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A mystery series that has seen better days. The author used to develop characters and story to a more satisfying level. Now the book is filled with encyclopedia-like facts instead. So many words and then off to the publisher. Sad.
And the valuable pearls buried in the dirt for 130 years would probably be ruined. So why pearls? Distracting! ( )

This book was a disappointment. I very much enjoyed the earlier mysteries in this series for the banter between the animals and their somewhat limited interaction with their humans, to get the humans on the right track to solve the murders. Now, the books have two storylines going, one present day and one taking place in the 1700s, and the animals are almost forgotten. The author also raises the problems of social injustices and politics, both then and now. Not what I am looking for in a cozy mystery. That being said, both past and present mysteries in this installment had unsatisfying conclusions. I’m sure the author will continue the past storyline in the next book, but the present mystery was just not that intriguing. Perhaps Ms. Brown should have started a new historical mystery series and kept her Sneaky Pie Brown one as it had always been, an animal cozy. ( )

Harry and her friend Susan are helping out clearing the grounds for the Hounds for Heroes run for Bassets and Beagles. Along with other volunteers, they find a problem on the road that needs the help of a tractor, and one of their friends, Jason Holzknect, sets off to find one. But when he doesn't return, they set off to find him...and they do, with his throat slit. While Harry is convinced someone at the club killed Jason, everyone wants her to let the police handle the case. And when another body is found Harry begins to connect the dots, never realizing that the truth is indeed stranger than fiction...

Meanwhile, the discovery of a centuries-old skeleton in a grave marked for another leads to other questions: who killed the woman and why put her on top of the casket of someone else? Why a couple of parishioners are more interested in the expensive jewelry she wore, Harry, of course, is interested in her origins and who hated her enough to leave her there...

This is the 28th book in the series, and I am happy to say that it's just as intriguing as all the previous ones. As a matter of fact, I find each book better than the last one I read. Perhaps it's just that I truly enjoy Ms. Brown's writing, but I also love a good mystery, and these books not only give you that, they give you tales that span the centuries.

Harry's joined, of course, by her faithful friends: cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, dogs Tucker and new friend Pirate, who's recently adopted and still growing. The animals make their own friend in this book, that of a ghost Beagle named Ruffy who has a tale of his own, and hopes his new found friends can help him. It's a mesmerizing story of love, betrayal, death, revenge, and money, and the author tells it well.

As Harry refuses to let go of Jason's murder, she's warned off gently but it doesn't stop her, and she's determined to solve the case. She begins to put the pieces together and convinces herself of the reason why the man was murdered; and through her determination and self-will, she keeps going, knowing there's more to the story.

Once again we revisit the eighteenth century where the Ewings and Holloways are neighbors, and we see how difficult life was in that century, where the author puts a different spin on the thoughts of certain beliefs of that era. I do believe that people forget that all souls are products of their time, and to expect anything different is sheer foolishness. I, for one, understand this and never expect the past to be the same as the present, nor would I wish it to be. It was a different world, when America was new and people were learning to survive in this country - any way they could.

Together both stories make for quite an absorbing narrative, which kept me reading all the way through to the end in nearly one sitting (sleep does reluctantly come). Just when I would find myself engaged in the past, I was pulled into the present, back again to Harry and her tenacity. But be aware that I never felt it was an intrusion or disruption of the story, and both seemed to meld together seamlessly.

When the truth of the murder is found, I had already figured out the killer as I read a lot of mysteries and for the most part it's rarely difficult, but I have always stated that it's the journey that's the most fun in mysteries - watching how the protagonist puts the pieces together, and Harry's almost an expert in this. It brings home a few questions of our own to answer, and our answers will tell us how we feel about this book.

I, for one, absolutely loved it, and felt that justice was done. I was satisfied with the ending, and although I do feel that Megs and Janice are just too avaricious for their own good, (although this is a personal feeling and nothing was alluded to it in the book) I look forward to the next in the series, where I can continue visiting with Harry and her friends, and of course the Ewings and Holloways. Highly recommended. ( )

This is a slow-moving story that takes place on two time lines – first in 2018 Virginia where Harry Harristeen and her friends are getting ready for the spring Hounds for Heroes benefit – assuming the weather cooperates – hosted by the by the National Beagle Club. The second storyline takes place in 1787 Philadelphia where the Founding Fathers have gathered to create the Constitution.

Both storylines are well told but for the unsuspecting reader, perhaps the one who doesn’t pay attention to chapter headings, the changing from the now to the past can take the reader right out of both stories until she becomes used to the way the book is written. And having the animals carry on discussions in the middle of the humans’ activities is a little off-putting as well. And then there may be ghosts hanging about since the benefit is taking place on the grounds where a major Civil War battle occurred.

This is the 28th entry in the Mrs. Murphy series, but you needn’t have read the first 27 books to enjoy this one. Brown does a good job of giving enough information about the characters and location so she doesn’t bore her long-time readers, doesn’t leave the new-to-the-series in the dark.

Overall, this was an interesting read once Brown got the story in gear. If you like the concept of animals speaking to one another and helping their human solve crimes, this will certainly be the book for you. But if the concept of crime-solving animals is beyond you, then you’ll probably want to pass on this book.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for a free eArc. ( )