Average customer rating:
- Where is my Harry?
- Borrow it from the library
- Promise unfulfilled
- A Horse is a Horse---
- Disappointed
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Sour Puss: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries)
Rita Mae Brown
Manufacturer: Bantam
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Puss 'n Cahoots: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries)
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Catch as Cat Can
ASIN: 0553586815
Release Date: 2007-02-27 |
Book Description
In this latest whodunit, Rita Mae Brown and her feline partner-in-crime-detection, Sneaky Pie Brown, return to the scene of their bestselling crimes—picturesque Crozet, Virginia. Love is in the air as spring comes to the small town, but no sooner has Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen remarried than she is rudely interrupted—by murder. And no sooner does the trouble start than curious cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, along with corgi Tee Tucker, sink their claws into the case.…
After an unexpected rekindling of their romance, Harry and her veterinarian ex-husband, Fair Haristeen, have happily remarried. But the excitement of their nuptials is quickly overshadowed by the murder of Professor Vincent Forland, a world-famous grape and fungal expert who was in town visiting the local vineyards.
Within days of giving a lecture on how distilled fungus and cattle diseases are the current basis of chemical warfare, Forland’s decapitated body is discovered. After their initial fright, the residents of Crozet believe that this was a political murder and settle back into their routines–until a local is also found dead, killed in the same gruesome manner as Professor Forland. Now residents can’t help wondering, is this really the work of an
outsider—or one of their own?
No longer working in the post office, Harry had just planted a quarter acre of grapes, which fuels her natural curiosity over just what the two murder victims knew and had in common. Once the warmth of spring arrives, the grapevines blossom and Harry’s furry entourage discovers the first critical clue. But how can they show the humans what they’ve learned? And how can they—or anyone—stop the killing?
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Where is my Harry?.......2007-10-05
Now, this Harry Harristeen is not the same charming person that used to work in the post-office! What has happened? The dialogues sound like excerpts from an agricultural manual. Real people don't talk like that! Of course I understand the problem of writing a murder mystery series situated in a small town with mostly the same people: You have to introduce new characters in every book which (surprise!) mostly end up either as victims or murderers. (That's why Miss Marple always traveled so much!) Well, maybe there is hope, since Harry and Fair are going on their honeymoon to Kentucky in the next book... Sometimes I wonder, if Ms. Brown is even still writing these books, or if they're ghostwritten by a farming politician who loves horsepower, but not so much cats and dogs...PS: And I do miss Miranda's orange-glazed sticky buns!
Borrow it from the library.......2007-09-02
I did not understand why the killer was motivated to stalk and kill the folks in this book-- it just did not make sense. The plot was loose and all over the map. The references to terrorism were somewhat interesting but it just didn't make the book stick together. Where are Miranda, little Mim, Big Mim, and all of the other lovable and crazy Crozet characters in this series? They have been missing for several books now. I purchased this one in paperback, but the next one I am borrowing from the library.
Promise unfulfilled.......2007-07-07
I'd read all of the books in this series and have enjoyed most of them immensely. Having lived near Crozet for a number of years, the setting took me back. The animals have been so clever. The small town post office and overall atmosphere were a joy. The relationships among the citizens of Crozet were exceptional. The readers of the series came to care about the people, even if some of them were getting killed off. The myseries might have been weak at times, but they were always interesting.
A big reason I looked forward to this novel was the re-marriage of Fair and Harry. Through a dozen books, we've hoped for their reconciliation and here it is at last. The story started out well enough, and the change from post office to vineyard could have been interesting enough to carry through. It didn't take long, however, to realize that all of the charm of the preceding books is lost. This story is flat, the mystery uninteresting, and some of the characters almost invisible (I missed Miranda and her baked goods). I am so sorry that the series seems to have petered out. I feared that might happen once Harry left her job. The rest of the characters were just flat. What a disappointment.
A Horse is a Horse---.......2007-06-30
and a cat is a cat. Too bad Ms. Brown didn't remember this. She seems to have confused her fox hunting novels with the cat mysteries. Rita Mae is a long time favorite, but this book is a disappointment. There is more instruction on Saddlebreds, horse showing and equipment than the delightful interchanges between Mrs. Murphy, Pewter, and Tucker; the animal protagonists of her Mrs. Murphy mystery series. The human residents of Crozet were sadly missing too. The book felt like it was written because the publishers wanted another Mrs. Murphy mystery and the author sent in a hodgepodge of ideas rather than writing one. Ms. Brown's fox hunting series is excellent, and the Mrs. Murphy mysteries are among the most entertaining written. Let's hope this is just a fluke, and upcoming books will return to the humor and humanity of Ms. Brown's usual efforts.
Disappointed.......2007-03-24
To me this book was not up to her usual standards, it read more like a 'how to' book, just too much information and not enough story. and for th first time I noticed what my church going friends would call offensive language, it didn't bother me but I hestitated to pass the book on. it was almost like it was writtin by someone other than the author we have grown to love and look forward too.
Book Description
A popular cat expert and award-winning author of four books on feline behavior reveals the key to a satisfying and rewarding relationship with your cat.
Think it's impossible to train a cat? Think again! Yes, you can learn to understand your cat. No, cats are not always aloof. No, they don't ruin furniture out of spite. Most often feline "misbehavior" is the result of owners not understanding their cat's needs. In this comprehensive book that takes readers through every step of cat ownership, Pam Johnson-Bennett helps you understand the instincts that determine feline behavior, positive and negative. An authoritative resource for cat owners of all stripes, Think Like a Cat covers everything from where to get a kitten to choosing a vet; from basic health care to treating more serious medical problems; from selecting an irresistible scratching post to avoiding litter box problems. A seasoned therapist and former veterinary technician, Johnson-Bennett offers welcome advice in a straightforward manner that will help cats--and their owners--share a happy, healthy life together.
Johnson-Bennett's first book, Cat Love, was chosen by Cat Fancy magazine as one of the best books ever published on cats.
Customer Reviews:
Okay but some ideas were too wacky.......2007-09-17
In general it was alright. But some of her ideas were too bizarre. You can't teach a cat to come! And her idea of giving cat treats to get them to learn new things? Okay but if you have a cat who needs to lose weight that is not the best thing to be encouraging. Cats are not children. You can't reward them and then decide one day not to anymore. Also, the idea that if you don't play everyday with your cat that you are going to somehow ruin them? Please. I don't play with my cat every day and he is just fine. Also the idea that you have to give your cat the "Right" toys? They are CATS, not children. My cat has several "Inanimate" toys and he doesn't seem bored. Plus many of these interactive toys are not cheap and the fishing rod type toys break.
For the person who said cats belong outside? Maybe so.But I live in an apartment and letting my cat outdoors is out of the questions.
I skipped many parts of the book because my cat does not have those issues. And as for the litter box? I own an automatic one which she seems to frown on and I love it. It is so much easier to clean. If my cat has any problems I can still tell.
Shoe me a cat that can learn to sit and stay and I will show you a frog who can talk!
Move than you expect.......2007-09-16
This book was written very well.It is one of those books to keep on the bedside table as you will always refer to it. I have been looking after cats for 15 years now and this book still managed to teach me a few new things. A great book both for beginners to experts!
A great how-to manual for cat lovers.......2007-05-15
This book is an excellent tool for the novice or expert cat owner. I've read this book from cover to cover and find it a useful reference tool whenever I'm unsure of how to deal with a situation with my cat. It covers issues such as, how to introduce a second cat to the family, preparing kitty for a new baby, moving day, how to remedy behavior problems, etc, etc. I personally have purchased multiple copies of this book to give to friends and family with cats. Highly recommended.
Good Cat.......2007-04-06
It's a crazy title but once you get into reading it, fits perfectly. We gave a kitten to my mother and noticed it was starting to rule the household and develop bad habits. "Think Like A Cat" to the rescue. It opened our eyes to the cause and the problems were nipped in the bud. Who's boss? Not the cat.
The best cat book out there........2007-03-12
This is the perfect book for the novice cat owner, the timid cat owner, the at-wits-end cat owner, the child cat owner, and even the very experienced cat owner. It's easy enough for an 8 year old to read & understand yet is crammed with useful information on everything from water bowls & cat litter to medical information your vet won't think to tell you. Best of all, it contains no bad information! If you read this book through you will truly be able to see the world from your cat's point of view.
Book Description
In this latest whodunit, Rita Mae Brown and her feline partner-in-crime-detection, Sneaky Pie Brown, return to the scene of their bestselling crimes—picturesque Crozet, Virginia. Love is in the air as spring comes to the small town, but no sooner has Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen remarried than she is rudely interrupted—by murder. And no sooner does the trouble start than curious cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, along with corgi Tee Tucker, sink their claws into the case.…
After an unexpected rekindling of their romance, Harry and her veterinarian ex-husband, Fair Haristeen, have happily remarried. But the excitement of their nuptials is quickly overshadowed by the murder of Professor Vincent Forland, a world-famous grape and fungal expert who was in town visiting the local vineyards.
Within days of giving a lecture on how distilled fungus and cattle diseases are the current basis of chemical warfare, Forland’s decapitated body is discovered. After their initial fright, the residents of Crozet believe that this was a political murder and settle back into their routines–until a local is also found dead, killed in the same gruesome manner as Professor Forland. Now residents can’t help wondering, is this really the work of an
outsider—or one of their own?
No longer working in the post office, Harry had just planted a quarter acre of grapes, which fuels her natural curiosity over just what the two murder victims knew and had in common. Once the warmth of spring arrives, the grapevines blossom and Harry’s furry entourage discovers the first critical clue. But how can they show the humans what they’ve learned? And how can they—or anyone—stop the killing?
Download Description
In this latest whodunit, Rita Mae Brown and her feline partner-in-crime-detection, Sneaky Pie Brown, return to the scene of their bestselling crimes–picturesque Crozet, Virginia. Love is in the air as spring comes to the small town, but no sooner has Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen remarried than she is rudely interrupted–by murder. And no sooner does the trouble start than curious cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, along with corgi Tee Tucker, sink their claws into the case.…
After an unexpected rekindling of their romance, Harry and her veterinarian ex-husband, Fair Haristeen,
have happily remarried. But the excitement of their nuptials is quickly overshadowed by the murder of Professor Vincent Forland, a world-famous grape and fungal expert who was in town visiting the local vineyards.
Within days of giving a lecture on how distilled fungus and cattle diseases are the current basis of chemical warfare, Forland’s decapitated body is discovered. After their initial fright, the residents of Crozet believe that this was a political murder and settle back into their routines–until a local is also found dead, killed in the same gruesome manner as Professor Forland. Now residents can’t help wondering, is this really the work of an
outsider–or one of their own?
No longer working in the post office, Harry had just planted a quarter acre of grapes, which fuels her natural curiosity over just what the two murder victims knew and had in common. Once the warmth of spring arrives, the grapevines blossom and Harry’s furry entourage discovers the first critical clue. But how can they show the humans what they’ve learned? And how can they–or anyone–stop the killing?
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
13th book in the series.......2007-07-05
13 proves to be unlucky for Ms. Brown as the 13th book in this series is pretty unreadable. I look forward to new installments and was very disappointed in this book. The plot is thin and the book is overloaded with heavy handed lectures and dialogue that is contrived, artificial and pedantic. Too much research on 'slew' of subjects and not enough attention paid to the whole point of writing the book in the first place.....to tell a good story! Sadly, there was not much story, not much mystery and not much reason to buy this book.
Disappointing.......2007-06-07
Rita Mae Brown was best known as the author of RUBYFRUIT JUNGLE--until 1990, when she published WISH YOU WERE HERE. Set in the tiny town of Crozet, Virginia, the novel focused on over-qualified and recently divorced Mary "Harry" Haristeen, who solved a grisly murder mystery with the aid of her animal companions. It was a popular success, and other books quickly followed: REST IN PIECES, MURDER AT MONTICELLO, and PAY DIRT to name but three.
In terms of "murder mystery," Brown's plots were scarcely in the same league with the likes of Christie, Sayers, or Marsh--but she presented these books with tremendous charm, building up repeating characters that readers came to look forward to seeing again in each new release. In 1999, however, CAT ON THE SCENT had not only a weak plot but a slightly strained quality as well, and most subsequent titles in the series have followed in declining suit.
SOUR PUSS finds Crozet and its surrounding areas beset with grape farmers and wineries, and to a certain extent the plot revolves around the pests and diseases to which grapes are subject. In her introduction, Brown writes that she received a "cartload" of information of the subject, and I believe her, because she seems to do her level best to cram every iota of it into the book. Along the way she also takes a glance at biological terrorism, West Nile virus, bird 'flu, and global warming. The first one hundred pages of the book read like a haphazard disseration.
When the plot does at last kick in, right around chapter seventeen, SOUR PUSS becomes much more readable--but I found the plot singularly transparent, and the characters have lost much of their interest. In the past, Brown created characters who were amusing in their faults and flaws: the dour "Big" Mim and her snooty daughter "Little Mim;" man-trap BoomBoom Craycroft; Bible-thumping Miranda Hogendobber; and many others added to the fun. Now, however, all these characters have lost the eccentricities that made them so entertaining in the first place. They are reduced to the merely likeable and as such no longer seem fresh or original enough to hold attention.
Now and then Brown's gifts do surface--but she's also gotten lazy in her writing. Nowhere is her "nervous tick" of writing a paragraph as a single sentence so obvious as in SOUR PUSS; indeed, there are so many of them that I began to suspect they were specifically written in this fashion to take up more space on the page. On the whole, the book reads very much like a first or maybe second draft that Brown couldn't be bothered to give a final polish before it went to the publisher.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Cure for Insomnia.......2007-06-06
This book reminded me of Arthur Hailey in his later years - not a good thing. Just dump a bunch of factual research and then put cardboard characters and a lame plot around it. At least Hailey didn't go out of his way to insult everyone who had the unforgivable bad taste to be born somewhere other than Virginia.
I've read every one of the Sneaky Pie mysteries and was astonished to have revealed in this book that Harry had an affair after her divorce from Fair. To me, that was contrary to everything we knew about her life and emotional growth in the previous books. It felt like sloppy writing in service of a plot device.
Sadly, this is the end of Mrs. Murphy for me. I didn't even make it halfway through this book.
There's no mystery here---.......2007-03-10
If you've never read any of the Sneaky Pie books--don't buy this one! Start at the beginning (Wish You Were Here) as this was once a great series, and read the books in sequence until you begin to get bored--then STOP!! The series only gets worse.
The wonderful warm characters have lost their charm, the "mysteries" have become flat and nonexistent, and the books have been weighted down with too much technical information.
Ms. Brown also has begun using her books as a soapbox for her many opinions. While it is interesting to find out an author's views, she goes on and on...and on.
I have never laughed so hard..........2007-03-06
as I did when the criminal's motive was revealed. In the first place, the criminal was totally obvious, yet when the moment of denouement came I was dumbstruck, and not in a good way. I guess sometimes *fiction* is stranger than *truth* in spite of the old cliche.
I greatly, greatly enjoyed the Mrs. Murphy mysteries for the first several books, but all good things must come to an end, and my enjoyment certainly did. After finishing "Sour Puss" I went to my bookshelf and pulled out "Wish You Were Here" and began re-reading it. I was really surprised at how much the series has changed since its beginnings. A good many of the characters have strayed so far from their original characterizations as to be almost brand new people. Naturally one would expect the characters to evolve as do all people. I really do miss Harry being at the heart of the town of Crozet...she never should have left the post office.
As always, the animals' observations are the only reason why I continue reading.
Product Description
Visiting the local vineyards of Crozer, Virginia, world-renowed grape and fungus expert Professor Vincent Forland loses his head--literally. Forland had recently delivered a lecture on how distilled fungus plays a critical role in chemical warfare. Figuring the murder is political, the Crozer residents are hardly bothered and return to their routines--until another headless body turns up. Now it's up to Mary Minor Haristeen and her sleuthing animals to sniff out a killer before someone else dies.
Product Description
6 disc audio book.
Product Description
It takes a cat to write the purr-fect mystery . . .
Customer Reviews:
Steve Jackson Games comes through with another good one........2003-06-04
It's something of an open secret that many who buy supplements for the Generic Universal Roleplaying System (GURPS), don't actually play the game. GURPS is certainly a sprawling nightmare of overlapping, and even contradictory, rules, but it's products like BLOOD TYPES that demonstrate why gamers keep buying GURPS products: they're very, very useful.
Taking a step away from the roleplaying game that swallowed the vampiric subgenre whole (VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE), BLOOD TYPES aims to be the definitive resource concerning the bloodsucking creatures. As with the best of the GURPS sourcebooks, BLOOD TYPES answers every question one could think to ask about the given subject, presenting exhaustive research in one easy-to-digest package. Also as per usual, the rules included are a turgid mess, but that doesn't make BLOOD TYPES any less of an engaging read.
Author Lane Grate seems to realize what a drag the GURPS rules can be, and delays their inclusion until nearly fifty pages into the book. He begins instead with an overview of the symbolic meaning of the literary/folkloric/filmic vampire, and the segues directly into an examination of the development of the vampiric legend in various world cultures, not overlooking "human vampires" like Elizabeth Bathory. His treatment of the Victorian literary vampire is quite interesting, and will likely spur readers of BLOOD TYPES to break out their old copies of Bram Stoker's DRACULA.
Grate does his best to keep the rules portion of BLOOD TYPES as painless as possible. The remainder of the book is occupied with vampiric character types and how to build them. One method presented is to select one of the more than a dozen archetypical vampire types from around the world and use the package of advantages and disadvantages given for them. Another is the DIY approach, where Grate provides a toolkit of "typical" vampiric traits, thereby encouraging GMs to create unique vampire types for their games.
The only real disappointment in BLOOD TYPES comes from the Game Master section of the book. Whereas in many GURPS titles this is a beefy chunk of the text, in BLOOD TYPES it's somewhat slender. After the in-depth discussion of the topic that precedes it - scarcely a topic is left unaddressed in the character-type and historical sections, for example - the GMs' advice seems weak by comparison. In contrast to some of the better GURPS books, Grate doesn't provide extensive suggestions for building and/or maintaining a vampire-centric campaign, but simply hits the high points, addresses crossovers with other GURPS titles in sidebars, and leaves it at that.
Taken as whole, BLOOD TYPES is a worthwhile purchase and a surprisingly entertaining read. As usual, the rules sections aren't useful for anyone but GURPS gamers, but the wealth of background and detailed research on vampires cannot help but inspire and inform GMs looking to create a vampiric campaign, or to incorporate these classic horrors into their existing game. From the stunning Timothy Bradstreet cover to the last page, BLOOD TYPES is good stuff.
Probably better than Vampire the Masquerade.......1998-08-30
I am a fan of Vampire the Masquerade and the GURPS books. The background info in this single book is far more interesting and the Vampires more versatile than in V:tM. If you haven't read it, I'd suggest you at least pick it up and give it a try. Highly valuable for GURPS GM's.
Book Description
Undead monsters prowl the city streets, hidden from the eyes of an oblivious world. Those few humans aware of the threat face an uphill battle. Douglas Sands has seen his fellow hunters die. Fleeing monster and law alike, he and three other survivors seek refuge beyond the city - only to discover that the wild forests hold their own secret horrors.
Kaitlin Stinnet also sees the monsters for what they are. But are the bloodthirsty, raging beasts that much different from the humans she has known? Is there middle ground to be discovered, or are the answers all black and white, merely to be confirmed by blood?
Customer Reviews:
Continuing a solid series.......2002-07-26
I was delighted to discover the characters from "Judge" and "Werewolf" meet and join forces in this third book by Gherbod Fleming in the Predator and Prey series. The action scenes are brutal and nicely paced. Although depressing and dark, I throughly enjoyed the situations the hunters got themselves into... some shocking twists too. I'm totally hooked on this series and can't wait for the finale in "Executioner".
Here are the missing chapters from P&P: Werewolf!.......2002-03-17
The most important thing I can say about Predator and Prey: Jury is that it is more of an extension of Predator and Prey: Werewolf than its own story. So, if you haven't read P&P: Werewolf yet, you need to go get it in order to understand and connect with the characters in this book. If you've already read and enjoyed that novel, then you'll probably find something of interesting in P&P: Jury, which picks up where the other left off.
As to THIS book - well, there's not a whole lot to say. A strange coincidence brings the characters from Predator and Prey: Judge to the home town of the characters in Predator and Prey: Werewolf, and general chaos ensues. I didn't find the book particularly interesting, as it just felt like "missing" chapters from _Werewolf_ were stretched out to create an entire novel with no new "substance" added. There are two big battles in this book and A LOT of people die (some you wouldn't expect), but there really isn't much else to it. I can't recommend it to people that aren't into the World of Darkness nor to those that haven't read the earlier books. If you are a hardcore fan that wants to read the "missing chapters" from P&P: Werewolf, though, this book is for you.
Side note: One of the stories in _Inherit the Earth_ is actually a chapter FROM P&P: Werewolf. Just an interesting little tidbit there.
Disappointing.......2002-01-08
Predator and Prey got off to a great start in my opinion. Vampire and Judge, the first two in the series, were both great reads. The third book, Werewolf, was an ok read with the hope that maybe it was a "setting the stage" book and the series would go back on track. I thought this book was a more interesting story than the third and in that sense it was better than the last, but I'm really getting sick of the characters. They're still all wrapped up in the same place that they were in previous novels, leaving me wondering if they're going to spend the next several books whining and moaning and griping at each other and making self-destructive choices. But, as said, it's well written and an interesting tale for all that. As long as you can put up with listening to a bunch of poor me, no one understands, I'm the only one in the world with that problem... so on, et al. I can't, hence a mediocre rating.
Disappointing.......2001-12-24
The P&P-series had a great start. P&P: Vampire and P&P:Judge were both two great books, P&P:werewolf was ok. This one ,unfortunately, is the worst in the series so far. The characters from P&P:Judge and P&P:Werewolf are here brought together. That is Douglas Sands, Kaitlin and Black Rindle. The book is filled with depressive social-realism. Kaitlin's perspective which was refreshing in P&P:Werewolf is in this book excruciatingly boring. If you are looking for horror and a plot with surprises, then don't read this book. Nothing that happens here is surprising.
Contents? the wyrm, hunters vs werewolf, pregnancy
Let us hope the next book brings this series back on track.
Book Description
Sickness gnaws at the land. The stream runs black with corruption. Black Rindle, child of forbidden union, is outcast among Garou and humans alike. Why then have the spirits chosen him for a special purpose, when they turn a deaf ear to all others?
Kaitlin has fled the city, fled the undead horrors that walk the streets there, in favor of the solitude-and crippling loneliness-of the wilds. But before she can come to terms with the supernatural creatures that seem determined to draw her back into their world, she must reclaim her place among humanity. Will the mysterious and violent stranger who crosses her path help her balance atop the precipice between the worlds, or will he push her over the edge?
Customer Reviews:
Descent story.......2003-06-15
Predator & Prey: Werewolf was a decent story, about a Metis werewolf and a newly awakened hunter. While the plot was a little thin, the way in which both characters come to terms with their differences and in the end rely on each other to overcome the odds makes for a good story. However, it did end rather abruptly, which is a course do to the fact that there was to be a sequal. I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to see a hunter through the eyes of a werewolf and a werewolf through the eyes of a hunter.
Solid Book, Terrible Spelling.......2002-07-08
Thoroughly enjoyable and consistent work from White Wolf's best writer. The story is small and focused mainly on two characters, each at the crossroad of major decisions in their lives. I loved how the action is paced throughout, lending more time to building characters and raising the stakes. The chapter with the farm attack was incredible and quite shocking, showing the massive power and stamina of the garou. My only real problems with the novel are that I wish it had more of a conclusion and that the copy editor would do their job and fix all the spelling and punctuation mistakes.
Odd series..........2001-09-04
I've read all three books (and the "Inherit the Earth" anthology) so far. The story deals with hunters only every other book (except this one, and then only marginally), but there's definetly an overall arc -- there are events mentioned in this book and the last one that occur in the first novel.
The second book tells the tale of a new hunter and how he copes with that fact -- it's great. This one has the supporting character as a hunter but a) she doesn't know what she is, b) she sees nothing but Garou, and c) deals exclusively with a Garou sept.
Good - Up to a Point.......2001-07-20
Kaitlin, a young black woman, has fled from the pain of her ability to perceive the world of the monsters that surrounds her. Originally from around Detroit she has moved to a small northern town. Unsuspectingly she discovers that her neighbor, a small town bar, is a hangout for werewolves. Thus forcing her to confront the very issues she was trying to avoid.
Black Rindle is the metis werewolf that Kaitlin spotted after a kill. He is a child of a forbidden relationship between two werewolves, and bears a hunchback as the brand of his parentage. Metis are normally killed at birth, and the other Garou in his sept see his deformity as a mark of shame. To them, Black Rindle is a barely tolerated outcast, rejected by his father, and blamed for the illness and death of his mother. Browbeaten since birth, Rindle has internalized everyone's opinion of himself and has become a drifter and an alcoholic.
Kaitlin, terrorized by the appearance of Black Rindle, manages to overcome her fear of him when she finds his broken body by the road. Rindle had been set upon by one of his sept brothers, EveSong, and left to suffer. Kaitlin brings Rindle to her home and helps him to recover. A thorny and difficult relationship forms between them. When Kaitlin lands a job as a local waste disposal site Black Rindle smells a taint lingering about her. A sure sign of the Wyrm. When they discover that the taint is coming from a laboratory at the hazardous waste repository Rindle realizes that he must turn his life around. He is an Ahroun, a warrior, and is duty bound to fight any manifestation of the Wyrm. He must arouse the sept and prepare for battle.
This series was originally intended to illuminate the role of the Hunters, new characters in the World of Darkness. With this, the third in the series, I am beginning to suspect that the focus of the series is elsewhere. While Kaitlin, the hunter of the tale, has a prominent role, it is trivial compared to that of Black Rindle. The story says almost nothing about the hunters, although it provides a wealth of information about werewolves. Nor is Kaitlin particularly sympathetic. She can barely control here cowardice, and often lashes out in paranoid anger. This is a far cry from the Hunters as described in Andrew Bates' "Heralds of the Storm."
Gherbod Flemming, as usual, manages to make the plot work and keep the reader's interest up, despite the flawed characterizations. Unfortunately something inexplicable happens at the end of the novel. Actually the end never really happens. Having set the scene for what should be a titanic struggle with the Wyrm, and a growing relationship between Black Rindle and Kaitlin, Flemming suddenly abandons the tale in midstream. The entire tale is left hanging, apparently to make space for promotional material for a new series. This ruins this story, makes me wonder if this series is doomed to mediocrity, and certainly does not make me interested in the new series. I am tempted to suggest that Flemming abandon the White Wolf label and strike out on his own. Unfortunately that would deal too severe a blow to the World of Darkness game world. It would be unfair to punish so many gamers for the sins of their publisher.
Must read for Werewolf fans!.......2001-06-24
This is a great book if you're a Werewolf gamer, and even if not. The inside on werewolf tribal life is really great and can be a lot of help to anyone who needs to get a first hand on how the pecking order of the clan goes. It's also a great story, the characters draw you in with things you can relate to if you were in their situation, and the details are brutal but real life. (well real life to werewolf) But any Werewolf fan should read this, it's well worth the time.
Customer Reviews:
Series is picking up nicely.......2002-04-09
After the terrible outing by Carl Bowen's first book in the series, "Vampire", Gherbod Fleming introduces us -- finally -- to the world of the hunters. I enjoyed his more human side of the hunters, showing the flaws and inner demons of each person. My only problem is the horrific copy editing done by Melissa Thorpe... spelling, grammar, etc. If she would have simply read through the manuscript, the problems are obvious and easy to fix. The publisher, White Wolf, needs to hire someone else. But definitely keep Gherbod around.
A Missed Opportunity.......2001-03-30
After promising myself not to follow this series after my review of the fist volume "Vampire," I broke down and ordered this, the next in the series. Why? I have become a fan of Gherbod Fleming and decided that, if anyone could rescue this series from a weak start, Fleming could.
I have no idea who Fleming really is. He has chosen as pseudonym the name of one of a pair of 11th century Gherbods one of who was married to queen Mathilde, or was the first Earl of Chester or was the brother-in-law of William de Warren. I have no idea what this has to do with vampires, but apparently it has a lot to do with the British royal line, which was getting a bit complex in those days. Make of it what you will.
In any case, "Judge" tells the story of a not particularly appealing automotive executive, Douglas Sands, who is having an affair and planning to leave his wife, who he blames for the death of his son (after all, she was the one who wanted the swimming pool). He is extraordinarily self-indulgent, headstrong, pays no attention to anyone's advice, and in no way resembles a hero. Rather, he is the typical corporate middle manager who you would expect to find reading 'The 60 Minute Sexist.'
Sands suddenly discovers that he can see the supernatural and realizes that his mistress is being stalked by a 'something.' In the process of finding out what it was Sands leaps naked from a third story window in pursuit and winds up in the hospital with his secret completely blown. Did I mention that Sands is eternally injuring himself? He winds up living at the house of Albert Tinsley, who is quite a bit more sympathetic. It turns out that Douglas, like Albert, is a 'hunter,' who has special skills for taking out the supernaturally evil.
Douglas meets several more hunters, who have been protecting his ex-wife and ex-mistress while Sands falls out of windows and perpetually manages to injure himself. As the action builds, Douglas manages, by sheer thoughtlessness, to cause the deaths of two fellow hunters and the injury of a third. All in the effort to take out a single vampire. You can't really blame just Douglas, it turns out that this is the group's first vampire. And they lack any sense of teamwork. If these guys don't get a lot better at 'hunting' they will never last until Volume 6.
If anything makes this book work it is Fleming's writing. He manages to keep up a good pace and some chilling moments. His dialog is crisp and several of the characters are believable. He is clearly the best writer in White Wolf's stable. What White Wolf and Fleming failed to notice is that much of the plot would be comic if it wasn't so ponderously serious. Come to think of it, Volume 1 also has this same problem with pretentious seriousness. If only they had chosen to exploit this vein, this could have been an unusual and inventive book instead of yet another piece of OK vampire fiction.
Now that I've inadvertently offended every goth fan in the universe, I'm prepared for a shower of 'not helpfuls.' But honestly, guys, with so much good, creative materials coming out of goth culture you have to draw a line somewhere. Just because vampires tend to be pompous doesn't mean that vampire stories can be funny and horrifying at the same time. This is more of a challenge for an author, but I believe Fleming is up to it.
Oooh... Spooky!.......2001-03-13
As the first book in the Hunter series that actually deals with Hunters, this book does a great job of showing what it must be like for the poor mortals in a World of Darkness. The Hunters are appropriately mystified, horrified and downright nerve-wracked by the world they thought they knew being turned upside-down by the invasion of the supernatural. The two elements I loved most about the book were: 1) It's scary! Then again, I slept with the light on for a week after reading Salem's Lot, so maybe I've got different standards.... But, I really thought Fleming did a good job of making this spooky. 2) Introducing aspects of the supernatural other than vampires. This book also deals with wraiths and the walking dead. And did I mention it's spooky?
All in all, I thought this was a great book and it was great to see the flip side of WoD---take away the blase attitude of 'I'm a vampire, yeah' and politicking and you see what it's like to be an ordinary human in a really scary world.
In regards to the other reviewer who said this has no tie to the first book, that's not entirely true. All of the Hunters' stories as to wierdness they've experienced come from things which happened in the first novel.
A Gritty Look at Those That Would Face the Darkness.......2001-03-10
I have been pretty down on White Wolf fiction; while there have been a few good novels, I consider most only slightly more interesting to read than the owner's manual of my vacuum cleaner. Some of the Vampire clan novels have been especially bad, and turned me off of to fiction based in the World of Darkness for a long time. _Predator and Prey: Judge_ was going to be my final attempt at such fiction - a negative impression being the final vote needed to send me away from the series forever.
But _Predator and Prey: Judge_ is GOOD. More than good; one of the best World of Darkness novels I've ever read. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that this is one of the most interesting and enjoyable books that I've read in months, if not years. I started reading it at bedtime and couldn't put it down until after 6:30 AM in the morning. High praise, considering some of the recent books by "name" authors I've read that put me to sleep in 15 minutes.
_Predator and Prey: Judge_ is about a Hunter - a human that has recently discovered that the undead walk among the living. This "Hunter," however, is just an ordinary man that doesn't necessarily WANT to know about or "hunt" the supernatural. A lot of the conflict in the novel centers around this aspect: What would a flawed, middle-aged man be able to do against the undead? Would he even care if they didn't directly affect him? What would such knowledge do to a person's life and loved ones? These questions and others get answered throughout the course of the novel in a realistic way - jumping out a third floor window while battling one of these supernatural monsters almost kills him, for instance. There are other subplots throughout the book, of course - other supernatural creatures are met and new Hunters found - and most work together to make it extremely interesting. Still, there are a few flaws and "over the top" experiences, but the majority of the book is excellent (and sometimes extremely creepy). In short, it is a great read!
My first Hunter Story.......2001-01-29
This book has the first story I ever read about Hunters. The Hunteres are introduced smoothly in the book and it does a great job of showing their human side. It is starts slow and catches up with excitment as the main character realizes something is wrong with him. Definately recommended, but unfortunately the book has no previous ties what so ever to Predator and Prey: Vampire. I hope the author plans to eventually make a bigger theme from this six book series.
Customer Reviews:
are vamps in the midwest just dull?.......2002-05-08
I have to agree with the negative reviews of this book, I have read the 13 clan novels, multiple anthologies, own all the core game books, and the box set of the show and all I have to say is...what the hell was this? The characters were paper thin and way over sensitive, the clans and the whole camarilla was set up awkwardly, overall it just lacked. This especially since its during the wars on the East Coast! All those vamps are running around and killing stuff, and these guys are twidling their thumbs and plotting ugh.
No hunters at all but loads of boring vampires.......2001-06-18
When I bought this book, I hoped to get a further insight into the world of the hunters, and - as a bonus - some interesting vampirecharacters, too. What I got were tons of Vampires, NO HUNTERS AT ALL, and a lousy story. It took quite a while to work through such a boring book. Even Vampirefans will be surely bored to death by some childish Vampire powergames on such a low level.
hey, wait a minute..........2001-04-17
I bought this book hoping for a good hunter story. If this is what you are expecting, don't buy this book. I'm a big White Wolf fan, but I found this book just boring. Other than providing a little background information on the White Wolf world, this book is pointless. Not enough action, poor character development, over kill on the drama and politics of the Vampire world. If you're a big fan of White Wolf's other Vampire stuff you might want to get this one to help kill some time....
Insight and suspense!.......2001-02-19
I have read the clan novel-series, and I liked it. But I loved this book! This book shows you, in a wonderful way how it must be,to be a vampire. You get a fantastic insight into the vampire mind. Intrigue and suspense are the keywords in this book. After reading this book you will understand why a Ventrue is an ideal prince, how Toreador operate and why the Sabbat is a viable alternative to the camarilla. If you are looking for physical action and bonecrushing, go watch an action-movie! If you are a hunter fan you can ignore this book, this book is solely about vamires. There is not a hunter in sight. This is a great book, and Carl Bowen is a great writer with prospects.
Not what I expected... but worth the price of admission.......2000-12-30
Based on the title (and the colors), I thought this book and subsequent series was supposed to be devoted to Hunters. I was a little confused when it wasn't, but by no means disappointed. I think the book does an excellent job of portraying the World of Darkness and the denizens who inhabit it. While it certainly isn't a tale of earth-shattering proportions (no finding Holy Grails or hunting down Methuselahs or all-out Armageddon), the book still tells a good story. It gives more of a feel of the 'everyday' life of the Kindred and their dangerous existence. I liked the detail and focus the book had. By getting away from the WoD hot spots and big players, this book was able to really spend time drawing out the characters and their thoughts and plottings. If you want to read about high adventure and action, then forget this book. But, if you're more into story, plots (and counterplots), and characters then I think you'll definitely find it a worthwhile read.
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- Stop Getting Dumped! All You Need to Know to Make Men Fall Madly in Love with You and Marry "The One" in 3 Years or Less
- The Bookman's Wake (Cliff Janeway Novels)
- The Cane Mutiny (Den of Antiquity)
- The Colorado Kid (Hard Case Crime)
- The Commodity Trader's Almanac 2007
- The Dark Wind (Jim Chee Novels)
- The Deer Leap
- The Demon Soul (Warcraft: War of the Ancients, Book 2)
- The Frightened Wife
- The Harry Bosch Novels Volume 2: The Last Coyote, Trunk Music, Angels Flight
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