Pawing Through the Past

By: Rita Mae Brown

Narrated by: Kate Forbes

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this warm-hearted puzzler, "Mary Minor Harry" Haristeen is preparing for her 20th high school reunion when trouble comes to the seemingly sleepy town of Crozet, Virginia. It all begins when classmates receive anonymous letters with a simple message: "You'll never get old." Some take the note as a compliment, others think it's a harmless practical joke. But when the class womanizer turns up dead, the message suddenly has a far more sinister meaning. Can Mrs. Murphy, Harry's sleuthing cat, sniff out the killer? Listeners will delight as Mrs. Murphy, with assistance from her four-legged companions Pewter the cat and Tee Tucker the Welsh corgi, scratch through the clues. Kate Forbes' charming narration captures the unique spirit of each character, whether human, feline, or canine.

Hear talking cat-sleuth Mrs. Murphy in these other mysteries from Rita Mae Brown.

©2000 Rita Mae Brown (P)2004 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic Reviews

"Brown's appealing sense of humor, well-constructed setting and competent plotting carry the day. Her talking, thinking animals are funny and, for those who like this sort of thing, even adorable." (Publishers Weekly)

purring my heart out

I am extremly happy and excited that we took the time to listen to this book. It kept us (Zeus:the dog and Princes:cat) on our toes and paws. And for this we thank you. We all think all of your Mrs Murphy mystery books are great and exciting.

excellent

This was an excellent and highly entertaining audio book.

A Fun Story

Any additional comments?

I'm a big fan of the earlier Sneaky Pie books. RMB got a little too preachy later on for my tastes. A LOT too preachy, in fact. But 'Pawing...' is entertaining, and has a nice twist to it. Kate Forbes narrates with just the right tone (lighthearted), which seems appropriate since we're dealing with talking animals. I recommmend it, as well as the other first five or so that are available. A pleasant diversion.
Rick

another great read in the Mrs Murphy series

as always a highly enjoyable read decent. interesting plot and the books in the series just keep getting better

One of the best Mrs Murphy mysteries!

I am a big fan of this series by Rita Mae Brown. This story and book in particular was one of my favorites. It was suspenseful until the very end and it keeps the reader engaged in "whodunnit?" mode. I was so engrossed all the way and would rewind and listen in case I missed some details. Kate Forbes is a marvelous narrator and the only one I like for this series!

Great Story; Narrator Lacking

The story was exactly what I expect in a "Mrs. Murphy" mystery, so I am pleased in that regard. But the narrator's voice was a bit flat and expressionless. Not enough variety to the different characters' "voices".

Too many characters introduced too fast.

Would you try another book from Rita Mae Brown and/or Kate Forbes?

This is the first time listening to this author. There 7 characters introduced within the first chapter of this book. The first four characters are shallow, with too much in common to easily differentiate while listening. Adding 3 talking animals just adds to the confusion. I will not try another book from Rita Mae Brown.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Something with less characters in the opening of the story, or something with characters who are developed more slowly.

Would you be willing to try another one of Kate Forbes’s performances?

Yes, possibly something with less characters.

What character would you cut from Pawing Through the Past?

The animals.