Cat Telling Tales
Morrow (a HarperCollins imprint), 2011
Hardcover: ISBN 0-06-180692-7
Paperback: Avon, ISBN 0-06-180723-0 (Coming October 30)
Audio: AudioGo, ISBN 978-0-7927-8251-3
Mystery fans and cat lovers alike rejoice. The infallible feline sleuthing team of Joe Grey, Dulcie, and Kit return in Cat Telling Tales--author Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s seventeenth ingenious whodunit that once again gives readers a cat’s eye view of crime, murder, and mayhem.
Already honored with nine Cat Writers’ Association Muse Medallions for her series, Murphy takes us back to Molina Point, California in Cat Telling Tales, as a suspicious fire, a tragic death, and a rash of unanticipated houseguests, both human and feline, inflame the investigative curiosity of our furry detective trio.
"If you've followed the adventures of Joe Grey and Dulcie through the years, you certainly won't want to miss this latest adventure. On the other hand, if you have never read any of these novels, isn't it about time you tried one?" --Bob Walch, Salinas Californian, January 13, 2012.
"A must-read for Murphy’s devoted audience and a good choice for those who enjoy Rita Mae Brown’s Sneaky Pie Brown novels." --Booklist
"The story line focuses on the clever mystery but also provides a deep spotlight on the impact on animals and people when families leave behind pets as they are forced from their homes. The former makes for an enjoyable feline detective thriller; while the latter affirms why Shirley Rousseau Murphy has won Cat Writers Association Awards." --Harriet Klausner, Future Mystery Anthology Magazine, January 2012.
"Shirley Rousseau Murphy writes a magical story that is precious and full of every emotion. . . . Many of us read mysteries because they make the world right in the end, or at least better. And that is exactly what Mrs. Murphy has done." --Sandie Herron, Lesa's Book Critiques, January 14, 2012.
"Although Cat Telling Tales is a great book on its own, reading all of the way through the series is extremely satisfying: watching the different feline police informants help solve the mysteries and seeing the relationships of the ever-expanding circle of people who know the cats' secrets is delightful and rewarding." --Vicky Gilpin, --Fresh Fiction, January 16, 2012.
As everyone knows (or, should by now) these amazingly fun, entertaining characters have been the plot of sixteen novels thus far. . . . This installment is truly heartwarming. . . . A perfect little mystery. Joe Grey is the ultimate hero, and the message of love behind this tale is one that everyone should learn. --Feathered Quill, November 2011.
Cat Coming Home
Morrow (a HarperCollins imprint), 2010
Hardcover: ISBN 0-06-180693-5
Paperback: Avon, ISBN 0-06-180695-1
Cats can't come home again . . . or can they?
Escaping Los Angeles and the ugly memories of her son's recent murder, Maudie Toola returns to her childhood home of Molena Point, bringing her orphaned grandson, whom she must now raise, with her. Mourning for her son, she's not looking forward to the holidays but knows she must make them positive for the child.
Maudie is unaware that the killer has followed her, nor does she know that the small seaside village is dealing with a series of brutal assaults. A team of criminals is stalking single women, hiding their attacks behind spectacular break-ins to divert the cops. And this time there's not even a phone call from the four-footed snitch to give the cops a lead.
Meanwhile, a new tomcat appears on the scene, a wise and elderly wanderer who bears an important message from a state prisoner for the chief of police. But this cat has a personal agenda too—as does Maudie, who harbors her own secret about her son's killer. As the lonely prison cat provides the link between the mysteries, Joe Grey and his pals, in turn, help him find a surprising new home, a safe retreat in time for the holidays.
With a story both enchanting and suspenseful, Shirley Rousseau Murphy shows once again why her trio of feline sleuths are so beloved by her fans, and why the Joe Grey mysteries should be at the top of every cat lover's Christmas list.
"The 16th Joe Grey book is sure to please veteran fans of the series. All the favorites are back -- Joe, Dulcie, and Kit -- and the heartwarming stories of an orphaned child and a stray cat at Christmas will tug on more than a few heartstrings." --Romantic Times, November 2010
"Deeply moving. . . . Yuletide cheer appear in the enchanting form of Misto, a wise old yellow tomcat who returns from a long sojourn in Soledad Prison, Calif., where he's thrilled to connect with cat sleuths Joe Grey, Dulcie, and Kit. . . . [A] marvelous gift of a holiday tale. --Publishers Weekly, October 18, 2010
"Because Murphy succeeds in weaving the holiday elements into her mystery plot seemlessly, this novel is every bit as strong as the other entries in the series--a rarity for so many holiday mysteries. A heartwarming and satisfying tale that shows, yet again, why the Joe Grey novels have won the Book of the Year award from the Cat Writers Association eight times." --Booklist, November 1, 2010
"This is delightful entertainment. It would be a true cat-astrophe if you let it pass you by." --Todd David Schwartz, CBS Radio
"Now at 16 titles, this series, featuring sentient cats with plenty of attitude, has been a hit with a broad audience including, of course, confirmed cat lovers who see traits of their own pets in the main feline characters. . . . [Cat Coming Home] keeps you reading even if you would rather turn out the lights and go to bed." --Bob Walch, Night Owl Reviews, November 10, 2010.
"Even though this is the sixteenth in the series, none of the charm has been lost with longevity, rather it has been enhanced as we watch how the people and cats interact and grow. . . . Absolutely deserves to be on everyone’s 'TBR' piles this fall." --Sandie Herron, ILoveAMysteryNewsletter.com, October 2010
Cat Striking Back
Morrow (a HarperCollins imprint), 2009
Hardcover: ISBN 0-06-112397-8
Paperback: Avon, ISBN 0-06-112400-1
When Joe stumbles on a victimless murder scene in an empty swimming pool and enlists Dulcie and Kit to search for clues, the celebrated felines quickly realize that the criminal is still in the neighborhood. Several houses bear signs of break-ins, but nothing appears to be .~ missing. Curious, the furry detectives break and enter, themselves, searching for evidence that even a cop might miss.
A murder without a body -- burglaries without anything stolen -- nudge the cats’ growing concern for the safety of their human friends. The mystery increases when a feral cat joins the three, throwing everything they’ve learned into confusion and, in a frightening attack, forcing the cats themselves to confront the sick-minded killer.
"Magical." --Publisher's Weekly, September 14, 2009
"I love it when Joe Grey is able to hang out at the police station and read computer screens, and overhear conversations. . . . You will love the characters -- the cats in the story are incredible and immensely lovable. A purr-fect mystery." --Armchair Interviews.com, September 21, 2009.
"Murphy's . . . premise, a mystery that withholds the identities of both the victim and the perp, is intriguing." --Kirkus Reviews, October 1, 2009
Cat Playing Cupid
Morrow (a HarperCollins imprint), 2009
Hardcover: ISBN 0-06-112399-4
Paperback: Avon, ISBN 0-06-112398-6
It took Joe Grey's human, Clyde, nearly forever to pop the question to Ryan Flannery, and what more romantic a time to tie the knot than Valentine's Day? But who wants to ruin the wedding, which is attended by half the police department, by reporting a newly unearthed corpse? Not Joe and his feline pals. Secretly the cats set out to identify the body.
But is this murder connected to a 10-year-old cold case in which the bride's father is romantically entangled with the possible killer?
Romance, in fact, occupies several of the cats' closest human friends as Joe, Dulcie and Kit try to sort out the two crimes. And try, as well, to understand the role of a rare literary volume that seems connected to the killings, and that gives away the cats' own secret, their ability to speak.
"Murphy's gentle blend of fantasy and mystery includes revelations about her unusually verbal cat detectives sure to please series fans." --Publisher's Weekly, December 1, 2008.
"This is still a quality mystery, with excellent pacing, ratcheting tension, consistent characters, and suitably nasty villians. . . . A must wherever the series has fans." --Booklist
"The three talking cats are adorable even grumpy acerbic Joe Grey while fans of the series learn more about their backgrounds. Shirley Rousseau Murphy has written a purrfectly delightful anthropomorphism feline whodunit." --Harriet Klausner, Genre Go Round Reviews, November 26, 2008
Cat Deck the Halls
Morrow (a HarperCollins imprint), 2007
Hardcover: ISBN 0-06-112395-1
Paperback: Avon, ISBN 0-06-112396-X
The cats who saved Christmas . . .
The charming seaside village of Molena Point, California, leads one to expect a quiet traditional Christmas surrounded by family and friends -- but not this holiday season. Instead of singing carols and climbing into Christmas trees, Joe Grey, feline P.I., is faced with his most difficult case yet -- and that's saying a lot for a wily tomcat who for years has been solving crimes the police can't even crack.
At midnight in the deserted gardens of the shopping plaza, a stranger lies dead beneath the village Christmas tree; the only witness to the shooting is a little child. But when the police arrive, summoned by an anonymous phone call of feline origin, both the body and the child have disappeared. As police scramble for leads, the grey tomcat, his tabby lady, and their tortoiseshell pal, Kit, launch their own unique investigation.
Together Joe Grey, Dulcie, and Kit face their most heartbreaking case yet as they care for the child who may be the killer's next target. Trying to sort out perplexing clues amidst the happiness of the season, they shadow a cast of colorful characters. But neither the police nor their unknown feline assistants are aware that they might have stumbled over the murderer and never known it, until an electrifying final scene when the killer's identity is revealed.
For years Shirley Rousseau Murphy has written tales that have delighted readers and critics alike. With her lyrical prose and fast-paced plotting, Murphy has created another delightfully absorbing trip to a magical place populated by unforgettable characters whom readers have come to think of as friends.
"Murphy's fans will be happy to curl up under a blanket as they savor the finely crafted suspense set against the backdrop of hoidays feasts and festivities and the crashing waves of the Pacific."
--Publisher's Weekly, October 1, 2007
"The whodunit is cleverly designed to keep the audience, the cops and the cats off balance until the final paw step."
--Harriet Klausner, Genre Go Round Reviews, October 16, 2007
Cat Pay the Devil
Morrow (a HarperCollins imprint), 2007
Hardcover: ISBN 0-06-057810-6
Paperback: Avon, ISBN 0-06-057813-0
Audio: Sound Library, ISBN 978-0-79274-619-5
Nestled quietly on the Pacific Coast below San Francisco, Molena Point is a quaint
hamlet--not the kind of place an escaped convict would choose for a hideout. But it just
happens to be the home of a state's witness who put a thief named Cage Jones behind
bars--until he broke out, that is.
Wily tomcat Joe Grey senses trouble is on the way, but he never expected a federal
officer would be shot or that two locals would be brutally murdered. With danger closing
in, the feline detective, his girlfriend Dulcie, and their tattercoat friend Kit--an
indomitable trio with special powers that only a few select humans are privy to--must put
paws and whiskers together to capture a very nasty criminal before he strikes again.
"Murphy's surefire plotting makes this more than just another cute cat cozy."
--Publisher's Weekly, December 29, 2006
"Murphy makes it easy to believe in cats that talk, think, and read better than many humans and solve mysteries as well.... These felines have more abilities than the animals in Rita Mae Brown's novels and are certainly more intelligent than those helping out in the Lilian Jackson Braun stories."
--Library Journal, November 1, 2006
"As usual, the felines and their human coterie are appealing ... and the virtually nonstop action will keep the series' fans whipping through the pages." --Booklist
"Whether you are a feline fancier or not, you'll find Cat Pay the Devil an irreistible mix of riveting action and purr-fectly marvelous two- and four-footed characters. Murphy has captured the essence of cat attitude so well you won't doubt this is what goes on in their little, furry heads." --Bob Walch, Monterey County Herald, March 25, 2007
"Even if you don't own a cat, you'll enjoy this series set on the [California] Central Coast. On the other hand, if you share your house with a cat or two, the feline attitudes Murphy's characters display will be something you can easily relate to. Five silver pens out of five for Cat Pay the Devil. --Salinas Californian, April 7, 2007
"Molena Point, Calif., is going to the cats! Literally. In this delightful installment of the Joe Grey mysteries, Murphy again intertwines felines and humans into a great crime-solving combination. Tight plotting and well-crafted scenes enhance the tension as the stakes continue to rise with each chapter. Feline lovers will especially enjoy the crime-solving cats and the relationships of their human counterparts." --Sanda Martin, Romantic Times Book Reviews, March 2007
"A keeper! For fans of cat mysteries, this tale is one you will enjoy and keep to enjoy again and again. . . .
Talented author Shirley Rousseau Murphy opens a new door to the cat mystery that you will willingly step through to follow adventuresome cats and great human characters through the maze of crime solving with its attendant motives and emotions." --Anne K. Edwards, NewMysteryReader.com, February 2007
Cat Breaking Free
HarperCollins, 2005
Hardcover: ISBN 0-06-057809-2
Paperback: Avon, ISBN 0-06-057812-2
Large Print: Thorndike, ISBN 0-7862-8466-8
Audio: Sound Library, ISBN 0-79273-811-X
The award-winning author pits Joe Grey, feline P.I., and his friends Dulcie and Kit
against a ruthless gang of thieves and murderers in a case like none they’ve seen before.
The fur starts flying when a gang from L.A. comes up to tranquil Molena Point, California,
and begins breaking into the village’s quaint shops. The fur of Joe Grey, feline P.I., that
is. After all, Molena Point has been his home since he was a kitten eating scraps from the
garbage behind the local delicatessen, and he doesn’t take well to marauding strangers. Joe
even wonders whether the blonde who’s moved in next to his human companion Clyde could be a
part of the gang--she’s been acting pretty suspicious lately. But when the strangers start
trapping and caging feral cats it proves too much for the intrepid four-footed detective.
And when one of the gang is murdered, and a second mysterious death comes to light, he has
no choice but to try and stop the crimes. Joe, Dulcie, and their tattercoat friend Kit, who
used to be a stray herself, are deep into the investigation when they are able to release the
three trapped cats. But as Kit leads them away to freedom, will she herself return to that
wild life?
"... winning blend of suspense and whimsy ... A complex, well-crafted plot and lively,
credible characters will leave fans purring with pleasure."
--Publisher's Weekly, October 3, 2005
"As usual, the three cats are true to both their feline and sentient natures. This eleventh
entry in the Joe Grey Mystery series ... continues to enhance characterizations, both feline
and human, all the while providing an intriguing whodunit for series fans."
--Sally Estes, Booklist
"... clever felines and their well-drawn human pals."
--Kirkus Reviews, October 1, 2005
"Cat lovers as well as the general public can't get enough of these intrepid feline
detectives. Once you've made the acquaintance of Joe, Dulcie and the Kit, you'll look at
your own cat differently. Perhaps there's more going on behind those big eyes and beguiling
features than you realized."
--Bob Walch, Monterey County Herald, November 27, 2005
"With an uncanny understanding of a cat's behavior and personality quirks, Murphy has
created a series of suspense yarns that not only capture the feline "attitude" but offer
a satisfying read. Cat lovers, you'll be nodding your head in agreement as you follow the
adventures of this threesome!"
--Silas Spaeth, Salinas Californian, December 24, 2005
"The latest Joe Grey mystery is just as exciting as the other books in this purrfect
series. The sentient and talkative felines are so realistically portrayed that readers
will forget that such cats only exist between the pages of a book. Cat lovers, fans of
the Mrs. Murphy series by Rita Mae Brown and anyone who likes a charming and intricately
plotted who-done-it will definitely want to read Cat Breaking Free."
--Harriet Klausner, Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine, December 2005
Cat Cross Their Graves
HarperCollins, 2005
Hardcover: ISBN 0-06-057808-4
Paperback: Avon, ISBN 0-06-057811-4
When '40s film star Patty Rose retired to the seaside village of Molena
Point, California, she didn't expect to face a killer. The night Patty is
brutally murdered, only a tortoiseshell cat named Kit hears the three
shots fired.
Finding Patty dead, Kit sets out to track the shooter. The police arrive
and so do tomcat sleuth Joe Grey and his tabby friend Dulcie. Unable to
find Kit, the two cats set off on her trail. When the graves of several
vanished children are discovered nearby, it seems the trouble is greater
than any of the cats ever imagined.
"Fans of the series will welcome this new episode, which maintains the
expected suspense and investigative skills of the cats."
--Booklist, December 15, 2004
"... a purr-fectly delightful beginning for the new year."
--Barnes & Noble newsletter Ransom Notes
"[Not] your typical light cat cozy.... Murphy handles such sensitive issues as child endangerment and death well.... Fans will welcome back all their old friends, both feline and human."
--Publisher's Weekly, January 7, 2005
"The somber plot is leavened by the author's affection for her characters
and their rewarding small-town lives."
--Kirkus Reviews
"Even those who are not fans of fantasy will be drawn into [Murphy's] stories.... Multilevel and always intriguing."
--Carmel Pine Cone, December 24, 2004
"There's a special kind of magic in a Joe Grey mystery even when he steps out of the limelight to allow his female felines to shine. The trio are so believably portrayed readers will actually accept these intelligent cats exist somewhere in California."
--Harriet Klausner, www.thebestreviews.com
"A very satisfying story of good and evil.... Some interesting questions about after-life.... I liked this book best in the series."
--Mysterious Women, Issue 4, 2004
"A string of recent awards for her Joe Grey novels have made Murphy
a dominant presence in the mystery field. Along with Rita Mae Brown and
Lillian Jackson Braun, the Carmel resident has popularized feline
sleuthing with readers all over the country."
--Bob Walch, Monterey County Herald, January 2005
"[I] soon became captivated by a delightful child who is one of the pivotal characters in the book. Lori's tenacity and self-sufficiency won my heart.... [A] very interesting story full of delightful characters, and a mystery that goes back many years. The cats lead the reader on a suspenseful chase through the town and across the rooftops as they follow clues and try to watch out for each other and their important people. If you are already a fan of this series, this addition will definitely please you."
--Gayle Wedgwood, Mystery News, April/May 2005
"Murphy writes interesting, complicated mysteries and lets cats be cats, even when they're smarter than most people. If you're allergic to cats and cat mysteries, let this be the series you read."
--Anna Ashwood Collins, Glynco Observer and Jekyll's Golden Islander, April 7, 2005
"Having spent several brisk and stormy January days in Carmel-by-the-Sea I was transported in Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s latest Joe Grey mystery, Cat Cross Their Graves. Not your average cozy cat mystery, this compelling series has just a touch of the tough and the supernatural--cats talking to humans. . . [C]raftily woven . . . Enjoyable and real."
--Mystery Lovers Bookshop News, October/November, 2005
Cat Fear No Evil
HarperCollins, 2004
Hardcover: ISBN 0-06-620949-8
Paperback: Avon, ISBN 0-06-101560-1
Large Print: Thorndike, ISBN 0-7862-6621-X
When antiques and jewelry begin to disappear from residents' homes and
when a waiter drops dead at the feet of artist Charlie Harper during the
opening of her solo show, Joe Grey, Feline Detective, and his tabby pal
Dulcie know something is very wrong in sleepy Molena Point, California.
Just north in San Francisco the cats' friend Kate--a woman with a
troubling secret--is followed and robbed, her apartment invaded by a renegade
tomcat named Azrael. Stealthily Joe and Dulcie pursue the several trails
until they claw out the truth.
"...superior cat cozy, the ninth entry in Murphy's popular series... As
usual, the relationships between the lively human characters and the talking
cats in whom they confide their problems provide as much interest as the
crime solving. The intricate and absorbing plot keeps the reader in suspense
throughout."
--Publisher's Weekly, February 2, 2004 (starred review)
"Azrael, the sinister black tomcat with burning yellow eyes introduced in
Cat in the Dark (1999), has returned to Molena Point, California, to embark
on another crime spree with human cohorts.... Once again the delightful mix
of humans, sentient cats, mystery, and humor remains true to the preceding
books in the series."
--Booklist, January 14, 2004
"Murphy's sentient felines are believable. These are not cute, purr-fect
little cuddly kitties. Joe has plenty of attitude and although Dulcie can
handle the often sardonic critter, he can be (just like a real cat) a
handful at times."
--Robert Walch, Carmel Magazine, Summer/Fall 2004
"The author has captured all the nuances in feline attitude that cat
owners will instantly recognize. If you have followed the Joe Grey series,
you won't want to miss this one. If you've never read one, maybe it's
about time you did! ... [A] whodunit with a very unusual and beguiling
sleuth ... Murphy obviously knows the ins and outs of kitty psychology."
--Salinas Californian, March 6, 2004
"...highly unusual and beautifully written ... well-plotted ... and as
usual it's fast-paced and intriguing.... Despite the fantasy angle in the
Joe Grey series, these are adult books dealing with adult themes."
--Margot Nichols, Carmel Pine Cone, March 12, 2004
"Lovable feline sleuths, Joe Grey, Dulcie and the kit, take to the
investigative trail once again.... Murphy's sentient cats have attracted
a lot of attention and a large following of appreciative readers."
--Bob Walch, Monterey County Herald
Cat Seeing Double
HarperCollins, 2003
Hardcover: ISBN 0-06-620950-1
Paperback: Avon, ISBN 0-06-101561-X
Large Print: Thorndike, ISBN 0-7862-5436-X
Winner of the Cat Writers' Association's
2003 Muse Medallion and President's Awards!
Always a loner, Charlie Getz never expected to fall in love with anyone,
let alone Molena Point, California's chief of police. So her wedding on a
perfect, sunny day is all the more joyous, especially when two of the
honored guests are her four-footed pals, feline detectives Joe Grey and
Dulcie.
But there are two unexpected visitors, as well. A young boy and an old
man hidden in the shadows prepare to bomb the soon-to-be-filled church.
The lone witness, a small, tattercoat kit crouched beneath the oak
branches, warns Joe's owner Clyde, then with claws and teeth she stops the
would-be murderers. The shock of the near disaster that might have killed
half the village is only the beginning. The next morning Charlie's good
friend, building contractor Ryan Flannery, awakes to find her estranged,
philandering husband dead in her garage; and Ryan's gun is missing.
With suspicion falling squarely on Ryan's shoulders, Joe Grey, Dulcie
and Kit use their unique feline skills at break-and-enter to prove Ryan's
innocence. Prowling her apartment they watch a stranger tamper with her
business account books. His sinister push into her life is as unexpected
as the arrival, on the morning of the murder, of a handsome purebred
hunting dog, a homeless stray who seems determined to move in with Ryan.
Whatever hateful force has descended on the small seaside village, the
three cats are soon paw-deep in a tangle of jealousy, greed, and carefully
planned retribution. They work the case as only cats can, passing
information anonymously to the cops, making a heroic feline effort to nail
the killer and catch the wedding bomber, and hoping to see the silver
hunting dog settle safely into his new home.
"Murphy has a huge fan base and has won awards for good reason... Great
sleuthing with a feline touch."
--Cat Fancy
"Murphy's unconventional 'take' on the idea of undercover investigation
has delighted cat lovers for years.... Anyone who owns a cat will appreciate
the little nuances Murphy has worked into her felines' personalities. She
knows from first-hand experience that 'attitude' and 'cat' go together just
like 'tooth and claw.'"
--Bob Walch, Monterey County Herald, January 19, 2003
"Anyone familiar with Murphy's very fine writing also knows the author
has no truck with throw-away plots. Hers are intricately conceived stories
tinged with a dark side. Her criminals and miscreants are imbued with evil,
her protagonists smart and loyal, dedicated to friends and family, caught
up not only in the mystery at hand, but with their own frailities, as well.
This applies to the three cats, too, but we have the fun of following how
their special capabilities for investigating suspects is broadened beyond
those of their humans..."
--Margot Nichols, Carmel Pine Cone, April 18, 2003
"It's easy to suspend disbelief and accept the sharp-thinking, fast-acting
cats as the natural sleuths they are.... Both the animals and humans are
well-drawn sympathetic characters and the plotting is tight and fast-moving.
Fans of Shirley Rousseau Murphy and newcomers alike will purr over this
newest addition to the Joe Grey corpus."
--Michele A. Reed, www.iloveamystery.com
"Shirley Rousseau Murphy has an exceptional way of sharing information
and telling a story. The pace never stalls; it proceeds at a very comfortable
speed, but it is certainly full of surprises."
--Sandie Herron, www.ILoveAMysteryNewsletter.com
Cat Laughing Last
HarperCollins, 2002
Hardcover: ISBN 0-06-620951-X
Paperback: Avon, ISBN 0-06-101562-8
Large Print: Beeler, ISBN 1-57490-438-8
Winner of the Cat Writers' Association's
2002 Muse Medallion Award!
Violence and theft at a yard sale? Murder because of an eBay auction?
The body on Susan's Brittain's breakfast room floor first thing in the
morning, and all her treasured purchases flung about and broken are not a
good start to Susan's day. But the criminal involvement is far wider
than she imagines, and will disrupt many more lives than hers. Joe Grey
and Dulcie suspect as much. The two cats, with their unique ability to
break-and-enter where the cops can't go, begin to gather evidence.
Meanwhile the cats' human friends deal with a famous author and his
ill-tempered wife as they try to produce his play without coming to blows.
And several senior ladies seek an innovative solution to retirement
security, using their revenue from eBay and yard sales. But Joe Grey and
Dulcie, digging into California history, discover that certain artifacts
appearing at those same sales hold the key to the puzzle. The crudely
carved antique casks, legacy of a Spanish bride two-hundred years dead,
are the link the cats have searched for.
Yet it is the tortoiseshell kit, fascinated by the delights of theater
production, who nearly gives away the cats' greatest secret. Kit, with
her own surprising venture, almost alerts the entire village that these
cats can speak and are more perceptive, sharper of wit than most humans
could ever imagine.
"...the series premise remains delicious, executed with wry pungency and
affection for life's small pleasures." --Kirkus Reviews
"...As always, Murphy successfully, walks the fine line between
maintaining the cathood of her felines and endowing them with sentiency."
--Booklist, January 1, 2002
"Fun fare for cat fans." --Library Journal, January 2002
"...the book's charm lies in the clever cats and the people they care
about. This is a must read for those who enjoy the feline side of
sleuthing." --Romantic Times, January 2002
"Shirley Rousseau Murphy has not only captured the essence of feline
behavior in Joe Grey and Dulcie, she has also given them believable
personalities that are completely in keeping with an 'attitude' that any
cat owner will immediately recognize." --Bob Walch, Monterey County
Herald, February 10, 2002
Cat Spitting Mad
HarperCollins, 2001
Hardcover: ISBN 0-06-105098-9
Paperback: Avon, ISBN 0-06-105989-7
Winner of the Cat Writers' Association's
2001 Muse Medallion Award!
"I am a cat, Dulcie. A free spirit. A four-legged unencumbered
citizen. I don't need to answer to any human." Joe Grey is mad
enough to spit! No matter what Clyde, his irritating human "owner,"
says, he's not keeping his paws off this case, not when Max Harper's
life and the future of law enforcement in the town of Molena Point are
at stake. While Joe has certainly delighted in playing countless smug
tricks on Max Harper, Molena Point's head lawman, he's never had
anything but respect for the dedicated cop. Now Harper is in trouble.
Big trouble. Two of his horseback riding companions have been viciously
murdered on the trail, and Dillon, the spunky young girl who accompanied
them, is missing. All the evidence points to Harper, and he doesn't have
a single witness--at least not a human one!--to vouch for his alibi. Joe
knows Harper is innocent and is hissing to prove it--and to rescue his
young friend Dillon before it is too late. He and Dulcie must keep their
night-eyes sharp and their soft paws moving to avoid both a vicious
killer and a hungry cougar prowling around the town's hills.
"Cat lovers will cuddle right up to Joe and his pals, but the story
has plenty of murder and mayhem for those who take their detective
fiction straight up." --Publisher's Weekly, December 11, 2000
"The sixth mystery featuring sentient, talking felines Joe Grey and
Dulcie, now abetted in their investigations by the tortoise-shell kitten
introduced in Cat to the Dogs, will have their fans wanting to
down the sometimes scary, madcap tale in one gulp. Yet again, murder
shocks the small town of Molena Point, California, but what gets Joe
spitting mad is the fact that some lowlife has done a masterful job of
framing Chief of Police Max Harper. Although Joe delights in his ability
to disquiet the chief with anonymous phone tips, the crusty cat has a
deep respect for Max. Add to the mix the 13-year-old girl who witnessed
the murders and then disappeared, a puma roaming the wooded hills
outside of town, and an escaped con who kills cats and hates Max, and
the pace never falters. The felines work around the humans to solve the
case, and, as usual, the cat-human interactions and repartee enhance the
plot." --Booklist, December 1, 2000
"I'd bet a pound of catnip that this detective series starring Joe
Grey and Dulcie, two feline private investigators who take solving
murder cases into their own paws, is penned by a cat. And Cat
Spitting Mad, [Murphy's] latest novel, only makes me marvel more at
this magical series.... If you've enjoyed Murphy's previous Joe Grey
books or are enthralled by her monthly serial mystery in Cats, Cat
Spitting Mad will be a treat--and further confirmation that Murphy
is in a class by herself." --Cats Magazine, June 2001
Cat to the Dogs
HarperCollins, 2000
Hardcover: ISBN 0-06-105097-0
Paperback: Avon, ISBN 0-06-105988-9
Large Print: Beeler, ISBN 1-57490-264-4
Ever since the earthquake, things have been going from bad to worse
in Molena Point. There was the car "accident" on Hellhag Hill, which
looked--well--fishy, to Joe's night-wise eyes. And now even Dulcie is
getting weird. She's going to the dogs, literally. She's taken to
mothering the two orphaned pups discovered at the scene of the crash.
Worst of all, there's Clyde, Joe's erratic but lovable human. He thinks
cats should stay out of police work and he's locking Joe and Dulcie out
of the house when Officer Harper comes over to play poker. But Joe is
not about to give up the chase. Mice are nice, but what cat can resist
the chance to stalk a real killer?
"Clever plotting and lyrical prose offer top entertainment."
--Kirkus Reviews
"Murphy's a master of fantasy, and her remarkable writing skills carry
us willingly into suspension of reality.... I've become addicted to
reading Murphy's Joe Grey mysteries.... She writes with a great facility
for description, using English with a refinement of phrasing and cadence
much appreciated by the careful reader." --Margot Petit Nichols, Carmel
Pine Cone, December 17, 1999
"...Murphy's two irresistible feline sleuths are at it again in
their latest caper.... Cat to the Dogs blends feline 'attitude'
with a captivating story line to create a readable and highly enjoyable
mystery.... If a cat is part of your life, but you haven't discovered
Joe Grey and Dulcie yet, it's time you did." --Bob Walch, Monterey
County Herald, February 13, 2000
"...Fast-paced, intricate and well-researched, Cat to the Dogs
glows with Murphy's obvious love for all animals, her sense of outrage
at crime and criminals, and her quick, analytical approach to forensic
details. Funny, tender and loving at times, Cat to the Dogs is
still a murder mystery--so Murphy doesn't shy away from graphic crime
scene descriptions. Sure to delight cat lovers and detective mystery
fans alike, with a dash of fantasy thrown in for good measure!"
--Ann Sharkey, Library Cat Newsletter, Spring 2000
"The plotting is tight, the characters delightful and the cats are
utterly believable.... Cat to the Dogs ... held my interest
page after page until its exciting conclusion. Highly recommended."
--Michele A. Reed, I Love a Mystery
"...In a beautifully believable scenario, Murphy has given us a reason
to accept Joe Grey and Dulcie as cats who can talk, read, dial
telephones... [The other books are] all as enchanting.... I spent days
totally captured and oblivious to whatever went on around me ... this
woman is simply an excellent writer... I am coming to believe that ...
these books are really written by a cat... It seems impossible that a
human being could write so knowingly and charmingly about the feline
persuasion.
--Lois Mark Stalvey, Red Rock News, Sedona, Arizona, October 20,
2000
Cat in the Dark
HarperPrism, 1999
Hardcover: ISBN 0-06-105096-2
Paperback: Avon, ISBN 0-06-105947-1
Winner of the Cat Writers' Association's
1999 Muse Medallion Award!
The precious peace of sleepy little Molena Point is threatened as
never before. There's a new cat in town: Azrael, a renegade tom with a
penchant for voodoo, a scorn for his fellow felines, and a nasty hatred
of humans. He calls himself the death angel, and claims he can predict
murder. But does Azrael predict murder, or attract it? And how can Joe
and Dulcie expose his criminal ways without letting untrustworthy humans
in on the secret that certain select cats can think and talk?
"The intrepid investigative duo ... have already acquired a legion of
loyal readers... Joe and Dulcie are not the only feline detectives
currently in the literary marketplace, but they are certainly the most
interesting. These are not cute, little, furry kitties but rather two
shrewd investigators with somewhat caustic personalities, which seem to
mirror perfectly the independence and occasional arrogance of real
cats... Cat owners will appreciate some of the subtle nuances of
behavior Murphy instills in her hero and heroine, but even those who
don't share their lodgings with the feline set will still enjoy this
well-written whodunit. There are also a few delicious surprises in store
for the reader as the story races toward a conclusion that should catch
even the most seasoned mystery fan off guard." --Bob Walch, Monterey
County Herald, February 28, 1999
"What makes this series so delightful for both cat lovers and readers
of offbeat fantasies is that Murphy's convincing anthropomorphism allows
the cats to maintain their feline natures while still adopting human
speech and cognition." --Booklist, December 15, 1998
"Readers will find this premise ... stimulating and charming.... A
special treat ... for cat mystery fanciers." --Library Journal,
December 1998
"[Murphy] writes a fast-paced tale, and she has a way with her cat
scenes." --Publisher's Weekly, November 16, 1998
"[Dulcie and Joe Grey have] powers and abilities far beyond those of
ordinary literary cats ... the forces of evil arrayed against them are
formidable.... Murphy's raised the stakes of the feline sleuth genre."
--Kirkus Reviews
"Murphy ... has the feline touch. Cat in the Dark briskly moves
forward and the cats are brilliantly different and nicely developed
characters, who are totally unlike their sleuthing peers." --Harriet
Klausner, Book Browser
"Murphy explores the foibles of the cat and human worlds without
descending into the cutesy stuff of other cat writers. Even a cat hater
wouldn't mind hanging out with Joe and Dulcie."
--Anna AShwood Collins, Glynco Observer and Jekyll's Golden
Islander, January 7, 1999
"Murphy's cats are ... rough-edged creatures with a decided attitude
... the stories [are] ingeniously mesmerizing."
--Robert Walch, Mostly Murder
"As in all the Joe Grey stories, Murphy's love for animals, and her
intimate knowledge of their unique qualities and personality quirks, shines
clearly throughout Cat in the Dark. Murphy doesn't pull any punches
when it comes to grisly crime description, and she skillfully builds the
tension so you don't want to put the book down!" --Library Cat
Newsletter, Spring 1999
Cat Under Fire
HarperPrism, 1997
(No hardcover edition)
Paperback: Avon, ISBN 0-06-105601-4
Large Print: Beeler, ISBN 1-57490-341-1
Winner of the Cat Writers' Association's
1997 Muse Medallion Award!
The death by arson of a famous artist brings the two cats, Joe Grey
and Dulcie, into an investigation which ends with release of a man
wrongly accused--the cats providing evidence that the police missed,
that only a cat could have found.
"Clever dialogue, fast-paced action, humor, and interactions between
cats and humans.... Good fun for cat lovers and fans of offbeat fantasy."
--Booklist, March 15, 1997
"Murphy displays the same sense of magical whimsey and deft writing
that made the first book of this series, Cat on the Edge, such a
welcomed addition to the plethora of fictional kitty crimebusters....
Whether you begin with this new book or pick up Cat on the Edge,
you won't be disappointed."
--Cats Magazine, September 1997
Cat on the Edge
HarperPrism, 1996
(No hardcover edition)
Paperback: Avon, ISBN 0-06-105600-6
Joe Grey is the only witness to a murder. But, escaping the killer,
Joe becomes the hunted. He's alone and he's one scared tomcat--until he
meets green-eyed Dulcie, a charmer with talents to match his own.
"If you're looking for a fast-paced mystery that's all about cats,
with a generous dollop of pure fantasy thrown in, Cat on the Edge
is for you.... Murphy combines her obvious intense love for cats with an
ability to write a real page-turner of a mystery story--and she has a
great sense of humor. All her feline and human characters are well-
crafted, and as the plot unfolds, you're kept guessing who-dun-it right
to the end.... I'll give Cat on the Edge two thumbs (or paws)
way up!" --Library Cat Newsletter, Autumn 1996
"Murphy provides intriguing possibilities and tantalizing glimpses
into the mysterious world of cats.... This mystery will be difficult to
put down.... A delicious romp through ancient cat lore, an excellent
tale of cats and humans who may or may not be what they appear to be,
and of murder, revenge, and jealousy, interlaced with fantasy. This is
excellent reading.... Not to be missed!" --Armchair Detective,
Winter 1997
