Whiskers in the Dark (Mrs. Murphy #28) by Rita Mae Brown

Whiskers in the Dark

(Mrs. Murphy #28)

by Rita Mae Brown

Kindle Edition, 300 pages

Published June 4th 2019 by Thomas & Mercer

Goodreads synopsis:

Death stalks the Blue Ridge Mountains as a centuries-old mystery resurfaces and murder mars the lead-up to an annual beagle competition, in a thrilling new tale from Rita Mae Brown and her feline co-author Sneaky Pie Brown. 

"As feline collaborators go, you couldn't ask for better than Sneaky Pie Brown."--The New York Times Book Review

A massive nor'easter has hit northern Virginia, where Mary Minor "Harry" Harristeen joins groundskeeping efforts at the National Beagle Club at Aldie as the date for its springtime Hounds for Heroes veterans' benefit approaches. Harry's fellow volunteers, including her oldest friend, Susan Tucker, comprise a spirited group of hunting enthusiasts, some former service members themselves. But things take a sinister turn when, after a routine tree cleanup along the Club's hunting trails, retired foreign services officer Jason Holzknect is found dead, throat slit from ear to ear. Soon enough, another murder in their midst jolts the preparations, convincing Harry that the killer is familiar with the Club--and must be close by, masked in plain sight.

The intrigue extends to the grounds of Harry's beloved local church, where the identity of an eighteenth-century skeleton wearing precious pearls remains a mystery. The anonymous woman's neck had been snapped, and marks on the grave where her body was secreted indicate that someone recently tried to remove it, leading Harry to question how well she really knows those around her.

As always, Harry's crime-solving cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and Tee Tucker the Corgi share her determination to sniff out the foes among friends, even those long buried. Harry will need her four-legged companions' help more than ever: a ghostly beagle only they can see may hold the key to the culprit.

***

2 Stars

This is the 28th book in the Mrs. Murphy mystery series.

I should have gone with my first instinct and passed this ARC right on by. I knew I might not like talking animals in my stories and I was right. But there was so much more wrong with this than the talking animals. The author used this as a study in American History and did a pretty good job of shoving a whole lot of it down our throats every chance that came around.

History has its place in a story, I think. But I don’t think I need to relive a lot of it to understand the entire dynamic of what went down back then. Trying to wade through it all only served in giving me a headache. I hate being so down on a book. It is so not like me. 

I might have been able to overlook it but the mystery was nearly non-existent. I am reading for the mystery., Not the history. Not the animals. The last few chapters is where the crux of the cozy mystery happened. And considering this book is nearly 300 pages, that is sad.

Don’t get me wrong. This book has its place in the market. If you are a hardcore Disney fan and love your talking animals, you may be into this. If you are a fan of history, this is your baby. I will let the author serve it up to you. But if you are here for the mystery, don’t waste your time.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.