The Tail of the Tip-Off

Mrs. Murphy's Mysteries

ISBN: 1-4025-3872-3 Order from: Amazon.com Amazon.com Recorded Books Barnes & Noble.com

A mildly enjoyable cosy mystery with pleasant characters, small-town atmosphere, anthropomorphic cats and gentle humor.

Reviewed by David on November 07, 2004

Genre: Mystery (Amateur Sleuth, Suspense, Cat)

Synopsis: Mary Minor Haristeen, whom everybody calls "Harry", the postmistress in a small Virginia town, is shocked when an acquaitance dies suddenly after a basketball game. The post-mortem reveals that the sudden collapse was not heart attack but poison, and Harry's curiosity, along with that of her helpful pets propel her to start poking around.

Full Review: Part of the series of novels about Harry and her pets, the mystery can easily stand alone. The repeating characters are reintroduced, including Harry's former husband, whose affections have returned to Harry. The novel is largely about Harry, her circle of friends and her ambivalence about her ex-husband, as it is about the investigation; but the two are woven smoothly together. Mostly the novel is about human interactions—with their gamut of lust, affection, greed, envy, respect. The small-town atmosphere is maintained as Harry interact with a relatively small group of acquaintances, one of which is likely to be a murderer.

The animal conversations—incomprehensible to humans—bring a dose of humor, but are often overly cute. The climax is suitably tense and dangerous, but most of the novel is a comfortable, a bit meandering, exploration of human actions and emotions. The end result is a pleasant if not particularly intense diversion.

Overall: 5.5; Plot: 6; Characters: 5.5; Style: 5; World-building: 5.5; Originality: 5.5;

ISBN: 1-4025-3872-3 Order from: Amazon.com Amazon.com Recorded Books Barnes & Noble.com