Author: Rita Mae Brown
Genre: Mystery
Hardcover; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)
ISBN #: 9780593357576
Ballantine Books
272 Pages
$28.00; $13.99 Amazon
October 24, 2023
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Early fall in Virginia means shorter days, cooler temperatures, the blooming milkweeds of summer giving way to fields of fluffy seeds -- and of course, the start of fox hunting season. It's "Sister" Jane Arnold's favorite time of year. And this year, the Jefferson Hunt Club is busier than every, organizing a fundraising drive to help with the upkeep of their beloved hunting grounds.
But the festive season is interrupted by the appearance of a dead body, tied to a chair and placed directly in the path of an early-season hunt. No one recognizes the victim, but the intentional placement makes it clear that someone is sending a message. Then, one huntsman's valuable stamp collection is stolen, and they discover the victim was also a stamp collector. Sister suspects a connection, which is confirmed when just one stamp is found taped to the garage door of her friend and treasurer of the hunt club Ronnie Haslip. Could Ronnie have been involved in either the murder or the theft, or has he been marked as the next victim? Sister must uncover who has been sending those cryptic signs to her friends -- before any of them wind up dead.
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Jane "Sister" Arnold lives in Albemarle County, Virginia with her husband Gray. She and her friends live for the hunt, and raise both horses and dogs. It's the beginning of autumn, and they decide to enter the fray, only to find that there is too much fog for anything to happen, so they all retire back home. But the next morning after the fog lifts, it is discovered that there is a dead body tied to a chair. Unfortunately, the vultures have already had at him, which makes it a bit impossible to tell who he is. That and the fact that there is no identification.
Why was he tied there, in the way of the hunt? Who is he? How did he die? And what does it have to do with the hunt club, if anything? These are the questions that need to be answered, but no one has any of them. Still, the questions linger, and soon enough it's discovered that perhaps it does have something to do with a member of the hunt club. But is it ominous? And does that member have anything to do with the murder? Sister is determined to find out, even if it might be dangerous to do so...
I will admit that this is the first book in this series that I have read. I also freely admit that I love Mrs. Murphy series, and have read almost all of those. So yes, I was willing to give this one a go. Upon starting the book, I had no idea that I would learn so much about fox hunting. (Not enough to try it myself as I am a city girl born and bred, but it's an interesting idea otherwise!) It's extremely detailed and everything is recorded, you need a hunt master (which I knew) and others to keep everything running smoothly. There are so many details that I can't list them all here, but it's a lot of work and takes a lot of people.
However, Ms. Brown gives us an interesting story in between the hunting. Her writing is warm and the characters are believable. The story is written well, and it is nearly impossible to discover the reasons why the murder was committed. But even though the clues are there, this is how a good tale is done. You need to figure out what those clues mean, and decipher them along with the protagonist. While Sister doesn't really figure out the mystery, she is as much a part of it as her fellow huntsmen.
When the ending comes and the murderer is revealed, they are one of the most despicable of all. There is no sympathy for this person. We cannot feel for each killer, nor should we. All in all, the ending is worth the read, and when everything is said and done, we have read a good story. I look forward to the next in the series. Recommended.
I was given an advance copy from the publisher but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Rita Mae Brown's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/rita-mae-brown/
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