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"Sister" Jane #6
The Tell-Tale Horse
It’s February, prime foxhunting season for the members of Virginia’s Jefferson Hunt Club, when a shocking event alarms the community. A woman is found brutally murdered, stripped naked, and meticulously placed atop a horse statue outside a tack shop. The theft of a treasured foxhunting prize inside the store may be linked to the grisly scene, and everyone is on edge.
With few clues to go on, “Sister” Jane Arnold, master of the Jefferson Hunt Club, uses her fine-tuned horse sense to try to solve the mystery of this “Lady Godiva” murder. But Sister isn’t the only one equipped to sniff out the trail. The local foxes, horses, and hounds have their own theories on the whodunit. If only these peculiar humans could just listen to them, they’d see that the killer might be right under their oblivious noses–and that Sister could become the killer’s next victim.
Praise for The Tell-Tale Horse :
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE BESTSELLER
“[A] charming and engrossing series . . . Sister Jane Arnold is Master of the Foxhounds as well as one of the most entertaining amateur sleuths since those of Agatha Christie.”
– Booklist
“Intriguing . . . Fans of the series will be fascinated with Jane’s evolution under Brown’s hand. With each book, Jane becomes more real–and more human–in the reader’s imagination.”
–Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Grabs readers from the opening scene and gallops through to the very surprising end.”
–Horse Illustrated
With few clues to go on, “Sister” Jane Arnold, master of the Jefferson Hunt Club, uses her fine-tuned horse sense to try to solve the mystery of this “Lady Godiva” murder. But Sister isn’t the only one equipped to sniff out the trail. The local foxes, horses, and hounds have their own theories on the whodunit. If only these peculiar humans could just listen to them, they’d see that the killer might be right under their oblivious noses–and that Sister could become the killer’s next victim.
Praise for The Tell-Tale Horse :
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE BESTSELLER
“[A] charming and engrossing series . . . Sister Jane Arnold is Master of the Foxhounds as well as one of the most entertaining amateur sleuths since those of Agatha Christie.”
– Booklist
“Intriguing . . . Fans of the series will be fascinated with Jane’s evolution under Brown’s hand. With each book, Jane becomes more real–and more human–in the reader’s imagination.”
–Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Grabs readers from the opening scene and gallops through to the very surprising end.”
–Horse Illustrated
294 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
49 people are currently reading
441 people want to read
About the author
Rita Mae Brown
180 books2,245 followersRita Mae Brown is a prolific American writer, most known for her mysteries and other novels (Rubyfruit Jungle). She is also an Emmy-nominated screenwriter.
Brown was born illegitimate in Hanover, Pennsylvania. She was raised by her biological mother's female cousin and the cousin's husband in York, Pennsylvania and later in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Starting in the fall of 1962, Brown attended the University of Florida at Gainesville on a scholarship. In the spring of 1964, the administrators of the racially segregated university expelled her for participating in the civil rights movement. She subsequently enrolled at Broward Community College[3] with the hope of transferring eventually to a more tolerant four-year institution.
Between fall 1964 and 1969, she lived in New York City, sometimes homeless, while attending New York University[6] where she received a degree in Classics and English. Later,[when?] she received another degree in cinematography from the New York School of Visual Arts.[citation needed] Brown received a Ph.D. in literature from Union Institute & University in 1976 and holds a doctorate in political science from the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C.
Starting in 1973, Brown lived in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. In 1977, she bought a farm in Charlottesville, Virginia where she still lives.[9] In 1982, a screenplay Brown wrote while living in Los Angeles, Sleepless Nights, was retitled The Slumber Party Massacre and given a limited release theatrically.
During Brown's spring 1964 semester at the University of Florida at Gainesville, she became active in the American Civil Rights Movement. Later in the 1960s, she participated in the anti-war movement, the feminist movement and the Gay Liberation movement.
Brown took an administrative position with the fledgling National Organization for Women, but resigned in January 1970 over Betty Friedan's anti-gay remarks and NOW's attempts to distance itself from lesbian organizations. She claims she played a leading role in the "Lavender Menace" zap of the Second Congress to Unite Women on May 1, 1970, which protested Friedan's remarks and the exclusion of lesbians from the women's movement.
In the early 1970s, she became a founding member of The Furies Collective, a lesbian feminist newspaper collective in Washington, DC, which held that heterosexuality was the root of all oppression.
Brown told Time magazine in 2008, "I don't believe in straight or gay. I really don't. I think we're all degrees of bisexual. There may be a few people on the extreme if it's a bell curve who really truly are gay or really truly are straight. Because nobody had ever said these things and used their real name, I suddenly became [in the late 1970s] the only lesbian in America."
Brown was born illegitimate in Hanover, Pennsylvania. She was raised by her biological mother's female cousin and the cousin's husband in York, Pennsylvania and later in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Starting in the fall of 1962, Brown attended the University of Florida at Gainesville on a scholarship. In the spring of 1964, the administrators of the racially segregated university expelled her for participating in the civil rights movement. She subsequently enrolled at Broward Community College[3] with the hope of transferring eventually to a more tolerant four-year institution.
Between fall 1964 and 1969, she lived in New York City, sometimes homeless, while attending New York University[6] where she received a degree in Classics and English. Later,[when?] she received another degree in cinematography from the New York School of Visual Arts.[citation needed] Brown received a Ph.D. in literature from Union Institute & University in 1976 and holds a doctorate in political science from the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C.
Starting in 1973, Brown lived in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. In 1977, she bought a farm in Charlottesville, Virginia where she still lives.[9] In 1982, a screenplay Brown wrote while living in Los Angeles, Sleepless Nights, was retitled The Slumber Party Massacre and given a limited release theatrically.
During Brown's spring 1964 semester at the University of Florida at Gainesville, she became active in the American Civil Rights Movement. Later in the 1960s, she participated in the anti-war movement, the feminist movement and the Gay Liberation movement.
Brown took an administrative position with the fledgling National Organization for Women, but resigned in January 1970 over Betty Friedan's anti-gay remarks and NOW's attempts to distance itself from lesbian organizations. She claims she played a leading role in the "Lavender Menace" zap of the Second Congress to Unite Women on May 1, 1970, which protested Friedan's remarks and the exclusion of lesbians from the women's movement.
In the early 1970s, she became a founding member of The Furies Collective, a lesbian feminist newspaper collective in Washington, DC, which held that heterosexuality was the root of all oppression.
Brown told Time magazine in 2008, "I don't believe in straight or gay. I really don't. I think we're all degrees of bisexual. There may be a few people on the extreme if it's a bell curve who really truly are gay or really truly are straight. Because nobody had ever said these things and used their real name, I suddenly became [in the late 1970s] the only lesbian in America."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
August 31, 2019
Didn't work to start with #6 of the series...
April 1, 2010
I grabbed this as an audio book to pass the time on a nine hour drive. It was the perfect length, and the right blend of cheesy and engaging. I hadn't realized that it was the sixth book in a series, but it didn't feel like I had missed much. The main character was interesting and complex, and worth hanging a mystery around. The mystery itself was decent, though there were a few too many red herrings for my taste.
My main complaint is the talking animals. I'm fine with talking animals in a children's book, or in a book in which there is a reason for the animals to talk. This book was going along with its third person narrator and established protagonist when all of a sudden the hunting hounds were speaking to each other and the foxes were complaining about human obtuseness and all of the foxes and crows and owls had names and personalities. This isn't to say that they don't have personalities - my dog certainly does - but their perspective on the story wasn't any more useful to me than his would be. It wasn't necessary, and I found it irritating.
My other complaint has to do with the shifting perspective. Almost the entire book is told in a third person limited fashion with "Sister" Jane being the only person whose thoughts we're privy to. Then there's one chapter (I think it was a chapter - hard to remember, since it was audio) that revolves around a married couple's private conversation. It's narrated in a similar voice but without Jane present, which seems like cheating to me. And of course there are the sudden unnecessary shifts to hound-perspective and fox-perspective.
All in all, an entertaining listen.
My main complaint is the talking animals. I'm fine with talking animals in a children's book, or in a book in which there is a reason for the animals to talk. This book was going along with its third person narrator and established protagonist when all of a sudden the hunting hounds were speaking to each other and the foxes were complaining about human obtuseness and all of the foxes and crows and owls had names and personalities. This isn't to say that they don't have personalities - my dog certainly does - but their perspective on the story wasn't any more useful to me than his would be. It wasn't necessary, and I found it irritating.
My other complaint has to do with the shifting perspective. Almost the entire book is told in a third person limited fashion with "Sister" Jane being the only person whose thoughts we're privy to. Then there's one chapter (I think it was a chapter - hard to remember, since it was audio) that revolves around a married couple's private conversation. It's narrated in a similar voice but without Jane present, which seems like cheating to me. And of course there are the sudden unnecessary shifts to hound-perspective and fox-perspective.
All in all, an entertaining listen.
August 22, 2015
Blargh. Any book which has to have a 5 page intro list of "casts of characters", all the way from the mains to the hunting hounds, is immediately suspect. Then another long list follows of foxhunting terms.
I immediately felt alienated-as if the author was telling me upfront just how much I didn't know and how I probably wouldn't understand the book anyways.
50 pages into the actual novel, I gave up. The characters are uninteresting and the plot drags. This is the first book I have picked up to read and not finished in a long, long time.
I immediately felt alienated-as if the author was telling me upfront just how much I didn't know and how I probably wouldn't understand the book anyways.
50 pages into the actual novel, I gave up. The characters are uninteresting and the plot drags. This is the first book I have picked up to read and not finished in a long, long time.
July 1, 2018
Der 6. Band der Reihe um Sister Jane und ihren Jagdverein in Virginia. Diesmal für mich ein deutlich schwächerer Teil. Zum einen hat mir die Mordinszenierung nicht zugesagt. Tatsächlich lese ich ungerne Krimis, die Bücher von Rita Mae Brown bilden neben Agatha Christie und den Romanen um Sherlock Holmes eine Ausnahme, da ich die Atmospähre so heimelig finde und gerne dem entschleunigten Kleinstadtleben in Virginia mit all seinen Eigentümlichkeiten folge. Dieser Mord war für mich leider "over the top" und passte in das Bild nicht wirklich hinein. Außerdem geht es in diesem Band um Themen wie die Praktikabilität von Monogamie, die Notwendigkeit der Polygamie und Ehebruch. Ich persönlich bin ja der Meinung wenn es um Mono- oder Polygamie geht, soll jeder machen wie er mag, solange man dabei respektvoll mit seinen Partnern umgeht. Die Autorin hat in diesem Fall aber Polygamie und Ehebruch bzw. Affären der Eheleute außerhalb der Ehe in einen Topf geworfen und als akzeptabel hingestellt. Finde ich problematisch, die Meinung bezüglich des Letzteren teile ich nicht, so ein Verhalten finde ich respektlos gegenüber dem/der Partner/-in.
February 12, 2018
As much as I love Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown's Harry Harristeen books, I have to admit this book disappointed me. It did not capture my attention. I know there are several in this series so I will try one more and hope it was just this book, but I wouldn't recommend this.
January 2, 2025
Lot of horse content at the end of the year. As a murder mystery this was not much lmao but the vibes of horses and foxes on a farm in the late winter and Sister as the main character were delightful
August 19, 2016
I really wanted to like this book because I love mysteries and I love horses. The mystery plays second fiddle to the fox hunting, which is wrong way round in my opinion. I pressed "skip" more than once to get beyond the endless descriptions of fox hunt attire, protocol, and terrain - none of which progressed the mystery plot. And talk about alternating points view - the hounds spoke to each, the foxes spoke to one another, even Jane's pets had dialogue...good grief. And there were so many human characters that it was impossible to keep track. Normally I wouldn't have bothered to finish the book but I was curious to see if a murderer was ever revealed. There was a reveal but by the time I got there, I didn't care. As soon as the murderer was identified, I ejected the CD. I cannot recommend this series and, sadly, this book is going right to the used book store.
April 30, 2018
Picked this up from the library because I laughed at the cover and title, and I'd never read a Rita Mae Brown book, and I needed something light for a road trip. This isn't the one to start with, the middle of a series featuring Sister. I listened to the first two CDs twice, and the second CD once. I can tell you what happened, but I cannot begin to explain the complexities of foxhunting country club life that all the super hot, old, rich, gossip-loving people in the story partake in. They talk about the murder for like 10 minutes. Half of what's left is aforementioned country club life, and the other half of what's left is a fox hunt with talking animals. The narrator makes a valiant effort to speak in different voices for the animals, as well as a token Indian character. I made an honest effort to get into this, but I couldn't. I'm sorry.
August 30, 2018
Not good. It felt like the author was more interested in showing us how “cool” and “progressive” Sister is that an actual story. Except that Sister (and the author) comes across as pretentious and unaware. Ironically, this inadvertently fits the attitudes of old VA elitist southern belles. That’s the real flaw of the book. Brown is so focused on making Sister a Mary Sue that she misses the satire of such a character.
I didn’t know that this is the the sixth book in the series. Not that it made a difference.
It’s a shame because the concept is fun. Too bad the execution is flawed.
I didn’t know that this is the the sixth book in the series. Not that it made a difference.
It’s a shame because the concept is fun. Too bad the execution is flawed.
August 31, 2014
Filled with a winter season of foxhunting and the details of the hunt will make you wish you had the money to be a foxhunter, or at least cap for a few days each year. Of course there is the requisite murder, affairs, lies, and drama to move things along.
A light read, enjoyable, and well written enough to read a second time several years apart.
A light read, enjoyable, and well written enough to read a second time several years apart.
January 23, 2018
Reading this book was WORK. And the work was nowhere close to being worth the reward. The characters were not remotely believable, and the mystery was just weird.
April 8, 2018
Although I liked this book, I really prefer her Sneaky Pie Brown books.
October 6, 2021
1. Not enough from the animals' point of view
2. Weird technological angle
3. Sister is so perfect and so loved it's getting boring to read about her
2. Weird technological angle
3. Sister is so perfect and so loved it's getting boring to read about her
February 18, 2024
Rita Mae Brown's books are like bad candy. I know it's going to be disappointing, but I eat it and read them anyway. If you are considering reading her books, check to see when they were written. Those written before the presidency of Barak Obama are much more tolerable than the ones during Obama's presidency, when her characters spout full blown anti Obamacare nonsense, and more importantly, don't talk like real people talk.
Luckily, The Tell-Tale Horse was published in 2007, so it's okay, rater than being a screed. Brown never fully absorbed the first lesson of writing, "Show, don't tell." She tells the reader everything, which is way more than I want to know. For example, Brown believes that readers need to know everything about how foxhunters should be dressed and how they should act. We apparently need to know that foxhunters should thank the master.
Sister Jane, one of Brown's characters, is the master of the pack of foxhounds and foxhunters that form the community that the story revolves around. I have to give her credit for creating a multicultural hunt. Her characters include South Asians, African Americans, and teenagers.
In this book the bodies of naked women start showing up on the backs of the statues of horses and the backs of real horses.. What is going on? Read it and you'll find out. Spoiler alert. It has nothing to do with cell phones.
Luckily, The Tell-Tale Horse was published in 2007, so it's okay, rater than being a screed. Brown never fully absorbed the first lesson of writing, "Show, don't tell." She tells the reader everything, which is way more than I want to know. For example, Brown believes that readers need to know everything about how foxhunters should be dressed and how they should act. We apparently need to know that foxhunters should thank the master.
Sister Jane, one of Brown's characters, is the master of the pack of foxhounds and foxhunters that form the community that the story revolves around. I have to give her credit for creating a multicultural hunt. Her characters include South Asians, African Americans, and teenagers.
In this book the bodies of naked women start showing up on the backs of the statues of horses and the backs of real horses.. What is going on? Read it and you'll find out. Spoiler alert. It has nothing to do with cell phones.
January 2, 2024
I enjoy this series of books, murder mysteries set in a fox-hunting background. By the way, the foxes aren't killed, they are just chased until they go to ground. I learn a lot about fox hunting from these books. I'm not sure I'd want to belong to this hunt, as someone always dies, just like I wouldn't want to invite Miss Marple to dinner. In this series, the animals also talk and plot together, though the humans don't understand their language. The animals discussions were not as central to the story in this book.
I did not figure out the murderer, though I often do, but in hindsight it was pretty obvious.
I gave it 4 out of 5 stars, because, although I enjoyed it, it wasn't a "Wow! this was GREAT!" sort of book, enjoyable but not stunning.
I did not figure out the murderer, though I often do, but in hindsight it was pretty obvious.
I gave it 4 out of 5 stars, because, although I enjoyed it, it wasn't a "Wow! this was GREAT!" sort of book, enjoyable but not stunning.
February 3, 2021
I think this installment had the least amount of animal chatter of any. And I think it was less preachy than the last several. Though there were sections that really suffered for it. And boy, does Ms. Brown really detest monogamy! This one also got right to the mystery instead of dragging on for half the book. I did have a good idea who the killer was near the end but not horribly obvious. Overall a refreshing return to form much closer to the first novel.
May 19, 2017
Wow! Again, I did not see that coming! It's a good thing that we are constantly being introduced to new characters, because they are dropping like flies! I love all of these strong female characters! Jane and Betty, Tootie and Val, etc. etc. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Five out of five stars to the Tell-Tale Horse.
December 20, 2017
Just love
Although there are times when I find Sister Jane doing too much serminizing, I still love all the kinds of love the books reveal. I have to come to love so many of the characters of the stories, that I wait eagerly for the next book and then have to start at the beginning and reread every Sister Jane again. Keep them coming, Rita Mae Brown!
Although there are times when I find Sister Jane doing too much serminizing, I still love all the kinds of love the books reveal. I have to come to love so many of the characters of the stories, that I wait eagerly for the next book and then have to start at the beginning and reread every Sister Jane again. Keep them coming, Rita Mae Brown!
March 12, 2022
I don’t know what I expected but what I got is philosophical cliches, casual racism, classism, not a single character I could related to, AND personified foxes???
The characters were giving rich people written by a not rich person, because I want to think actual people with money aren’t as shallow and narcissistic as these people were. I’m not champion of the rich but can they really be this tissue thin?
The characters were giving rich people written by a not rich person, because I want to think actual people with money aren’t as shallow and narcissistic as these people were. I’m not champion of the rich but can they really be this tissue thin?
January 31, 2021
I enjoy reading some of Rita Mae Brown's books but this mystery was just weird.... Many characters on fox hunting trips - lots of gossip between the characters - murder occurs but doesn't seem to fit with most of the story.
November 19, 2017
a fox hunting novel, but I didn't like this one
July 5, 2018
This book was beautifully done, Sister is a strong leading character with nerves of steel. It was a good mix of some suspense, friendship, love for one another, and of course murder!
November 20, 2020
A little too horsy but good plot
July 20, 2021
Enjoyed the very futuristic possibilities.
February 24, 2023
A library find.
A well crafted, descriptive read.
A quick, easy, and hard to put down read.
Don't miss !
A well crafted, descriptive read.
A quick, easy, and hard to put down read.
Don't miss !
December 11, 2023
As far as the plot goes, it’s very basic. The way that the bodies are disposed is unique but the motive is simply a crime of passion. However, I enjoyed the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2025
A nice light read. A murder mystery without bowling you over with heavy suspense, just enough.
December 19, 2024
Another in the sister Jane series…. Addictive … thankfully there are a few more to go
January 22, 2014
I love Rita Mae Brown, and am especially partial to her "Fox Hunting Series" with Sister Jane Arnold as the main character.
The end to this book was reaaaaally good and had me on the edge of my seat, but I was a little annoyed by the "Mary Sue" like persona of Sister. "Mary-Suing" is a phrase typically found in the fanfiction realm, used to denote a character who is perfect in every way. While Brown does appear to demonstrate that her characters have "faults" such as Sister's sleeping around, Sister somehow justifies it. While I think Brown is entitled to her own opinions (and maybe those aren't her personal views, I dunno), but this is just one of the many examples where I get sick of Brown being a little preachy. I think it's OK to have a strong character based off of yourself (frankly, I would LOVE to meet Rita Mae Brown!) but when every book is so formulaic, it does get a little old after a while. Additionally, there are TOO MANY DAMN NAMES and conversations which don't need to happen. My final criticism is that "country life" is infinitely better (as well as the people?) than any other way of life. Coming from a horse-y/animal background, I personally agree with her sentiments, but it does get a little old after a while! Tone it down, Rita! It's OK! We get it! You are a blue blooded Virginian and that's great, but WHOA PONY, WHOA.
All of that being said, I love Rita Mae Brown and I LOVE this series even if it can be a little simplistic. I know Rita is a great writer (Rubyfruit Jungle is quite a work of art), so I can forgive her because I think she just does these for fun. She is entertaining, and I do love the hunting/horse/animal/outdoorsey theme, so I shan't complain any more. I'm just about to start the next one in the series!
The end to this book was reaaaaally good and had me on the edge of my seat, but I was a little annoyed by the "Mary Sue" like persona of Sister. "Mary-Suing" is a phrase typically found in the fanfiction realm, used to denote a character who is perfect in every way. While Brown does appear to demonstrate that her characters have "faults" such as Sister's sleeping around, Sister somehow justifies it. While I think Brown is entitled to her own opinions (and maybe those aren't her personal views, I dunno), but this is just one of the many examples where I get sick of Brown being a little preachy. I think it's OK to have a strong character based off of yourself (frankly, I would LOVE to meet Rita Mae Brown!) but when every book is so formulaic, it does get a little old after a while. Additionally, there are TOO MANY DAMN NAMES and conversations which don't need to happen. My final criticism is that "country life" is infinitely better (as well as the people?) than any other way of life. Coming from a horse-y/animal background, I personally agree with her sentiments, but it does get a little old after a while! Tone it down, Rita! It's OK! We get it! You are a blue blooded Virginian and that's great, but WHOA PONY, WHOA.
All of that being said, I love Rita Mae Brown and I LOVE this series even if it can be a little simplistic. I know Rita is a great writer (Rubyfruit Jungle is quite a work of art), so I can forgive her because I think she just does these for fun. She is entertaining, and I do love the hunting/horse/animal/outdoorsey theme, so I shan't complain any more. I'm just about to start the next one in the series!
October 10, 2015
I bought two of Brown's foxhunting mysteries. After laboring my way through just this one, I sent both to the used bookstore.
It's clear she's extremely knowledgeable about foxhunting. And I appreciate that. But I had an early indication that I was in trouble when the start of the book included a full listing of the characters. Human and animal. A FULL listing. And by full, I mean there were a lot. A LOT of a lot. It became tiresome to keep track of them all.
And talk about jumping (no pun intended) to conclusions. (spoiler, sort of)-- Oh, Character was killing everybody. Oh, she must have had syphilis and that made her crazy. Um... what??? Throw in your predictable red herrings and this book was so formula and borderline obnoxious in that sense that I struggled to finish. I only finished because I hoped there would be some great twist at the end to redeem my whole reading experience. Not so much.
It's clear she's extremely knowledgeable about foxhunting. And I appreciate that. But I had an early indication that I was in trouble when the start of the book included a full listing of the characters. Human and animal. A FULL listing. And by full, I mean there were a lot. A LOT of a lot. It became tiresome to keep track of them all.
And talk about jumping (no pun intended) to conclusions. (spoiler, sort of)-- Oh, Character was killing everybody. Oh, she must have had syphilis and that made her crazy. Um... what??? Throw in your predictable red herrings and this book was so formula and borderline obnoxious in that sense that I struggled to finish. I only finished because I hoped there would be some great twist at the end to redeem my whole reading experience. Not so much.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews