Furmidable Foes: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery

Two stories centuries apart entwine in bestseller Brown’s meandering 29th mystery featuring Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen and her pets (after 2019’s Whiskers in the Dark). In 2019, Harry, who’s in charge of building and grounds at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Crozet, Va., and her pals ponder the identity of an unknown woman who was interred in someone else’s tomb in the church’s graveyard around 1786. They speculate on the life she might have lived and exchange gardening tips, muse about social issues, and express wonder at the shenanigans of their pets. Eventually, Jeannie Cordle, who volunteers for every church and community aid program, is poisoned, and Harry, nudged in the right direction by her animal companions, looks for clues to explain Jennie’s death. Of far more interest is the story of the slaves and their owners who lived on two plantations in the area in the late 18th century. Too many characters (both human and animal), abrupt shifts between the two periods that interrupt the flow of each narrative, and digressions on incidental matters (such as gardening tips) will try the patience of many readers. This one’s only for diehard fans. (May)