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.