Probable Claws is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2018 by American Artists, Inc.
Illustrations copyright © 2018 by Michael Gellatly
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Bantam Books, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.
B ANTAM B OOKS and the H OUSE colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Brown, Rita Mae, author. | Brown, Sneaky Pie, 1982– author. |
Gellatly, Michael, illustrator.
Title: Probable claws : a Mrs. Murphy mystery / Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie
Brown ; illustrated by Michael Gellatly.
Description: First Edition. | New York : Bantam Books, [2018] |
Series: Mrs. Murphy ; 27
Identifiers: LCCN 2018005055 | ISBN 9780425287156 (hardback) |
ISBN 9780425287163 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Haristeen, Harry (Fictitious character)—Fiction. |
Women cat owners—Fiction. | Murphy, Mrs. (Fictitious character)—Fiction. |
Women detectives—Virginia—Fiction. | Cats—Fiction. | BISAC: FICTION /
Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths. | HUMOR / Topic / Animals. |
FICTION / Suspense. | GSAFD: Mystery fiction.
Classification: LCC PS3552.R698 P76 2018 | DDC 813/.54—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018005055
Ebook ISBN 9780425287163
randomhousebooks.com
Book design by Diane Hobbing, adapted for ebook
Cover design: Victoria Allen
Cover illustrations and hand lettering: Sara Mulvanny
v5.2_r1
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Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
The Cast of Characters
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Dedication
Books by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown
About the Authors
THE CAST OF CHARACTERS
THE PRESENT
Mary Minor Haristeen, “Harry” —Hardworking, task-oriented, she runs the old family farm in Crozet, Virginia. A loyal friend to both human and animal, a quality not lost on those who care for her. If she has a weakness—perhaps best explained as a personality trait—it is that psychology has no interest for her. Harry doesn’t care why you do anything. She simply deals with the result.
Pharamond Haristeen, DVM, “Fair” —Tall, powerfully built, at forty-three he is one year older than his wife, Harry. His equine patients trust him as do most humans. He is more sensitive, more introspective than his wife.
Susan Tucker —Harry’s friend since cradle days, she loves Harry as only an old friend can. The two can disagree but will always come to each other’s aid. Susan’s deceased grandfather was a former governor of Virginia. Her husband, Ned, is a representative to the House of Delegates.
BoomBoom Craycroft —Another childhood friend who can find herself swept up into one of Harry’s messes. BoomBoom often asks the obvious question. Obvious to her.
Deputy Cynthia Cooper —She rents the old Jones homeplace, a farm next to Harry’s. As she was not raised in the country, Harry and Fair are a great help to her. She does her best to deflect Harry’s curiosity. If Susan and Fair can’t contain Harry, it’s a sure bet Coop can’t, despite her shiny law enforcement badge.
Reverend Herbert Jones —He’s known Harry all her life. She is a faithful congregant of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. He learned to lead men as a young combat captain in Vietnam. On his return after the seminary, he did his best to lead women, too—to faith, charity, and peace. He is a good pastor to his flock.
Lisa Roudabush —Heads Nature First’s Charlottesville, Virginia, office. Nature First is a statewide environmental group growing in power. She’s in her mid-thirties, married to her work.
Raynell Archer —Assists Lisa. She worked her way to Nature First through other nonprofits.
Felipe Zaldivar —The second-in-command at Nature First. He’s intelligent, steady, devoted to Lisa and the cause.
Gary Gardner —A local architect with good sense, who is able to keep costs down and loves to work.