Product Description

Curiosity just might be the death of Mrs. Murphy--and her human companion, Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen. Small towns are like families: Everyone lives very close together. . .and everyone keeps secrets. Crozet, Virginia, is a typical small town-until its secrets explode into murder. Crozet's thirty-something post-mistress, Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen, has a tiger cat (Mrs. Murphy) and a Welsh Corgi (Tucker), a pending divorce, and a bad habit of reading postcards not addressed to her. When Crozet's citizens start turning up murdered, Harry remembers that each received a card with a tombstone on the front and the message "Wish you were here" on the back. Intent on protecting their human friend, Mrs. Murphy and Tucker begin to scent out clues. Meanwhile, Harry is conducting her own investigation, unaware her pets are one step ahead of her. If only Mrs. Murphy could alert her somehow, Harry could uncover the culprit before the murder occurs--and before Harry finds herself on the killer's mailing list.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #108402 in Books
• Published on: 1991-11-01
• Released on: 1991-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 320 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Crediting her cat Sneaky Pie as coauthor, Brown ( Rubyfruit Jungle ) sets the thoroughly likable heroine of this mystery, Mary Minor Haristeen, in an admirable position to figure out who is murdering, in ghastly fashion, various pillars of her community. Harry, with constant companions Mrs. Murphy, a cat, and Welsh corgi Tucker, is postmistress of Crozet, Va. Postcards are sent to a wealthy contractor shortly before parts of his body are found in a cement mixer and then to a storeowner whose corpse, tied to a railroad track, is cut in three parts by the express. The cards alert Harry and friends to a plot that will take more lives before they discover the treasure that inspires the violence. Brown's lively characterization brings merchants and first-family Virginians alive with affection and verve. Even the snippets of conversation contributed by Crozet's four-legged inhabitants are credible rather than cloying. Harry's in-process divorce of the town vet gives Brown opportunity to wax wise on issues of human relationships, feminism and the pitfalls of greed. A charming adventure, with teeth.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
YA-- At last there is a book that truly recognizes the important role animals have in solving crimes. Braun's "The Cat Who" series comes close, but it doesn't give the in-depth look at animal conversations and sleuthing from the point of view that this title does. The Browns have written a fast-paced, easy-to-read, attention-grabbing mystery sure to be loved by teens. Tee Tucker (a Corgi) and Mrs. Murphy (a gray tiger cat) utilize their superior detective abilities to determine who sends macabre post cards to the next murder victim. These sleuths must throw clues at the dense humans who try to solve the mystery before becoming the next corpse. The witty dialogue of humans and pets enables readers to know and identify with the unique residents in small-town America, and the attractive line drawings depict the industrious animal detectives. This is the first in a crime series; readers will eagerly await the opportunity to scent out the clues in the second.
- Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Mary Minor ("Harry") Haristeen, divorce in the works, runs the post office in Crozet, Virginia, with a pet cat and dog at her side. After two spectacularly gruesome murders rock the community, Harry attempts to gather helpful clues, while the pets (who converse with each other) do their best to protect her. Despite a few light moments, the "cute" antics of the animals wear desperately thin, failing to shore up the flimsy plot construction or bolster the weak characterization. A disappointment from the author of Rubyfruit Jungle (Daughters, 1973).
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

An enjoyable read with likeable characters
This is the first in the Sneakie Pie series by this author, and I think I liked this better than a later book in the series I read, but perhaps they are best read in order. This is definitely a book for animal lovers (cats and dogs who communicate with each other are a significant part of the book). I suspect also that women will probably like this book more than men -- it's basically a cozy mystery set in a small Virginia town with a woman as the lead character.

Harry (a woman) is the overeducated (she went to Smith but is not particularly ambitious) postmaster of a small Virginia town. She walks to work from her country house, accompanied by her cat and dog, who spend the day with her at the tiny post office where residents come in to get their mail each day. No wonder she has such energy to garden, clean, and what not when she gets home -- her work takes up little energy so she spends much of the day socializing and reading post cards. She notices a strange postcard with a grave marker that says "wish you were here" -- and no signature. The recipient turns up dead shortly thereafter. She figures out the post card was sent by the killer and from there gets involved in solving the mystery (with the unbelievable cooperation of the sheriff). The plotting is pretty good, although I pegged the killer early on based on my knowledge of who the killer tends to be in mysteries. It didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the book as I suspected but didn't know for sure or why. This is a great "escape" book that doesn't require a lot of concentration -- no tricky time lines or long list of characters to try to keep track of -- each character stands out memorably.

I intend to go on reading this series -- I would describe this mystery as engaging and reasonably well written.

Cute and Easy to Read...
...but not a five star book. If I were to judge this solely on its literary merit, it would be a two or three star review, but I understand that the goal of this story -- written by and starring a excessively smart cat -- is to provide a frivolous escape. Some might call it "Brain Candy". Anyway, I understand the need for some good ol' brain candy, so I gave it 4 stars despite what I consider to be poor writing.

The mystery is creative, and the characters are colorful and fun. There was a definite sense of danger that built towards the end of the story. In fact, the story became more gripping as it neared the end. Once the mystery is solved, the book wastes no time in wrapping up the tale, and ends an abrupt handful of pages later.

Like I said: fun, easy to read, but not something to write to your old English professors about.

One thing I should mention: I am a pet lover, and as such I think that the concept of a cat and dog who follow their owner around off leash in public is cute, if not more than a bit far-fetched. Those who are not animal lovers should probably stick to regular human-oriented mysteries, as this will probably sicken you with furry sweetness.

One other thing that I feel I should mention is that there was a surprising of profanity and some rather gruesome deaths... I don't know why but I thought this was going to be more "G-Rated". However, it is definitely targeted at an adult sense of humor. There wasn't anything terribly over-the-top, but it took me off guard. In fact, its one of the reasons I upped my review to 4 stars, because I like some occasional profanity, but it might not be for everyone.

Wish You Were Here
A lot of fun to read and the animals are delightful. Once you get started it's hard to put this book down. Each book in this series offers a new and interesting plot even with the same characters. Well written and I'll read more of them.