Whisker of Evil: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery

AmysteriousdeathinaVirginiafarmtownhasthelocalsscratchingtheirheads—whilefriskyfelineMrs.Murphyandherfriends,fat-catPewterandcorgiTeeTucker,uncovercluesastheycurltheirwayaroundacold-bloodedkiller.ThisbalmysummerinCrozet,Virginia,postmistressMaryMinor“Harry”Haristeenhasalottothinkabout.Thingshavebeenprettycozybetweenherandherex-husband,Fairandherbelovedoldpostofficeisindangerofbeingreplacedwithamodernbuilding—andmodernrules.Harry’sthoughtfulcontemplationisshatteredthedayshestumblesoveradeadbodynearPotlickerCreek.BarryMonteith,thehandsomelocalhorsebreeder,hasbeensavagelymurdered.Atrueladies’man,Barrywasknowntohaveleftastringofbrokenheartsbehindhim.Butcouldaspurnedloverberesponsibleforhisuntimelydemise?TheplotonlythickenswhenanautopsyrevealsthatBarrywasinfectedwithrabiesweeksbeforehewaskilled.Asusual,Harrycan’tresistdoingalittledigging—withMrs.Murphyclosebytowarnofapproachingdanger.Harrymakesaremarkablediscoveryinthecreek—theclassringofMaryPatReines,alocalwomanwhodisappearedthirtyyearsearlieralongwithherprizedThoroughbredstallion.LikeBarry,MaryPatwasasuccessfulhorsebreeder—andnowallofCrozetiswonderingifthetwocasesarelinked.Asthepolicestrugglewiththeevidence,thepressuregetshotterthanaJuneafternoon—especiallywhenanotherpersonisfounddeadofless-than-naturalcauses.Asusual,Mrs.Murphyandhercrewarethefirsttosniffoutthetruth.Butiftheydon’tfindawaytohelpHarrypiecetogetherthepuzzle,shecouldbecomethekiller’snexttarget—andevenMrs.Murphy’sslinkiestmoveswon’tbeabletosaveher.FromtheHardcoveredition.,