Santa Clawed (Mrs. Murphy Series #17)

Team Brown provides another enjoyable Harry and her PUSS `N CAHOOTS anthropomorphic whodunit

With the Christmas holidays arriving soon, life seems comfy in Crozet, Virginia a place where all sorts of animals talk to each across species lines. The only ones who don¿t understand the inter-animal communication system are the dumb humans. Although Mary Minor ¿Harry¿ Haristeen thinks she can sometimes comprehend what her pets are saying especially her two cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and to a lesser degree her corgi Tee Tucker.---------------- Harry and her husband Fair are looking for a Christmas tree at a farm run by The Brothers of Love, a group dedicated to helping AIDS patients at their hospice. When they reach the monks¿ tree farm near the Blue Ridge Mountains, Harry and Fair are stunned to find the dead body of Brother Christopher, who joined the monastery soon after he left jail. He was sent there for insider trading bilking clients for millions. When a second monk is found murdered, his throat slashed similar in a way to Christopher¿s death with a coin also in his mouth, the police know they are dealing with a cold blooded killer. Harry and her animal caretakers investigate only to find her caught in a web by a predator willing to make the Yuletide season blood red.--------------- Obviously similar to previous tales in the long running saga, anyone who appreciates a pick me up filled with humor and murder will want to read SANTA CLAWED. Although Harry and Fair remarried they are still honeymooning while finding corpses decorating trees. The animals do what they do best one claw make that clue at a time while trying to keep their meddling beloved owner safe from her actions that place her in danger. The mystery is fun as the killer is in plain sight but difficult to identify. Team Brown provides another enjoyable Harry and her PUSS `N CAHOOTS anthropomorphic whodunit.------------------ Harriet Klausner

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

More of the same

This book was a disappointment. Ms. Brown needs to shake things up a bit with her normal cast of characters and the plots of her books. She repeats herself; from book to book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

FUN SERIES

This entire series is just fun to read and caters to the mystery lover and those that have pets.

This is a good book to sit down and relax with.

I have been reading Rita Mae Brown for about 15 years now and I love all of her books. Her writing style is conversational and easy to follow. I appreciate several of the characters who are cats and dogs (and possum, owl, and snake). I am an avid animal lover and the author really seems to capture what these guys are thinking.

About as good as the last few -

I like Mrs Murphy, Pewter,Tucker and the other animals. The rest of the characters are a little ho-hum. The last three or four books in the series haven't been as good as what the series started out being. A few things that I didn't understand were: (1) In chapter 15, the Christmas party at St. Lukes Church. They have a bar serving alcohol in a church. Maybe it's because I'm from the bible belt and was raised to respect the church but that just seems soooo wrong in so may ways! (2) Harry gets hurt and is taken to the hospital in an ambulance. in Chapter 22 it says "Since it was December 23, the staff at the hospital functioned at skeleton level." What kind of hospital all but shuts down over the holidays? Especially over the holidays??? Later in chapter 22, "The ambluance crawled on the way back to the farm......Fair sat next to Harry, as Cooper followed in her squad car." Oh come on, since when do Ambulances do taxi service??? And why didn't Cooper, one of Harry's best friends and neighbor just give them a ride home since she was going that way any way? (3) We learned early on in the book that the monks took vows of poverty and that "A monks living quarters is traditionally called a "cell" and these,while spare, did have heat and running water. No luxuries..." I was just wondering why in Chapter 24 Brother George and Brother Luther are talking on a cell phone? Maybe not a luxury but doesn't exactly rank in there with heat and running water.
I'll probably buy the next one in the series, like I said, I like the animals!!!

Worst in the series

This book is not as good as others in her series. I found this one to be a bit preachy - all about God and the morals of mankind - rather than focusing on the mystery and the animals. There is no advancement of the characters - so this book safe to skip.

An enjoyable fast read for the holiday season.

A bit more serious and risque for this author, however every bit as enjoyable as the rest of her series. As usual Harry finds herself deep in trouble and the rescue scene enabled by her beloved pets and husband in this book is marvelous.

Santa Clawed

This is a nice easy read for mystery fans and for animal lovers alike.
I love all of Rita Mae Brown's books with Mrs. Murphy and her other
animal friends.

Santa Clawed really dug in.

Another treasure from Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie. A great way to relax during the holidays.

Great Characters

I love animals and mysteries are top of my list favorites so this book was wonderful and very entertaining, as well as, a fast read. I recommend it to all.

Very good read

I thoroghly enjoyed the book, and couldn't put ity down.

As usual Rita Mae is the best. I will never get tired of her animal characters or their insight into humans.

Classic Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie series. I devoured it in a day and a half and wanted more, as always. I love this town, these people, and especially the critters. Rita Mae has written about much more serious subjects, but her mystery series, including the Sister series, are just plain enjoyable. She has a great sense of humor. About half way through the series I could no longer wait for the books to come out in paperback, so I started ordering them in hardback edition. I have read them, let's say, more than once because it's like going to visit friends. If you like mysteries and animals and lovely people who care about each other then grab one and enjoy.

Cat detectives

Enjoyful writing and reading, leave it to a cat and her friends to get involved in crimes, do the investigations and solve them, all the while the humans think they are doing it, so they have their little spats and disagreements and question each other, but in the end they are still friends

Mrs. Murphy Series

I love cats and mysteries, and was absolutely thrilled to find such a wonderful series that fulfilled both. I await each new book.

Another great chapter in the lives of Harry and friends!

I enjoy each new Mrs. Murphy Mystery and "Santa Clawed" was no exception! I've never had Christmas in Crozet before so it was especially enjoyable! I highly recommend this book.

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