A Time Will Tell is book 16 in the "Sister" Jane series. I've read 5 books in this series and since there is a character list at the beginning of the book it is easy to just jump into the series. I really enjoyed this book.

I read a lot of cozy mysteries but this one is different. There isn't really an amateur sleuth or any of the characters who are actively investigating except for the sheriff. The murder mystery doesn't feel truly central to the story. The characters stumble across the bodies and talk about the events among themselves but they aren't seeking out people to interview or trying to gather clues.

The characters are great though so I don't mind hanging out with them. And reading this book really is like hanging out with them as we get ordinary conversations that anyone would have (the what's for dinner kind of talk) but it isn't boring as there are always history tidbits being sprinkled about.

Sometimes with this series, I'm put off by the fox-hunting especially when the foxes feature more (if you haven't read any of this series, the animals talk to each other so they are humanized in a sense and I feel bad about them being chased). While fox-hunting no longer ends with the fox being torn apart by the dogs, I still struggle with the fact that they are frightened by the chase and I don't think you should harass animals for sport.

Though there are several fox hunts and the dogs pick up a scent we don't have them actively chasing a fox as it is usually already in its den. So I was able to enjoy the descriptions of the landscape and the galloping of horses.

The book is set during Thanksgiving so it is the perfect time to pick it up to read this coming week.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Saturday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/11/a-time-will-tell-by-rita-mae-brown.html

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Rita Mae Brown’s latest installment in the “Sister" Jane series, Time Will Tell, is a delightful blend of mystery, charm, and the unique world of foxhunting. This novel, the sixteenth in the series, continues to showcase Brown’s talent for crafting engaging narratives with well-developed human and animal characters.

The story begins with the discovery of an expensive watch abandoned on an overgrown path, a seemingly trivial find that soon spirals into a complex mystery. Sister Jane Arnold, the seasoned Master of Foxhounds, is drawn into the investigation when a young man is found murdered. With her keen instincts and the help of her loyal hounds and horses, Sister unravels the intricate connections between the watch, the murder, and the hidden secrets of her community.

Brown’s writing shines in her vivid descriptions of the Virginia countryside and the detailed portrayal of foxhunting culture. The interactions between the human characters and their animal companions add a layer of warmth and humor to the narrative, making the reader feel deeply connected to Sister’s world. The animals, particularly the cunning foxes and sensible hounds, are given voices that contribute to the story in a charming and insightful way.

The plot is well-paced, with enough twists and turns to keep readers guessing. Brown expertly balances the suspense of the murder investigation with the everyday challenges and joys of running a hunt club. The novel touches on themes of community, loyalty, and the passage of time, adding depth to the engaging mystery.

Time Will Tell is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and those who appreciate a story where the setting and characters are as integral to the plot as the mystery itself. Rita Mae Brown once again proves her mastery in creating a world that is intriguing and heartwarming, making this book a delightful addition to the “Sister” Jane series.

For those who enjoy a well-crafted mystery with a touch of whimsy and a strong sense of place, Time Will Tell is a perfect choice. Whether you’re a long-time fan of the series or a newcomer, this novel is sure to captivate and entertain.

"Sister" Jane is again leading the hunts in her territory with all her friends and family in the group. This time Jane will lead the hunt while trying to solve at least two murders. The murders upset the locals as well as two new neighborhood women who are renovating an old home with the help of woman who are trying to turn around their lives. I enjoy reading Brown's mysteries because she gives history lessons as well as political commentary on our country while weaving a good tale. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

Time Will Tell by Rita Mae Brown is the latest in her Sister Jane series. Sister Jane finds an expensive watch and a couple of days the body of a young man. Are they connected? Sister Jane is determined to find out. Good mystery.

Time Will Tell is a Sister Jane mystery by Rita Mae Brown. When Jane Arnold finds a Rolex in a field and a body shows up later, she feels they are somehow related and works to solve the mystery.

I wanted to read this mystery because I love Rita Mae Brown's books. I am also an avid mystery fan.

This is another wonderful entry in the Sister Jane series. I really like Jane as a detective and enjoy the horses and hounds in these books. I recommend Time Will Tell (and this entire series) for other mystery fans.

Time Will Tell is another great mystery in Brown's Sister Jane series. These novels take place in Virginia in the heart of fox hunting country. "Sister" Jane Arnold is the Master of Hounds in a fox hunting club and the action always takes place in and around the hunt territories. Brown, a Master of Foxhounds, herself, combines her knowledge and her imagination to accurately describe the Virginia settings, the Hunt action and a great murder mystery. Jane may be in her 70's but it doesn't slow her down. This time she finds a valuable Rolex watch in the middle of a field and cant resist the mystery of how it got there. When a body shows up later, she is sure that the two are somehow connected. The best thing about all of Brown's books is that many of the characters are the animals. The horses , hounds and foxes always have their own thoughts to express. One of the things that makes this series unique is the colorful passages describing the action of the hunt. The reader feels like they are on the hunt themselves. However, these passages can be a double edged sword because they take you out of the action of the mystery. If you like animals and mysteries, you should enjoy this newest novel in the series. I received an electronic reader's copy of this novel from the publishers. However all opinions are my own.

The latest in Brown’s long-running Sister Jane series continues to celebrate fox hunting, Virginias history and, of course, contains a murder. I enjoy the details of the hunt; horses, land, hounds, politics, and the people who join in Sister Jane’s passion. I would read this series for that alone. The history sprinkled throughout is also interesting. It’s always fun to follow Sister and her friends as they work out what is happening. This can be an entry point into the series, as there is a guide to characters in the beginning, though hunting terms may be unfamiliar. It will be richest for those who have read previous titles. Recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have been reading Rita Mae Brown books for years. I love her characters and the animals. The Sister Jane books are a fox hunting series. I have learned a lot about humane fox hunting and the thrills for both the riders and the hounds. The human characters are people of intelligence and humanity. Their discussions filled with knowledge of history and politics without vitriol. This was a great time for me to read this book. I highly recommend for those looking for some calmness in their lives.

Welcome to a world where the animals talk as much as the people. This is a quirky cozy mystery. This is a murder mystery that takes place in a small town. The story is very interesting and informative. It has some fascinating characters. Readers will be entertained by the antics of the animals. This is an easy read that readers will enjoy.

Foxhunting and murder! This latest in the long running series-which to be honest might be most appreciated by those familiar with Sister Jane, her hounds and the sport-sees Sister Jane once again solving a murder with the help of well, animals. Know that humane fox hunting is key to the story and that Brown uses a lot of terms related to it. A found Rolex leads to the discovery of a body and we're off. The mystery isn't too twisty and almost takes a back seat to the Virginia hunt country atmospherics. There's a large cast of characters to keep track of (as well as suspects) but pay attention to the animals. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for her fans.

Time Will Tell by Rita Mae Brown is a captivating mystery that kept me engaged until the very last page.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Jane is enjoying the peace and quiet until a man's murder is thrown into her lap. Jane is hoping to find clues that will lead her to the killer. This book kept me guessing.

In this continuation of Brown's "Sister Jane" series she finds a watch and then a murder happens that she is determined to solve.
I really enjoy Brown's writing style as she makes the characters, the setting, and the animals pop and come to life.

I have to say I am not big on fox-hunting although I really appreciate the fact that it is done humanely.
This is clearly a personal thing - but I did appreciate the realistic details that she uses to share this story.

Rita Mae Brown is always one of my favorite authors to read and this book doesn't disappoint.

This 16th book in the Sister Jane mystery series is yet another wonderful study in the finer points of humane fox hunting. The reader is proffered historic detail, descriptions of hunt practices, roles and manners of participants - all of which lays out the landscape of the fox hunt. One quickly discovers that there is a tremendous amount of effort and planning which goes into each hunt. The descriptions of the actual hunts are so beautifully detailed that one imagines that they're flying over fence and post alongside other riders. Add a a couple murders to the mix and you've got yourself a fun cozy mystery while hanging out with the hunting set. Kudos to Ms. Brown. If you are a fan of the traditional fox hunt, then this just might be the book for you.

I am grateful to author Rita Me Brown and publisher Ballantine Books for having provided a free copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher:‎ Bantam
Publication Date: November 12, 2024
Number of Pages:‎ 304
ISBN-13:‎ 978-0593873823

Another fun Sister mystery to add to the Rita Mae Brown collection! Set in the beautiful mountains of Virginia in fox hunting country, the latest book is full of hunting etiquette mixed with murder. Always an engaging read, the Sister books provide great entertainment plus an insight into another aspect of Southern culture.

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

Time Will Tell is an addition to the Rita Mae Brown Sister Jane Foxhunting series. I enjoyed it, like visiting with friends, and there is plenty of action as law enforcement, with the help of Sister, Aunt Daniella, Betty and other foxhunters, tries to unravel a mystery. There are a lot of clues from found items to three dead bodies but do any of them fit together to complete the puzzle? Surrounding the mystery we have the ongoing foxhunts and comments from the dogs and foxes. The main foxhunters all are speculating about what’s happening but no one really has a clue. The criminals are doing a wonderful job of staying under everyone’s radar. What will it take to bring them out? Are there only one or two of them or is this a widespread operation? More questions than answers right to the end.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Sister Jane Arnold is back again with another mystery to solve. This mystery includes stolen jewelry, an abandoned truck with blood inside and multiple dead people. Sister and her friends, human and animal have really stepped into a whirlwind of a mystery within a mystery.

Here is what I like about the Sister Jane books, the friendship of all the characters, the details included about fox hunting, and the conversations between the animals, hounds, horses and foxes. The author also included in this story some fascinating history about the area, the historic old homes and how the landscape of the area is changing fox hunting. Rita Mae Brown does an excellent job of telling a story, unraveling the mystery in a deliberate flow, clues unfold and the groundwork is revealed in a cunning manner. Smart, well-written, characters with depth, another thoroughly enjoyable read.

My sister told me about this author and I am very happy about that.

Full of wonderfully drawn characters and settings. I did not understand the hunt terms at all. But that did not stop me from enjoying the writing and the characters. Human and animal.

The words flow so well and I was captivated by all of it!


NetGalley/ RHPG November 12,2024

Another intriguing mystery that falls right into the lap of “Sister” Jane Arnold, when she unexpectedly finds an expensive watch out in an overgrown field. If you have read any of the other books by this author, you’ll know that “Sister” cannot ignore anything that is remotely resembles a mystery – even a lost watch. Soon thereafter, a dead body is found, and “Sister” is determined to solve the mystery of not only the abandoned watch but also the dead body.
There are numerous characters, as well as animals involved in this fast-paced, intriguing story. So many that at times I wasn’t able to keep track of everyone and the role they played in the story.
Although I have read one other of these books by this author, I forgot that fox hunting is a huge part of the story. I don’t know anything about this sport, or the terminology, so that was difficulty to follow. This will be the perfect book for anyone who is interested or participates in fox hunting. The sport is expertly weaved into part of the story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

American-civil-war, American-fox-hunting, amateur-sleuth, anthropomorphic, animals, humor, cozy-mystery, suspense, friends, friendship, pets, investigations, Virginia-history, historical-places-events, historical-research, small-town, rural, social-changes, social-issues, drugs-issues, human-trafficking, thefts, criminal-network, animal-narratives, vocational-training, reconstruction, unputdownable*****

Not an unbiased review because I love all the regional history, animal narratives, interesting characters, and solid investigation plot lines characteristic of this author.
November 2023. Set in Virginia where the state sport is Fox Hunting, and the state dog is Foxhound. Fortunately, there is an explanatory cast of characters at the beginning because there are so many verbal animals as well as humans! Another positive aspect of this author's writing is that it stresses the importance of caring for wild animals as well as the household variety.
The first sign that there is something wrong is the discovery of a $42,000 watch just off a side road. Then come the bodies and the multifaceted investigations into a variety of felonies probably not accomplished by area residents. The animals have a lot to say about things and are instrumental in finding clues and even saving a life or two.
I requested and received a temporary e-copy from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail Nov 12, 2024
#SisterJaneBk16 #CrimeNovel #AmericanFoxHunting