I have long been a Rita Mae Brown fan and Sealed with a Hiss is a great addition to her set of fun, informative and engaging mysteries. I feel as if I’ve arrived back home when reading her books set in a beautiful area of Virginia. Her characters are so well developed through her stories that they, human and animal, feel like beloved friends.

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

As a fan of cozy mysteries and a lover of cat i would absolutely recomend this book for fans of a deadly inside scoop
The interactions between the dog and cat where truly funny and maked me laugh the entire book
Plus the short chapters are a good thing and its the kind of mystery that makes you want to read more and more
Said all this i certainly keeping one eye in rita mae brown next cozy misteries to come

Rating: 3.5

I really struggled with how to rate this book because there are so many nice features, but the pacing was incredibly slow and I grew frustrated. So let’s start with the pros.

Pros:

Rita Mae Brown knows how to write engaging and likable characters. In her small town of Crozet, the main characters are caring, responsible, and kind. It’s impossible not to like them.

There is a trans character in this story - and guess what? It’s not issue. (I bumped my rating from 3.0 to 3.5 simply due to the inclusion of this character.)

And the animal characters are adorable. It’s a lot of fun to hear their opinions.

The main characters have discussions concerning morality and philosophy, which I enjoyed.

The writing itself is very good.

Cons:

While this book is considered a cozy mystery - and it certainly is cozy - the first hint of a mystery doesn’t occur until page 51. Then the actual mystery doesn’t begin until page 122. So, it’s actually only in the last one third of the book that we are trying to solve the mystery. For someone who is reading for the mystery that is too slow.

Conclusion:

This is the 33rd book in the series. I imagine the faithful readers who have followed the series since book one, are happy to check in on this small town and its earnest inhabitants. After all, the five ratings on Goodreads average 4.6.

But as a new reader, jumping in, looking for a mystery, this book was too slow for me.

An enjoyable addition to the series with characters that feel like old friends and new characters that add the twists and turns that Rita Mae Brown is known for.

'Harry' Harristeen and her friends have just finished renovating the old segregated school, which has stood vacant for decades, and their hard work is finally rewarded. Now they're going to open the school to visitors (and hopefully, donors) to help keep it in shape and as a historic and cultural reminder. But then a real estate agent approaches them with a tasty offer of cash if they will agree to sell the land behind the school for a residential development. He even promises to keep the school and grounds as it, and that the development will be good for both residents and the town of Crozet.

But something doesn't sit right with the offer, and Harry's instincts are telling her to turn it down. Even when done, the agent still pushes, but no one understands why. It doesn't help that Harry and her friend Lucas have found an old car at the bottom of a lake, and its owner is still inside, albeit a skeleton at this time.

But there are no clues to why the person was there -- until it's found he was murdered. Now Harry wants to find out why...if she can keep from becoming another victim...

This is the thirty-third book in the series, and I have been captivated by it for years. I'm not going to lie; I do miss the historical elements from the Colonial times which once were in every book; but I also realize not everyone is like myself and enjoys the past mingled with the present. Ah, well....

However, it doesn't change the fact that Ms. Brown (and Sneaky Pie) are very talented writers. She brings you into the story, and while she is telling it, you feel like you are part of the conversation. Perhaps eavesdropping on those she has with Susan or Cooper...but I enjoy it just the same. While Harry is voicing her thoughts, we progress along with the action, and even her husband Fair has a good part in this one as well.

Not to mention our favorite animals: Tucker, Pirate, Mrs. Murphy, and, of course, Pewter. They have their own say in the story, and their own actions which prove to be just as valuable. We understand that while they like their treats, they are extremely loyal to their people, and would do anything for Harry.

When we begin to understand that this murder is more than just about a land development, it comes almost too late for Harry; but we know that as intelligent as she is, she is also just as resourceful, and has help that we find comes from an unexpected new ally.

The reason for the murder is rather sad, and a bit paranoiac, but nonetheless it is a murder. Harry does what she needs to survive; and all ends just as it should. The mystery is firm, well-written, and kept me reading throughout the story. I highly recommend this and look forward to the next in the series.

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher but this in no way influenced my review.

Sealed with a Hiss by Rita Mae Brown continues the story of Harry and Susan and their families and friends. This time the mystery centers around the Colored School they have renovated and a body found in the yard, just before the Reunion of those who attended the school. As always, one learns more of Virginia history that never seems to be covered in the history we were taught. The characters are engaging as always and the animals included are an added bonus.

Sealed with a Hiss is the 33rd book in rhw Mrs. Murphy Mystery series. It takes place in the town of Crozet, Virginia. Mary Minor Haristeen (Harry). She works on her farm that she inherited from her parents, She is married to Pharamond (Fair) Haristeen. He is an equine vet specializing in reproduction. Susan Tucker is Harry's best friend who she knows since childhood. Her husband, Ned, is the district delegate eto the General Assembly's House of Delegates to the lower house. Deputy Cynthia Cooper is Harry's neighbor and works for Sheriff Rick Shaw. Jim Sanburne is the mayor along with his wife Min. Aunt Tally is 103i who is loved by all. All the other characters and some of the regular ones add to the story.

The restoration committee consisting of Tazio Chappers is an architect, Lucas Harkness helps Aunt Tally and lives on her estate in one of her small cottages is getting ready for the Celebration of Schools called Color Schools has been restored over the years. While walking the property to make sure all buidings are okay. Her animals, Mrs. Murphy a tiger cat; Pewter is a fat gray cat; Tee Tucker is her corgi who was bred by Susan and Pirate an Irish Woofhound are with her. walking along the creek. She sees footprints along the edge. She finds an old belt buckle in the sand along with a quartz bluestone rock. She pocketed both. She calls Susan and tells her about the belt Susan tells her to give it to Sherry Tutweiler who was a history teacher. She is married to Coach Evenfall. When Harry takes it to her she says it is old and she will do some research,
Looking it up in a book she said it was from the second Massachusetts Regimfent Infantry and was a union buckle. There had been prisoner of war camps,

Lucas is putting the hay away in the hay barn. He use to work as secretary ato a republican delegate to the general assembly. His job ended when his boss also lost her office. He was hit by a car and had to recover. When he finished doing the hay he went to see Aunt Tally as he would be taking her to the celebration.

Harry decided to get a drone to go over the property behind the school. Fair bought one for her. Lucas asked if he could use the drone as there was an area that seemed to have standing water when it rained. He wanted to see if there was an obstruction. Harry put the drone in the air and had it go all the way to the old Jones farm which Cooper had bought. Nothing was found on this side so she sent it to the other side. She stopped the drone over an area and saw what looked like a bumper. They decided to go to the other side and see what it was. When they realized it was a car she called Cooper. She came with three officers with a tow truck. When they were able to pull the 2001 Subaru out and when opening it they found a skelton still in the car with clothing on. Cooper called Rick who came out as they now had a corpse. Cooper checked missing person reports and found that it was Denver Raisella, a geology professord at Mary Baldwin College.

This is where the story takes off with lots of twists and turns and murder. I will leave it to the reader to enjoy to the surprising ending.

I have loved this series from the first book, I wish You were Here. I have gotten to know the characters that live in the town and they have become like friends. The author gives one a history lesson of what went on in the south which I find very interesting. I look forward to the next book in the series and the adventures of Harry and her friends,

Thank you NetGalley and Bantam Books for this ARC.

Another phone in. It’s getting harder to care about the characters. They are becoming to perfect and unrelatable. There isn’t any conflict to add substance.

Been a fan of this series for years! Followed Harry as she has grown older and faced life with Fair and their pets. This newest entry finds Harry and friends restoring an old school that was for non-white individuals many years ago. There has been a lot of rain in the area and a flooded creek yields a car with a man who has been dead many years. This discovery starts a string of events that bring more murder, more distress for Harry and her pets. It also threatens the stability of the Crozet community. Enjoyed this one and look forward to the next. Thanks to Net Galley for the arc.

As usual a fun read. the dogs and cats are always the stars. Rita Mae ROCKS. Her novels are just really good reads

Love, love, love Ms. Rita Mae Brown. I always anxiously look forward to a new offering. She is the quintessential mystery writer. I especially love the Sneaky Pie. Pewter et.al mysteries. Beautiful insight into life in Virginia. I always feel warm and cozy after reading these stories. Even tho I have never lived a life like Harry; it would be my choice for the next go round if that exists. If you have never read Rita Mae Brown, you are missing an exceptional experience.

I’ve enjoyed previous books from Rita Mae Brown and this entry had that element that I was expecting and enjoyed from those stories. It had that mystery element that I wanted and characters that I cared about. It was everything that I was hoping for and was glad I read this.