Clawed and Dangerous: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery

When a series of suspiciously similar deaths begin to pop up across Crozet, Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen must connect the dots with the help of her beloved cats and dogs in the latest mystery from Rita Mae Brown and her feline co-author Sneaky Pie Brown.

The leaves have fallen in Crozet, Virginia, and with a sudden downpour of cold rain, autumn gloom has settled. But Harry and her best friend, Susan, are determined to cheer up the town, and with the help of a kind local doctor, they just might succeed. Not only is Dr. Anglin kind and generous, he's also the owner of multiple properties, and he agrees to let Harry and Susan use one of his homes to throw a spooky Halloween bash.

Harry and Susan quickly bury themselves in the flurry of planning: witches, ghosts, and headless horsemen abound. But around town, things grow even spookier when a local townsperson turns up dead. Soon, one dead body turns into multiple--and what's even spookier is that the deaths seem to be connected.

Could these deaths be the result of a lover's quarrel? Or is something even more sinister haunting the town? With help from her feline sidekicks Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and her helpful hounds Tee Tucker and Pirate, Harry has no choice but to get to the bottom of it.

Author: Rita Mae Brown
Publisher: Bantam
Published: 04/28/2026
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 9.40h x 6.10w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9780593874141


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 03/01/2026
Booklist 03/01/2026

About the Author
Rita Mae Brown is the bestselling author of the Sneaky Pie Brown mysteries; the Sister Jane series; the Runnymede novels, including Six of One and Cakewalk; A Nose for Justice and Murder Unleashed; Rubyfruit Jungle; and In Her Day, as well as many other books. An Emmy-nominated screenwriter and a poet, Brown lives in Afton, Virginia, and is a Master of Foxhounds and the huntsman.