Hiss of Death: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery    by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown Order:  USA  Can Bantam, 2011 (2011) Hardcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Bob Walch It may be spring in Crozet, Virginia, but Mary 'Harry' Haristeen isn't as thrilled as she would normally be with the advent of the planting season. First poor Harry finds her friend, Paula Benton, dead in her potting shed apparently the victim of anaphylactic shock, the result of a hornet's sting. And then, if that weren't bad enough, a mammogram turns up a small mass in Harry's right breast. The latter situation perpetrates a health crisis that sends Harry reeling into the world of hospitals and doctors, treatments and procedures, and crime. Complicating matters are the seemingly unrelated deaths of Benton, a surgical nurse, and another woman who also is employed at the hospital. With something apparently amiss at the health care facility, Harry and her feline sidekick, Mrs. Murphy, decide to do a little snooping to determine why some of those associated with the Central Virginian Hospital have found the relationship detrimental to their health and wellbeing. Pewter and Tucker, Harry's other two animal buddies, will also lend a hand as the investigation turns up some startling and deadly secrets. In this caper, getting well has more significance than just dealing with a medical condition. With nearly five million copies of this series now in print, it is quite obvious that this detective duo featuring an ex-postmistress and her tiger cat has caught on. Talking animals haven't deterred readers from embracing these novels. More and more people seem to find that the suspension of disbelief this series demands is no problem at all! Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews