I have never read a Rita Mae Brown book before, but I came across a few of her Mrs. Murphy murder mysteries at a thrift shop. Murder, She Meowed ostensibly focuses on steeplechasing-a sport I know nothing about- but as other reviewers have mentioned, it’s the witty repartee between the animals that made the book fun for me. The murder mystery as a trivial solve and the characters very straightforward. I was surprised when I saw that the book had been published in 1996, because it’s description of the Southern town made it seem like 50 years earlier and racially segregated. Not a mention of an African American or anyone from other cultures anywhere- everybody lily white. All that being said, if I came across one of the series for cheap, I might buy it for a quick diversion, since the animals were so fun.
About Me
- Lisa Frieden
- My literary taste runs the gamut from Shakespeare, Poe, and Austen, to Elizabeth Lowell, Toni Morrison, and Jo Nesbo. Though I often read tales that plumb the inner demons of tortured souls, I prefer to write lighter books that my readers can have fun with.
Growing up, my sister and I lived next door to three French girls, who were like sisters to us. It was our friendship that gave me the idea of writing a book series about a group of five girls, plus the wonderful time I spent in Santa Barbara in my 20s.
Set in Santa Barbara, the Cota Club books tell the stories of each of the five friends and reflect the genres that fit each of the characters. That’s why Kristi’s story in Love and Money is a mystery, whereas Carla’s story in The Offering is romantic suspense. Tate’s story in Love and Hate is a thriller. I don’t know yet about Izzy’s, but Gwen’s will turn to the world of the supernatural.