"Harry" Harristeen lives in Crozet, Virginia with her veternarian husband Fair and her assortment of animals, including her felines Pewter and Mrs. Murphy and her Corgi Tucker. She has decided to build a new work shed and she's hired architect Gary Gardner, a good friend, to build it. But when she's standing outside his shop along with Gary and Deputy Cynthia Cooper, a motorcyclist stops and shoots Gary once then drives away. The bullet is perfectly aimed and he quickly dies from the wound.

But who would want Gary dead? And why? When Harry - cautioned by Coop not to interfere - starts a little investigation on her own anyway, she's having trouble putting the pieces together. It isn't until another murder that she's finally able to figure it out, and even with the help of her faithful companions Pewter, Mrs. Murphy, Tucker, it may very well cost her her own life if she's not careful...

This is the latest book in the Mrs. Murphy series, and as such, does not disappoint. Ms. Brown has a real talent for weaving the past and the present together without losing her readers in the process. The stories - one taking place in the present and the other in the 1700's - are seamlessly merged; and both tales are interesting enough that while reading of one century, you long to go back to the other.

The tale in the 1700's tells of the original landowners in the area and how their families fared during that time; and often it connects with the present-day tale; but this time out we are going farther back - back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and how it still affects us in the present day.

It is always interesting to see how far greed will take people, and the lengths they are willing to go to in order to acquire wealth. That can be said for both eras in the stories told; yet while the tales do not mirror each other, each is fascinating in its own way.

The mystery was extremely well done, and the murderer was unexpected as well. There were several suspects, but if you watch the clues, it leads in but one direction. The characters are well-drawn, the scenery is highly descriptive, and I absolutely adore Harry, who is not your run-of-the-mill protagonist, but a woman who is not only smart, but strong, brave, and self-sufficient. It is easy to see why her husband Fair is enamored of her; this is a woman who can think on her feet (much like Catherine Garth) and stays calm in the face of danger.

While we know Harry could not have solved anything without the help of the delightful (and egotistical) Pewter (as I feel I must give credit where credit is due), I have to say that I truly enjoyed reading this book as much as I have the others, and I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.

I'm a sucker for this series - and this is one of the better installments. This time around Harry and her various animal friends are investigating a murder (of course) - a drive by shooting that takes their small town by surprise. Why was Gary targeted? You'll meet a new character who will try to help solve the mystery. Simultaneously, in alternating chapters, there's a story line set right after the Revolutionary War that will give you lots of information on Virginia history. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. If you haven't read these before, feel free to start here. If you have, you know Brown has a good sense of humor and a gentle way with her animal characters.

This is a mystery series that I've been reading many years. This book is interesting with the mystery but also the historical story as well. I'm not a big fan of the today / year's past style of books, but this one was written well and it was very clear what was happening in which time period. The mystery is well-written and fast-moving so that it really kept my interest.

These characters are old friends that I've grown to love. I love the description of the Virginia countryside and would like to visit. I'm already looking forward to the next one in the series!

I have heard much about these books, so I was glad to get a chance from NetGalley to read and review this book. I was really disappointed in Probable Claws. There was too much verbage, for one thing! The animals were cute, but not outstanding. The mysteries surrounding the deaths were too drawn out. The two time periods did not help any. I felt neither time period mystery was satisfactorily solved. In general, I was hoping for a good mystery but ended up being glad when the book was finally finished!

Rita Mae Brown continues to knock her sneaky pie books out of the park. My students read her series every year.

This was a great read - very interesting and entertaining! I loved the historical parts interwoven throughout the story. It took the story to a deeper level. The characters, both human and animal, kept the story flowing and engaged the reader. It was well written and a wonderful recreational read!

Probable Claws, Rita Mae Brown’s 27th Mrs. Murphy Mystery, employs a lot of the things we like best in these mysteries such as ingenious murder, engaging banter between the animals as Harry Hairsteen’s totes her pets around town into possible dangerous situations and, of course, that particular southern charm that Brown uses to elevate even the most diabolical of her characters. That charm extends to additional personalities that seemingly have nothing to do with the folks in Crozet only because they exist in the 1700’s. Eventually, we are given clues to the connection between the past and the present but, as much as I enjoyed the side story, it was a little disconcerting. I was left with the impression that RMB enjoyed writing about the 18th century mystery more than she did the 21st.

Another installment of the Mrs. Murphy mysteries, but where is Mrs. Murphy (a cat)? She is mentioned once in awhile, but Pewter takes full stage in this novel. I miss the interaction between Mrs. Murphy and Tucker. I also miss the simple mystery and simple interactions between Harry and the people of Crozet. What happened to Harry's best friend Susan? How can this book cover several months in Harry's life and Susan is barely mentioned?
The mystery itself is well done, but I frankly skipped over all the historical chapters that are interspersed in the book. I'm not interested in Virginia history. And, the philosophical discussions between the characters seem rather staged and artificial, as if the author wants to put her political/philosophical opinions out there, but is trying too hard not to be obvious about it.
I'm disappointed in the direction this series has taken in the past few books. It's no longer a nice cozy mystery that I can relax with. It's got too much other stuff in there that maybe some would say adds depth and complexity to the story line, but it's just not why I read these books. And, the artwork has gone downhill as well. The person who did the illustrations in the early books really was able to put life into the animals. Not so much with this illustrator.

We gain new characters in the animal population of Harry Harristeen's farm and a Crozet architect, adding some new twists to the adventuresome tales of crime solving in a small Virginia town.

A gifted architect is gunned down outside of his office as he's talking to Harry and her companions. They are horrified as a motorcyclist aboard a new Ducati speeds up to them, shoots the architect and speeds away before anyone can do anything.

Did he offend someone, or is it related to his architectural business? When a lot of his files and archives disappear following the locking of the office, it reveals that the key to the crime must be rooted in the notes and records of past jobs, and county building codes.

Pewter, Mrs. Murphy, and Tucker are always on hand when Harry goes about town, and they meet a large spider living in a baseboard crack in the architect's office. There's also a small metal stud, similar to the studded decorations on the motorcyclist's leathers, or on other leather items. Is it a related clue?

Another person dies suddenly in her office of unknown causes, as her young wolfhound puppy watches in horror. He tries to wake her up as her co-workers discover that something terrible has happened.

Are these things connected? Is there a big construction company involved? Pirate the puppy needs a new home, too, and the deputy brings him to the Harristeen home, a waif who needs a loving place to be.

This book also has an antebellum Virginia story line, back in the slavery era, and I'm sure it will connect more obviously to the present-day story line, but I usually skim through those chapters. I do enjoy the full-length books devoted to those early Virginians.

If Virginia truly does have those large spiders as described in this book, I don't think I want to make their acquaintance.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and I'm glad I did. I love this series and I eagerly await the next. I normally don't like books that switch back and forth in time but Rita Mae Brown does a fabulous job. I feel like these people are my friends and of course who doesn't love the animals. Definitely 5 stars and please hurry with more!

I love this series and I love that now there is history involved. Harry still gets into all kinds of trouble and the animals help her get out of said trouble.. Was thrilled by new pet...