Mystery Reads

The sleepy little town of Crozet, Virginia has seen its share of mischief and mayhem, but nothing like this. While visiting the Mt. Carmel monastery, Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen witnesses a statue of the Virgin Mary cry tears of blood. Legend says this fortells crises, and soon a monk is found frozen to death near the statue. Before long the monk's body disappears, another Crozet citizen dies, and a shocking revelation to an ages-old mystery surfaces. Thankfully, Harry and her sleuthing animals are on the case--unofficially, or course.

The annual steeplechase at Montpelier, the high point in the social calendar of the horse set in Virginia, is disturbed by the stabbing of two jockeys, each with a playing card attached to his body. Sleuth Mrs. Murphy and her cat investigate, wondering whether the motive was greed, drugs or sex.

As Pickax prepares for its sesquicentennial celebration, Koko the Siamese pounces on the head of one of the wealthy Ledfields during a family reunion. When the Ledfields subsequently fall ill, Jim Qwilleran wonders if his cat is warning of foul play.