THE PURRFECT MURDER

Mrs. Murphy--in case you're new to this series--is a cat. Along with a corgi named Tee and another cat named Pewter--referred to affectionately as "Fatso"--she helps amateur sleuth Harry Haristeen solve crimes. In this outing Harry is trying to figure out who killed the town doctor and an upper-class patron famous for her imperious manner. Brown's animal characters definitely steal the show. There's something hilarious and endearing about the juxtaposition of genteel Virginians and the rowdy, opinionated animals. Yes, they talk! (To each other.) Kate Forbes does a bang-up job with this crowd of colorful characters, capturing the mayhem that is always simmering beneath the surface of their love-hate relationships. D.G. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2008]