Book 4, 2020

[chez_jae]

Claws and Effect by Rita Mae Brown

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I finished reading Claws and Effect last night, before bedtime even! It's the 9th book in the "Mrs Murphy" mystery series, written by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown. The series features small town Postmistress Mary Harristeen--Harry, to her friends, and her cats Mrs Murphy and Pewter, and her corgi, Tee Tucker.

The winter blahs have everyone in Crozet, VA, feeling lethargic. The town gets more excitement than it needs, however, when the head maintenance man at the hospital is found dead, murdered, in the boiler room. Everyone has a theory as to why someone may have killed Hank. Harry can't resist asking questions and speculating with her friends, and what she learns is that the hospital is an island unto itself, filled with its own spats, alliances, squabbles, and affairs. When Harry's snooping results in her being injured, the animals take it upon themselves to find out more of what's going on, in an effort to protect their 'mother'. They discover a hidden room in the hospital's underbelly, one that may date back to the days of the Underground Railroad. Unfortunately, the cats and dog can't communicate this to Harry, and it isn't until more people die and the killer gets desperate that the crimes come to light.

I always enjoy these books. The wry wit and dry observations of the animals are some of the best parts about the series. Harry is likable and relatable, and all characters are portrayed well, even secondary and temporary ones. The plot was paced well and kept me turning pages.


- Not happy that the author(s) killed off a familiar, beloved character.
- Why do these books always seem to involve multiple homicides? Isn't one murder enough?
- I know the Reverend has two cats, but I thought they were Elocution and Lucy Fur. In this book, however, it was Elocution and Cazenovia. Wha...?
- The tired trope of the main character always ending up in danger and/or getting injured or abducted. Enough, already!

Favorite lines:
♦ "I don't mind snow, but ice plucks my last nerve."
♦ The bumpkin was one of those stereotypes that seemed to satisfy some hunger in city people to feel superior to those not in the city.
♦ "Don't waste your time on a pretty man. They're always trouble. Find a guy who works hard and who loves you for you. Okay, maybe he won't be the best-looking guy in the world or the most exciting but you know, for the long run you want a doer not a looker."
♦ "This is a pickle." Pickle quotes amuse me!
♦ "You selfish thing, you'd starve your own children if there weren't enough food. I can see the headlines now. 'Cat starves kittens, is fat as a tick.'"
♦ "If I have to cut back as a private citizen I can expect my government to do the same."
♦ "That's the real reason the services have trouble with women in combat. Scares the men...If she's got an Uzi, she's as powerful as I am."

Overall, a very good book, and my complaints were subjective. Also, I found myself thinking about the story when I wasn't actively reading it, which is always the hallmark of a good tale. For that reason, it earns five stars.