Let Sleeping Dogs Lie - Review

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie by Rita Mae Brown

Rating: 2 Stars
Source: NetGalley

Description:  
(from GoodReads)
Sister Jane and the Jefferson Hunt Club have traveled from Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains to the Bluegrass State of Kentucky to ride with the members of the Woodford Hounds—in the teeth of foul weather. Sister knows better than anyone that an ill wind blows no good.

After the hunt, Sister Jane and her boyfriend, Gray Lorillard, head to a sumptuous party on a nearby estate, also home to a historic equine graveyard. The revelry is interrupted by jarring news: The discovery of grisly remains in the cemetery that are decidedly not equine.

Now Sister and her hounds are on the case, digging up clues to an old murder that links three well-connected Southern families. When mayhem follows the Jefferson Hunt back to Virginia, the deadly doings become all too real: A dear friend of Sister’s is found murdered. Sister and her animal friends must work fast to find a clever killer determined to keep deep-rooted secrets buried.

Genre: Mystery

Why I Picked This Book: Rita Mae Brown is an author whose books I've been seeing around for years.  While another series of hers didn't work for me I enjoyed her writing enough to give this one a try. 

My Impression:

Pro: The mystery itself is interesting and I definitely wanted to know more about how the body ended up buried with the horse.  The information about the Hunting clubs was new to me and it was fun to learn more about an activity I had heard so much about in a historical sense.  I visited horse country and Churchill Downs years ago and I enjoyed revisiting that area of the country.  Brown is very good at creating a likable and diverse group of people.

Cons:  I have found jumping in to a mystery series usually isn't an issue since mysteries tend to be plot driven.  This book however was a bit like the first day at a new job.  There are so many people busy with so many new tasks that I spent most of my time trying to remember who was who and what they were doing.  With all the characters and the hunt information the mystery itself got a bit lost.  

Overall:  If you are a fan of this series I suspect you will enjoy this one.  If you are new but want to try this series save yourself the headache and go back and start at the beginning.  Between the huge quantity of hunt and horse information and the enormous cast list I spent most of the time confused.  To give yourself and the series a chance start at the beginning.


Would I Read More of this Series/Author?:  While I can see why Brown has a large following I don't think either series by her that I have read is for me.

Would I Recommend this Book?:  Only to readers who are already fans of the series.