Murder at Monticello

This is the third book in the Mrs. Murphy series and I find myself disliking it more as I go forward. This one, which centers around a historic victim found in a slave quarters at Monticello, is the hardest to like so far. Characters with sanitized/racist views of slavery in the U.S? Check. Trying to depict a nuanced view but being tone deaf? Check. I want to like this series but it’s been a downhill ride so far.

Mrs. Murphy digs into Virginia history--and gets her paws on a killer.

The most popular citizen of Virginia has been dead for nearly 170 years. That hasn't stopped the good people of tiny Crozet, Virginia, from taking pride in every aspect of Thomas Jefferson's life. But when an archaeological dig of the slave quarters at Jefferson's home, Monticello, uncovers a shocking secret, emotions in Crozet run high--dangerously high.

The stunning discovery at Monticello hints a hidden passions and age-old scandals. As postmistress Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen and some of Crozet's Very Best People try to learn the identity of a centuries-old skeleton--and the reason behind the murder--Harry's tiger cat, Mrs. Murphy, and her canine and feline show more friends attempt to sniff out a modern-day killer. Mrs. Murphy and corgi Tee Tucker will stick their paws into the darker mysteries of human nature to solve murders old and new--before curiosity can kill the cat--and Harry Haristeen. Mrs Murphy Book 3 show less

Mrs. Murphy digs into Virginia history—and gets her paws on a killer.The most popular citizen of Virginia has been dead for nearly 170 years. That hasn't stopped the good people of tiny Crozet, Virginia, from taking pride in every aspect of Thomas Jefferson's life. But when an archaeological dig of the slave quarters at Jefferson's home, Monticello, uncovers a shocking secret, emotions in Crozet run high—dangerously high.The stunning discovery at Monticello hints a hidden passions and age-old scandals. As postmistress Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen and some of Crozet's Very Best People try to learn the identity of a centuries-old skeleton—and the reason behind the murder—Harry's tiger cat, Mrs. Murphy, and her canine and feline show more friends attempt to sniff out a modern-day killer. Mrs. Murphy and corgi Tee Tucker will stick their paws into the darker mysteries of human nature to solve murders old and new—before curiosity can kill the cat—and Harry Haristeen. show less

This is the third book in this series. The pets in the series understand the humans and provide commentary amongst themselves, though the humans are unable to understand the pets. In this one, a skeleton is found, dating back to 1803, and it appears that the person was hit with something on the back of the head and murdered, so the townspeople are digging through history to see if they can figure out what happened. Part-way through the book, one of the current-day characters is also murdered.

I’m surprised I came up with a coherent summary, but I think it’s fairly accurate. That being said, I just wasn’t interested in what was happening in the book; when I lose interest, I skim and miss much of the goings-on. I assume both murders show more were cleared up at the end, but I couldn’t say for sure. The animals are somewhat cute/amusing, but even then, not always. I will not be continuing the series. show less

My second disappointing book in a row! What a bummer. I liked learning a little bit about Monticello and Thomas Jefferson, but the book was a little too focused on it. I read this series for the personal danger that faces the citizens of Crozet and how they come together to deal with it, and a mystery from 1803 didn’t do it for me. You do get that sense of danger eventually, but it’s past the halfway point of the book. And while I don’t normally mind the commentary offered by Mrs. Murphy, Tucker, and Pewter, the pages of them waxing rhapsodic about American history kinda crossed the line for me. I can buy them observing and making comments about human nature (you know, as much as I can buy that animals talk to each other in this show more way), but I can’t credit them with an extensive knowledge of historical fact. I’m sure I’ll read more of the books in this series, but I’m hoping we get back to the usual mysteries. show less

Written to mark the 250th birthday of Thomas Jefferson, and published three years before the DNA test which overturned long-held assumptions, this reads like a time capsule. Lots of hero-worshipping a Founding Father, lots of potted history cribbed from biased sources, little energy spent on the mystery. Some characters are introduced only to be dropped from sight a few pages later. Very rushed towards the end, where she gets the names of her characters and the names of Jefferson's daughters mixed up. For completists.

I am appreciative of American history and the study of genealogy and that combined appreciation is the only reason I continued to read this book. If asked about my favorite parts of this book, I would have to applaud and point out the beautiful illustrations by Wendy Wray and hope the individual that asked the question really listened that I mentioned not a word about the writing. Perhaps my expectations were too high following so many delightful reads about the characters of thoughtful Jim Qwilleran and his exceptional and delightful Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum as created by Lilian Jackson Braun in the series of "The Cat Who..." Murder at Monticello is filled with genealogy but to such detail that the writing is smothered by names show more and dates and more names and dates and names and then even more names and dates. There is a "Cast of Characters" in the front of the book but no illustration of family trees which is the only thing that might have helped the reader's memory to keep the genealogy picture clear and even then there were so many names and dates and more names and dates - well, you get the picture - that the illustrations of family trees would need to be able to be detached separately from the book so you could place them to the side of the book so the reader could keep glancing at them as per reading progression. With the family trees only listed in the front, middle or back of the book and not easily detachable, the reader would still be as frustrated trying to keep the genealogy picture clear as you flipped pages back and forth to continue the 'read'. The storyline just isn't plausible enough and Mrs. Murphy, Tucker, Pewter don't contribute enough to the storyline or interact enough with the cast of other characters in the book for the reader to truly engage in the delight of their appearance. I'd have to say, "Skip this author" and go to the bookshelves and enjoy a title by Lilian Jackson Braun. You're guaranteed much more FUN as you read at significantly less work! show less