Puss 'n Cahoots

This latest addition to the Mrs. Murphy series finds newlyweds Fair and Harry Haristeen at the Saddlebred Show in Shelbyville, Kentucky, with their entourage of two cats, Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and a corgi, Tucker. When a prize-winning mare is stolen and a diamond brooch goes missing, tension escalates and suspicion sets in. The contestants become even more unnerved when a groom's throat is slit. Kate Forbes handles the human and animal dialogue equally well, using varied expression and tone to differentiate the voices. When the dialogue of both the human and animal characters occasionally becomes preachy, Forbes manages to handle their lines without sounding sanctimonious. She imbues the animals, especially, with personality and spunk, making this a pleasant listening experience. M.H.N. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine