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Loading... The Litter of the Law (2013)by Rita Mae Brown, Sneaky Pie Brown
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. This was a cute murder mystery, with lots of cute animal characters, and a fast read. I wished there had been more scene and less dialogue, since at times the story comes across only in spite of the chatter going on between the characters. This story is light on the mystery anyway, despite having 2 murders. I am still not quite sure why the main characters were expecting a third murder attempt, since there really were no clues that would point to a necessary 3rd murder. the various forensic clues that we are told about are never really followed up on, and the details about the situation with Virginian native tribal groups not being federally recognized seem out of place because that same amount of detail is not really consistent with the style of the novel as a whole. The bits about Virginian tribal grievances and about the abandoned schoolhouses and African-American education prior to desegregation seemed like mini-lectures, not well integrated into the rest of the story. Still, they present an interesting topic. After reading this book and Ellery Adams' [b:Written in Stone|13518651|Written in Stone (A Books by the Bay Mystery #4)|Ellery Adams|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1341795322s/13518651.jpg|19077814] about the Lumbee tribe, also not federally recognized, I am curious about just how many of the minority groups in the US are similarly not recognized by our government. I may have to hunt down some identity politics books soon and read more on this topic. Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen and her husband, Fair, are out with their dog, Tee Tucker, and their cats, Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, when the animals find a very interesting scarecrow, apparently being torn apart by crows. Why would crows be attacking a scarecrow? It's a corpse. His name was Josh Hill, and he was shot through the heart before being dressed as a scarecrow and hung up in the field. It's the start of a frightening October, building toward Halloween and the annual hayride to raise money for the Crozet Library. Tee Tucker, Mrs. Murphy, and the often reluctant Pewter need to keep a close eye on their favorite human, Harry, as well as doing (in their minds) all the real investigation of this shocking crime. When Harry and her friend Susan find another corpse, this one dressed up as a witch and inserted into the Halloween display on the lawn of a local church, everyone starts to get alarmed, and Harry, Susan, and their sheriff's deputy friend Coop begin to wonder who it is among their friends and neighbors that's killing their neighbors. Harry Haristeen is always fun to read about, though of course Tucker, Mrs. Murphy, and Pewter are the real stars of the series. This is a nicely plotted mystery, a visit with old friends, and a pleasant evening read as Halloween approaches. The Virginia boosterism can at times seem a bit smug and a bit much, but I assume most people feel the same way about their part of the country. Indeed, I feel sorry for them if they don't. Recommended. I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This was a cute murder mystery, with lots of cute animal characters, and a fast read. I wished there had been more scene and less dialogue, since at times the story comes across only in spite of the chatter going on between the characters. This story is light on the mystery anyway, despite having 2 murders. I am still not quite sure why the main characters were expecting a third murder attempt, since there really were no clues that would point to a necessary 3rd murder. the various forensic clues that we are told about are never really followed up on, and the details about the situation with Virginian native tribal groups not being federally recognized seem out of place because that same amount of detail is not really consistent with the style of the novel as a whole. The bits about Virginian tribal grievances and about the abandoned schoolhouses and African-American education prior to desegregation seemed like mini-lectures, not well integrated into the rest of the story. Still, they present an interesting topic. After reading this book and Ellery Adams' [b:Written in Stone|13518651|Written in Stone (A Books by the Bay Mystery #4)|Ellery Adams|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1341795322s/13518651.jpg|19077814] about the Lumbee tribe, also not federally recognized, I am curious about just how many of the minority groups in the US are similarly not recognized by our government. I may have to hunt down some identity politics books soon and read more on this topic. no reviews | add a review
Belongs to Series
During an autumn scenic drive in rural Crozet, Virginia, Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen and husband Fair discover the body of a murdered accountant lying in a cornfield. Rooting out the guilty murderer in the treacherous center of a lucrative conspiracy requires Harry's farmer's wisdom--along with the quick wits and extraordinary senses of Sneaky Pie, Pewter, and Tucker. No library descriptions found. |
LibraryThing Early Reviewers AlumRita Mae Brown's book The Litter of the Law was available from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Current DiscussionsNonePopular covers
Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.54Literature English (North America) American fiction 20th Century 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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THE LITTER OF THE LAW
Autumn has descended and crops are being harvested all over Crozet, Virginia, ideal conditions for a scenic drive for Harry and husband Fair. Bucolic views are all well and good, but Harry’s nose for trouble leads her straight to a cornfield’s macabre scarecrow—an all too real murder victim that frightens all but the noisy crows.
This accountant’s gruesome death is only the first of many disturbing events in this normally pastoral corner of the world. While Harry tends her beloved grapes and sunflowers, a killer edges closer—as does Harry’s protective menagerie of animals.
Halloween’s approach brings with it bona fide terror and a beloved local tradition that threatens to become fatal. Rooting out the guilty in the treacherous center of a lucrative conspiracy requires Harry’s farmer’s wisdom—along with the quick wits and extraordinary senses of Sneaky Pie, Pewter, and Tucker. A vicious murderer may know the lay of the land far better than Harry does, but that’s about to change. It’s up to her vigilant four-footed companions to make sure that the unearthing of this plot is not Harry’s last act. Mrs. Murphy ( )