Product Description

"You'll never get old."

Each member of the class of 1980 has received the letter. Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen, who is on the organizing committee for Crozet High's twentieth reunion, decides to take it as a compliment. Others think it's a joke.

But Mrs. Murphy senses trouble. And the sly tiger cat is soon proven right ... when the class womanizer turns up dead with a bullet between his eyes. Then another note followed by another murder makes it clear that someone has waited twenty years to take revenge.

While Harry tries to piece together the puzzle, it's up to Mrs. Murphy and her animal pals to sniff out the truth. And there isn't much time. Mrs. Murphy is the first to realize that Harry has been chosen Most Likely to Die, and if she doesn't hurry, Crozet High's twentieth reunion could be Harry's last.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #219665 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-30
• Released on: 2001-01-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 368 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780553580259
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
When a mystery author claims her cat as coauthor, it's a fairly safe bet that the team won't be producing disturbing psychological thrillers or hard-edged legal procedurals. And indeed, Rita Mae Brown and her cat, Sneaky Pie, have carved out a comfortable niche for themselves in the cozy category, spinning tales (Rest in Pieces; Murder, She Meowed; Cat on the Scent) around the goings-on in Crozet, a small Virginia town where everyone knows everyone else and recipes and gossip are exchanged over the post office counter. Mary Minor Haristeen ("Harry") is Crozet's postmistress and the proud owner of two cats, Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and one corgi, Tee Tucker--animals with an uncanny ability to sniff out secrets and hidden motives as well as mice and roast beef.

Pawing Through the Past capitalizes on the myriad subtle relationships that form the backbone of small-town culture, and which Brown and Sneaky Pie have carefully woven throughout the Mrs. Murphy series. In a nicely appropriate nod to that culture's rivalries and alliances, Brown has chosen a high school reunion--traditional hotbed of simmering unease--as her mise-en-scène. When each member of the Crozet High Class of 1980 receives an anonymous note stating, "You'll never get old," most take it as a joke or a compliment. But when the class womanizer turns up with a bullet between his eyes, and more notes--and more bodies--start appearing, Harry and her menagerie find themselves at the center of a revenge plot 20 years in the making.

Brown's latest is replete with the sly asides that have endeared her to animal lovers--"Cats are by instinct and inclination dedicated anarchists"--and with the naively humorous "conversations" between the animals themselves. When Pewter, watching a team of police officers wrestling a stiff corpse out of a dumpster, wonders, "Why don't they just break his arms and legs?" Murphy replies knowingly, "They'd pass out. Humans are touchy about their dead." Unfortunately, these favorable attributes can't quite mask an incoherent plot, nor Brown's awkwardly pompous social commentary: "By and large, the women looked better than the men, testimony to the cultural pressure for women to fuss over themselves." But Brown's legions of fans will doubtlessly forgive these shortcomings, concentrating instead on the antics of a memorable four-legged and furry trio. --Kelly Flynn

From Publishers Weekly
Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen and her intrepid trio of animal sleuths are back for an eighth--and winsome--adventure (following Cat on the Scent). Harry, postmistress of seemingly bucolic Crozet, Va., and her classmates are excited about their upcoming 20th high school reunion. They share bittersweet memories of that time when everything seemed possible, as preparations proceed to welcome back far-flung classmates. But it quickly becomes apparent that one person's memories are only bitter: weeks before the celebration, each classmate receives an anonymous letter reading, "You'll never get old." The class Casanova then gets a bullet between the eyes; more threatening letters follow. While the humans involved argue, dither and try to figure out what's behind the murderous rage turning their reunion into a killing ground, Mrs. Murphy, Pewter and Tee Tucker (Harry's sage tiger cat, plump gray cat and Welsh corgi, respectively) conduct their own investigation. Brown's appealing sense of humor, well-constructed setting and competent plotting carry the day. Her talking, thinking animals are funny and, for those who like this sort of thing, even adorable. Illus. by Itoko Maeno. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Apparently eight's the charm for Rita Mae Brown and her cat, Sneaky Pie, whose latest adventure just may be the best in this long-running series. Did Brown read reviews or hear complaints from fans about her last effort, Cat on the Scent ? Whatever the reason, she has toned the corny elements way down this time around. Yes, the animals still talk, as they always do, but here the comments of Mrs. Murphy and Pewter (the cats) and Tee Tucker (the dog) are used judiciously, and Brown wisely avoids having them drive cars or perform other far-fetched antics. Happily, endearing protagonist Mary Minor "Harry" Harristeen, the thirtysomething, no-nonsense farmer who runs the post office in tiny Crozet, Virginia, takes center stage. As she plans the twentieth high-school reunion of Crozet High's class of 1980, Harry finds herself pondering various emotional issues, including her feelings for her ex-husband, Fair. Soon introspection turns to action as several of Harry's male classmates are shot. Brown delivers more information about Crozet "regulars" than she has in previous installments, adding spice to the story and fueling our curiosity about which one of these folksy characters could be a killer. Fans of cat mysteries will be happy to discover that Brown has returned to form. Jenny McLarin

Customer Reviews

The Best in the Mrs. Murphy series to date.
Harry gets a little braver, Miranda and Mim get a little looser, and other characters become more well known. Crozet is holding a twentieth year high-school reunion (Harry's) and a fiftieth year reunion (Miranda's) at the same time, the only difference in the two being the cause for excitement. In Harry's a killer is running loose and class members are dropping like flies. In Miranda's a love interest comes. The suspense steadily mounts throughout the book as Brown creates a web of age-old secrets. The book is slightly reminiscent of "Wish You Were Here" in the way the victims are notified of their impending death. This mystery has a mind-boggling, suspense-filled ending.

The animals are a little more sensible in this book as compared to Brown's last one. They no longer do outlandish things such as drive cars, but they continue with their catty and sarcastic remarks.

The past of several town members becomes more well-known in this book and anchors them in our minds better. When I finished it, for a day or two I found myself slightly lost without these witty and wonderful characters.

All in all, this is a great mystery sure to be enjoyed. Just remember, in a small town, nothing is ever as it seems!

One of the best!
Ms. Brown's latest adventure featuring the folks of Cozet is just delightful. I've been a avid fan of this Mrs. Murphy series from the beginning and this 8th book is one of the best. Ms. Brown has weaved a delicious murder mystery centering around Harry's 20th class reunion. But although the construction of the mystery would be enough to keep most mystery readers turning the pages until the early hours, it is the continuation of the evolution of the characters that had me saying, "OK--just *one* more chapter before bed." I just had to know what was happening between Harry and Fair and, to my delight--Miranda and an old beau! This latest Mrs. Murphy Mystery is a true "must read" for all the fans of the folks and critters of this wonderful series.

The Class of 1980 - or what's left of it
When the toast at the 20th class reunion is "To the class of '80 - or what's left of it" you know there is more going on than reminiscing about old times. This book is an excellent mystery in Crozet as members of Harry's class are mysteriously murdered - and Harry may be next! The author's grasp of human nature is dead on here - and her grasp of animal nature can't be beat. Mrs. Murphy, Pewter and Tucker, who talk to each other and can understand humans, but cannot be understood by them, are hilarious. The animals' personalities really come forth in this book, which triples the fun. This is a delightful, original mystery which I would recommend to anyone, and I look forward eagerly to reading her other Mrs. Murphy books.