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    Nine Lives to Die
    Nine Lives to Die
    Nine Lives to Die
    Audiobook7 hours

    Nine Lives to Die

    Written by Rita Mae Brown

    Narrated by Kate Forbes

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Rita Mae Brown and her feline co-author Sneaky Pie Brown return with an all-new mystery starring Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen, intrepid kitty sleuths Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and Tee Tucker, the ever-faithful crime-solving corgi. This time around, Harry and her animal friends track a killer whose trail has gone as cold as the weather in December. Winter has come to Crozet, Virginia, bringing with it a fresh blanket of snow. Harry and her husband, Fair, are hip deep in their usual end-of-the-year activities: distributing food to needy residents, and shopping for outfits for the Silver Linings youth organization's annual fundraising gala. But buried beneath the white stuff are dark secrets from Crozet's past-and Harry and her posse of pet detectives are determined to sniff them out. Two Silver Linings mentors have been found dead in suspicious circumstances. If that weren't enough to chill the bones of the locals, a pair of severed human fingers has turned up in a pencil jar in the bookkeeper's office at St. Cyril's church. What does this grisly display have to do with the mysterious disappearance of Harry's voluptuous high school Latin teacher, a quarter of a century ago? Maybe nothing. But when the animals make another gruesome discovery in the woods behind Harry's farm, it becomes clear that terrible crimes have been committed in Crozet-and somebody's gone to great lengths to cover them up. It's time to stop shoveling snow and start digging for clues. The truth will be revealed. A cold case will be solved. And a twenty-five-year-old love triangle is about to get untangled. The weather outside may be frightful, but Harry and her four-legged friends refuse to be spooked off the case.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJun 24, 2014
    ISBN9781490603902
    Nine Lives to Die

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    Reviews for Nine Lives to Die

    3.5/5

    95 ratings27 reviews

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    • 5/5
      This is one of the best books in this series. Well worth the listen/read!
    • 5/5
      Easy book to get into even if you are just starting to read it for the first time! I was scared it would be confusing but it flowed really well and was an amazing story full of mystery. I loved the animals talking back and forth and it was easy to understand when they were talking and not confusing at all. I want to go out and read the rest of the books now!
    • 5/5
      Easy book to get into even if you are just starting to read it for the first time! I was scared it would be confusing but it flowed really well and was an amazing story full of mystery. I loved the animals talking back and forth and it was easy to understand when they were talking and not confusing at all. I want to go out and read the rest of the books now!
    • 5/5
      Harry Haristeen and her friends are preparing for Christmas by packaging food and goods to deliver to the needy around them. With the holiday fast approaching, the women are on a tight schedule, and the weather isn't cooperating, turning cold and snowy.One night after Harry and her vet husband, Fair, attend a fundraiser for the church, her friend Charlene's husband disappears. When the local deputy Cooper receives a call from a motorist, she arrives to find Charlene's husband Pete dead - and with two of his fingers missing. While unofficially deemed a heart attack, officially the police discover it's a murder. When another man turns up missing and is killed the same way, the police are completely sure.To complicate matters, Harry's animal friends Mrs. Murphy, Pewter and Tee Tucker find a Christmas present for Harry - one that fell off the arm of a skeleton. When a coyote tells them where the rest of the bones are (after they promise to feed him for the winter), they discover what used to be a living, breathing person - and a mystery that's been secret for 25 years.So while the police are trying to solve one murder another old one will soon be discovered and also must be solved. While Harry and her friends are trying to do their best for everyone during the holiday season, things are said and seen that can't be undone, and lead to something deeper and darker.There are really no clues given as to the murderer of the two men, so like Harry and her friends, you struggle along looking for clues right with them. For myself, I was more interested in the old murder, and when the truth came out, I can't say I was completely surprised, but the journey getting there was indeed worth the effort.A top-notch novel from a top-notch author. Ms. Brown has given us an intriguing, semi-dark novel of friends, betrayal, secrets and murder. Highly recommended.
    • 2/5
      It's been a long time since I've read a Mrs. Murphy mystery and I didn't enjoy this book at all compared to how much I've always enjoyed this series. There was far too little mystery and way too much random discussion of "The Times: They Have Changed And Not For The Better." Every conversation that wasn't about the mystery seemed to be a variation on this theme. (Some I agreed with, some I didn't, it was still too not relevant to the story. I read an ARC; maybe it was edited out before publication.)

      I also didn't enjoy the mystery as much as I normally do. Well, I did enjoy the "cold case" mystery but didn't enjoy the one that took place solely in the present day.

      I'll still come back to this series because I so much enjoy the pets and other animals of Crozet.

      (Provided by publisher)
    • 4/5
      Good mystery, and fairly well-written. You can always tell who the villains (or potential villains) are, and I figured out the motive for at least one fairly early on, but it was still told well and took twists I wasn't expecting. While there were some political/social snipes, they didn't seem quite so forced, and weren't related to some overall agenda. For that matter, the murders had nothing to do with some political/social statement, either, which was nice for a change.
    • 1/5
      This was my first book in this series and my first book by this author.

      And I didn't like it. I found the story line difficult to follow. Are the animals talking? or are humans talking? It seemed to switch around a lot and just wasn't that good.
    • 4/5
      While not the best entry in this series, this is still an enjoyable read. The animals play a little more important part in solving the mystery this time around as opposed to just commenting on the action. These books are a nice bit of escapism after a hard day at work.
    • 3/5
      A bit thinner and more error-riddled than I've come to expect from this wonderful series. I knew it was going to be a problem for me when the main character was identified by the WRONG NAME on the very first page of chapter one. The cold mystery was excellent, but the new one was a bit of a stretch for me. I did like the new animal character of Odin.
    • 4/5
      This is an enjoyable addition to this series. A skeleton is found on Harry's property and no one knows who it might be. A series of deaths that look natural, except for the missing fingers. An old lady who seems crazy says her sister is trying to kill her--is she just being paranoid? These are some of the major plot points in this mystery that takes place during the holiday season. Harry is in her usual form, and a new animal, a coyote named Odin, makes his debut. This was an enjoyable read without an obvious killer. And it was refreshing that Ms. Brown chose to not voice so much of her doom and gloom political opinions that have littered her last several novels. This story is a return to form and I really enjoyed it, after having been somewhat disappointed in the last few books. I look forward to the next book!
    • 4/5
      I've read hundreds, if not a thousand or more, mysteries, especially cozies in my life. I thought I'd read all of the long-running series. I hadn't. Somehow, I'd overlooked this enjoyable ultra cozy series featuring Harry, her husband Fair, their two cats, and their dog. I do mean long-running as this is the 23rd book in the series. Where have I been?You wouldn't realize it from the title but this is a Christmas mystery. There's present wrapping and people shoveling and getting stuck in the snow. It makes for a festive read at this time of the season.Besides the wonderful, large cast of characters, there's also a fairly good mystery. Two mysteries actually. A dead high school teacher from long ago and two present day murders, with the added twist of both victims having missing index and middle fingers on the right hand.After this, I plan to get right into the start of this series. So glad that LT's ER program brought this series to my attention.
    • 4/5
      Many thanks to LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program for a copy of this book. What else can I say about it except cute Cute CUTE! Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie Brown have been writing these wonderful little cozy mysteries for years. When I received my ARC, I realized that I had read at least one of the Mrs. Murphy mysteries... so I had to go back to the beginning for a little refresher.Apparently a lot has happened since I last visited with Harry and the animals. Harry was still the post mistress. Pewter still lived in town. And Harry was living alone. Now she and Fair have gotten back together. She's quit the PO and Pewter moved in. Murgatroyd.Having a few of the earlier installments with which to compare, I'd have to say that Crozat still holds a certain charm and that the characters are all still wonderfully warm people. The animals are still top notch, even the new addition, Odin the Coyote. The writing is still humorous and the mystery is still worth the read. I enjoyed the easy pace. The mystery was multi-leveled and everything was expertly revealed. Recommended for anyone who'd like something soft and fluffy... like Mrs. Murphy.
    • 4/5
      Nine Lives to Die is another installment from the Mrs. Murphy Mystery series, featuring Mrs. Murphy, a cat. In this book, the remains of a person are found, which sets off a train of events.Compared to other volumes in this series, it is about average with them. The writing is sound if not spectacular. The plot moves gently along with a twist or two at the end. While I would never recommend this book as serious literature or even a great mystery, it is what it is and that is, a cozy mystery, good for a bedtime read as I was fading off to sleep.
    • 4/5
      It is Christmastime in Crozet, Virginia and “Harry” Harristeen, her husband Fair and their friends are busy getting ready for the holidays - not only shopping for gifts but helping those that are needy - a list that grows each year. Harry has more than enough to do but still can't help being curious when two men she knows die under mysterious circumstances. As if that wasn't enough, Harry spots a human skeleton that disappears and then reappears again. As busy as she is, Harry finds himself involved in a murder investigation and wonders if the first two deaths were accidental or murder.I always have a mixed reaction to Rita Mae Brown's Sneaky Pie Brown's books – either I love them or I hate them. When I first started “Nine Lives to Die” I thought I was going to hate it as Mary Minor “Harry” Harristeen’s first name mysteriously changed to Harriet. The thought crossed my mind that the book could have been ghostwritten and I spent the first portion of the book trying to decide if it was. It doesn't appear to be - as usual there is a bit of preachiness in the book. Brown still doesn't trust the intelligence of her readers and unnecessarily explains things they can figure out on their own. The speculation as to whether Brown wrote the book or not threatened to ruin my enjoyment of the book but fortunately the story and mystery were interesting enough to make me forget about “Harriet”. There are stories within stories in this book and more than one murder mystery. The solution to the murders was a sad one and the book lingered with me long after I finished reading it.Rita Mae Brown's books can be uneven at times but “Nine Lives to Die” of her better books.
    • 1/5
      Sorry to say that this book did not compare to the author's collection. The book just goes nowhere, there was too many comments on the weather, the characters that you've come to know don't develop , and in the end you just don't care.
    • 5/5
      When a stray coyote shows up with a human arm bone, Mrs. Murphy and Tucker cannot wait to investigate. What they find is an old skeleton intertwined in a deadfall tree. An antique gold bracelet lies near it and the animals think it would be a good Christmas present for their mom and take it home. Little do they know this bracelet brings their mom into a situation where her life might be in danger. As usual the antics of the talking animals are cute and clever. The mystery is Byzantine with many plot twists and seemingly unrelated murders. A surprise happy ending is the best part of the book.
    • 3/5
      Harry and Susan are at it again. Fair and the animals lend their usual support. The long standby characters are mentioned only in passing or only in the list of characters in the front of the book. Much of the fun of the previous books was the small town gossip and interactions of the long timers. After 20+ books, only so much local history/gossip can support the series. While this book has the usual twists and turns that Sneaky Pie and her cohort are known for - it appears to be a platform for the anti-bullying bandwagon. There is a surprising twist about where the bullying is coming from. The story is relatively well told -- however, it took some fast plotting to pull together some slight clues to make a cohesive conclusion. All in all a fairly well written cozy, albeit with a platform.
    • 4/5
      Nine Lives to Die for is the latest entry in Brown's series that features Harry Haristeen. This book was released in July, which is interesting since the story features lots of snow and takes place in the Christmas season. Two prominent men from the Crozet community, both of whom were members of St. Cyril's Catholic Church, died just before Christmas. Both men were missing two fingers, leading police to theorize that both were murdered by the same person despite it appearing that natural causes could have been to blame. In a parallel story, an older skeleton is found on Harry's farm entangled in the roots of a tree, but by the time law enforcement arrives to investigate, the skeleton has vanished. Naturally, Harry's animals prove central to the investigation about the skeleton, and this time they collaborate with a coyote, bribing him to cooperate by giving him food handouts during the bitter winter. Several of the regular characters do not appear as much as usual, but that gives the book a bit of a freshening up. Despite the incongruity of the season of the year, the book is a fun read with a couple of interesting mysteries to solve.
    • 3/5
      This book was much better than Cat of the Century, but there was still a little too much soap-box lecturing for my taste. At least the mystery didn't get completely lost in the sermonizing. Ms. Brown's earlier books were much better, and I hope in her future ones she will entirely forego the political and religious opinions, which are entirely unsuitable for this type of book. A cozy mystery should be just that - cozy!
    • 4/5
      This was my first introduction to the "Mrs Murphy" mystery series. Noting that the book was written by a seasoned author and their feline companion, I wondered how fresh the storytelling would be in this 24th installment in the series. Thankfully, reading the 23 stories before was not a requisite to understanding and thoroughly enjoying this delightful cozy mystery. Multiple murders, multiple motives, eccentric and unusual characters all made for mysteries not easily solved. The story incorporated many plot twists and turns. I will surely be keeping a lookout for the 25th installment, "Tail Gate," due out in spring 2015. If you enjoy cozy mysteries replete with unique personalities of animals and small town folk, then this is the series for you!Synopsis:Winter has come to Crozet, Virginia, bringing with it a fresh blanket of snow. Harry and her husband, Fair, are hip deep in their usual end-of-the-year activities: distributing food to needy residents, and shopping for outfits for the Silver Linings youth organization’s annual fundraising gala. But buried beneath the white stuff are dark secrets from Crozet’s past—and Harry and her posse of pet detectives are determined to sniff them out. Two Silver Linings mentors have been found dead in suspicious circumstances. If that weren’t enough to chill the bones of the locals, a pair of severed human fingers has turned up in a pencil jar in the bookkeeper’s office at St. Cyril’s church. What does this grisly display have to do with the mysterious disappearance of Harry’s voluptuous high school Latin teacher, a quarter of a century ago? Maybe nothing. But when the animals make another gruesome discovery in the woods behind Harry’s farm, it becomes clear that terrible crimes have been committed in Crozet—and somebody’s gone to great lengths to cover them up. It’s time to stop shoveling snow and start digging for clues. The truth will be revealed. A cold case will be solved. And a twenty-five-year-old love triangle is about to get untangled. The weather outside may be frightful, but Harry and her four-legged friends refuse to be spooked off the case.
    • 5/5
      These books are great reads. The characters are old friends and reading a Mrs Murphy mystery makes you one. Don't let the cozy scene fool you there is plenty of mystery, secrets, skeleton and a surprise or two. Harry ( short for Hairsteen), her husband Fair and the animals are at it again trying to help police solve the mystery in Crozet, Virginia. I received this book free from librarything.
    • 4/5
      I have read the first few Sneaky Pie Brown books and loved them.They were great books.This is a good book. It is a cozy mystery--quickly read and very much in a way like coming home. The characters are all as they were the last time I read one which was also a Library Thing Early review book. The story is one of Christmas and snow and volunteering during the season and is in some way very easy. I have only one quibble which is why I say this is just a good book. Crozet and Harry are the same on whole but Harry feels older than she is. She and Fair talk more like people older than me and she should be younger than I am. That is my only fault with the book because it is an easy cozy mystery--quickly read and very sweet. It is a nice place to come back to.
    • 4/5
      Nine Lives to Die is the first of the Mrs. Murphy Mystery series that I have read … and I liked it! I enjoy mysteries, and I thought this was a good one. I had no trouble following the characters, even though this was the first time I was introduced to any of them. In addition, I especially enjoyed the interaction between the animals, and I appreciated that their dialogue was in italics – which made it easier for me to follow whether a human or a non-human was speaking.I plan to add another of this series to my kindle, next time I get ready to board a plane or a train. I recommend the book as a quick and entertaining read.
    • 3/5
      Oh, how I love cats, trying to figure out what they are thinking, and reading about their interactions with humans. Having a mild interest in mysteries, I've been wanting to read one of Rita Mae Brown's books for awhile now. I knew it would not be serious detective work and it wasn't. It could have been silly and fun. I was really disappointed though that the animal observations and discoveries were barely linked to human understanding and solving the mysteries. Instead, the animals squabbled amongst each other and the humans were busy leading their disjointed social and/or dysfunctional lives. Well, I'm glad I finally read one of these books by Brown but I don't expect I'll be enticed by another.
    • 3/5
      As a cat lover, I eagerly anticipated reading a Mrs. Murphy mystery, but my thirst was not whetted. Rita Mae Brown presents some aspects that I wish more authors would utilize. The beginning of the book contains a cast of characters, which I adore, even if I only use one time. I dislike trying to read a book and fumble through all the characters and end up writing my own list. The transition from human and animal talking tripped throughout the story, and did not alter the consequences. I liked Brown's method of combining cats, dogs, mice, and other animals working together. This is one of those books, which depends on conversation to progress the tale, therefore depth is missing. Brown gives an easy and quick book to read.
    • 5/5
      It is winter and Christmas is coming. People are busy with charitable works – a gala fundraiser and collecting items to deliver to needy families. But in the midst of all the hoopla, the unthinkable happens. A popular business man is found dead in his car under unusual circumstances. Author Rita Mae Brown along with Sneaky Pie do a masterful job in creating an intricate mystery that ties in present day murders with an unsolved missing persons cold case. Harry, along with her favorite felines and canine, are in the thick of things and won’t rest until they get some answers. This well-written mystery is one of Brown’s better ones and will not disappoint cozy fans. It raises some interesting social points and has a smattering of humor as well as some other interesting tidbits. With its host of interesting characters – both human and of the animal persuasion – and with its twisting plot, you won’t stop reading until you finish the last page.
    • 5/5
      The holidays are coming on fast, and this book presents a great cozy mystery set in Crozet, VA, and involving all the characters, both human and animal that readers have come to love and enjoy. This time around, Harry and her crew of “family members” get involved in solving a mystery of the murder of two prominent townsfolk as well as, at the same time and y chance, the death of a beloved teacher decades before. Alongside all this are the town’s holiday festivities and the annual organization of charitable donations to the less fortunate in town. This is a well written, cozy mystery that will envelope the reader from the get-go. As usual, the author lets the animals, two cats and a small dog, take center stage, figuring out the answers before their humans. If only the humans spoke “cat” or “dog”, how much easier would it all be. There are definite clues along the way, cleverly sneaked into the storyline and exciting plot. The reader just needs to pay attention to them, as he/she reads along. Both the setting and characters are well developed, building on earlier mysteries in the series. Reading the book transports the reader to small-town life, where everyone knows everyone and help is just a shout away. All this makes the reader remember or long for past days or a life in such a wonderful place, while providing respite from the harried world. Those who enjoy the other books in the series will not find this one lacking. Anyone who enjoys a great, feel-good, cozy mystery will also enjoy this one by Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie Brown. I received this to read and review from NetGalley.