“Feline Fatale” is the thirty-second book in Rita Mae Brown’s Mrs. Murphy Mystery series. While the past several books in the series have featured a dual story line set in both the present and the Revolutionary War era – this book takes place in just the present. While I had gotten used to the dual storylines (and think the Revolutionary War storyline would make a fine series in itself) I much prefer the single storyline – especially since it brings back characters who had been MIA – Big Mim, Miranda, Aunt Tally, even Boom Boom makes a cameo appearance. Brown’s books have always had a touch of politics to them but this book is totally about politics – Harry’s best friend’s husband is in the House of Delegates and much of this book, including the murder, involves politics. The mystery is well done – this isn’t one of those try to guess whodunit type of mysteries but one where you sit back and watch as Brown cleverly works clues into the book – even the most innocent things can turn out to be important. While I wasn’t surprised at who turned out to be guilty, I did feel terribly bad for one of the characters and hope this character shows up in future books in the series.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Join Harry Haristeen and her animals in a new mystery. Harry and Susan are off to the legislature to support Susan’s husband in some new legislation. His suggested bill is not taken well which wasn’t a surprise. What is a surprise is a fight between his fellow bill sponsor and a popular former newscaster Republican. High heels do enter into the battle. As the story progresses and a teenage aid is found dead, Harry wonders about what is going on in the legislature. There’s a lot more going on than should be, but you’ll have to read the book and find out. I enjoyed this book and who doesn’t enjoy the talking animals.

Feline Fatale is a great story. I enjoyed visiting again with Harry, Susan, Ned, and Fair along with all the other human and animal friends. A lot of this story takes place in Richmond where Ned is now a state delegate. Something fishy may be going on there and Susan and Harry end up right in the middle of trying to figure it out. I like how the animal characters talk to each other in these stories and try to communicate with the humans who mostly misunderstand. It is winter in this book so no fox hunts and I missed the fox families who often talk with the foxhounds.
Another great read from Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown, her cat.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I was very excited to read this book. I have read the complete Mrs. Murphy series and had been struggling with the split time lines from the few books before. I was very excited to see that this book is all in one timeline. It also had a lot more of the original characters making an appearance. It was very exciting to visit with Aunt Tally, Big Mim and Miranda Hogendobber. We find Harry getting swept up in Virginia politics as her best friend since birth, Susan's, husband is a representative and is involved with a bill that causes some uproar and a fight between two representatives. This is an intricately woven mystery that is very well researched and in touch with a lot of modern political themes.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group.

I received this book through NetGalley. It’s the first book I have read from Rita Mae Brown and definitely will not be the last. Harry and her best friend Susan are helping Ned, Susan’s husband, go through paperwork. Ned and Aiden, both state delegates, are trying to get a bill passed and are butting heads with Amanda Fields, who is opposing their bill. An accident or maybe a murder happens and Harry tries to figure it out and it takes learning about her grandfather to solve the mystery.

Harry and her long-time friend Susan are helping Susan's husband, Ned, at his office at the Virginia House of Delegates. One of the pages is found dead as the battle heats up between the parties over the snow-removal bill sponsered by Ned. Is it related to the feud between Ned's co-sponser and their opposing delegate, Amanda Fields?
I didn't like either Amanda with her trademark Louboutins or Ned's supposed ally, Aiden Harkness. They seem to represent the very worst of self-serving politicians.
I love that the clues for Harry to solve the mystery came from the beloved old ladies. Just shows that wisdom of the past is still relevant today.
This is really a clever mystery in a political setting.
A really great addition to a wonderful series.

This series is getting a little bogged down in the politics and preachiness. I’m all for social commentary but it’s used so heavily it detracts from the story.

My first in the series, I had never stumbled upon these cozy little reads. I am excited to start from the beginning. Based on this book, I could see this series being perfect for summer days by the beach.
Mary Minor Haristeen, aka Harry, is a farmer whose best friend Susan Tucker is married to Ned, a state delegate to the Virginia statehouse, the House of Delegates. He has become so overwhelmed with paperwork that Susan has pitched in to help and enlisted Harry's help too.
During the presentation of a new bill, Harry accompanies her to a political hearing.
The debate gets heated quickly, and two other delegates also seem to disagree on everything.
She begins learning about Morse Code and Ham Radio through a longtime friend before she suspects anything.
As soon as Harry hears suspicious clicks, she realizes what's going on, but who is going to believe her?

This, the 32nd in the series has sparked an interest in the WHOLE series and I know my cat/book friends will be interested. While I think this series was originally aimed toward oldr readers, I could see my booktok friends liking it as a "palate cleanse" between romantasy series.

I know the Mrs. Murphy Mysteries are popular so I am excited to give FELINE FATALE a read. I soon realize I am not a fan of anthropomorphism. I read on, despite the talking animals, in anticipation of solving a mystery. Harry (Mary Minor Haristeen) and her best friend, Susan Tucker, travel to Washington D.C. to support Susan’s husband, Ned, who is introducing a bill in the House of Delegates to get roads cleared during bad weather.


The characters freely express their opinions regarding politics in this book, giving me much to ponder. The narrative and dialogue flows well and is comfortable to read. There seems to be a lot of background leading up to the murder. After that, things move along slowly to an unusual, yet satisfying, conclusion. There are cute sketches interspersed throughout the pages of this cozy mystery. While this book isn’t exactly my “cup of tea,” I can see why many people like Rita May Brown’s writing. Thank you, Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review FELINE FETALE.

I love when an author brings in current events and makes things relevant to today. This is exactly what the author has done in this book and I really enjoyed it.

Even better, the full cast of characters is a great combination for this story and I love that their lives are tightly woven into the story, not just accessories here and there. Well written and I love the animals!

cozy-mystery, series, animal-narratives, anthropomorphic, virginia, rural, small-business, small-town, pet-cat, pet-dog, politics, politicians, attempted-murder, attitude-of-entitlement, drugs-issues, greed, political-corruption, political-intrigue

Some really serious stuff here that reflects the life happenings of 2023 in politics and the infiltration of the drug trade into too much of daily life. The historical learning (for those of us who geek history) relates to the use of Ham Radios and Morse Code from WW2 to the present as it pertains to the regular characters. There are several mysteries to solve and the furry ones continue to be essential. Always a good read from this author!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam via NetGalley. Thank you!
Pub Date 16 Apr 2024
#MrsMurphyMysteriesNo32 #Anthropomorphism

Feline Fatale by Rita Mae Brown continues the saga of Harry, Susan and assorted animals and other family members. This book takes place in the State House with all the political shenanigans that go on there and also an interesting tangent when Harry learns about short wave radios.

Another great cozy mystery. This one was a surprise because most of the action takes place in Richmond. The animals are all there with the snarky comments and defending the humans despite all their faults.

We are back in Crozet, Virginia with farmer "Harry" Harristeen and her husband and friends, not to mention her furry pets Mrs. Murphy and Pewter (the cats), Tucker and Pirate (the dogs). Harry is braving the last of winter when the threat of another snowstorm prevails, making everyone wonder how long winter is going to last. But it is also the time when the state house representatives meet in Richmond, and both Harry and her best friend, Susan Tucker, travel there to support Susan's husband Ned while he presents a bill to the house.

Unfortunately, it isn't received well by the other side, and a heated argument ensues where delegate Amanda Fields reacts violently to a slur by Aiden Harkness of the other side, which causes more problems along the way. Amanda seems obsessed with Aiden and his antics, and Ned is just trying to keep the peace. But when a young page is killed while in the car of the videographer, questions arise. What was he doing, and was he murdered?

Harry wants answers, and if it lies in the state house, then she's going to find it. But along the way she's learning Morse code, as an elderly town resident still uses a ham radio and Harry wants to be able to speak with her on days she can't get over to see her. But what is going on in the house, and does anyone know the truth?...

This is the latest book in the Mrs. Murphy series, and I have read as many as I can. I simply love the writing style of Ms. Brown. Although in the beginning I was disappointed to learn that this was not a mystery where we travel back in time to Revolutionary days, I also read the back where she stated that not everyone enjoyed that. (Really? It's part of the charm of the books, but just my humble opinion on that! I also love history, so it's again, part of the charm of reading these novels.) Anyway, since I was already invested, I continued to read on.

In this installment, as you've probably already gathered, Harry and pals are concerned with what is happening in Richmond. Ned Tucker is too concerned with what is going on in his own office to even take time to wonder -- and here is where he avails himself of both Harry and Susan's help -- because they are trying to finish the session and that means endless paperwork (don't we all have that?).

When the young page is killed, his girlfriend and family both insist that it must have been murder, and Harry tends to believe them. So does Amanda's assistant, Lucas. But what can be done? No one is going to admit it, and someone's sudden disappearance points to them as the prime suspect.

There is a lot going on in this book; a lot about politics (and honestly, I don't read political books as there is so much in the world right now that is wrong and I read to relax, not have everything shoved at me), but I will tell you that this book doesn't do any of that, and I appreciate it. While we may not agree on our politics, the book is subtle about it and you don't feel that you are getting a lecture on what to believe or not believe. And that, my friends, is all the difference.

Once again, Ms. Brown has written another mystery that will keep you reading merely to get to the final outcome, if nothing else. It is a wonderful read, and I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

I will never tire of this series and this addition reminds me why. Characters we know with fresh, relevant storylines and Rita Mae Brown’s excellent writing style make this a winner.

I’m a huge Rita Mae Brown fan and have been for many years. While I liked the new aspects in this book, I did miss some of the cozy characteristics of previous stories. This was a quick, engaging read and is always heartwarming with the personable pets!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for the opportunity to read this ARC.

#FelineFatale #NetGalley is an interesting addition to this well known series.
Harry and her sidekicks are back in this fantastic story by Rita Mae Brown.
Harry accompanies her long time friend Susan to a political hearing as Susan's husband is presenting a new bill for approval.
Things get heated quickly and two other delegates seem to disagree on everything.
Harry doesn't suspect anything until she begins learning about Ham Radio and Morse Code, thanks to a long time friend.
When Harry hears suspicious clicks, she realizes what's happening, but who is going to believe her?
Join Harry, Susan, Tucker, Pirate, Pewter and Mrs. Murphy as they sort out the clues and solve a diabolical mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for asking me to read and review this advanced copy of #FelineFatale #NetGalley.

"Feline Fatale" takes a political tack through the latest cozy from Rita Mae Brown. Tucker, Pewter, and Mrs. Murphy are joined by a gangly wolfhound pup as they participate in the investigation of drug intrigue and political corruption in the Virginia statehouse. Harry and her best friend, Susan, are being supportive of Susan's husband Ned as he serves in the legislature.

The weather turns snowy and slick as the legislature discusses the question of whether the state needs more snow plows, and whether the counties that don't get much snow should get the same amount of money to put into other projects. Two legislators in particular are behaving like schoolyard bullies as they argue their points, sometimes attacking each other verbally, or even with a rule across the knuckles.

One is a beautiful woman, retired from the television news biz, and the other is a man with a bright future in politics, as long as he doesn't bicker and snap at the woman, a bitter rival

This was less a who-dun-it and more of a story about running a small farm (Harry) when inflation is nibbling away at your pocketbook at every turn. Essentials like fuel and fertilizer have to come before even small luxuries. I found this kind of stuff more interesting. I have always enjoyed the Mrs. Murphy series, though at times the author spends a lot of time on a soapbox regarding particular causes. This one is concerning possible drug use at the Capitol, and the safety of the young pages who serve as gophers and helpers for the legislators. One dies in a suspicious auto accident. Who is responsible?

The usual charming drawings of Harry's pets populate the book as well, and you can enjoy the story of winterizing a small farm while looking after the needs of the neighbors. One of them is Aunt Tally, now 103 years old, who has a surprising background and a secret that Harry has never known about.

I really enjoyed the main character, Harry. The different twists and turns that the story took kept me engaged and interested in the book throughout. I'm glad that this book could stand by itself without having read any of the rest of the series but I'm definitely interested in the other books now!

I haven't read every book in this long-running cozy-mystery series, co-written by the author and her cat, but I have read quite a few. In years past, I shared them with my elderly mother, who really enjoyed them. In this outing, Ms Brown has dropped the dual timelines that she has had in her most recent books in which she explored early Virginian history in the area where her stories are set and has gone back to concentrating on a modern-day mystery.

A lot of this story is about state politics. The main character, Mary Minor Haristeen, aka Harry, is a farmer whose best friend Susan Tucker is married to Ned, a state delegate to the Virginia statehouse, the House of Delegates. He has become so overwhelmed with paperwork that Susan has pitched in to help and enlisted Harry's help too.

A fellow Democrat named Aidan Harkness is currently at loggerheads with Amanda Fields, a first-term Republican delegate, over her doctrine of fiscal conservatism. Interesting since she has spent $1000 on a very fancy pair of red-soled high heels, which she wields as a weapon when Aidan calls her the b-word during a recent session. Both delegates are gaining a great deal of publicity for their antics. But all that is overshadowed when a young page is found dead with drugs in his system after a car accident. Have drugs invaded the statehouse?

The fun thing about these mysteries is that the animals are characters too. Harry's two cats and two dogs watch over Harry and can be quite hilarious as they squabble and debate, just like humans.

I found the issues brought up in this story to be quite interesting. This book could definitely be read as a standalone.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc through NetGalley. My review is voluntary and opinions expressed are my own.