Rating: 
Summary: Sadly Disappointed
Review: Having followed the Mrs. Murphy mysteries over the years, I am sorry to say that this volume leaves me wanting... wanting a good mystery! Ms Brown seems to have dipped into a formula method for compiling her books. What started the series as bright, witty and compelling, now lacks style, substance and charm. The animals have become more vocal and unbelievable with each new volume and the sidebars into instructional content and social commentary are too distracting. Perhaps it's time to put Mrs. Murphy and friends away for a bit until a real plot surfaces.
Rating:
Summary: Sadly Disappointed
Review: Having followed the Mrs. Murphy mysteries over the years, I am sorry to say that this volume leaves me wanting... wanting a good mystery! Ms Brown seems to have dipped into a formula method for compiling her books. What started the series as bright, witty and compelling, now lacks style, substance and charm. The animals have become more vocal and unbelievable with each new volume and the sidebars into instructional content and social commentary are too distracting. Perhaps it's time to put Mrs. Murphy and friends away for a bit until a real plot surfaces.
Rating: 
Summary: Rita Mae Brown is alway a delight
Review: I feel like a traitor, but I really have begun to enjoy these more that the Cat Who boosk. I still like them, but these are so witty and fun. The latest one is no exception. If you have enjoyed her books up til now, don't miss this one.
Rating:
Summary: What a FUN book!!!
Review: I have read Rita Mae Brown's mysteries but this one is my favorite so far.Very good book for someone who likes murder and animals!!
Rating: 
Summary: Not nearly as good as the others
Review: I love this series and eagerly await her books. I love Rita Mae's style of writing and her wit. However, I had the devil's own time getting into this book. It did read like a rough draft. As a writer myself, I felt reading her book as I do when I am bored or in a slump in my own writing and am just trying to fill pages and/or time. Not very satisfying. Still, not really bad, either. Rita Mae is too good to be totally disappointing, but definitely not a winner in this series.
Rating:
Summary: So much fun!
Review: I should say first that I have read and own all of the books in the Mrs. Murphy series. Secondly, I assure you that I don't compare them to the Sharon McCone series or others with more serious plots. These books are so much fun! They are quick to read, perfect for a flight, a waiting room, anywhere that you want to be quickly absorbed into a story. What more can you ask from a "cozy"? This is one of my favorites. The variety of new characters mixed into the familiar Crozet crowd during spring social events was tantalizing. I also found the illustrations to be excellent. If you are reading for fun and you can "suspend disbelief" long enough to allow for talking animals, try these. You just might like them!
Rating: 
Summary: Visiting Friends
Review: I was surprised when I read this book described as a "cosy." It's hard to envision the author of "The Hand that Cradles the Rock" as cosy. But the Mrs. Murphy books do fit the criteria.
The thing that keeps bringing me back to these books is the strong sense of community Ms. Brown writes. Even if it's a community rather plagued with bloody deeds, it's a real community, one I would like to live in.
Another review I read mentioned "talking animals." I really hate anthropomorphized animals. The animals in these books may possess a language to talk among themselves, but they don't speak "human." (Which is understandably frustrating to them, but believable.)
In a world of terrorism and terror, I realy like having this fantasy world to retreat to.
Rating: 
Summary: Not up to the usual standard
Review: I'm a huge fan of the Mrs. Murphy series; they're my favourites of all the cat/crime genre. Unfortunately, the latest volume doesn't come up to the standard set forth in the series so far. It reads like a rough draft turned in under a deadline. While the actual premise is interesting enough, it's both unoriginal and so far-fetched that it's hard for this ordinary person to care about it. The writing is wooden and stilted, more a recitation of events than a good story. The new characters are lifeless -- not even a budding romance has any real zing -- and the old characters are predictable. Nothing new is happening in the town of Crozet; let's eat some orange glazed cinnamon buns. Even the animals can't really save this one; they talk a lot but don't really contribute much. A fan of the series will want to read _Catch as Cat Can_, but get it out of the library.
Rating:
Summary: Really bad karma.
Review: If you are looking for junk to read this is the book to do it with. The only descent thing about it is that darling Rita has finally gotten around to calling Cynthia Cooper a deputy sheriff (which she is) rather than a police officer (which she isn't). It will be interesting to see if this holds true in the rest of the forthcoming books Rita insults our intelligence with in the Murphy series.This book, like the rest of the Murphy series, if basiclly for those of us with nothing better to do. If you really want to read it go check it out at your local library like I did. I wonder if Disney will ever get around to making a movie out of this one like they did with "Rest in Pieces".
Rating:
Summary: A fun tale cosy readers will adore
Review: In the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia lies the small bucolic town of Crozet located in the middle of Albermarle County. It is a special, magical town unlike any other because all the animals are sentient and can talk to each other including cross-species communication with one "muted" exception: that of the inferior humans who have not evolved enough to be on their level. Since man is the only species who kills for reasons other than food and defense, the animals of Crozet may have a point.
Currently Crozet is suffering from a crime wave with three murders, a stolen truck, an unexplained $530,000 in one of the homicide victim's safe, and other lesser felonies. Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen, her gray tiger cat Mrs. Murphy, Pewter a fat gray cat, and Tucker the Welsh Corgi are as usual in the middle of the investigation and hope to close the case soon.
Any new Mrs. Murphy mystery is a joyful reading experience and CATCH AS CAT CAN is no exception. Rita Mae Brown and her feline Sneaky Pie have co-authored an adult mystery that appeals to the child in all of us. Although Harry and her ex-husband are still dating, the fair maiden has a gorgeous new suitor who seems to good to be true. Still Harry and her "owners" will never allow her romance to get in the way of justice; but then again she is human. Harriet Klausner
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