Reviewed By Liz

ISBN 0-345-46547-4

This book by Rita Mae Brown is one from the Outfoxed series about fox hunting. And before you stomp off all angry that I would read a book about something as politically incorrect as fox hunting… let me say that people who love the outdoors and animals will really love these books. Brown, a Master of Foxhounds, obviously loves animals and outdoorsy pursuits and this comes through clearly in these books.

For those of you who are concerned, no foxes were harmed in the making of this book. Apparently, the goal of American fox hunting is for the fox to lead the dogs, horses, and humans a merry chase and to live to do so another day. The hunt club in this book goes out as often as three days each week during the season and they keep their foxes healthy and happy by giving them nice places to live outdoors, supplementing their diets, and even giving them the occasional hard candies for treats. The characters in these books love the land, the foxes, the dogs, the horses – they love it all. And Brown makes the reader love it, too.

Personally, I have never ridden a horse who wasn’t ill-tempered, old, and whose next trip was probably to the glue factory. I have been thrown, stepped on, abused in vigorous horse-human-tree encounters, and now steer clear of horses. But I like to read about them. Other people get great enjoyment from them, obviously, and write very eloquently about them. I have read three of these Outfoxed books and have liked them all.

However, they are not great mysteries. The descriptions of the settings are lovely, the characters are interesting, the details of fox hunting and the devotion and care for the assorted animals are fascinating, but the mysteries are very much secondary to all else. And this series has talking animals. I know, I know. Ordinarily, I despise talking animals as much as anyone else. However, these animals don’t really communicate to the humans and they don’t solve the crimes. Brown shows what an animal might be thinking in italics and these comments are usually about food, survival, mating, and other normal animal stuff, and take place within the animal kingdom. They can be a little wonky, but not offensively so.

This is an interesting, colorful, and enjoyable book. My one caution, having read several of these books, is that the content of one is much like another. I wouldn’t try to read them all at once. Savor one every few months for a lovely break from your usual mysteries.

Favorite character? The elder Bancrofts. Classy people, they are the salt of the earth. Did I guess it? Yes. Will I read another? Yes, with pleasure.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2007

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