Latest in the series of Sister Jane hunting stories in
Virginia, comes a cold case mixed with a ghost story.
Decades ago, a handsome huntsman vanished, having first
romanced every lady in sight, including the married ones.
CRAZY LIKE A FOX explores the story of his disappearance
and the conviction of most locals that he must have been
murdered.
The missing man was called Wesley Carruthers, but mostly he
is referred to as Weevil, which sounds unkind given the
tragedy for his family. He has been presumed dead since
1954, so his ghostly form appearing on a cellphone video is
scary and lends impetus to a new search. A hunting horn has
also gone missing from a museum display case, but the
police don't feel concerned. Sister Jane, the sprightly
senior lady who is joint master of hounds, still enjoys a
day's outing with the business people and local farmers of
the Jefferson Hunt, in which the fox usually runs to
ground. She has known everyone from the early years and has
a great store of memories. Maybe the clue is in her head
already, or maybe she'll have to do some investigating.
The animals talk amongst themselves, a popular feature of
cozy mysteries by Rita Mae Brown. Hounds, house dogs,
horses, and foxes chatter freely while even rodents and owls
get to contribute, though they are less occupied by the
affairs of humans. This book is set near the Blue Ridge
Mountains during early autumn, the cub-hunting time, when
some late harvests have not been gathered. I like that the
diverse population always features. One vigorous hunt
occurs on land owned by Kasmir Barbhaiya from India, while
a young African-American lady, Anne Harris (known as Tootie
-- I take it silly nicknames are a Virginia habit, but it
would be easier to tell the people apart from the animals
without them) lives in a remodeled cottage on Sister
Jane's land. Tootie's mother arrives to stay unexpectedly,
announcing that she's getting divorced from her media mogul
husband. Seems wealth doesn't always bring happiness.
This gently moving adventure weaves today with yesterday,
ghost stories with drug searches. I found myself more and
more enthralled as the handsome huntsman made further
strange appearances. Love of the land resonates through
this series and the Mrs Murphy series, too. Anyone who
enjoys Rita Mae Brown will get a great read from CRAZY LIKE
A FOX and hunt for more of her mysteries. She's on great
form this time.
In this thrilling new foxhunting mystery from New York
Times bestselling author Rita Mae Brown, an
investigation into a missing and valuable object flushes out
murder, ghosts, and old family rivalries. Now “Sister” Jane
Arnold and a pack of four-legged friends must catch the
scent of a killer and unearth a long-buried truth.
As the calendar turns, the crisp October winds bode well for
this year’s hunting season. But before the bugle sounds,
Sister Jane takes a scenic drive up the Blue Ridge Mountains
for a board meeting at the Museum of Hounds and Hunting.
Brimming with colorful stories and mementos from hunts of
yore, the mansion is plunged into mystery when a venerable
hunting horn is stolen right out of its case. The only clue,
on a left-behind cell phone, is what seems to be a “selfie”
video of the horn’s original owner, Wesley
Carruthers—deceased since 1954.
Odder still, Wesley’s body was never found. When Sister
makes a discovery that may explain his unsolved
disappearance, it leads her back to the Jefferson Hunt at
midcentury, with her faithful hounds at her side. But as the
clues quickly mount, Sister is no longer sure if she’s
pursuing a priceless artifact, a thief, Wesley’s killer . .
. or a ghost. The only certainty is that someone wants to
put Sister off the chase—perhaps permanently.
Teeming with familiar and beloved characters, intrigue, and
the rich local history of Virginia’s horse country, Crazy
Like a Fox races toward its stunning conclusion in full cry
and packed with plenty of surprises. Once again, Rita Mae
Brown dazzles and delights in her irresistible style, with a
novel readers are certain to be crazy about.
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