Cat of the Century: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery

In Chapter 22 of the book, Cooper says, "Well, no one want to know what a sheriff's deputy thinks about the world's confusion." The same should be said for mystery writers.

In her later books, and especially in this one, Ms. Brown has her characters pontificating on the law and government way too much of the time. It's time to get back to emphasis on the good old-fashioned mystery aspects.

- plot: transparent and dull
- dialog: unimaginative and stilted
- characterization: nonexistent
- denoument: was she in such a hurry to rush the book to the publisher so she could rake in some more bucks that she couldn't be bothered to even TRY?
- politics: if you're a Sarah Palin/Tea Party/Glenn Beck wingnut, you'll love what she has to say - the rest of us just want her to shut up.

Too bad Tucker and Mrs. Murphy are stuck with such a loser of an author.

Normally, I love the Mrs. Murphy mysteries. Unfortunately, the only mystery here is who really wrote this miserable bit of drivel and what have they done with RMB? Harry was relegated to the role of chauffeur and clueless bystander and Murphy, Tucker and Pewter spent most of their time sniping at each other. Throw in the political rants and the brand-name dropping and that just about does it for me concerning RMB and her books. What a waste of perfectly good reading time. By the end of the book I no longer cared who got killed or why.

I really used to enjoy the characters in Rita Mae Brown's books. Lately things have been changing. This book really sealed the deal for me. I just could not stand this book and I won't waste my time on another. I actually started skipping pages and hoped the end would just come. blah, blah, blah...if I had to read more of the author's government tirades I think I would go crazy. I don't read these books to learn more about the author's political beliefs. I used to read them for all the characters and the animals. I hate to say it but I really hated this book.

Like other reviewers, I really enjoyed the first books in this series. As a Virginia "come here" I learned from the inside view of old Virginia culture, and the inhabitants of her fictional Crozet were engaging.

Increasingly, though, the books are just a medium for Ms. Brown to present her decidedly Tea Partyish sentiments. I am sure that even members of the Tea Party want their cozy mysteries to provide a little escape... Besides the sententious opinionatin', Ms. Brown uses her books to plug her favorite other causes, in this case a college with an equestrian program, in other cases, fox hunting.

So very disappointed in "Cat of the Century". The characters of Mrs. Murphy, Pewter & Tucker are missing; that's really the mystery in this story - where did they go? Everybody is flat and the storyline boring. I read to escape not to be hounded into turning off my lights in the house and live in a cold bedroom. So, it must be good-bye to Sneaky Pie Brown. I'll finish the book, simply because I can't NOT finish a book. But, too bad, the book is flat.

Rita must have gotten a big tax bill before writing this one. Every other chapter whines of high taxes or big government. While I may agree on much of it, I don't read fiction to be reminded of the woes of the nation. The story itself is mediocre. Fairly obvious from the outset who the culprit is. The best part is it's only 210 pages.

My comments are basically the same as the other one-star reviewers...this series needs to be put to sleep. I'm tired of hearing how no place is better than Virginia & that the government is the source of all evil, the characters are stereotypical Southern archetypes & less than one-dimensional, & the "mystery,""plot," & "detecting" that go on make no sense at all. Like other reviewers, I loved the early books, & it's such a shame that the series has degenerated to the absolute dregs that it has. I've kept trying periodically (haven't read many of the recent books), but never again. I'd rather clean my broom closet, dust my entire house, & remove all of the wintertime mold from my windows than read any more of Brown's work.

I agree with the majority of the reviews here. I own all of the Sneaky Pie mysteries - but this one did not live up to the earlier stories. Political statement after political statement with product placements in between. I really got tired of hearing about Barbour coats; Wellington boots; Jaquar XJ whatever; Volvo wagons; and expensive watches. I'm beginning to believe she gets a kickback every time she mentions a product brand by name - like paid advertisements. On top of that, the storyline lacked continuity, and the ending felt rushed. Just boom - it's solved. Unfortunately this book did not live up to the previous ones.

Mrs. Murphy and her furry friends are, as always, the stars of these mysteries. The plot isn't bad, it's just rather slow to materialize sufficiently to really engage. Notwithstanding, it's a pleasant read, more so for fans of clever animals.

As always I enjoyed the interactions between Mrs Murphy, Tucker and Pewter as well as the other dogs and cats. The plot was well woven through the story. The one thing I did miss was the animals not being more involved in being able to solve the mystery. As they did in earlier books. I do confess that I have not read a Mrs. Murphy mystery in a long time. But reading CAT OF THE CENTURY was delightful. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys mysteries and animals.

If it weren't for the anti-government preaching, I would have given this book 5 stars for the story, which was a good one. Too bad RMB has to inject her political views into her mysteries-she is going to lose readers this way. Americans pay the lowest taxes overall than they have ever paid in decades-so RMB-update your facts. Basically I ignored the rant &got on with the story.

Disappointing. Too much political commentary, not enough story, very little of the interesting and distinctive characters (the animals), and way too much of the unpleasant, unproductive trust-fund babies complaining their way through the book. Perhaps the author is getting stretched a bit thin trying to generate books for three series annually and not doing a good job on any of them.

In previous books, Ms. Brown has pushed the envelope, i.e. pets driving a car, but I REALLY hate being preached to. This is the last book I'll be reading in this series. She finally ruined it for me. Too much preaching and politics. Does she think she's disguising her views by slipping them into her story?

Difficult to believe that this is the same author who wrote A PLAIN BROWN RAPPER. Seemed like this story was written by a member of the Tea Party since the rants against taxes were so numerous. Rita Mae what happened to you?

Same basic cast of characters and plot, but fun to read and the animal commentary is unique and humorous. I'm still not quite sure how Ms. Brown went from writing Rubyfruit Jungle to writing novelty mystery books, but I guess everybody needs to make a living...

I've always loved the adventures of Harry, Mrs. Murphy, Pewter and Tucker, so I jumped at the chance to read Cat of the Century. It proved to be a major disappointment. In fact, I could barely finish the book. It was hard to get into, slow to develop, and worst of all the mystery seemed like it was secondary to the frequent political rants. I think I'm done with Brown's books-there are too many more appealing reads available.

I've always enjoyed this series, but I just finished Cat of the Century and found myself irritated by the continuous harping about taxes. If the author wants to write a manifesto for the Tea Party, she should do so. But in this context it is annoying and intrusive.If this is the direction she plans to take her fiction, I won't continue to read it.

I'ver read and loved them all...Sister included. Cat of the Century was not one of the best of the series but I understand and forgive. Writers are people. they are affected by thier lives and surroundings. They have moments of greatness and moments of the mundane. They sometimes loose thier way. After reading RMB's more relevant novels, such as, 'Rubyfruit Jungle', I was amazed that she could keep that persona separate from the Mrs Murphy series. Yes, the line is becomming blurred to the detriment of the Crozet novels. But I will continue to buy them and enjoy what I can from them. Maybe she needs a break but I hope she isn't Sneeky-Pie-burned-out and she will rediredt the soapbox and contine to give life to these loved characters and gets back on that track. I tend to agree with most of what RMB professes but I read some books just to escape those very problems. Thus it is with my Mrs Murphy novels. PS I live near and come and go near the Crozet area and I know the problems many of those 'smaller' landowners who love the land and the hunting face. And we do live in a time of enormous upheavel across the nation. It is hard not be be affected on all levels.

I have enjoyed this series a great deal. Seeing a murder mystery unravel with the help of animals is most entertaining and enjoyable. The mystery is light hearted but also includes interesting bits of history for the virgina area as the cast of regular characters go about thier business of solving this murder.
This book takes one to Missouri to the prestigous Williamwoods university( now co-ed) where a reunion of former classmates happens as does a murder. Mim's irrasible aunt is pivotable in this book as are her former classmates.
An engaging read from Ms. Brown and Sneaky Pie.

How unfortunte. This was going do be my next Kindle download. After reading the reviews I am going to pass on it. The last thing I want to read about is more political bla, bla, bla. Sorry.
Desert Feline.

CAT OF THE CENTURY by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown is a standard cozy with the expected final resolution.
Aunt Tally is celebrating her 100TH birthday as a fund raiser for her beloved college. Harry and her friends go along for the ride to William Woods University. There they make new friends and renew old acquaintances, but death is lurking in the background, not to be discovered until they return home.
The story is an old one and very comfortable, but stashed among the lines of the novel is a strong protest against the ravages justice has endured by factions who have adopted the economics of socialism. Ms. Brown isn't vague as to where she stands in the battle to regain our country's integrity.
I don't know if economics and politics has a place in a mystery novel, but hopefully it will gain some attention outside the mainstream media.
Nash Black, author of Indie finalists WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and HAINTS.

Ever since Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen remarried her ex husband successful veterinarian Fair, she has been happier than she has been a in a long time; dating back to when he cheated on her during their first marriage. They live in Crozet, Virginia; a town where all the animals regardless of species can talk to each other except humans. Harry's cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and her corgi Tee Tucker wish they could so they can warn her of danger and tell her where bodies are.

Several residents travel to William Woods University in Fuller, Missouri to celebrate Harry's beloved sassy Aunt Tally on her hundredth birthday. There is a lot of tension between the alumnae attending; especially between Mariah D'Angelo who owns a ritzy jewelry store and stockbroker Flo Langston. Their overt animosity divides the attendees into three groups, supporters of each and those who wish they would leave.

Things turn strange when Mariah abruptly leaves. It is learned that Flo was going to accuse Mariah of selling fakes in her store. When they return to Crozet, Mariah sends threatening emails to Liz Fillmore who sided with Flo and Terri Kincaid who sells high end ceramics at her shop. When Flo is killed by a sniper and Mariah is found murdered at the University, Harry and her sleuthing menagerie investigates who the killer is and why that person did it.

Any Mrs. Murphy anthropomorphic mystery is a special treat as affirmed by Cat of the Century. The love between Harry and Fair shines throughout especially as he gives her space she needs to be herself even when she investigates. There are plenty of suspects with motives in a well constructed cozy that readers will enjoy in this one sitting read.

Harriet Klausner