by Rita Mae Brown
Review by Kiley Roberson
If you haven’t joined the Mrs. Murphy fan club yet, you’re missing out — not just on clever mysteries but on one of the most delightfully perceptive narrators in contemporary cozy fiction. Created by Rita Mae Brown, Mrs. Murphy is a tiger cat with sharp instincts, sharper observations and an unshakable sense of justice.
Though Mrs. Murphy technically belongs to Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen, the inquisitive postmistress of Crozet, Virginia, she is far more than a household companion. She is a sleuth in her own right, quietly untangling human missteps with the help of her animal confidants, most notably Tee Tucker, a loyal Corgi, and Pewter, a magnificently self-assured gray cat.
What makes Mrs. Murphy such an enduring figure is her balance of wit and wisdom. She is brave without being reckless, observant without being cynical, and deeply loyal to Harry even when her human’s choices are questionable. Through Mrs. Murphy’s eyes, readers gain a layered perspective on small-town life — the whispered gossip, the simmering grudges and the quiet acts of kindness that bind a community together. The animals speak to one another (though the humans remain unaware), offering commentary that is often humorous but frequently incisive. In many ways, Mrs. Murphy’s clarity highlights the blind spots of her human counterparts.
That signature blend of charm and insight is on full display in “Sealed with a Hiss,” another engaging entry in Brown’s long-running series. Set once again in the rolling hills of Crozet, the novel opens with unsettling disturbances, suspicious break-ins and tensions that hint at deeper conflicts beneath the town’s tranquil exterior. As unease spreads, Harry finds herself drawn into unraveling the mystery, even as Mrs. Murphy and her four-legged companions begin assembling clues of their own.
Brown excels at portraying rural Virginia with affection and authenticity. Crozet is more than a backdrop; it is a living, breathing community where history lingers and relationships are layered with years of shared experience. In “Sealed with a Hiss,” those relationships are tested as secrets surface and motives are questioned. The mystery unfolds deliberately, rewarding attentive readers with carefully planted clues and character-driven revelations.
At its heart, the novel explores loyalty between friends, neighbors and, of course, humans and animals. The stakes may begin with property crimes, but they widen into questions about trust and responsibility within a close-knit town. Mrs. Murphy’s steady presence grounds the narrative, reminding readers that intuition and integrity often go hand in paw.
For longtime fans, this installment offers the familiar pleasures of animal banter and small-town intrigue. For newcomers, it provides an inviting entry point into a series that proves, time and again, that sometimes the sharpest detective in the room is the one curled up on the windowsill.
