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) |
ebook ISBN 9780553392470
Cover design: Beverly Leung
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Contents
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
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.