Tail Gait: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery
By: Rita Mae Brown
Rating: 4.5 of 5
“Tail Gait” is the latest in a long series of books by Rita Mae Brown (and apparently, Sneaky Pie Brown, too.) It is, however, the first book I have read by Ms. Brown. I often read a book out of order in a series to see how readable it is as a stand-alone book but it is rare that I will choose to read a book as far into as series as this one is (number 24.) Interestingly enough, I had no problem picking up the story, the characters, or the plot. As a stand-alone book, it is very readable. I’m sure that I am missing much in the terms of history of the characters but enough is provided by the author to make it still an enjoyable read.
I really enjoyed the historical part of the story. I don’t know if this is something that Ms. Brown does routinely in her mysteries, but for me, it was a new and interesting way to present a mystery. While the historical part of the book was considerably less in volume than the rest of the story, that was the part that kept me coming back to the book. I could have read a whole novel devoted to a story about the prisoners of war during the Revolutionary War.
The present day story was also interesting, but for my taste, it had a tad too much golf and football mixed in. While both areas were important to the development of the plot and the mystery, it was a little too detailed and I sometimes found my attention flagging. I’m sure that for a golfer or a football enthusiasts, these were sections of more interest. So, it would really depend on the reader as to whether these were too much or perhaps, too little.
Apart from the sporting references, I really enjoyed reading the dialog between the characters and seeing how the author was able to provide descriptions of the area of Virginia in which this story is set. For the most part, I did enjoy the dialog, but every now and then, the characters would take the story off on a strange and unrelated tangent. I can only assume that some of these areas are important to the author and she was making a statement about her feelings and opinions. All I can say is that more than one or two just seemed out of place in the midst of this story.
I found that using the animals in the story was a fun device. I am assuming that Sneaky Pie Brown is responsible for translating and capturing their thoughts and words. It is probably an inherent part of the series but as it was not explained in the forward to this book, I had to figure it out as I went along. The personalities of the pets (and other animals) were a really fun addition to the story for me. I’ve read books where pets are more active in investigations but in this story, they were a bit of comic relief versus the being the individuals who solve the whodunnit.
I read many mysteries and I find that I generally can figure the story out ahead of the “sleuth” in the book. I like to do so just prior to the book reveal. Whether I can solve the crime or not, I want there to be clues in text that would have allowed me to figure it out – not have something sprung on me in the last moments.
“Tail Gait” certainly had clues. In fact, it had so many clues, that I had figured it out before I was a quarter of the way through the book. When that occurs while I am reading, finishing a mystery usually becomes a chore. That was not the case with this book, as the historical portions continued to draw me back in and, to a lesser extent, the modern day characters and their interactions kept me reading, too.
While I cannot speak for the series (of which there are so many books prior to this one), I can recommend this story. For readers who read many mysteries, it may be that they will solve it as easily as I did. For those enmeshed in the series, it is probably another book that should be read. For someone who likes a little history (I emphasize “little”), it can be a fun afternoon read.
Even though I figured the story out quickly, I am intrigued enough by the author’s polished writing style, her unusual use of pets, and the incorporation of historical events (both real and imagined) to want to read more of this series. I will probably start at the beginning and work my way forward. If all of the books are as well done as this, I will be reading the entire series. If not, I’ll try to pick and choose which ones to read based on subject matter.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Bantam, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
“Tail Gait” is the latest in a long series of books by Rita Mae Brown (and apparently, Sneaky Pie Brown, too.) It is, however, the first book I have read by Ms. Brown. I often read a book out of order in a series to see how readable it is as a stand-alone book but it is rare that I will choose to read a book as far into as series as this one is (number 24.) Interestingly enough, I had no problem picking up the story, the characters, or the plot. As a stand-alone book, it is very readable. I’m sure that I am missing much in the terms of history of the characters but enough is provided by the author to make it still an enjoyable read.