The Purrfect Murder (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries)
by Rita Mae Brown
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Book Reviews of The Purrfect Murder (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries)
Book Review: It Takes A Village
Summary: 4 Stars
(More like 3.75 stars compared to other books in the series.) Some of the reviews actually discouraged me from going to this latest Mrs. Murphy mystery as soon as it arrived. I thought, hmmm, so series fatigue must have got it. In fact, it is not bad; not the best, but it should not disappoint most regular readers. I like the world Rita Mae Brown has realized through this series, a rural western Virginia town (the very real Crozet) that over the years has grown urbanized rural. RMB uses the excuse of murder and detection fiction to explore how its Southern heart remains stolid as it absorbs newcomers and the challenges of living in the 21st century. In this outing, a popular OB/GYN who has performed some terminations is killed, but after a militant antiabortionist confesses and is jailed, past patients are blackmailed, seemingly by the same culprit. This gives RMB a chance to look at the impact of one of the most divisive issues of modern times in a place where opinions clash but people need to stick together. Her regular crew of characters falls on both sides. RMB treats both sides gently.
As usual, the human characters' pets have their own conversations which the adults never get and if they did, the mysteries would be solved long before they are. In light of how the ubiquitous CSI television shows have educated the populace, the human characters, including the actual law enforcement officers, seem to ignore key evidence or lack thereof until it is almost too late. It doesn't really matter that much to me; I value this series for its social observations and wit, and it has both.
Book Review: Could have happened in about 30 pages
Summary: 1 Stars
I had never read a Mrs. Murphy mystery series book before, and I have to say I don't think I was missing anything. I was looking for a nice, light, cozy mystery, but many character gave their opinions on abortion, which meant a lot of rehashing of the same things over and over. And I noticed the product placement too. Sheesh, gas mileage on a car as filler conversation while two characters are going somewhere, and apparently the mileage was covered in more than one book before? Really? I know cozy mysteries don't go too deep, but this one was only deep when it came to the political views. If you just kept the parts directly related to the mystery, then the book would be much shorter. And if you cut out the ridiculous conversations between the animals, then it would probably be a pamphlet. I expected the writing of the animals to be more about animal behavior, not about imaginary conversations between the animals. And seriously, cats talking about anuses is not funny.Book Review: Quit reading on page 57
Summary: 1 Stars
That is as far as I could charitably get in this clunker. I have read every book in this series, many of which were delightful, but I have observed that the plot lines have gotten weaker as the political rhetoric has become stronger. I can handle the occasional comment, but in this volume, the author just droned on and on with her personal politics. Misbegotten comments such as "...isn't it (abortion) better than just outright killing girl babies like they do in India and China?" Hmm, is that the alternative? In the same pro-abortion discussion, the reader is also treated to "Global warming is caused as much by overpopulation as by cars." Right-wing legislators were referred to as "opportunistic buffoons." And what she says about the current administration, I dassent repeat in polite company. All that in fifty-some pages. I can only imagine what comes after. Yes, I am finished with the series. More's the pity, since the pets are charming.Book Review: not worth the time or money
Summary: 1 Stars
Once again, a total disappointment. I slogged through the whole book, but it was tough. I was only thankful that I had gotten it from the library and not wasted money on it.
Like another long-term animal mystery series that shall remain nameless, it seems that the animals in these stories are just part of the formula, no longer central characters. It's an election year; if I want to subject myself to political rhetoric ad nauseum, I'll turn on the t.v. I read fiction to relax, not to press through page after page of the author's rantings from a soapbox.
If the Browns can turn back to writing like they did several books ago, writing for enjoyment and bringing in the cats, the dogs, the horses, along with the warm and comfortable relationships among the Crozet residents, I'll be back. Otherwise, I'm gone.
Or maybe Sneaky Pie just needs to write the books on her own ....
Book Review: Some things don't add up
Summary: 2 Stars
I enjoyed the early books in this series, but like many other reviewers, am getting tired of the politics involved. Also, while I appreciate the descriptions of life in rural Virginia, is it necessary for Ms. Brown to trash people from other areas?
I'm also noticing inconsistencies, some of which have already been pointed out by others. One that I noticed that hasn't been brought up yet is that Big Mim states to Little Mim that she never had an abortion, but in an earlier book in which a doctor is poring through old medical records, it is revealed that Big Mim did, in fact, have an illegal abortion. Either Ms. Brown is getting sloppy or Big Mim lied to her daughter. Hmmm....
Please, RMB, be more thorough and get back to the plain old mystery telling and animal banter that got you your fans in the first place.