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4.0 out of 5 stars
CATNIP FOR READERS OF COZY MYSTERIES, Mar 22 2006
Among the top writers of cat mysteries are Lillian Jackson Braun, Shirley Rousseau Murphy and, of course, Rita Mae Brown who co-authors with her tiger cat Sneaky Pie Brown. Each of these authors has gained a loyal following with their warm, witty, suspenseful tales grounded in the relationship between humans and their felines. Titles in this genre are often called “cozy mysteries” because of the lack of graphic violence. They’re books that one can almost cuddle up with and enjoy the repartee between felines and their masters. Of course, all of these cats are gifted with speech so they speak freely between themselves and humans. Their opinion of human thought, customs and life is not always flattering but each knows where his or her next dish of tuna is coming from. In the case of “Sour Puss” readers again find themselves in the small town of Crozet, Virginia, where a wedding is taking place. Mrs. Murphy, a tiger cat belonging to Mary “Harry” Hairisteen, and Pewter, a rotund gray cat are viewing the joining of Harry and Fair, the local equine veterinarian. Tucker, a corgi, watches the exchange of vows from a bench next to the organist. Marriage to the cats is just one more puzzling aspect of human behavior. As Pewter observes, “Why do people get married? We don’t. It’s such an expense, a big public display......Can’t they just pair off and be done with it?” Nonetheless, they patiently wait for the reception which means food, one of their prime interests. All went well at the ceremony until Pewter and Mrs. Murphy engaged in a swatting match that propelled Pewter off the balcony and onto the organist’s bench. That wasn’t the only interruption to Harry and Fair’s new state of wedded bliss - a renowned horticulture expert, Professor Vincent Farland, is found dead in a field. Harry well knows that there’s more to this than a body in a field, so with the help of Mrs. Murphy, Pewter and Tucker she begins her investigation. Readers of Rita Mae Brown’s cat mysteries find as much enjoyment in the antics of her feline characters as they do in the crime solving. The author does offer a helpful cast of characters at the outset. First time readers would do well to acquaint themselves with this listing as characters, both two and four-legged abound. If you like cat capers this one’s for you. - Gail Cooke
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by Rita Mae Brown
