Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
122nd out of 676 books
—
666 voters
Murder at Monticello (Mrs. Murphy #3)
Mrs. Murphy digs into Virginia history—and gets her paws on a killer.
The most popular citizen of Virginia has been dead for nearly 170 years. That hasn't stopped the good people of tiny Crozet, Virginia, from taking pride in every aspect of Thomas Jefferson's life. But when an archaeological dig of the slave quarters at Jefferson's home, Monticello, uncovers a shocking sec...more
The most popular citizen of Virginia has been dead for nearly 170 years. That hasn't stopped the good people of tiny Crozet, Virginia, from taking pride in every aspect of Thomas Jefferson's life. But when an archaeological dig of the slave quarters at Jefferson's home, Monticello, uncovers a shocking sec...more
Mass Market Paperback, 284 pages
Published
October 1995
by Bantam Books
(first published 1994)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
2,683)
!?! Tacitly apologizing for slavery (paraphrasing: "today the races are so far apart, but under Jefferson they were so close!")? Defending Jefferson's ever-so-tender slave-owning practices? Suggesting that the Hemings women were promiscuous? What was Brown smoking when she wrote this?
Rita Mae, I'd suggest that the reason the races were so "close" during slavery was that one was beaten to death if it didn't do what the other insisted. Sexual acts included.
Rita Mae, I'd suggest that the reason the races were so "close" during slavery was that one was beaten to death if it didn't do what the other insisted. Sexual acts included.
On the upside, this book is very easy to read, and I did make it all the way to the end.
However, it was so difficult to get into. First of all, the character names are utterly ridiculous. Who can take characters seriously when they have names like Nick Nichols and Market Shiftlet? Who names a cat Mr. or Mrs. anything? Additionally, the characters' personalities were about as appealing as their names. Mary "Harry" Minor Haristeen is the typical feminist cookie cutter woman, who doesn't need a man...more
However, it was so difficult to get into. First of all, the character names are utterly ridiculous. Who can take characters seriously when they have names like Nick Nichols and Market Shiftlet? Who names a cat Mr. or Mrs. anything? Additionally, the characters' personalities were about as appealing as their names. Mary "Harry" Minor Haristeen is the typical feminist cookie cutter woman, who doesn't need a man...more
They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but let's face it...we all do it. Sometimes we are disappointed, sometimes we are pleasantly surprised.
This is case of "pleasantly surprised." I knew there would be talking animals, but that didn't faze me. Anyone who has a cat or a dog has long realized that their intelligence is great, although very different from that of human beings. The real surprise was the depth of the human characters in this book. Brown magnificently creates a cast of charac...more
This is case of "pleasantly surprised." I knew there would be talking animals, but that didn't faze me. Anyone who has a cat or a dog has long realized that their intelligence is great, although very different from that of human beings. The real surprise was the depth of the human characters in this book. Brown magnificently creates a cast of charac...more
My second disappointing book in a row! What a bummer. I liked learning a little bit about Monticello and Thomas Jefferson, but the book was a little too focused on it. I read this series for the personal danger that faces the citizens of Crozet and how they come together to deal with it, and a mystery from 1803 didn’t do it for me. You do get that sense of danger eventually, but it’s past the halfway point of the book. And while I don’t normally mind the commentary offered by Mrs. Murphy, Tucker...more
i LOVE this series!!! it has talking cats, but it's still GOOD WRITING!! i think this is the 1st book in the series that i read and i was HOOKED after that. i LOVE the characters. it takes place in the South, which i seem attracted to (mostly) and the author frequently interjects a bit of history of the south, which i find interesting.
who would have ever thought?!! i hated history as a student. but if history were presented in schools in the form of a STORY rather than textbook reading and memor...more
who would have ever thought?!! i hated history as a student. but if history were presented in schools in the form of a STORY rather than textbook reading and memor...more
From 1994 comes an installment in this series that's part historical fact & part historical fiction. The primary mystery involves the discovery of a skeleton beneath the hearth during an excavation at Monticello. From this point onward our cast of characters embark on a quest to uncover exactly what is behind this mystery from 1803. There's also a secondary murder that involves a jilted lover that almost feels like a bit of filler if only to add an element to what isn't entirely a bad plot b...more
Murder at the Monticello was a fun, exciting, and quick read. This book is not the first that I had read from Brown in her Mrs. Murphy series, but it has been a while since I had read one. Harry is the perfect leading character along with her animal friends, Mrs. Murphy and Tucker, and all three do a great job in detecting the truth about the book's mystery. I like how Brown includes some great secondary characters both human and animal (showing the family like network of both groups) that add t...more
I don't remember which one was first.
At first, I liked these silly little mysteries set in the South of the U.S.--genteel Southerners in a quirky little town who love their horses and whatnot. Oh, and two cats and a dog are thinking, acting characters. Since I like the fantasy, I'm not embarrassed to read such trifles and the first few mysteries are fun.
As they go on, though, there is a sort of sympathy to the conservative, Southern view that reveres oppressive or malign traditions of their p...more
At first, I liked these silly little mysteries set in the South of the U.S.--genteel Southerners in a quirky little town who love their horses and whatnot. Oh, and two cats and a dog are thinking, acting characters. Since I like the fantasy, I'm not embarrassed to read such trifles and the first few mysteries are fun.
As they go on, though, there is a sort of sympathy to the conservative, Southern view that reveres oppressive or malign traditions of their p...more
Okay. I love the Mrs. Murphy murder mystery series, but this one was a little...dry. Perhaps it was the subject matter or maybe it was the 'walk-on' characters, but this installment was just 'okay.' A murdered, centuries-old skeleton is uncovered at an archeological dig at Monticello and, as would be expected, Harry, Mrs. Murphy and Tee Tucker jump right into the thick of things to save the day and, as usual, things get a little hairy! (HA! Hairy. Harry. Cats. Dogs. Get it!? It's lost sleep...ig...more
Pretty basic Rita Mae Brown. Main character lives near Monticello. Archeologist discovers a dead body buried in the slave quarters. Which of course leads to revelations about present-day people, enough that someone will commit some murders when the wrong people find out too much. Moves along, with a couple of good red herrings. All in all, a good mystery. There's also the lives of the pets of the main character, who try to help out. This wasn't as central as in other books of hers I've read, and...more
Other than hope that this series will improve I don’t know why I keep reading. Every book is the same, the human characters are slow and the animals save the day. Really? At no time in Crozet, Virginia can you find a smart human?
I have never read these books in order, but then again, I don’t think that it is a requirement. The characters stay the same, the animals stay the same, only small portions of the locale seem to differentiate the books.
This time the reader is taken to Thomas Jefferson’s...more
I have never read these books in order, but then again, I don’t think that it is a requirement. The characters stay the same, the animals stay the same, only small portions of the locale seem to differentiate the books.
This time the reader is taken to Thomas Jefferson’s...more
Perfect timing for me - all about genealogy, just when I'm starting my own research (just a lucky library pick at the time). A 200-yr-old corpse of a wealthy white man is found buried at the site of an old slave cabin at Thomas Jefferson's estate, Monticello. Uncovering the story turns out to be dangerous for a few Crozet citizens. The past comes back to haunt the present. I thoroughly enjoyed the history with this one. (See description for "Claws and Effect" for more info on the series.)
I'm on page 180 of 284 of Murder at Monticello: More than halfway though and not enjoying the story much yet --not a good sign. The book is broken up into short chapters, each focused on a different set of townspeople, of which there are many. Too many. The abrupt shifts make the narrative choppy, giving you nothing to grab onto. The animals' musings are random and un-enlightening, too --a particular bummer for me.
This is probably the first and last book of this series for me.
This is probably the first and last book of this series for me.
Hard to follow at parts, but I also was reading it at a time when focusing wasn't one of my better skills. Considering it delves into bloodlines a few hundred years old and involving many people sharing names, confusion isn't surprising, and in fact was noted in the book. I love this series, and if it weren't for all the people getting murdered, I'd want to live in this town.
This is the first book in this series I've read. I found the talking animals somewhat annoying, although I got used to them. I did, however, find the mystery, which revolves around a hidden skeleton found during archeological excavations at Montecello, quite interesting. The 200 year old mystery was deftly tied into a modern secret that leads to more murders..
Murder at Monticello, by Rita Mae Brown
Mystery
The murder in question happened during slave times, but then there’s also a current murder and Sneaky Pie Brown (a lovely intelligent cat) and her pet Harry Haristeen, headmistress of the little post office do their usual sleuthing.
Mystery
The murder in question happened during slave times, but then there’s also a current murder and Sneaky Pie Brown (a lovely intelligent cat) and her pet Harry Haristeen, headmistress of the little post office do their usual sleuthing.
I liked this book even better than book 2 in the series! The flow is improved and the author has better depth of characters. The story is woven around an archeological find at the home of Thomas Jefferson. The find reveals a 200+ year old murder and opens up a racial stir that brings the characters to emotional and personal conflicts. The story is filled with twists and hard to put down for very long.
This is book three in the series and it is just as charming as the first book. I feel like Ive lived in Crozet all my life and have grown up with these people. I have 4 cats, now I want a dog too.
I liked this book. The used of the dog and cats as part of the story is a nice twist. The characters a likeable and well developed. The plot line was interesting and not predictable. I would definitely recommend it.
Thomas Jefferson had a secret which the good citizens ofCrozet care soon to find out. Along with the help of the resident feline detective, nothing gets buy her btw.all shall be reveale.
The least favorite 4 books in this series that I have read so far. I found it difficult to follow the murder nearly 200 years ago being connected to the present one.
I am enthralled with Mr. Jefferson and the Charlottesville area even before my brother attended UVA! It has increased after reading this series.:
If you are a American History buff you will probably like this. It starts with a 170 year old murder. It finally got better about 2/3 the way through. Oh well can't like them all I guess
These wonderful Mrs. Murphy mystery books are written from the point of view of two cats and a Welsh Corgi dog! I have read them all!
I enjoyed this book, but not as much as any of the others in the series...(I did not read these in sequence). The Jefferson family tree was simply too convoluted to follow.
Jan 28, 2013
Jenna Stewart
added it
I am a long-time Rita Mae Brown fan. Love this series. Enjoyed the historical references to Thomas Jefferson and Monticello.
An old body is found under a hearth on Mulberry Row, and somehow it's connected to current murders.
Oct 31, 2012
Cassandra
added it
may have racial undertones that made me really uncomfortable... still a good read, tho
I didn't like this one as much as others in the series. The mystery felt forced.
Cute premise, and interesting as I have been to and live near Monticello
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Rita Mae Brown is a prolific American writer, most known for her mysteries and other novels (Rubyfruit Jungle). She is also an Emmy-nominated screenwriter.
More about Rita Mae Brown...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
