Fox Tracks: A Novel“[Rita Mae Brown] enlivens a timely tale with . . . amusing accounts of her four-legged creations and delightful descriptions of the central Virginia countryside.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch New York Times bestselling author Rita Mae Brown bounds to the front of the pack with Fox Tracks, the thrilling new mystery in her beloved foxhunting series featuring the indomitable “Sister” Jane Arnold and, among others, the boisterous company of horses and hounds. Now, as a string of bizarre murders sweeps the East Coast, this unlikely alliance must smoke out a devious killer who may be closer than they first think. While outside on Manhattan’s Midtown streets a fierce snowstorm rages, nothing can dampen the excitement inside the elegant ballroom of Manhattan’s Pierre Hotel. Hunt clubs from all over North America have gathered for their annual gala, and nobody is in higher spirits than “Sister” Jane, Master of the Jefferson Hunt in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Braving the foul weather, Sister and her young friend “Tootie” Harris pop out to purchase cigars for the celebration at a nearby tobacco shop, finding themselves regaled by the colorful stories of its eccentric proprietor, Adolfo Galdos. Yet the trip’s festive mood goes to ground later with the grisly discovery of Adolfo’s corpse. The tobacconist was shot in the head but found, oddly enough, with a cigarette pack of American Smokes laid carefully over his heart. When a similar murder occurs in Boston, Sister’s “horse sense” tells her there’s a nefarious plot afoot—one that seems to originate in the South’s aromatic tobacco farms. Meanwhile, Sister’s nemesis, Crawford Howard, will stop at nothing to subvert the Jefferson Hunt Club. There’s more than one shadowy scheme in the works in Albemarle County, and some conspirators are unafraid of taking shots at those evidencing too keen an interest in other people’s business. When Sister voices her suspicions, she, too, becomes a target. Fortunately for her, the Master of the Jefferson Hunt may rely upon the wits and wiles of her four-legged friends—including horses Lafayette and Matador, the powerful hound, Dragon, and even the clever old red fox, Uncle Yancy! From Manhattan’s gritty streets to the pastoral beauty of Virginia horse country, Fox Tracks features the beloved characters from past Sister Jane novels in a fascinating new intrigue. This sly, fast-paced mystery gives chase from sizzling start to stunning finish! Praise for Rita Mae Brown’s “Sister” Jane novels “Brown is a keen plotter who advances her story with well-placed clues and showy suspects.”—The New York Times Book Review “[Brown] succeeds in conjuring a world in which prey are meant to survive the chase and foxes are knowing collaborators.”—People “One of the most entertaining amateur sleuths since those of Agatha Christie.”—Booklist |
Contents
3 | |
Section 2 | 10 |
Section 3 | 16 |
Section 4 | 25 |
Section 5 | 32 |
Section 6 | 38 |
Section 7 | 54 |
Section 8 | 63 |
Section 21 | 162 |
Section 22 | 172 |
Section 23 | 180 |
Section 24 | 185 |
Section 25 | 196 |
Section 26 | 202 |
Section 27 | 209 |
Section 28 | 217 |
Section 9 | 71 |
Section 10 | 78 |
Section 11 | 86 |
Section 12 | 96 |
Section 13 | 103 |
Section 14 | 113 |
Section 15 | 118 |
Section 16 | 127 |
Section 17 | 134 |
Section 18 | 138 |
Section 19 | 145 |
Section 20 | 154 |
Section 29 | 221 |
Section 30 | 232 |
Section 31 | 237 |
Section 32 | 249 |
Section 33 | 254 |
Section 34 | 262 |
Section 35 | 270 |
Section 36 | 274 |
Section 37 | 282 |
Section 38 | 288 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Adolfo American foxhound American Smokes asked barn barn owl Betty Binky Blue Ridge Mountains Bobby called cigarette Cindy Chandler coop Coptic Christian Crawford Custis Hall deer didn’t dogs don‘t Donny door Dragon drive DuCharme eyes farm road fence field figure filled finally find finished first girls Golliwog Golly Gray hands head heard horses hounds human hunt huntsman inside It‘s Jefferson Hunt jump Kasmir kennels kill knew Little Dalby live looked Lorillard master Muslim Brotherhood never nose Old Paradise opened pack picked pulled Raleigh replied Rickman ride riders Ridge RITA MAE BROWN rode Rooster scent Shaker shed shot side smiled snow someone stall sure Sybil Tariq Tattenhall Station tell there's there’s thing Thoroughbred thought tobacco took Tootie tree truck turned Uncle Yancey walked Walter what’s woman woods young