Review: "Cat's Eyewitness" (manuscript)

            Cat’s Eyewitness is a mystery novel by Rita Mae Brown and her cat, Sneaky Pie Brown.  In this adventure Harry (Mary Minor Harristeen), her cats, Mrs. Murphy, and Pewter, her corgi, Tee Tucker, and her friend Susan go to the statue of Mary at the Greyfriars’s Monastery to pray – among other things – for wisdom about whether or not Harry should get back together with her ex-husband , Fair.

While they are praying, the statue of Mary beings to cry blood.  This causes all kinds of speculation from the faithful and skeptics, and when Brother Thomas is found dead, kneeling before the statue, Harry thinks that nay-sayers might be on to something.

I have enjoyed most of the book in the Mrs. Murphy series – and I enjoyed this one very much as well.  Can you figure out what is happening?

I was also interested in the dialog amongst the characters about Christianity, and wonder whether these comments and questions of the authors:

In the opening scene, the Trinity is being discussed, and they say they understand God and Jesus, but they can’t make heads or tails over Who or what the Holy Spirit is.

They discuss that Mary is the most relatable character because she is a sinner like the rest of us.  The problem with Jesus is that he is sinless, so He is unrelatable.

There is discussion of pedophilia in the Roman Catholic Church.

A comment is made that Calvinism teaches that riches are a sign of God’s blessing.  This is absolutely untrue!  As a Calvinist, I can say that being wealthy in no way proves that you are blessed by God.  If you are wealthy, God has planned that for you, but it could be a curse rather than a blessing, depending on why God ordained you to be wealthy.

Also, the animals discuss why the Bible says it is wrong to pray to the golden calf, but alright to pray to a statue of Mary.

Big subjects are being addressed – and I am fine with that – I am curious as to what the authors believe.

Pick up a copy of this book – it is thought-provoking and a good mystery.

            [This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]