Hiss & Tell (Mrs. Murphy, #31)

by Rita Mae Brown

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Hiss & Tell is the 31st (!!!) Mrs. Murphy mystery by Rita Mae Brown. Released 28th March 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Bantam book imprint, it's 304 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

I've long been a fan of the author, and enjoyed her cozy Mrs. Murphy series as well as her more serious writing. This anthropomorphic cozy series is a pillar of the genre (and the author a prolific and dependable source of cozy reads in several disparate series).

The dialogue and writing are pitch perfect. Typically for Ms. Brown, the writing is solidly comfortable and engaging. Reading her books is almost like visiting with an old friend you haven't seen for a while; you just pick up where you left off the last time, even if you haven't seen them for ages.

This is a series with a vast returning cast of characters. The author has provided a comprehensive dramatis personae section at the beginning of the book in case the reader needs to sort of who is who. That being said, it is the31st book in the series and would probably be best read roughly in order. The story is told in alternating flashbacks from the modern day to the 18th century. The dates are given in the chapter headings, so it's no trouble to keep the intertwined stories straight. It's a testament to the author's technical ability that she manages to write period appropriate dialogue alternated with modern times without giving the reader whiplash or managing to lose the disparate plot threads.

Readers should be aware that the author does not shy away from the admittedly accurate period depiction of slaves, racial violence, and slavery, which can be somewhat jarring for a cozy book. It's probably edifying to talk about openly, but especially in light of the recent racial upheavals, I found it especially sad that we've not managed to make much of an appreciable difference in following 230 years.

I personally love anthropomorphic mysteries, but fair warning, if talking animals bug you, this probably isn't the series for you. The book also does a superlative job of giving a glimpse into Virginia hospitality and etiquette and the 18th century culture parallel to the modern day as well as providing a glimpse of daily life in the area both in the 18th century as well as the modern period.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.