- ISBN13: 9780553807073
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
Acclaimed authors Rita Mae Brown and her feline partner, Sneaky Pie Brown, are back with this new mystery starring Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen, the sleuthing cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and corgi Tee Tucker. And this time they must catch a killer determined to turn a birthday party into a funeral.
Harry’s beloved and tart-tongued Aunt Tally is about to turn the big 1-0-0. The alumnae association of her alma mater sees an opportunity to honor the… More >>
Cat of the Century: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery
I used to really enjoy these Mrs. Murphy books, and own most of them. However, this one will be my last. Every single conversation between characters turns into a dig on the government. That is not why I read these cozy mysteries. Most of the politicizing has absolutely nothing to do with the storyline, and leaves me scratching my head as to why the author included it. Surely there is a better venue to express one’s political views than a cat mystery book?
Rating: 1 / 5
I have loved most of RMB’s earlier books. I have all of them except for this one. When she wrote “Sour Puss” something about her changed I think as a person and it caused her delightful, fun, engaging fiction to plunge into a dismal state of getting on soap boxes, complaining about the government and basically all around using her book as a political platform with an occasional cuteness thrown in with a comment from Mrs. Murphy, Pewter or Tucker. Except now she has even gone and corrupted the animals. They are truly still the most likeable of the bunch, including Aunt Tally’s Gordon Setter, Doddles, and Enzo, Inez’s dog whose breed escapes me.
I truly thought after “Puss” I would give up reading Mrs. Murphy’s series because I figured out whodunit after 60 pages and didn’t bother finishing the book. However, I had high hopes when she released “Santa Clawed”, her last book, because it remaind truer to her previous wonderful stories rather than political jib jab and high horses. I had hoped sincerely with all the positive PR “Clawed” received that RMB would go back to what works. I was sadly mistaken.
In summary, I agree with most of the reviewers here who said they miss the old books with their playful banter and amature detection, rather than forums and pomposity. I am sick of the political forums, I would watch the news if I wanted that. Her dialogue has even changed where the characters now speak at each other rather than to each other. She adds qualifiers to everything! There is a part where Aunt Tally uses the word “Ain’t” in a fairly well known colloquialism most anyone can recognize, but Brown points out she is just using the expression as Tally always has an excellent grasp of the English language and grammar. So unnecessary! The writing here is just plain awful and once again, I figured out whodunit halfway through the book.
I would normally say die hard fans should check it out and see for themselves, but this book was so bad I wouldn’t even buy it in paperback when it comes out to complete my collection. Skip skip skip it unless you get it from the library and positively have nothing else to do. It is more fun to scrub your toilet than read this. I am sad to say good bye to Mrs. Murphy, but I too agree this will be my last one. There are so many other books out there to read than to hope Brown will go back to the old days.
Rating: 1 / 5
I have really tried to like her last three books but alas, I think this is it for me.
I am tired of the soap box and whatever tirade she is on at the time of her writing. The cats and dogs are the best part of the book.
If I want politics, and preaching I will turn on the all day news. they all do enough of it.
I read to escape and relax but Her latest books do neither. I know of two people that quit before the last two.
While I applaud the remarriage- Oh for the days when Harry and Miranda pushed the pets around the post office in a cart.
Rating: 2 / 5
Rita Mae Brown is one of the authors, I always monitor–looking for a new title. I was very excited when Cat of the Century was released on the kindle so early. I just finished reading it last night–I kept hoping that she’d just tell the story and stop trying to convince us to join the “Tea Party”. In her Sister Jane books, Ms. Brown spends a lot of time “explaining” fox hunting, horses, etc.–even though after the second book, it was getting repetitive, it didn’t get in the way of the story. But in this one, the ranting about taxes seemed to become a justification for ponzi schemes, cheating and murder. The story would have been more compelling if she’d left all that moralizing (if you can call it that) out. I am so disappointed, I may never read another one of her books, and I certainly would not recommend this one. Even if I agreed with her premise, the “preaching” is so pervasive it gets in the way of the story. She has joined Susan Conant and some other authors — authors whose “message” is more important to them than telling the story.
–No Longer a Faithful Reader
Rating: 1 / 5
I agree with all the comments which have expressed disappointment with Rita Mae Brown’s increasing use of her fiction as a political soapbox. It detracts from the writing, making it feel like an awkward polemic. It also takes up space which used to be used for character development, which I feel has fallen off sharply, to my sadness. I loved these books when I first discovered them, partly because Brown did develop real characters–not only Big and Little Mim, but Boom Boom, Miranda, Blair and a host of others. Now, she barely allows her current cast to speak for themselves!
I also loved them because I was living overseas at the time and they reminded me of things I missed about America. Now, they would remind me our acrimonious and shrill political environment!
I have had a great run with Harry and Mrs. M, but think this one may be the last polemic for me……
Rating: 2 / 5