Mystery
![Rita Mae Brown - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_rita_mae_brown.jpg)
Claws for Alarm: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery
Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen gets a little help from her veterinarian husband to solve the murder of a young equine vet whose death may be linked to his new clinic in Claws for Alarm, a tantalizing mystery from Rita Mae Brown and her feline co-author Sneaky Pie Brown.
Pharamond "Fair" Haristeen is known throughout Crozet, Virginia, as a good horse vet and a better man. So when Benjamin Wagner, a new vet in town, is found dead in his unopened clinic, local police turn to Fair for help getting to the bottom of things. Fair quickly realizes Ben's clinic has been robbed of ketamine, used by doctors as a horse tranquilizer but also a popular recreational drug. Then Fair's own ketamine goes missing from the back of his truck. Was Ben killed for his supply? Or was he mixed up in something bigger?
Meanwhile, Candida Perez, one of Crozet's oldest and most beloved citizens, is found dead at her desk. Perhaps not so alarming, given her ninety years of life. But the bickering of Candida's children, Ballard and Constance, over her will and the family's valuable collection of historical letters, threatens to drive the rest of the town to madness. Fair's wife, Harry, tries to play peacemaker, but the bad blood between the two siblings runs deep. Just how far will they take their family squabble?
With a little aid from hungry helpers Tee Tucker the corgi and sweet puppy Pirate, as well as feline sleuths Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, Harry and Fair team up to restore justice-and maybe a little peace and quiet-in Claws for Alarm.
Pharamond "Fair" Haristeen is known throughout Crozet, Virginia, as a good horse vet and a better man. So when Benjamin Wagner, a new vet in town, is found dead in his unopened clinic, local police turn to Fair for help getting to the bottom of things. Fair quickly realizes Ben's clinic has been robbed of ketamine, used by doctors as a horse tranquilizer but also a popular recreational drug. Then Fair's own ketamine goes missing from the back of his truck. Was Ben killed for his supply? Or was he mixed up in something bigger?
Meanwhile, Candida Perez, one of Crozet's oldest and most beloved citizens, is found dead at her desk. Perhaps not so alarming, given her ninety years of life. But the bickering of Candida's children, Ballard and Constance, over her will and the family's valuable collection of historical letters, threatens to drive the rest of the town to madness. Fair's wife, Harry, tries to play peacemaker, but the bad blood between the two siblings runs deep. Just how far will they take their family squabble?
With a little aid from hungry helpers Tee Tucker the corgi and sweet puppy Pirate, as well as feline sleuths Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, Harry and Fair team up to restore justice-and maybe a little peace and quiet-in Claws for Alarm.
Readers Top Reviews
Pam Roselle
I enjoyed the historical look back in this book, ongoing from the previous book. The characters as always, are entertaining - and it’s fun having the new addition, Pirate! The story was intriguing and kept you guessing until the end!
Ive been a fan of Sneaky Pie & Sister Jane series, and felt this "mystery" was better than the last couple in this series. I've actually enjoyed the historical chapters in the past, but this time they were a bit boring. Honestly would have given 5 stars, but I find the writing style of the last few books irritating. So many incomplete sentences that read like notes. Really, inserting "and" or some other short word would make it flow better, and increase the number of pages! That said, being a loyal fan, I look forward to the next installment.
Sally Clow
I've read this series from the beginning and always love them.
DANA PRATTS. Swanson
When it comes to devious murderers, Rita Mae Brown sure can weave a tale. It all comes down to why kill someone?
Short Excerpt Teaser
1
September 20, 2019
Friday
Fairy skirts twirled through the air. Glossy white, tiny seeds dispersed into seven-mile-per-hour winds. Milkweed balls, equally as glossy, floated along with the fairy skirts, which some people call Devil's dandruff. All living creatures-whether two-legged, four-legged, or plant-were responding to the loss of light, the cooler night temperatures.
Pharamond Haristeen, DVM, all six feet four inches of him, stood in the aisle of Big Mim Sanburne's perfect brick stable. He looked out the opened doors to watch the parade of skirts, the tiny ballerinas filling the air. The walkway to the stable gleamed white from all the fairies that had fallen.
Returning to Loulou, a large gray mare, now in her late teens, he knelt down, ran his hands over her swollen hind leg.
Big Mim, standing behind him as Paul, her stable manager, held her halter, mentioned, "Those fang marks are so noticeable."
"Gray horses are harder to keep clean but it is easier to see in a situation like this." He gingerly, gently touched her. "Good girl."
"Is she drugged?" asked Tucker, Fair's corgi, sitting properly to the side of the aisle.
Fair took his two dogs with him today, figuring it was like take-your-daughter-to-work day. Tucker was the female; the Irish wolfhound, Pirate, just turning one year old, was male. Pirate sat watching everything. He was trying to learn the business.
"Paul, you found her?"
The young man, married to Tazio Chappers, one of Fair's wife's best friends, nodded. "She wasn't moving well so I walked out and saw the swollen leg plus the marks. Had that snake struck a dog, the animal would be dead."
"What an awful thing to say," the corgi grumbled, then peered more closely at Loulou. "She's not drugged."
"How can you tell?" The young wolfhound was curious.
"A horse hangs her head. Nods off. I should have noticed right away." Tucker puffed out her chest. "I've been working with Daddy for years. You wouldn't believe what I've seen."
Fair had put his bag on a tack trunk. His dually truck was outfitted with everything. Truly a moving equine hospital, it included the latest high-tech equipment and rows of meds costing as much money as human medication, and for some, even more. He reached for bandages, set them on the tack trunk. Pulled out a needle, a small bottle of Gentocin, another one of Excede antibiotic/MI, and also dexamethasone.
Patting Loulou's neck, he then pinched some skin and injected the Gentocin. "One down."
He filled the Excede and repeated the process. "Two down!"
One more needle. "Okay, girl, good girl."
In went the dexamethasone.
"How long before the swelling subsides?" Big Mim spoke again.
"You should notice tomorrow. Given her excellent state of health, I think the leg will be normal size in three or four days but it might still be ouchy. Those fangs bit deep."
"Betadine?" Paul asked about an antiseptic.
"Yeah. We cleaned her up pretty good but I'd unwrap her, wash it each day, then wrap up again. I'm leaving you some chlorhexidine wipes, too." Fair knelt down to wrap her leg, not tight but not loose either.
The last thing one wants is for a wrap to unravel.
Uncrossing her arms, Big Mim, now in her early eighties, stepped up to the beloved mare and ran her hand over a well-muscled hip. "Best hunt horse I ever had."
"Icecapade blood." Fair knowingly cited her illustrious bloodline. "So many went to the track. She was lucky to come here and enjoy a different kind of life."
"Jump the moon." Big Mim smiled broadly.
Fair handed Paul a bottle of Excede, an antibiotic, quick working. "Put her in her stall. Keep her quiet. No point in helping the poison spread, but I think you got her in time. It had to be a copperhead. They're everywhere right now. Getting ready for winter."
Paul slid the stall door closed, as Big Mim had replaced the old Dutch doors with one-piece doors looking almost like chain link. This allowed good airflow, vital in summers. In winter you closed up the barn and perhaps threw an extra blanket on. It was summers that wore you and the horses out. He walked back to Fair, who was writing in his notebook.
Tearing the page off he handed it to Paul. "Okay. In four days give one dose of the Excede and then four days later another. Fifteen milliliters. Do you have enough needles?"
"We're good," Paul replied.
"Hand walk her in the barn. When the swelling is completely down, turn her out in a small paddock. My caveat is, if she stocks up, turn her out sooner but keep an eye on her. No equine hijinks." He laughed. "My memory of Loulou is she expressed a lot of persona...
September 20, 2019
Friday
Fairy skirts twirled through the air. Glossy white, tiny seeds dispersed into seven-mile-per-hour winds. Milkweed balls, equally as glossy, floated along with the fairy skirts, which some people call Devil's dandruff. All living creatures-whether two-legged, four-legged, or plant-were responding to the loss of light, the cooler night temperatures.
Pharamond Haristeen, DVM, all six feet four inches of him, stood in the aisle of Big Mim Sanburne's perfect brick stable. He looked out the opened doors to watch the parade of skirts, the tiny ballerinas filling the air. The walkway to the stable gleamed white from all the fairies that had fallen.
Returning to Loulou, a large gray mare, now in her late teens, he knelt down, ran his hands over her swollen hind leg.
Big Mim, standing behind him as Paul, her stable manager, held her halter, mentioned, "Those fang marks are so noticeable."
"Gray horses are harder to keep clean but it is easier to see in a situation like this." He gingerly, gently touched her. "Good girl."
"Is she drugged?" asked Tucker, Fair's corgi, sitting properly to the side of the aisle.
Fair took his two dogs with him today, figuring it was like take-your-daughter-to-work day. Tucker was the female; the Irish wolfhound, Pirate, just turning one year old, was male. Pirate sat watching everything. He was trying to learn the business.
"Paul, you found her?"
The young man, married to Tazio Chappers, one of Fair's wife's best friends, nodded. "She wasn't moving well so I walked out and saw the swollen leg plus the marks. Had that snake struck a dog, the animal would be dead."
"What an awful thing to say," the corgi grumbled, then peered more closely at Loulou. "She's not drugged."
"How can you tell?" The young wolfhound was curious.
"A horse hangs her head. Nods off. I should have noticed right away." Tucker puffed out her chest. "I've been working with Daddy for years. You wouldn't believe what I've seen."
Fair had put his bag on a tack trunk. His dually truck was outfitted with everything. Truly a moving equine hospital, it included the latest high-tech equipment and rows of meds costing as much money as human medication, and for some, even more. He reached for bandages, set them on the tack trunk. Pulled out a needle, a small bottle of Gentocin, another one of Excede antibiotic/MI, and also dexamethasone.
Patting Loulou's neck, he then pinched some skin and injected the Gentocin. "One down."
He filled the Excede and repeated the process. "Two down!"
One more needle. "Okay, girl, good girl."
In went the dexamethasone.
"How long before the swelling subsides?" Big Mim spoke again.
"You should notice tomorrow. Given her excellent state of health, I think the leg will be normal size in three or four days but it might still be ouchy. Those fangs bit deep."
"Betadine?" Paul asked about an antiseptic.
"Yeah. We cleaned her up pretty good but I'd unwrap her, wash it each day, then wrap up again. I'm leaving you some chlorhexidine wipes, too." Fair knelt down to wrap her leg, not tight but not loose either.
The last thing one wants is for a wrap to unravel.
Uncrossing her arms, Big Mim, now in her early eighties, stepped up to the beloved mare and ran her hand over a well-muscled hip. "Best hunt horse I ever had."
"Icecapade blood." Fair knowingly cited her illustrious bloodline. "So many went to the track. She was lucky to come here and enjoy a different kind of life."
"Jump the moon." Big Mim smiled broadly.
Fair handed Paul a bottle of Excede, an antibiotic, quick working. "Put her in her stall. Keep her quiet. No point in helping the poison spread, but I think you got her in time. It had to be a copperhead. They're everywhere right now. Getting ready for winter."
Paul slid the stall door closed, as Big Mim had replaced the old Dutch doors with one-piece doors looking almost like chain link. This allowed good airflow, vital in summers. In winter you closed up the barn and perhaps threw an extra blanket on. It was summers that wore you and the horses out. He walked back to Fair, who was writing in his notebook.
Tearing the page off he handed it to Paul. "Okay. In four days give one dose of the Excede and then four days later another. Fifteen milliliters. Do you have enough needles?"
"We're good," Paul replied.
"Hand walk her in the barn. When the swelling is completely down, turn her out in a small paddock. My caveat is, if she stocks up, turn her out sooner but keep an eye on her. No equine hijinks." He laughed. "My memory of Loulou is she expressed a lot of persona...
