real star!) Wings Ranch in Washoe County, Nevada (one quibble, the story says the ranch is 22 miles south of Reno, but it should be 22 miles north of the city!). to get her life back together. Two other important characters, besides Jeep, is her dachshund, Baxter, and Jeep’s German Shepherd, King. There is a strong social, political and economic commentary running through the story which I feel is the real point of the story.
Mags arrives in early December (ends in January) and instead of a quiet sojourn on the ranch, there is the discovery of a more than 100 year skeleton buried in the ranch barn and an important water pumping station is pipe bombed meshing Mags in anything but a peaceful stay.
Mags arrives in early December (ends in January) and instead of a quiet sojourn on the ranch, there is the discovery of a more than 100 year skeleton buried in the ranch barn and an important water pumping station is pipe bombed meshing Mags in anything but a peaceful stay.
December 25, 2021
This is the first book in a new series by Rita Mae Brown and so far so good...can't wait to see what these new characters get into and up to. There of course are dogs in this story as well so for me another plus Lol King is a Shepherd mix while Baxter is a wire haired Doxie. Mags Rogers is trying to rebuild her life so she comes to her Great Aunt's home in Nevada bringing her beloved Dachshund Baxter with her. This story has mystery murder and even a passing note to "Wild" Bill Cody and a feisty and fun 85 yr old Lady who has a dream for feeding the hungry and doing more good with her remaining time...I really enjoyed the book
December 4, 2023
Might’ve helped if the author started out by explaining to me about water rights, since that’s what the whole story is about. The side stories about the female WWII pilots & Buffalo Bill’s show were interesting. The dogs’ dialog was fun, & I wouldn’t exactly say they were irrelevant, since they found one victim & saved their person when they were attacked. I was surprised that they actually killed the attacker (& the sought killer) tho! The animals in the Mrs. Murphy series defend & protect, but I don’t think they ever killed anyone. The drawings in this large-print edition I got were quite good, they really added enjoyment to the book.
June 23, 2017
What can I say. When you read a Rita Mae Brown book you learn so much about what is going on around you from fox hunting to water rights in Nevada. Throw in what it was like to be a female pilot during the war sprinkled with history from the Buffalo Bill era. I feel refreshed and more in tune with what Rita has to offer. Not to mention the fact that it is obvious she, the author, loves animals of all kinds. Baxter and King were dogs who loved their humans as well and in this book they came to the rescue when danger presented itself.
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