Book Review: Claws and Effect

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Claws and Effect     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Rita Mae Brown
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Cozy   Cats   Woman Main Character
Series: Mrs. Murphy # 9
Bantam, Mar 2001, $23.95, 283 pp.

Never let anyone tell you that all the magic in the world is gone. In Crozet, Virginia, people know their neighbors and actually lend a helping hand (novel idea). Animals from different species communicate with one another and even understand humanese although the opposite is not true.

Local postmaster "Harry" Hartisteen has two cats (Mrs. Murphy and Pewter) and a Corgi (Tucker) who watch over her. The human needs special caring because Harry seems to always land in a homicide investigation, something she loves to solve in spite of the danger. Only the skills of her animals have kept her alive, kicking, and sleuthing. When a corpse turns up in the hospital basement, rumored to have been an underground stop, Harry decides to investigate. An unknown assailant bashes her in the head and a local doctor helping the police is shot to death. Though slightly deterred, Harry accompanied by her rescue trio vows to find the answers.

Reading a Mrs. Murphy mystery is like eating a potato chip. You always go back for more. These whimsical and enchanting stories beguile the reader with the sorcery of a special place. The who-done-it of CLAW AND EFFECT is addicting as the characters we care for hook us once again with their purrfect charm that steals the show of the latest expert tale from a deserving best-selling series.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner