"Another wonderful installment in the Mrs. Murphy mysteries."

Brown and her feline co-author, Sneaky Pie, have created another fabulous tale from the small town of Crozet, Virginia. "Harry" Harristeen, the amateur sleuth postmistress, and her opinionated animal companions literally stumble on what appears to be the victim of an attack. Shortly afterwards, she finds a ring formerly belonging to an infamous local woman, who disappeared in mysterious circumstances years ago but left an equine legacy behind her.

When a rabies scare infects the village, local veterinarians check and recheck the papers of pets and large animals in the area to find the source of contagion. Along with investigating the various and unusual circumstances in the horse breeding industry, Harry feels the weight of change coming to the post office, as well as to the town, and she has to decide on her priorities. Meanwhile, Fair Harristeen, Harry's ex-husband and large animal veterinarian, continues to court Harry and research sources of rabies.

This is another wonderful installment of the Mrs. Murphy Mysteries. Along with the favorite characters, folksy and upper-crust, the Browns introduce intriguing new characters as well. The interplay between the animals is amusing and enlightening, as usual. The book is delightful and vastly entertaining with a tightly created mystery.

Reviewed by Vicky Gilpin
Courtesy Old Book Barn Gazette
Posted March 10, 2004

Summary

A mysterious death in a Virginia farm town has the locals scratching their heads?while frisky feline Mrs. Murphy and her friends, fat-cat Pewter and corgi Tee Tucker, uncover clues as they curl their way around a cold-blooded killer. This balmy summer in Crozet, Virginia, postmistress Mary Minor ?Harry? Haristeen has a lot to think about. Things have been pretty cozy between her and her ex-husband, Fair and her beloved old post office is in danger of being replaced with a modern building?and modern rules. Harry?s thoughtful contemplation is shattered the day she stumbles over a dead body near Potlicker Creek. Barry Monteith, the handsome local horse breeder, has been savagely murdered. A true ladies? man, Barry was known to have left a string of broken hearts behind him. But could a spurned lover be responsible for his untimely demise? The plot only thickens when an autopsy reveals that Barry was infected with rabies weeks before he was killed. As usual, Harry can?t resist doing a little digging?with Mrs. Murphy close by to warn of approaching danger. Harry makes a remarkable discovery in the creek?the class ring of Mary Pat Reines, a local woman who disappeared thirty years earlier along with her prized Thoroughbred stallion. Like Barry, Mary Pat was a successful horse breeder?and now all of Crozet is wondering if the two cases are linked. As the police struggle with the evidence, the pressure gets hotter than a June afternoon?especially when another person is found dead of less-than-natural causes. As usual, Mrs. Murphy and her crew are the first to sniff out the truth. But if they don?t find a way to help Harry piece together the puzzle, she could become the killer?s next target?and even Mrs. Murphy?s slinkiest moves won?t be able to save her.