This is the third book in the Mrs. Murphy series and I find myself disliking it more as I go forward. This one, which centers around a historic victim found in a slave quarters at Monticello, is the hardest to like so far. Characters with sanitized/racist views of slavery in the U.S? Check. Trying to depict a nuanced view but being tone deaf? Check. I want to like this series but it’s been a downhill ride so far. ( )

This is the third book in this series. The pets in the series understand the humans and provide commentary amongst themselves, though the humans are unable to understand the pets. In this one, a skeleton is found, dating back to 1803, and it appears that the person was hit with something on the back of the head and murdered, so the townspeople are digging through history to see if they can figure out what happened. Part-way through the book, one of the current-day characters is also murdered.

I’m surprised I came up with a coherent summary, but I think it’s fairly accurate. That being said, I just wasn’t interested in what was happening in the book; when I lose interest, I skim and miss much of the goings-on. I assume both murders were cleared up at the end, but I couldn’t say for sure. The animals are somewhat cute/amusing, but even then, not always. I will not be continuing the series. ( )

I love reading books that have me resorting to google for further historical information and details.

I love reading books that have me resorting to google for further historical information and details. ( )

Written to mark the 250th birthday of Thomas Jefferson, and published three years before the DNA test which overturned long-held assumptions, this reads like a time capsule. Lots of hero-worshipping a Founding Father, lots of potted history cribbed from biased sources, little energy spent on the mystery. Some characters are introduced only to be dropped from sight a few pages later. Very rushed towards the end, where she gets the names of her characters and the names of Jefferson's daughters mixed up. For completists. ( )