Book 14, 2022

[chez_jae]

Puss 'n Cahoots by Rita Mae Brown

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Once I got the household chores done this morning, I finished reading Puss in Cahoots by Rita Mae Brown (and Sneaky Pie Brown). It's the 15th book in the "Mrs Murphy" series of cozy cat mysteries.

Newly (re)married Harry and Fair Haristeen have traveled to Shelbyville, KY for their second honeymoon. There, they plan to visit their friends, Joan and Larry, and take in the famous Saddlebred horse show. Accompanying them on the trip are cats Mrs Murphy and Pewter, and corgi Tee Tucker. Not long after the horse show begins, Joan's heirloom pin is stolen, then someone's prize mare comes up missing. As if that wasn't enough to deal with, a stablehand is found murdered, and INS conducts a raid, searching for illegal immigrants. With so much going on, it's almost enough to make Harry forget her fast-approaching fortieth birthday. She puts her keen mind to searching for clues and trying to suss out motives. Rivalries and blood run hot among owners, trainers, and riders, and it's anyone's guess as to how everything fits together.

Another excellent story in this series. Most of the characters were new, since the action took place in another state, but all characters were three-dimensional, right down to the other animals that Mrs Murphy, Pewter, and Tucker encounter. Some things I figured out readily, such as who stole Joan's pin, but others kept me guessing right up to the end. Pacing was good and kept me engaged, and the narrative proceeded in a smooth, sensible fashion.

Favorite lines;
♥ "There's precious little happiness in this world. Grab what you can. I don't mean you take away someone else's, but grab what comes to you."
♥ "One murder, one stolen pin, and one horrible monkey, all in two days' time. Oh, one stolen horse, too."
The horrible monkey was the worst part.
♥ "You can't pick your parents, so if you get a good pair, you're very lucky."

Exciting and enthralling, five stars!