The Hounds and the Fury

by Rita Mae Brown

Book Overview

New York Times bestselling author. "Original, funny, poignant, irresistible ... not since Anthony Trollope has foxhunting been so vividly novelized." - Kirkus Reviews (starred) Financial scandals in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345465474
• ISBN13: 9780345465474
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 315 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Another enjoyable read!

I have all of the books in this series and always pre-purchase the next one out in my anticipation of the fun to come. The stories are always a fun read, the mysteries o.k., but the characters and the hunting details are awesome. I just love when Brown goes in to great detail regarding hunt etiquette, the horses, and the dogs. The terminology and descriptions are fascinating. Also, I am not at all offended when she makes political observations, especially when I agree with most all of them! I've recommended this series to my trainer and the kids in the local Pony Club to read, and for anyone frustrated by adult horse fiction. Usually the authors get it all wrong i.e. children riding stallions, green riders as assistant trainers, etc. but Rita Mae Brown is always 'spot on'.

Rita Mae Brown is fantastic!

I would like to step into the world that Rita Mae Brown has created and ride with Sister Jane, Shaker, and the rest of those great people. I would like to lead her life and I hunger for every book that comes out. The fox hunting descriptions are totally accurate and I feel that Rita Mae Brown must have experienced or knows someone who experienced all of those great hunts - even the boar and the bear scenes which wouldn't happen in Ohio where I fox hunt (those particular scenes may be in earlier books). Even if there were no murders and no mystery, I would still read avidly every conversation and every event that happens to the Jefferson Hunt.

Foxes love to be hunted

The people of one tiny backwoods Virginia community have a unique despotic society. Sister, a 70-something master of foxhounds is their ruler. Sister's enforces a strict dress code, as well as a unique spoken language and various whimsical procedurals. I admit a compelling desire to dope-slap most of the book's characters when they address the wrinkled old broad as Master, however once getting past that urge, I enjoyed these novels. A better fit into the fantasy category, the series is considered in the mystery genre. The occasional murder is incidental to the storyline and of no real importance. The charm of these novels, such as it is, lies in the make-believe world this community has created. The people between these pages exist only to ride hell-bent behind 30-plus hound dogs chasing one tiny fox. They are willing to endure all manner of petty tyrannies and humiliations for the supreme excitement of the hunt. Set reality aside and let yourself believe life has no deeper concerns than chasing foxes.

Love the foxhunting mysteries!! Fun read, ends too quickly

Sister, Shaker, Inky, Comet, Cora, Dragon, Gin Fizz, and all the others are back in this newest fox hunting mystery...great characters and a good story. all the animals communicate in a way I imagine they must in "real life." and I love the descriptions of how a proper hunt is run. i'm envious. and I have just one question for Ms Brown: In your author's photo, why isn't your horse braided?!?

Fans of Ms. Brown will enjoy her latest personification mystery

In Virginia, septuagenarian "Sister" Jane Arnold is the grand mistress of the foxhounds at the Jefferson Hunt Club. Though crusty she is normally friendly to man and beast though she finds the four legged species much kinder than the two legged animal. However, Jane does not like two new club members due to their cavalier attitude towards tradition. Affluent Crawford Howard disrespects everyone especially Jane when he deems their antiquated methodology holds him back; he commits the ultimate insult when he purchase foxhounds to form his own rival club. Cancer specialist Jason Woods expects VIP special treatment from the JHC especially Jane, but even long time members do not get superior handling and Sister tries to ignore him. Meanwhile Jane's companion Gray Lorillard audits the books of a local company only to learn Iphigenia "Iffy" Demetrios has been withdrawing money from it for years. Not long afterward someone murders Iffy and wounds Gray's brother. Jane and her four legged buddies conclude that someone fears what else the audit will reveal. The villain is obvious and the story line with talking animals used by Rita Mae Brown in this series (see FULL CRY) and her other major series (Mrs. Murphy) will delight her fans who will definitely want to read this charming cozy. The talk with the animals' whodunit is fun to follow as Sister and her four legged pals investigate the murder and the apparent attempted murder where she assumes Gray was the target. Fans of Ms. Brown will enjoy her latest personification mystery. Harriet Klausner