Cat on the Scent (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries)

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The animals in Crozet, Virginia, are a lot smarter than the humans, which will come as no surprise to the devoted fans of Rita Mae Brown's mysteries featuring Mrs. Murphy the tiger cat, the luxury-loving feline known as Pewter, and Tee Tucker, a curious corgi. In their seventh outing, they're leaps and bounds ahead of Harry Haristeen, the spunky postmistress they call Mom. Long before anyone else knows what's going on, they've figured out the connection between the shot fired at wealthy Sir Henry Vane-Tempest during the reenactment of a Civil War battle and a missing airplane hidden in Tally Urquhart's barn. They're better at finding evidence trampled underfoot at a crime scene than any detective is, and they know just whose lap to drop it in. While they might not understand exactly why county commissioner Archie Ingram is so exercised about Vane-Tempest's plans for development in Albemarle County--particularly when it promises to make him as wealthy as the husband of the woman he loves--they've sniffed out the sexual shenanigans that threaten to derail the private pact between Crozet's leading citizens. If Harry and her friends knew what the animals know, there'd be no mystery about it; there'd only be a charming and lighthearted story of chicanery in the new Old South with plenty of local color, the scent of lilacs wafting through every page, and the deft prose of a writer on top of her game. But then, there'd be no raison d'etre for the liveliest scene in the book, wherein Mrs. Murphy, Pewter, and Tee take a turbo-charged Porsche for a breakneck ride through Virginia's verdant hills and dales. By the end of the book, the only mystery is whether Harry and Fair, her favorite ex-husband, will manage to get back together again in the next installment--or the one after that--of this popular series. --Jane Adams

Book Description

It takes a cat to write the purr-fect mystery.

Things have been pretty exciting lately in Crozet, Virginia--a little too exciting if you ask resident feline investigator Mrs. Murphy. Just as the town starts to buzz over its Civil War reenactment, a popular local man disappears. No one's seen Tommy Van Allen's single-engine plane, either--except for Mrs. Murphy, who spotted it during a foggy evening's mousing.

Even Mrs. Murphy's favorite human, postmistress Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen, can sense that something is amiss. But things really take an ugly turn when the town reenacts the battle of Oak Ridge--and a participant ends up with three very real bullets in his back. While the clever tiger cat and her friends sift through clues that just don't fit together, more than a few locals fear that the scandal will force well-hidden town secrets into the harsh light of day. And when Mrs. Murphy's relentless tracking places loved ones in danger, it takes more than a canny kitty and her team of animal sleuths to set things right again....

Download Description

Things have been pretty exciting lately in Crozet, Virginia—a little too exciting if you ask resident feline investigator Mrs. Murphy. Just as the town starts to buzz over its Civil War reenactment, a popular local man disappears. No one’s seen Tommy Van Allen’s single-engine plane, either—except for Mrs. Murphy, who spotted it during a foggy evening’s mousing.

Even Mrs. Murphy’s favorite human, postmistress Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen, can sense that something is amiss. But things really take an ugly turn when the town reenacts the battle of Oak Ridge—and a participant ends up with three very real bullets in his back. While the clever tiger cat and her friends sift through clues that just don’t fit together, more than a few locals fear that the scandal will force well-hidden town secrets into the harsh light of day. And when Mrs. Murphy’s relentless tracking places loved ones in danger, it takes more than a canny kitty and her team of animal sleuths to set things right again.

“Leave it to a cat to grasp the essence of the cozy mystery: namely, murder among friends.”
   THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

“Told with spunk and plenty of whimsy, this is another delightful entry in a very popular series.”
   PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Customer Reviews:

Love all the Sneaky Pie Brown books.......2006-12-27

I love to read these books when I am in the mood for something light and fun...there is always a mystery but I love all the main characters and animals...long live Mrs. Murphy, Tee Tucker and Pewter!

Driving is Not Just For Humans Anymore!.......2006-07-31

In the 7th book in the Mrs. Murphy and Tucker mystery series, the citizens of Crozet, Virginia are up in arms about water. It seems that the water supply in the county is in jeopardy, and the county commission feels that the reservoir plan that it currently has is outdated. When one of the members goes missing, and his plane is found hidden, there is a general suspicion that something terrible must have happened to him. But these thoughts are put aside as the town prepares for their Civil War reenactment of the battle of Oak Ridge. Most of the town participates...either in the battle reenactment itself, or being a spectator of it. During the battle, a wealthy member of the town is shot and wounded, and it becomes clear that it was no accident. And when the missing town commissioner is found dead, a whole lot of questions begin to arise about the commissioners and their recent activities. Mary Minor Haristeen (aka Harry) noses around like usual, and with the help of her irrepressible animals, finds that several members of the town have big secrets and big profits in mind.

I love this charming series! For some, the dialogue between the animals might be a bit confusing, but I feel that the antics and conversations of the animals only add to the fun. In this installment, Mrs. Murphy (a tiger cat), Tee Tucker (a Welsh corgi), and Pewter (a fat gray cat) not only find several huge clues to the mystery, but also learn how to drive a Porsche! There are also some good tidbits about Harry's family, and the scandal that rocked Crozet many years before. I love this town, the lively cast of characters, and the rich setting. I cannot wait to pick up the next book, and visit them all again soon!

The first book in the series is called "Wish You Were Here". Enjoy!

Unfinished?.......2005-07-12

This particular entry in the series seemed unfinished to me. There wasn't much input from the horses (not that they're ever the focus), and Harry's evolving relationship with her ex-husband had no mention here. Maybe there was pressure from Ms. Brown's publisher to get it done, damn the plot. Still, is was an enjoyable read, just not up to the standard I'm used to in the series.

Oh, and I really miss Wendy Wray's brilliant illustrations!

The one where the animals figure it out........2005-04-22

The animals figure this one out, but not the humans, when all is said and done. It's a pretty good story, although quite easy to figure out as you read. But that's not why I read a Rita Mae Brown book. I read for the sheer coziness of the stories, as well as the wonderful characters that she has created (both humans and animals, of course). I also enjoy the settings behind each story. The area of Crozet, Virginia must be very beautiful, and Ms. Brown portrays it well. I also like the ideas behind each story. This one is created around a Civil War reenactment. I have always been fascinaed with the passionate players that keep this terrible war alive. The story starts with a prominent citizen being shot in the reenactment. How can that be, Harry wonders? They're supposed to be playing and not using live rounds. Anyway, that is enough to get Mrs. Murphy, Pewter and Tucker going. They just have to figure it out, while making sure they protect their human at the same time. Lots of fun.

Welcome Back To Crozet!.......2003-03-13

I have read all of Rita's & Sneaky Pie Brown's Mrs. Murphy tales (or is that tails(?)) "Cat on the Scent" was terrific! Unlike the others I have read, there are moments of great sadness among Harry's friends that makes them even more three-dimensional. I enjoyed this read very much. Thank you Rita and Sneaky!

The Third Three Mrs. Murphy Mysteries in One Volume: Cat on the Scent; Pawing Through the Past; Claws and Effect (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries)

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The Third Three Mrs. Murphy Mysteries in One Volume: Cat on the Scent; Pawing Through the Past; Claws and Effect (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries)
Rita Mae Brown
Manufacturer: Wings
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0517229668
Release Date: 2007-04-17

Book Description

Rita Mae Brown and her literary feline sidekick Sneaky Pie Brown are back with a third omnibus of clever sleuthing by postmistress Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen and her feline sidekick Mrs. Murphy. For the first time all in one volume, here are CAT ON THE SCENT, PAWING THROUGH THE PAST, and CLAWS AND EFFECT, three more prime examples of charm and murder co-existing in the lovely hamlet of Crozet, Virginia.

In CAT ON THE SCENT, the good people of Crozet are quite excited about their upcoming Civil War battle reenactment until things get a little too authentic when a soldier ends up with three very real bullets in his back.

Someone has waited twenty years to take revenge in PAWING THROUGH THE PAST. Crozet High's Class of 1980 is about to have its twentieth reunion--but one classmate is looking forward to it for the wrong reasons. Each member of the class receives a note saying “You'll never get old,” but it becomes clear this is more threat than compliment when a classmate turns up dead with a bullet between his eyes.

The juicy gossip from Crozet Hospital has everyone entertained in CLAWS AND EFFECT--until its source is found murdered. Mrs. Murphy sniffs out a dirty little secret that dates back to the days of the Underground Railroad, and she has to protect Harry from a coldly calculating killer with a prescription for murder.

7 Titles in the Mrs. Murphy (Sneaky Pie Brown) Series: (1) Wish You Were Here; (2) Rest in Pieces; (3) Murder, She Meowed; (4) Murder on the Prowl; (5) Cat on the Scent; (6) Pawing Through the Past; (7) The Tail of the Tip-off (Set of 7)

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7 Titles in the Mrs. Murphy (Sneaky Pie Brown) Series: (1) Wish You Were Here; (2) Rest in Pieces; (3) Murder, She Meowed; (4) Murder on the Prowl; (5) Cat on the Scent; (6) Pawing Through the Past; (7) The Tail of the Tip-off (Set of 7)
Rita Mae Brown
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WWTBHE

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CAT ON THE SCENT (MRS. MURPHY)
RITA MAE BROWN
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HQIVKS

Cat on the Scent, Catch As Cat Can, Murder At Monticello, Rest in Pieces, Pay Dirt, Wish You Were Here, By Rita Mae Brown (Mrs. Murphy Mystery)

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Cat on the Scent, Catch As Cat Can, Murder At Monticello, Rest in Pieces, Pay Dirt, Wish You Were Here, By Rita Mae Brown (Mrs. Murphy Mystery)
Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: B000P1B5KS

Product Description

6 paperback books by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown, these are 6 of the Mrs. Murphy Mysteries about cats, they are lighthearted reading for animal lovers

Set 6 Titles By Rita Mae Brown (with Sneaky Pie Brown) Mrs Murphy Series : Wish You Were Here Rest In Pieces Pay Dirt Murder, She Meowed Murder on the Prowl Cat on the Scent

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Set 6 Titles By Rita Mae Brown (with Sneaky Pie Brown) Mrs Murphy Series : Wish You Were Here Rest In Pieces Pay Dirt Murder, She Meowed Murder on the Prowl Cat on the Scent
Rita Mae Brown , and Sneaky Pie Brown
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Product Description

Set 6 Titles By Rita Mae Brown (with Sneaky Pie Brown) Mrs Murphy Series : Wish You Were Here Rest In Pieces Pay Dirt Murder, She Meowed Murder on the Prowl Cat on the Scent. Six mmpb books.

Book Description

The Song of Power opened the gateway to the Realm of the Sidhe, allowing young Michael Perrin to slip through. Now Michael faces years of captivity and deadly struggles for the future of the Realm and of Earth--leading finally to a terrible confrontation on the streets of Los Angeles, with the soul of humanity at stake.Weaving the power of music, poetry, and myth into a headlong narrative of nearly overwhelming intensity, Song of Earth and Power is one of the most original fantasy epics of our time, a vast tapestry of relentless suspense, terrible beauty, and brilliant imagination. Originally published years ago in two parts, it now returns in a new edition rewritten by the author and published in a single volume as he originally intended. Wrote Analog on its original appearance: "A delight......A vision of Faery that may owe a bit to a wish to do it right. Read it."

Customer Reviews:

Strongly written, new creation mythos, intricate new world.......2007-09-03

"The Infinity Concerto" - Book One in the Songs of Earth and Power omnibus - is multi-layered and textured. I believe it will likely take me several readings to find all the meanings that are embedded in this story. The basic storyline revolves around Michael Perrin, a thoughtful young man who wants to be a poet. He befriends a composer named Arno Waltiri, who it is said wrote a concerto called The Infinity Concerto that was so unusual that it not only drove its listeners mad but also that many of those listeners disappeared. Waltiri claims that the concerto was primarily inspired by a man called David Clarkham, who subsequently disappeared; Arno gives Michael a key and a piece of paper with directions to follow, that should lead him to Clarkham. Waltiri dies soon thereafter. Despite warnings from Waltiri's wife Golda that Waltiri repented of his choice to give these to him, Michael decides to go ahead and follow the directions - and ends up somewhere . . . that is not Earth anymore. Forced to learn to survive, Michael has to grow up and grow strong very quickly - but is he just a pawn in some hidden power struggle? Or is he something else altogether?

Some sections of this part of the text seemed rather slow moving, but everything was necessary for the plot. Because the plot is so intricate, at times ponderous prose is necessary to bring about all the necessary information. All-in-all, I found book one quite enjoyable.

The Serpent Mage" - book two - picks up shortly after Infinity Concerto leaves off. Michael Perrin is back home, living with his parents and continuing his training. Arno Waltiri has left his estate and the disposition of his papers and recordings to Michael. Waltiri has also left his house to Michael and eventually Michael moves in and begins to go through the papers.

Michael's desires for normality are shattered, however, when he reads a news story about strange bodies discovered in a nearby hotel - one grossly obese, one strangely mummified and in a party dress. Other news stories speak of "hauntings" around the world - Michael suspects that the Sidhe are coming to Earth. If that isn't enough, he is contacted by a musical faculty member from UCLA named Kristine Pendeers who is looking for the Infinity Concerto - Opus 45. She wants to discover and perform it; and she has a friend who, with the help of letters and papers they hope to discover in Waltiri's estate, hopes to finish Mahler's unfinished Symphony. And they then plan play the two pieces together. Once the decision is made to start looking for these materials, Michael begins to fall under various attacks to stop him from completing these tasks.

Hopefully the bits of plot I outlined above don't spoil the book for anyone - I could hardly outline less without being so vague about the basic plot of the book as to be basically providing you with a meaningless synopsis; however, there is so much more to this book than the above. Greg Bear weaves throughout this story a fascinating new mythos about the creation and evolution, de-evolution and re-evolution of man and the universe that I found to be quite astonishing in its depth and breadth. He weaves in references to several world religions and ties them in to his mythos, showing how the original truth was "twisted" over the years to conform to what would best serve those in power. It's a really interesting device and I enjoyed the way it was woven in throughout the story. You may also look at vegetarianism in a whole new light.

There was only one thing about the story that bothered me and I'm not sure if it was because I misinterpreted what I was reading or if it is because of some sort of misogyny on the part of the author. It is mentioned several times throughout the course of the book that "magic is carried by the woman." However, not one single mage shown is a woman. If women carry the magic, why aren't there any female mages? Or, as I said, perhaps I am misinterpreting it, and by "carry" they mean like a recessive gene - they carry the magic, but cannot use it.

Those who are fans of epic fantasy, magical realism, stories of the Sidhe (especially of the darker natures thereof) or simply well-crafted alternate realities, please do not miss this one.

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

The fantasy here is by way of horror. A human that ends up in this world, after crossing over from our own is basically then stuck in a Clive Barker book, a very nasty and horrific situation. A similar feel to Mark Chadbourn's World's End, or Sean Williams Crooked Letter.

Humans affected by the supernatural powers around them struggle greatly with the concept, apart from the actual basic facts of survival.

old-style Greg Bear.......2006-12-05

Short summary: this is the coming of age of a californian teenager captured in a beautiful (my opinion) and dark fantasy world that has little respect for nonsense. It takes too long a while for the kid to grow up. In the meantime, there are too many, too wordy description of too many unessential details that muddle a very inventive imaginary universe. The book would have been much better it it had been 1/3 shorter.

Some books by Greg Bear I've read fairly recently I also liked a lot, so why not trying some of his older writing. Hmmm. Think again. This one I wanted to put down for good after fifty pages, but on the merit of previous reads I persisted, and thank heavens it got better. But not that much . . ..

The fundamental ideas are original and refreshing, but it took me 150 pages to begin to care for Michael, the protagonist. At page 50 or so, when yet another creative calamity was just about to get him, I found myself rooting for the calamity.

I plodded on, for Bear's sake. Michael grows up, fortunately, but the process is annoying to the reader (me) rather than inspiring. The narrative is fine, yet Mr. Bear gets lost in many winded descriptions that stall the action and add only marginal detail to otherwise very good world-building. More often than not I ended up reading the first sentence and the last sentence of, or just scanning through, too many paragraphs without dialog.

Mr. Bear's writing gets better with time. This early novel of his is not quite ripe yet. The absorption value (how much I get lost in the story) is uneven. Your mileage as a reader will vary--a lot. I cannot really recommend this title, sorry. Three stars because the world is original and crafty, I did finish the book, and there are some good moments :)

How fantasy should be........2005-05-21

Originally two separate books, Greg Bear's `Infinity Concerto' and `The Serpent Mage' are brought together in one volume renamed `Songs of Earth and Power'.
The story revolves around Michael Perrin, a young poet who is searching for meaning in his life but with no direction. When he befriends Arno Waltiri an elderly neighbour who is also artistic (a composer), it is a meeting of minds and Michaels life changes forever. Unfortunately Arno dies soon after meeting Michael but leaves him a key to an old abandoned house. What Michael is about to discover is that this house is a gateway to another realm, the Realm of the Sidhe, a realm that is both compelling and dangerous, a realm that is difficult to escape from.
Greg Bear's land of elves is not the pretty, enchanted place of so many fantasy novels but is an oppressive, menacing land of cruelty and fear, ruled by the unfeeling Sidhe. His brilliantly descriptive narrative draws the reader in until you feel part of this world. It is a difficult book to put down. Songs of Earth and Power isn't an easy or comfortable read but it is one that is well worth the effort. It's definitely one of the better novels in the fantasy genre and it's a great addition to the bookshelf of any lover of fantasy.

This book outdoes everything else in its genre..........2003-03-28

I have a confession to make. Before I read Songs of Earth and Power by Greg Bear, I was a fan of the SciFi/Fantasy genre. Now, nothing can satisfy me. In his spectacular book, Bear more than raises the bar for his fellow writers. As for his supposed "blasphemous" writing: Bear is taking creative license. I am a very religious person, and I beleive wholeheartedly in God. Yet I am openminded, and can read a novel that questions God and the story of creation and take it for what it truly is -- a story, nothing more. If you cannot be open minded and take offense at "blasphemous" writing in a fiction novel, then you probably shouldn't read this book.

This is the most imaginative, original, and creative book I have ever read (and I read quite a lot); now, every other SciFi/Fantasy book on the shelf just seems like another brainless, cookie cutter novel complete with dragons, magic, and the like.

So, if you want to experience an intellectual, thought-provoking, and entertaining Fantasy (which seems like an oxymoron to me now), RUN not walk to read this book.

However, if you want to continue reading and enjoying other SciFi/Fantasy novels, I would recommend that you avoid this one. It'll spoil everything else for you.

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Songs of Earth & Power: The Infinity Concerto and the Serpent Mage
Greg Bear
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTN9E6

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good

My Favorite Book of Ms. Harpers!

Interesting, funny, entertaining read.

Lightwing
Tara K. Harper
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Harper, Tara K. | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0345371615
Release Date: 1992-05-23

Book Description

Kiondili Wae considered herself lucky to land a job as a research assistant on Corson Station. And not just any job, but the project of her dreams: the development of a faster-than-light ship drive. Her special talents -- powerful telepathy and an uncanny flair for manipulating electromagnetic fields -- were particularly suited to the work at hand. And if the goal was reached, the federation of alien races that peopled the greater galaxy would finally accept humanity as a full member.

But false accusations and misunderstandings plagued Kiondili from the moment of her arrival. Even the mental talents that had won her the job seemed to work against her, alienating her co-workers. Somehow she would have to show them -- that she could rise above it all, that she could fit in with the group, and most of all, that only she could make the FTL effort a success!

Customer Reviews:

good.......2007-07-30

Hard to get into a first but a very good read, well worth the effort.

My Favorite Book of Ms. Harpers!.......2000-09-10

I absolutely loved this book and have read it many times. The sense of humor in it is absolutely wonderful. I still laugh when I re-read it (at least once a year), even though I know what is coming. I loved "Wolfwalker" and "Shadow Leader" too, but "Lightwing" is my favorite.

Interesting, funny, entertaining read........1998-12-15

All of Tara Harper's work is well-written with sympathetic characters and just the right amount of conflict. This one in particular is unusual from her other work in that it is strictly hard science fiction. But Tara really entertains in this little novel. A quick read, but wonderful and seamless in her storytelling. I thoroughly recommend it for one of those days you just want to get lost in a good story.

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Lightwing
Tara Harper
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S9MU6A

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classical chowder

Top-notch Cookbook

Best in Class among Soup, Stew, and Chowder Books. Buy It

Delicious and satisfying fare. Five stars not enough!!!

The First and Last Word on Chowders!!

50 Chowders: One Pot Meals - Clam, Corn, & Beyond
Jasper White
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Lobster at Home

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Book of Soups: More than 100 Recipes for Perfect Soups

ASIN: 0684850346

Amazon.com

New England clam, Manhattan red, and corn--that's the chowder story, right? Wrong. In 50 Chowders, award-winning chef Jasper White explores a surprisingly wide range of these savory one-pot meals while also offering chowder history and folklore, in-depth ingredient profiles, cooking tips, and technique instruction. (Did you know that chowder is best "cured" for one hour to three days after it's made to allow flavors to meld?) Probably the last word on the subject, the book delivers the kind of comprehensive culinary profile that enlightens even seasoned cooks. Everyone will find its recipes tempting and approachable. Beginning with a history of chowder--White sets its birth in the 18th century, citing among its possible "inventors" Native Americans, French or English fishermen, or settlers in Canada and Massachusetts--the book then explores typical chowder ingredients such as the all-important salt pork. Recipes follow for classic seafood chowders and for "farmhouse" brews such as Spring-Dug Parsnip, Shaker Fresh Cranberry Bean, and Nantucket Veal. Other chowder newcomers include Digby Bay Scallop Chowder with Cabbage and Bacon, Lightly Curried Mussel Chowder, and Bermuda Fish Chowder, which is served, deliciously, with a pitcher of rum. White also provides a chapter on chowder companions such as common crackers and includes recipes for Cheddar Cheese Biscuits and Skillet Corn Bread, among other go-withs. With eight pages of color photos and numerous technique illustrations, the book gives a humble but essential American dish its full due at last. --Arthur Boehm

Book Description

When most of us think of chowder, New England-style fish or clam chowder is what comes to mind, but they are only two of the dozens of home-style chowders you can make from this book. Once you discover the diversity of ingredients you can cook into a chowder and see the scope of styles and colors open to you, you will wonder how we ever came to think there were only one or two chowders in the world.

Authentic chowder is characterized by generous chunks of local seasonal ingredients served in a moderate amount of broth. Another basic characteristic of chowder is its ease of preparation -- even chowders that take more than an hour to make don't require anything more than keeping an eye on the pot. A big pot of chowder is perfect for a large gathering of family and friends, and because chowder truly is best when made ahead, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy your company.

50 Chowders is the first hardcover cookbook to explore the many interpretations of chowders. On the familiar side, you will find a recipe for Corn Chowder explained with the kind of detail that ensures a sweet, mellow broth, succulent chunks of potatoes, and fresh golden kernels of corn. On the exotic side, there is a recipe for San Francisco Crab "Meatball" Chowder, an exciting dish whose deep and robust flavors make it really quite special. Here are a few of the more than fifty other chowders you will find: Shaker Fresh Cranberry Bean Chowder, Nova Scotia Lobster Chowder, Nantucket Veal Chowder, Pacific Northwest Salmon Chowder, and nine different clam chowders.

Among this book's unique features: A chapter of chowder companion dishes, from Parker House Rolls to Buttermilk Biscuits; more than fifty illustrations of important cooking techniques and chowder ingredients; cook's notes for each recipe, giving possible substitutions, required equipment, and serving suggestions; a list of reliable mail-order suppliers of seafood and other chowder ingredients.

Jasper White brings to 50 Chowders the same enthusiasm and flair that made his previous book, Lobster at Home, "like having a Down Easter by your side, distilling years of experience and telling you just what to do" (Corby Kummer of The Atlantic Unbound). With this treasure trove of information and expertise in your kitchen, you will never think of chowder in the same way again.

Customer Reviews:

classical chowder.......2007-09-06

This book is wonderful the recipes and ingredients are exact and the chowders are delicious if your an experienced cook you can variate the ingredients to your style, a wonderful book for those in the cooler regions.Nothing better than a great chowder stewing on a cool afternoon.

Top-notch Cookbook.......2007-01-06

Excellent chowder history, discussions of ingredients and recipes. This book is as good a read as it is a cookbook. Don't be afraid that the author's New England heritage will make all the chowders fish; there is a good-sized chapter of "farmhouse chowders" that features chowders of corn, chicken, mushrooms, bean, potatoes, turkey or pheasant. I had to try the "cider and bean chowder" and it is wonderful. I have also enjoyed the recipes for biscuits, rolls, etc. in the chapter of "chowder companions."

This is a book that will be enjoyed by both experienced and novice cooks, as the recipes are well written and please the palate.

The only caveat is to those with dietary restrictions or those (like me) who do not like higher fat foods. I don't like recipes that use lots of heavy cream, but I have found that the making the usual substitutions (milk plus a little flour) gives me the same wonderful chowders but without the extra fat calories.

Best in Class among Soup, Stew, and Chowder Books. Buy It.......2005-01-17

'50 Chowders' by noted New England chef and writer, Jasper White may not be among my top five favorite cookbooks, but it is certainly on my list of 25 cookbooks which must be on a shelf in my kitchen. My experience with making the recipes in this book is so good, I will waive any complaint about getting only 50 chowder recipes for a list price of $30, at least twice the cost per recipe from a `name' cookbook author.

The charm of this book extends far beyond its recipes, as it inherits an interest for the reader from its subject. Chowders easily rank as one of the great New World dishes, along with barbecue, chili and ceviche. As the author points out at the beginning of the book, a chowder is not a soup, even though it shares many similarities to some famous soups such as minestrones and bouillabaisse in being thick and being based on seafood. But, a chowder is neither a soup nor a stew, yet an exact definition is almost impossible. The meaning of `chowder', like the meaning of the word `games' is so slippery that almost every definition you can imagine may slip through your hands with a valid counterexample. This is where the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein introduced the notion of family resemblance. Each chowder example shares several similarities to a related soup which is also a chowder, but it also exhibits differences from some chowders as well as differences from non-chowder soups and stews.

Virtually the only essential ingredient seems to me to be salt pork. The next most important ingredient is a starch from potato, biscuit, or corn. The third most definitive ingredient is probably a seafood (shell or fin) protein. Even this third element is not essential, as this book contains some chowders where the protein critter source has never willingly stuck its feet or wing into water.

The first chapter in this book provides a really excellent set of recipes for nine (9) different stocks, including six (6) for fish stocks. These nine are in addition to the fifty chowder recipes proper and include a strong fish stock, a traditional fish stock, clam and mussel broths, lobster stock, crab stock, chicken stock, chicken broth, and beef stock or broth. The only thing I miss here is a corn broth, although White's recipes do use cleaned corncobs to add corny flavor to chicken stocks used in the corn chowders.

The last chapter provides ten (10) recipes for `Chowder Companions', dishes commonly eaten with chowder. The only thing I would expect on this list that I miss is a recipe for crackers. But, we get lots of good quickbread recipes for garlic toast, buttermilk biscuits, cheddar cheese biscuits, Parker House rolls, anadama bread, corn bread, corn sticks, corn fritters, clam fritters, and salt cod fritters. White is true to his New England roots, as his biscuit recipe comes from Vermont native, Christopher Kimball rather than from a cook with a Southern accent such as Shirley Corriher or Edna Lewis. These ten recipes also do not count toward the fifty chowder recipes.

Between these two `extras' there are four chapters with the fifty recipes for fish, clam, other shellfish, and `farmhouse' chowders. The scant fifty recipes suddenly becomes more like 150 when we realize that each chowder recipe is augmented with one or more variations to the basic recipe. And, each basic recipe is presented in such a way that if one central ingredient is not available, another can be substituted with virtually no loss of quality. In the recipe for New England Fish Chowder, for example, the author points out that either cod or haddock will do well as the primary fishy protein, with haddock being just a little firmer and less likely to flake, giving larger chunks of fish in the finished soup.

I personally find the instructions for these recipes to be about as carefully written as you can imagine. This means that the procedures seem a bit long, but they are not difficult. Recall that chowders were created to be made on fishing boats with the most basic ingredients you can possibly imagine, by cooks which never saw the inside of a cooking school, long before the birth of either August Escoffier or even Antonin Careme. These were ship's cooks who needed homespun techniques to coax a good taste out of extremely simple ingredients. But, these recipes are not historical reconstructions as you may find in the writings of White's great friend and fellow chowder scholar, John Thorne. I sense that almost all of these recipes started as someone's traditional meal, but chef White has gilded each one to take advantage of fresh herbs and vegetables. And yet, I can find practically no other ingredient beyond the basic salt pork, potatoes, dairy product, basic protein, and basic vegetables such as leeks, corn, tomatoes, and celery. The book also goes out of its way to spell out in advance all he special cooking tools you will need to make each main recipe.

The very best thing I can say about the book as a whole is that it is equally pleasant to simply read it as it is to cook from it and taste it's excellent dishes.

Very highly recommended.

Delicious and satisfying fare. Five stars not enough!!!.......2003-07-31

This is a book for those who love to understand what it is that makes the food they prepare so delicious. Jasper White writes with infectious enthusiasm about the history of chowder, and explains the roles of the component ingredients in each exceptional recipe. I just prepared his Layered Fish Chowder, and cannot describe the satisfaction I found in the rich aromas of cooking and the incredibly balanced flavor and texture of the dish. My family was delighted with the meal, and I can't wait to prepare more of these elegant but simple recipes. I cannot praise this book highly enough, not only for the recipes, but for informative, well-written text. I am a collector of cookbooks, particularly on the subject of one-pot meals, and this is by far the best I have found to date. Those readers familiar with John Thorne will recognize White's Thorne-like connection to and love for his work.

The First and Last Word on Chowders!!.......2003-04-26

Growing up in the Northeast and living in Maine for the last 17 years, I have a distinct love of 'chowdah'. There is nothing better than a good fish or clam chowder. That being said...I'll leave the quahogs (they're like chewing on rubber..littleneck clams are better)to the Massachusetts and Rhode Island folks and as for that 'red stuff', NOT on my table!

Jasper White has written a wonderful tribute to that delicacy we know as chowder. You don't have to live on the ocean to make it and you certainly don't have to use seafood either. When I lived in Vermont, I used to make a killer Corn Chowder that was rich and tasty. I even got my mother to try it (She had a particular aversion to what she called 'white sauce' soup). It became a traditional Christmas Eve fare and Mom was the cook.

That aside, this book is replete with absolutely fabulous recipes! Imagine a Mushroom and Leek Chowder or Farmer's Chicken Chowder. Mr. White gives you the basics of building a chowder. The recipes are great but you are free to experiment with ingredients and spices that match your culinary tastes. Chowder is decidely a comfort food and this is the definitive book on this traditional American staple.

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