I recently finished reading Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown’s Rest in Pieces. This is an older novel I picked up from a little free library near where I live.
True to suspicions based on the title, Rest in Pieces is a murder mystery novel equally from the perspectives of the pets as the humans involved. The story is that of a dismembered body discovered and trying to figure out who did it and why, based in the town Crozet, VA which I have visited multiple times. Understanding the locale definitely makes the story more real to me. It’s clear the author (a native Virginian) knew the area she was writing about. It is a simple read, very straightforward in its approach – a casual novel to entertain and pass the time. This novel seems to have connected indirectly with other novels, but works perfectly well as a standalone work.
Little Marilyn might be my favorite character simply because of how ditsy and go with the flow she was. Compared to the rest of the characters, she was really the only laid back person in town.
This novel seemed fairly casual to me. There were a lot of unknowns, but parts didn’t always seem to connect to the mystery so much as become more of a social commentary of the town presented. I often lost sight of the fact that I was reading a mystery novel. I did enjoy Harry teaching city-slick Blair the ins and outs of country life, and working his land. Their relationship is very sweet and uncomplicated.
The moments shared between Harry and Blair were written very well and drew me into the positive growth they provided each other. The relationship between Tucker the dog, Mrs. Murphy the cat, and Simon the possum was also well-illustrated. These three worked pretty hard to think things through, even before the humans caught on to what there animals were trying to show them.
I would not recommend it be read to or shared with anyone below middle school. Some scenes are rather profane or gruesome.
I found the characters to not be very strongly presented. There were none I particularly attached to. For this reason, it was also rather difficult for me to guess whodunnit.
I would recommend this book to any adult without a lot of free time who wants a casual novel that is easy to put down and pick up as time permits. It is fairly entertaining, and the story line, though uninvolved, does make logical sense.
3/5 stars – a simply written, casual novel
You can look forward to more mystery novel reviews this Autumn. I’ve got a little stack ready to read.
Love always,
Rachel
Uncommon Rachel 