Tall Tail is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2016 by American Artists, Inc.
Illustrations copyright © 2016 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.
BANTAM BOOKS and the HOUSE colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Brown, Rita Mae, author. | Brown, Sneaky Pie, author. |
Gellatly, Michael, illustrator.
Title: Tall tail : a Mrs. Murphy mystery / Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown ; illustrated by Michael Gellatly.
Description: First edition. | New York : Bantam Books, [2016]
Identifiers: LCCN 2015045502 (print) | LCCN 2015047670 (ebook) | ISBN 9780553392463 (alk. paper) | ISBN 9780553392470 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Haristeen, Harry (Fictitious character)—Fiction. | Murphy, Mrs. (Fictitious character)—Fiction. | Women detectives—Virginia—Fiction. | Women cat owners—Fiction. | Cats—Fiction. | BISAC: FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths. | FICTION / Humorous. | FICTION / Suspense. | GSAFD: Mystery fiction.
Classification: LCC PS3552.R698 T36 2016 (print) | LCC PS3552.R698 (ebook) |
DDC 813/.54—dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015045502
ebook ISBN 9780553392470
Cover design: Beverly Leung
Cover illustration: Beverly Leung; © Shutterstock/eva_mask (cat outline and sky), Sarawut Chamsaeng (tree)
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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
Afterword
Dedication
Books by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown
About the Authors
The Cast of Characters
The Present
Mary Minor Haristeen, “Harry”—A Smith graduate in art history, she wound up back in Crozet, Virginia, where she runs the family farm. Her two cats and dog are her constant companions.
Pharamond Haristeen, DVM, “Fair”—Harry’s husband is an equine vet specializing in reproduction. He has long ago given up keeping up with his wife. She sometimes mystifies him, but he loves her.
Susan Tucker—Harry’s friend from cradle days. They tease, bicker, and prod each other along. They are good at handling each other.
Ned Tucker—Susan’s husband, a lawyer, is now a representative in the House of Delegates.
Governor Samuel Holloway—a World War II naval hero, the former governor, Susan’s maternal grandfather, at ninety-six is dying of leukemia. His mind is razor sharp.
Penny Holloway—the governor’s wife, Susan’s grandmother, struggles to keep everything and everyone on an even keel. She is mostly successful. Like her granddaughter, she is a good golfer.
Millicent Grimstead—Susan’s mother, who spends much of her time now at her parents’ estate, Big Rawly, to help with her father.
Edward Holloway Cunningham—Susan’s cousin is a state senator with a big following. He is now running for a Senate seat in Washington, feeling Richmond is too small for him. He rides on his grandfather’s coattails.
Mignon Skipwith—A young writer and researcher, she works with the governor as he writes his autobiography. She is discreet and reliable.
Barbara Leader—A home nurse, Barbara tends to the governor, jollies him along, and gives him his meds as well as restorative bourbon. She was a class behind Harry and Susan at Crozet High. They weren’t close, but they all like one another.
The Eighteenth Century
Catherine Schuyler—at twenty, intelligent, levelheaded, and impossibly beautiful, she is learning from her brilliant father about business. She already has a reputation as a leading horsewoman.
John Schuyler—A former major in the Revolutionary War, only a few years older than his smashing wife, he is powerfully built and works hard. As he is from Massachusetts he can miss some of the undercurrents of Virginia society.
Rachel West—Two years younger than her sister, Catherine, she, too, is beautiful but her beauty is softer, sweeter. She’s easy to please, ready to help, and possessed of deep moral conviction.
Charles West—Captured by John Schuyler at the Battle of Saratoga, the then nineteen-year-old marched all the way to The Barracks prisoner-of-war camp outside Charlottesville. The second son of a baron in England, he had the good sense to stay in America. Like John, he is dazzled by his wife and knows how lucky he is.
Karl Ix—A Hessian also captured. He and Charles become friends in the camp and continue working together after the war.
Francisco Selisse—A man of middle years, he made a pot of money, first through marriage and then from his own efforts. Aesthetically attuned, ruthless in business, and hard on his slaves, he is not well liked.
Maureen Selisse—The daughter of a Caribbean banker, she was a great catch for Francisco. Keenly aware of her social position, she is also accustomed to getting her way. While the love has faded for Francisco, she hates that he carries on with a beautiful slave, making little attempt to hide it.
Hiram Meisner—The county constable responsible for catching criminals and runaway slaves. He’s not a bad fellow, and does his job without much enthusiasm.
Dennis McComb—As Hiram’s assistant, he evidences more enthusiasm. Not bright, he sees the world in black and white.
Ewing Garth, the father of Catherine and Rachel, is a loving man, brilliant in business. He is a creature of his time, but one who can learn. He helped finance the war and hopes the new nation can hold together. A widower, he misses his wife, a true partner.
Bartholomew Graves, an Irishman, was an artillery officer for the British in the war. He, too, was at The Barracks. He escaped to build a new life.
Mary Graves, younger than her husband, is sensible, well-built, adoring, and keeps a happy home for the veteran. They are well suited to each other.