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Joe Grey #1
Cat on the Edge (Joe Grey Series #1) by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
It's been quite a week for Joe Grey. First the large, powerfulfeline discovers that, through some strange, inexplicable phenomenon, he now has the ability to understand human language. Then he discovers he can speak it as well! It's a nightmare for a cat who'd prefer to sleep the day away carefree, but Joe can handle it. That is, until he has the misfortune to witness a murder in the alley behind Jolly's Deli -- and worse, to be seen witnessing it. With all of his nine lives suddenly at risk, Joe's got no choice but to get to the bottom of the heinous crime -- because his mouse-hunting days are over for good unless he can help bring a killer to justice.
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1996
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About the author
Shirley Rousseau Murphy
62 books516 followersShirley Rousseau Murphy is the author of over 40 books, including 24 novels for adults, the Dragonbards Trilogy and more for young adults, and many books for children. She is best known for her Joe Grey cat mystery series, consisting of 21 novels, the last of which was published when she was over 90. Now retired, she enjoys hearing from readers who write to her at her website www.srmurphy.com, where the reading order of the books in that series can be found.
Murphy grew up in southern California, riding and showing the horses her father trained. After attending the San Francisco Art institute she worked as an interior designer, and later exhibited paintings and welded metal sculpture in the West Coast juried shows. "When my husband Pat and I moved to Panama for a four-year tour in his position with the U. S . Courts, I put away the paints and welding torches, and began to write," she says. Later they lived in Oregon, then Georgia, before moving to California, where she now enjoys the sea and views of the Carmel hills.
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Murphy grew up in southern California, riding and showing the horses her father trained. After attending the San Francisco Art institute she worked as an interior designer, and later exhibited paintings and welded metal sculpture in the West Coast juried shows. "When my husband Pat and I moved to Panama for a four-year tour in his position with the U. S . Courts, I put away the paints and welding torches, and began to write," she says. Later they lived in Oregon, then Georgia, before moving to California, where she now enjoys the sea and views of the Carmel hills.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 375 reviews
March 13, 2017
I initially liked the charming idea behind the plot of this cozy - an intelligent cat character, Joe, who becomes a detective to save Clyde, his owner, from a murderous criminal who is also trying to frame his human. But the story suddenly takes an unexpected turn. Joe the kitty experiences an Evangelical revelation of 'intelligent design' about a third of the distance into the book. Thunderstruck by religious faith after watching a caterpillar, Joe realizes there must be a God.
Four-year-old tomcat Joe suddenly realized one day he can mysteriously read, write and speak English, and it freaks him out. However, after spending a day and night hiding in a comforting hole thinking about it, he returns to his kitty life as well as to the bed and hearth of the human bachelor and auto mechanic, Clyde. Then, while still adjusting to being intelligent, everything begins to break bad after Clyde's business partner Samuel Beckwhite is murdered. Joe was there that night in the alley when he saw a strange little man crack Beckwhite's head in with a tool belonging to Clyde! For an unknown reason, the killer also wants to kill Joe, tracing him somehow to Clyde's house!!!
Sounds fun, right?
However, after the author Shirley Rousseau Murphy decided that the suburban kitty, in the middle of wondering where his next meal of mouse will be, having read only dog and cat food labels along with a few newspaper articles up to now, becomes suddenly mentally fluent in ontological philosophy, and in particular, completely up to date on the concepts of intelligent design theories (which requires knowing something about biology, physiology, anatomy, ecology and theology, just for starters) I quietly closed my Overdrive audiobook, returned the file to the library, and banged my head on a table a few times.
>: @
Four-year-old tomcat Joe suddenly realized one day he can mysteriously read, write and speak English, and it freaks him out. However, after spending a day and night hiding in a comforting hole thinking about it, he returns to his kitty life as well as to the bed and hearth of the human bachelor and auto mechanic, Clyde. Then, while still adjusting to being intelligent, everything begins to break bad after Clyde's business partner Samuel Beckwhite is murdered. Joe was there that night in the alley when he saw a strange little man crack Beckwhite's head in with a tool belonging to Clyde! For an unknown reason, the killer also wants to kill Joe, tracing him somehow to Clyde's house!!!
Sounds fun, right?
However, after the author Shirley Rousseau Murphy decided that the suburban kitty, in the middle of wondering where his next meal of mouse will be, having read only dog and cat food labels along with a few newspaper articles up to now, becomes suddenly mentally fluent in ontological philosophy, and in particular, completely up to date on the concepts of intelligent design theories (which requires knowing something about biology, physiology, anatomy, ecology and theology, just for starters) I quietly closed my Overdrive audiobook, returned the file to the library, and banged my head on a table a few times.
>: @
July 14, 2017
Cats are intelligent. Cats speak to their owners. Cats are demanding. Cats care for their human. All cat owners know these things. They are featured in legends and folklore and are believed to have mystical and unusual talents. Enter Joe Grey. Through an unexplained phenomenon, Joe can understand human speech. Heck, he can even speak human English as well as read it.
Just when he's about to accept this new talent. "The murder of Samuel Beckwhite in the alley behind Jolly’s Delicatessen was observed by no human witness. Only the gray tomcat saw Beckwhite fall, the big man’s heavy body crumpling, his round, close-trimmed head crushed from the blow of a shiny steel wrench." Yep, Joe saw it and the murderer. And the murderer saw him. Much to Joe's chagrin, the murderer also sees in Joe's intelligent eyes that Joe is one of Those cats that have unusual talents. And he comes after Joe Grey.
What Joe doesn't know is another kitty also witnessed the killer and his/her deed. But the killer saw the little Tabby too. It's on! Get the killer before Joe Grey quickly runs through all 9 of his lives.
I loved this debut novel in the Joe Grey Series! He's a snubbed tailed rescue, a born PI, and I wouldn't mess with him. Shirley Rousseau Murphy writes the novel in Joe's first person POV and she knows cats. The little thief Dulce had me laughing out loud. And she's no ordinary kitty either. Throw in a shape-shifter and you get a very entertaining fun read.
Just when he's about to accept this new talent. "The murder of Samuel Beckwhite in the alley behind Jolly’s Delicatessen was observed by no human witness. Only the gray tomcat saw Beckwhite fall, the big man’s heavy body crumpling, his round, close-trimmed head crushed from the blow of a shiny steel wrench." Yep, Joe saw it and the murderer. And the murderer saw him. Much to Joe's chagrin, the murderer also sees in Joe's intelligent eyes that Joe is one of Those cats that have unusual talents. And he comes after Joe Grey.
What Joe doesn't know is another kitty also witnessed the killer and his/her deed. But the killer saw the little Tabby too. It's on! Get the killer before Joe Grey quickly runs through all 9 of his lives.
I loved this debut novel in the Joe Grey Series! He's a snubbed tailed rescue, a born PI, and I wouldn't mess with him. Shirley Rousseau Murphy writes the novel in Joe's first person POV and she knows cats. The little thief Dulce had me laughing out loud. And she's no ordinary kitty either. Throw in a shape-shifter and you get a very entertaining fun read.
December 15, 2015
Plot and originality wise this book was brilliant. Not so the characters that were largely gender stereotypes (special shameful nomination goes to the way Sheril is constantly slut-shamed and presented in classist terms).
A book about cats solving crime was always going to be interesting. I was interested to see how we would be encouraged to suspend disbelief for such an unlikely scenario (for all that cat books are all the rage for myriad authors at the moment). I thought Murphy handled that well, as she did the writing itself with plenty of colour that was vibrant and enough action so that it didn't just become a thickly described book. The nicest relationship in the book was Dulcie and Wilma who had what was very nearly romance (just my reading I realize).
Kate who for part of the book is really irritating and hyperfeminine decides to grow some attitude and calmly burgle her own house while her husband is having sex with the other woman. That was perhaps one of my favourite parts and almost redeemed the character in my eyes.
Not sure if I want to read more of this series or not. Not rushing to do it but not putting it on my "avoid" list either!
A book about cats solving crime was always going to be interesting. I was interested to see how we would be encouraged to suspend disbelief for such an unlikely scenario (for all that cat books are all the rage for myriad authors at the moment). I thought Murphy handled that well, as she did the writing itself with plenty of colour that was vibrant and enough action so that it didn't just become a thickly described book. The nicest relationship in the book was Dulcie and Wilma who had what was very nearly romance (just my reading I realize).
Kate who for part of the book is really irritating and hyperfeminine decides to grow some attitude and calmly burgle her own house while her husband is having sex with the other woman. That was perhaps one of my favourite parts and almost redeemed the character in my eyes.
Not sure if I want to read more of this series or not. Not rushing to do it but not putting it on my "avoid" list either!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2017
I was expecting Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s Cat on the Edge to be — well, different. It wasn’t twee at all, but plausible in a paranormal kind of way. I really loved main character Joe Grey, a sentient tomcat, and his scruffy owner, Clyde Damon.
And the book was surprisingly suspenseful. I read much too late into the night to find out the fate of Joe and Clyde, the unusual Kate Osborne, and Joe’s lady-love kitty, Dulcie. This is the cozy mystery for people who don’t like cozies. Highly recommended.
And the book was surprisingly suspenseful. I read much too late into the night to find out the fate of Joe and Clyde, the unusual Kate Osborne, and Joe’s lady-love kitty, Dulcie. This is the cozy mystery for people who don’t like cozies. Highly recommended.
June 24, 2015
I don't ask a lot from my cozy cat mysteries. I can get behind magical cats, detective cats, cats allergic to humans, many, many types of cat. So getting this book with a cat who finds out he can now think and speak like a human, sure, I'm not asking for realism. That said, I hated this book. For a number of reasons.
The first was the disconcerting way she sometimes described the cats. For example "The green eyes slitted with amusement. He caught her scent now, delectable as sun-warmed clover... Her eyes caressed him. Her little pink mouth curved up in a smile. She moved so near to him that he trembled." Maybe it's just me, but things like this were just uncomfortable to read, it felt like the cats were being sexualized. Near the end the same cat wishes that she could be a human so she could slip into "little satin bras and lace panties." No. No. No. Don't do that, she's a cat.
The second was the cat finding a god. It's not a significant period into the book, and the implication is that he hasn't been having these human thoughts for a terribly long time. But he's walking in the woods and sees a caterpillar spinning a cocoon and begins thinking in an "unfeline manner". He realizes in an instant that the caterpillar "was far too cleverly conceived to have come into the world by accident. This creature had evolved by some logical and amazing plan". He then thinks of this intellect that has created all these animals and cats. And doesn't mention humans, suggesting (though not stating) his god is a human one. I don't believe that the cat is going to have this sudden realization about religion only weeks or so into him realizing he can think like a human nor do I think he would then decide it's not a cat like intellect. People have human looking gods, I can't conceive of a cat thinking that right off the bat if at all.
Thirdly, lastly, and most problematically for me was a moment not even halfway into the book. It was only a couple sentences but they were awkward. They were regarding when the two cat owners go to dinner. They are served by a Latin waiter. 'Ok, cool, but why does it matter that he's Latin' was my thought when I read it. And the answer seems to be so that we can get these two sentences: "His English wasn't too good, he had trouble understanding that Clyde wanted mustard. He returned with catsup, Tabasco, steak sauce, and mustard, and seemed pleased with himself that he had covered all possibilities." This is a sentence I might expect to read in a Patricia Wentworth, Dorothy Sayers, an early 20th century author. Not one written in 1996. I knew when I read it that was the only time that I would ever see the Latin waiter, that in no way was this going to advance the plot or be integral to the solving of the mystery, but I hoped. This book could have slightly redeemed itself if he had, but in the end he never did. So that was just a little racist moment that topped off a book that wasn't very good to begin with.
PS. The cat can talk, witnesses a murder, calls his owner on the phone, and doesn't even say 'hey, I witnessed this murder and the guy who committed it is after me, you know him, he works with you.' It was never properly explained why he couldn't do that. And again, I don't ask much from my cat mysteries, but some semblance of an explanation would've been nice.
The first was the disconcerting way she sometimes described the cats. For example "The green eyes slitted with amusement. He caught her scent now, delectable as sun-warmed clover... Her eyes caressed him. Her little pink mouth curved up in a smile. She moved so near to him that he trembled." Maybe it's just me, but things like this were just uncomfortable to read, it felt like the cats were being sexualized. Near the end the same cat wishes that she could be a human so she could slip into "little satin bras and lace panties." No. No. No. Don't do that, she's a cat.
The second was the cat finding a god. It's not a significant period into the book, and the implication is that he hasn't been having these human thoughts for a terribly long time. But he's walking in the woods and sees a caterpillar spinning a cocoon and begins thinking in an "unfeline manner". He realizes in an instant that the caterpillar "was far too cleverly conceived to have come into the world by accident. This creature had evolved by some logical and amazing plan". He then thinks of this intellect that has created all these animals and cats. And doesn't mention humans, suggesting (though not stating) his god is a human one. I don't believe that the cat is going to have this sudden realization about religion only weeks or so into him realizing he can think like a human nor do I think he would then decide it's not a cat like intellect. People have human looking gods, I can't conceive of a cat thinking that right off the bat if at all.
Thirdly, lastly, and most problematically for me was a moment not even halfway into the book. It was only a couple sentences but they were awkward. They were regarding when the two cat owners go to dinner. They are served by a Latin waiter. 'Ok, cool, but why does it matter that he's Latin' was my thought when I read it. And the answer seems to be so that we can get these two sentences: "His English wasn't too good, he had trouble understanding that Clyde wanted mustard. He returned with catsup, Tabasco, steak sauce, and mustard, and seemed pleased with himself that he had covered all possibilities." This is a sentence I might expect to read in a Patricia Wentworth, Dorothy Sayers, an early 20th century author. Not one written in 1996. I knew when I read it that was the only time that I would ever see the Latin waiter, that in no way was this going to advance the plot or be integral to the solving of the mystery, but I hoped. This book could have slightly redeemed itself if he had, but in the end he never did. So that was just a little racist moment that topped off a book that wasn't very good to begin with.
PS. The cat can talk, witnesses a murder, calls his owner on the phone, and doesn't even say 'hey, I witnessed this murder and the guy who committed it is after me, you know him, he works with you.' It was never properly explained why he couldn't do that. And again, I don't ask much from my cat mysteries, but some semblance of an explanation would've been nice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2016
I didn't actually finish this; got almost halfway through and just lost interest. It's not that I dislike talking intelligent cats. I've read and enjoyed several books that feature them. And my furry lord and master is very intelligent and quite articulate. But Murphy spent most of the first half of book making her cat characters into people, not only talking and reasoning, but discussing philosophy, exhibiting human emotions, and pretty much losing most of their cat characteristics. I found myself losing interest in them.
March 31, 2018
Joe & Dulcie both witnessed the same murder separately. The murderer sees them and tries kill each of them. Joe has learn he can understand & speak human language. He is frighten about this. Meanwhile Dulcie has an experience with the murderer & flees her home. They meet hiding & afraid to go home. I like the conversation between Clyde & Joe on the telephone. Enter a cat under the dock who remember how she got there. Later Kate Osborn enters the story. Clyde, Wilma, Joe, Dulcie & Kate all work to solve the mystery so Joe. & Dulcie can return home. This book explains about talking cats and must read to really understand the series.
August 26, 2016
★★★★☆ This was a really weird book that went off on tangents occasionally. Nevertheless, I couldn't stop reading it a little bit every night, if only to find out where it was leading.
February 7, 2013
I'm not usually a big fan of books that require a good deal of suspension of belief, but I found Joe Gray , the cat, to be an exception to that reasoning within this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the 'unbelief', the complete knowledge of cat behaviors, and an interesting and believable mystery.
Joe Gray has lived a purrrrrfectly splendid life after coming to live with Clyde, who found him almost dead on the streets of Molena Point. Then one day, Joe realized that he could talk and read like a human. This was a bit scary, but came in very handy after he witnessed a murder, and the murderer decided that the pesky cat needed to die too. Dulcie, the pretty little girl cat down the block has a similar story, but she also likes snatching beautiful, silky, soft things from the neighbors. The murderer is after her too.
The mystery involves fancy cars, lots of money and adulterous affairs. Joe and Dulcie use their uniquely cat skills, interestingly combined with some human traits, to make this an excellent cozy cat mystery. This first in a series, is followed up by many more Joe Gray mysteries, so the fun and mysteries, hopefully, just keep coming!
Joe Gray has lived a purrrrrfectly splendid life after coming to live with Clyde, who found him almost dead on the streets of Molena Point. Then one day, Joe realized that he could talk and read like a human. This was a bit scary, but came in very handy after he witnessed a murder, and the murderer decided that the pesky cat needed to die too. Dulcie, the pretty little girl cat down the block has a similar story, but she also likes snatching beautiful, silky, soft things from the neighbors. The murderer is after her too.
The mystery involves fancy cars, lots of money and adulterous affairs. Joe and Dulcie use their uniquely cat skills, interestingly combined with some human traits, to make this an excellent cozy cat mystery. This first in a series, is followed up by many more Joe Gray mysteries, so the fun and mysteries, hopefully, just keep coming!
March 28, 2014
Are you able to not take yourself seriously and suspend belief in order to just have a fun read with a bowl of popcorn and maybe a cat or three on your lap? Try it. I tried to explain this book to my husband and he laughed and said, "Whatever dear."
Okay, note to self: Never try to explain anything that is fiction to that man. Doubly so if the book is fantasy, metaphysical or about animals. The man doesn't even like Watership Down.
Shirley Murphy seems to be able to understand the essence of what it might feel like to be a cat and put it on a page. What would your cat say to you if they could suddenly speak to you? Mine would say, "Why in the HELL did you bring that damned German Shepherd into the house?! HISSSSSSSSSSS!"
Consider it fluff reading like Chick Lit. I didn't want to put this book down. Cats + Murder Mystery = FUN!
Okay, note to self: Never try to explain anything that is fiction to that man. Doubly so if the book is fantasy, metaphysical or about animals. The man doesn't even like Watership Down.
Shirley Murphy seems to be able to understand the essence of what it might feel like to be a cat and put it on a page. What would your cat say to you if they could suddenly speak to you? Mine would say, "Why in the HELL did you bring that damned German Shepherd into the house?! HISSSSSSSSSSS!"
Consider it fluff reading like Chick Lit. I didn't want to put this book down. Cats + Murder Mystery = FUN!
July 20, 2012
I hope the second book is better. I liked The Catsworld Portal but this book just bugged me. The author spends 80% of the book lovingly describing what it must be like to be a cat. There are multiple redundant scenes about what cats eat, how cats hunt, how cats groom themselves. Then there is the character who flip flops between being a cat and a human. One could do a drinking game based around each and every time she changes form. I'm just hoping now that the world has been established that the next book will spend more time on the actual mystery and less time on how great cats are.
June 26, 2016
Cat on the Edge by Shirley Rousseau Murphy is the first book in the Joe Gray mystery series. Cat Joe Gray witnesses a murder and the murderer then comes after him. An interesting first book in a series with talking cats and a human who discovers an ability to morph into a cat. It was difficult to keep up with the various characters and animals at the start, the cats being quite human-like but gradually it all came together. The murderer was known from the start , and the book was more about how the cats managed to stay safe and help the humans. A captivating and charming book.
February 1, 2023
It's a paranormal story involving cats, there isn't much investigation at all up until close to the end.
It was boring, full of lenghty and repetitive descriptions. The writing style was nice enough, I just felt it could have been shorter. I was tempted to just leave it, then I started skipping parts.
Very stressful to read for a cat lover because the cats are aggressively chased, with intention to kill, from the very beginning. If you're sensitive, don't read it!
It's rare to see such a brutal pursuing of the main character.
I liked the cats, as I always do, and I liked how they seemed to have different quirks (Though the descriptions didn't always make sense). I wish it was given more space to Clyde's other cats, or the strays, it's like not being magical makes them automatically less important. And the dogs were merely decorative as well, you quickly forget that Joe isn't the only pet living with Clyde.
You get to the end and you've forgotten this was a mystery, the police arrive making their arrests and there's an epilogue.
There wasn't any backstory as to how they acquired those abilities, and honestly I have no interest in reading more.
It was boring, full of lenghty and repetitive descriptions. The writing style was nice enough, I just felt it could have been shorter. I was tempted to just leave it, then I started skipping parts.
Very stressful to read for a cat lover because the cats are aggressively chased, with intention to kill, from the very beginning. If you're sensitive, don't read it!
It's rare to see such a brutal pursuing of the main character.
I liked the cats, as I always do, and I liked how they seemed to have different quirks (Though the descriptions didn't always make sense). I wish it was given more space to Clyde's other cats, or the strays, it's like not being magical makes them automatically less important. And the dogs were merely decorative as well, you quickly forget that Joe isn't the only pet living with Clyde.
You get to the end and you've forgotten this was a mystery, the police arrive making their arrests and there's an epilogue.
There wasn't any backstory as to how they acquired those abilities, and honestly I have no interest in reading more.
January 18, 2014
Joe Grey is a big old tomcat that likes nothing better than to sleep the day away in a patch of sunlight, carouse a little, tease his furry housemates, cuddle with his owner and, hunt at night. On one particular night he witnesses a murder and for some unknown reason the assailant is very insistent to leave no witnesses. Not even a cat! Shortly after that strange things start happening … Joel discovers he suddenly has the ability to fully understand human speech … and he can read … and, unbelievably – he can talk? Stranger still he teams up with a (really cute) female feline who has the same amazing abilities. Can they solve the crime before the mysterious murderer does them in?
If you can suspend reality for a little while and you love cats – or even just stories about cats, this is a fun read. I found it a little slow at the start, but by the middle of the book I was hooked into the story enough to need to know the outcome.
I’m still not 100% certain about the series as a serious time investment but am definitely going to give the next book a try before I make up my mind.
If you can suspend reality for a little while and you love cats – or even just stories about cats, this is a fun read. I found it a little slow at the start, but by the middle of the book I was hooked into the story enough to need to know the outcome.
I’m still not 100% certain about the series as a serious time investment but am definitely going to give the next book a try before I make up my mind.
May 9, 2009
You know what was great about this book? It was like other talking animal books. This cat was a cat to the core... not some sophisticated animal hybrid, but a to the bones grumpy tom cat.
Imagine you're cat suddenly talking to you one day, and having really nothing special to say but how he would really like some tuna, or he'll scratch your couch, and hey "Are you having another girl over tonight? That was fun last time" The cat is suddenly no longer cute and cuddly... he's like a fat guy with no job that wont leave you house. Though Joe has some moral fiber.
Imagine you're cat suddenly talking to you one day, and having really nothing special to say but how he would really like some tuna, or he'll scratch your couch, and hey "Are you having another girl over tonight? That was fun last time" The cat is suddenly no longer cute and cuddly... he's like a fat guy with no job that wont leave you house. Though Joe has some moral fiber.
April 7, 2014
I was expecting a cozy mystery but this book had too much grittiness to qualify for that. There was also a fantasy element to it, which surprised me. I will most likely read a few more in the series, to get a better feel for the main characters and see where the fantasy element goes. I neither loved nor disliked this book. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't expecting quaintness, gentle humour and idealistic settings, as you would find in some other cat sleuth book series.
October 4, 2022
This is not your formulaic cozy mystery, and not badly written. I will continue with this series.
November 27, 2024
This one has been on my TBR list for a while. I'll definitely give book 2 a shot, but this took me longer to finish than usual.
September 4, 2020
Joe Grey is a cat who has been through a lot of changes in the last week or two. He can suddenly understand human language. Sitting with his human, Clyde, while Clyde reads out loud to him, he finds he can even read the words on the page.
That's unsettling enough. Then he discovers he can speak human language.
Joe does not regard this as a Great Step Forward. It's very upsetting to him. He likes being a cat. Clyde's human friends are a lot more annoying, now that he can understand their conversation--entirely focused on things cats consider trivial.
But he might have found ways to appreciate these changes, with some time. Instead, he and one of his cat friends, Dulcie, who has experienced the same changes, witness the murder of a business associate of Clyde's. And the killer sees them. Not only sees them, but apparently realizes that they can tell what they've seen--that they are witnesses who matter.
They each go home, Joe to Clyde and Dulcie to Wilma, but it's not long before they both realize the killer knows where they live. They're on the run, and they need to solve the crime if they are ever going to be able to be safe again.
They start investigating, and discover the human world is ridiculously complicated. Clyde runs a service garage in space he rents from a car dealership, and part of the deal is providing service to the dealership's cars. He connected with the owner of the dealership originally through an old school acquaintance, Jimmy Osborn, who is employed as the manager. Jimmy is married to Kate, whom Clyde really likes, and is friendlier with than Jimmy, but, you know, married to Jimmy. The owner of the dealership, Samuel Beckwhite, is the man who was murdered. He was married to Sheril, who has been having an affair with Jimmy. Jimmy has a connection with Lee whose last name I won't even guess at the spelling of. (I listened to the audiobook.) Lee is Welsh, and he grew up listening to all sorts of Welsh stories about cats, which, yes, is highly relevant to events.
This book was first published in 1996, and in some respects it shows its age. It's trivial that this is set some years before cellphones were everywhere, and this piece of tech we take for granted comes up only in passing, near the end, as something the mayor thinks is too fancy and expensive for the police, who could really use them. More annoying for the current reader will be he fact that there's some lazy stereotyping, the slut-shaming of Sheril, and the Latino waiter who doesn't speak English too good. Kate is a housewife, making Jimmy's home beautiful and a good showplace for his success.This was still pretty normal for the time, and Wilma, for instance, has a very different background. It's still a bit jarring for today's readers, though. I will say, in Kate's and Murphy's defense, when push comes to shove, she proves to be no spineless pushover.
I enjoyed this. It's a lot of fun. It does have some flaws, though, and won't be for everyone.
I bought this audiobook.
That's unsettling enough. Then he discovers he can speak human language.
Joe does not regard this as a Great Step Forward. It's very upsetting to him. He likes being a cat. Clyde's human friends are a lot more annoying, now that he can understand their conversation--entirely focused on things cats consider trivial.
But he might have found ways to appreciate these changes, with some time. Instead, he and one of his cat friends, Dulcie, who has experienced the same changes, witness the murder of a business associate of Clyde's. And the killer sees them. Not only sees them, but apparently realizes that they can tell what they've seen--that they are witnesses who matter.
They each go home, Joe to Clyde and Dulcie to Wilma, but it's not long before they both realize the killer knows where they live. They're on the run, and they need to solve the crime if they are ever going to be able to be safe again.
They start investigating, and discover the human world is ridiculously complicated. Clyde runs a service garage in space he rents from a car dealership, and part of the deal is providing service to the dealership's cars. He connected with the owner of the dealership originally through an old school acquaintance, Jimmy Osborn, who is employed as the manager. Jimmy is married to Kate, whom Clyde really likes, and is friendlier with than Jimmy, but, you know, married to Jimmy. The owner of the dealership, Samuel Beckwhite, is the man who was murdered. He was married to Sheril, who has been having an affair with Jimmy. Jimmy has a connection with Lee whose last name I won't even guess at the spelling of. (I listened to the audiobook.) Lee is Welsh, and he grew up listening to all sorts of Welsh stories about cats, which, yes, is highly relevant to events.
This book was first published in 1996, and in some respects it shows its age. It's trivial that this is set some years before cellphones were everywhere, and this piece of tech we take for granted comes up only in passing, near the end, as something the mayor thinks is too fancy and expensive for the police, who could really use them. More annoying for the current reader will be he fact that there's some lazy stereotyping, the slut-shaming of Sheril, and the Latino waiter who doesn't speak English too good. Kate is a housewife, making Jimmy's home beautiful and a good showplace for his success.This was still pretty normal for the time, and Wilma, for instance, has a very different background. It's still a bit jarring for today's readers, though. I will say, in Kate's and Murphy's defense, when push comes to shove, she proves to be no spineless pushover.
I enjoyed this. It's a lot of fun. It does have some flaws, though, and won't be for everyone.
I bought this audiobook.
February 24, 2018
Murder mystery with talking kitties, a bit confusingly written. One cat has ability to change from cat to human and back again by uttering a few Welsh words...I guess if you can actually speak that most-difficult language, you can do just about anything!
First in a series of books about these furry lead characters.
First in a series of books about these furry lead characters.
December 17, 2019
Cat on the Edge, Book 1: A Joe Grey Mystery by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
In my opinion, Shirley Rousseau Murphy's Cat on the Edge, the first book in the Joe Grey Mystery Series; takes cat mystery lovers to a new dimension!! Excellent writing grabs the reader right away and puts them into the unusual story of a cat (Joe Grey) who finds himself gradually able to communicate with humans.... Imagine!! The author's empathetic understanding of cats and cat behavior shines through. Readers will find themselves right in the action as Joe confronts a number of challenges, each more serious than the last! Given his new abilities, how could Joe not take on the investigation of a number of serious problems in his community?... There's much more to the story (I'm trying not to write spoilers!!) Read and enjoy! I'm looking forward to Book 2!! Highly Recommended!!
In my opinion, Shirley Rousseau Murphy's Cat on the Edge, the first book in the Joe Grey Mystery Series; takes cat mystery lovers to a new dimension!! Excellent writing grabs the reader right away and puts them into the unusual story of a cat (Joe Grey) who finds himself gradually able to communicate with humans.... Imagine!! The author's empathetic understanding of cats and cat behavior shines through. Readers will find themselves right in the action as Joe confronts a number of challenges, each more serious than the last! Given his new abilities, how could Joe not take on the investigation of a number of serious problems in his community?... There's much more to the story (I'm trying not to write spoilers!!) Read and enjoy! I'm looking forward to Book 2!! Highly Recommended!!
March 31, 2023
I am not sure what I think of this book. I am all for talking animals, crime-solving animals, super smart animals, even paranormal stuff. Something felt slightly off to me in this book, however. Maybe it was the cat who dreamed of wearing lingerie. Maybe it was the fact that the first half of the book repeatedly described Joe hunting and killing various prey (which I know is natural for a cat-- what I don't know is why so many people let their cats roam around destroying habitats). I don't know-- a lot of animals either die or are attacked in this book, and it even manages to tell us stories of other animals that have been hurt or killed in the past that have nothing to do with this story. A bit odd for a cozy. All that being said, I think the premise of this book could be fun and maybe I will try this series again.
July 8, 2017
Molena Point
is another place I visit ......and often. I love Joe, Dulcie and precious little Kit. The bipeds are pretty cool too. I don't know why but I keep picturing Blackie as Sam Elliot lol and Clyde as Brendan Fraser. Ages are off but it works for me...grin!
The cats steal the books tho. I *KNOW* the cats.
dates read...which time????????
I re read!\
I buy a book and finish it as soon as I get it.
is another place I visit ......and often. I love Joe, Dulcie and precious little Kit. The bipeds are pretty cool too. I don't know why but I keep picturing Blackie as Sam Elliot lol and Clyde as Brendan Fraser. Ages are off but it works for me...grin!
The cats steal the books tho. I *KNOW* the cats.
dates read...which time????????
I re read!\
I buy a book and finish it as soon as I get it.
March 24, 2018
Quick, easy read.
For some reason talking cats didn't stretch my sense of disbelief. It was handled in a way I could get behind and understand. But, the magic aspects in the story were the breaking point for me. It just tossed me right out of the story. I had a moment of," What did I just read?" and could not get back into the story. I read a lot of fantasy, so I am not sure why the magic elements of this book were disturbing to me, but they were.
For some reason talking cats didn't stretch my sense of disbelief. It was handled in a way I could get behind and understand. But, the magic aspects in the story were the breaking point for me. It just tossed me right out of the story. I had a moment of," What did I just read?" and could not get back into the story. I read a lot of fantasy, so I am not sure why the magic elements of this book were disturbing to me, but they were.
March 6, 2015
Fun to read!
Beautifully written descriptive passages, interesting perspective through the cat characterizations, and just plain fun to read. The villains were a bit too simplistic, but I was enjoying the book far too much to mind. From all accounts the writing improves throughout the series, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book.
Beautifully written descriptive passages, interesting perspective through the cat characterizations, and just plain fun to read. The villains were a bit too simplistic, but I was enjoying the book far too much to mind. From all accounts the writing improves throughout the series, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book.
Read
May 27, 2022That was definitely a "what did I just read?" experience...but not necessarily in a bad way? I don't know. I really just don't know what to do with this one.
August 3, 2018
I really love this cozy, cat series. It’s interesting how the author makes it a plausible, mystic mystery. The characters are not silly and the stories are original and fast paced. I like that the adventures are fun, suspenseful and clean. Onto the next for me.
April 1, 2018
It was a easy to read fun book. Cats are amazing animals.
October 16, 2025
While waiting to transfer files to my new iPhone at Best Buy I went next door to Barnes & Noble to look at books. This of course is always dangerous because I went out with more than I intended, one of which was Cat on the Edge, which was prominently displayed on one of the shelves. The premise sounded interesting - a cat who suddenly realizes he can understand (and speak!) human language, but was a little dismayed by it. The book sounded possibly humorous and it contained a cat helping solve a murder mystery so who could possibly resist?
I bought it without reading any reviews since my phone was next door at Best Buy. When I got home and looked it up I realized I might have made a mistake because the first review I read was quite negative. However, I am currently reading a book on the colonial history of Australia, which is great but a bit of a slog and this seemed like it might provide a nice break.
First off, the good parts. The book is a fast, easy read and the mystery is interesting. It takes place in Molina Point, a fictional, coastal California town somewhere south of Santa Cruz that to me sounds a bit like Pacific Grove or maybe Carmel. The town was nicely described and the author did a good job of developing the characters and making them interesting. She also had a lot of nice cat behavior and the crime part was fairly good. I liked at the end about the two cats reacting to the idea of being able to speak and understand English - with one being content and the other having to reconcile.
On the negative side, a lot of it was not well explained and often frankly stupid. I think some of this was due to laziness on the part of the author. OK, it's fiction so you have to suspend belief but it at least should be somewhat explained and it just wasn't. A cat witnesses a murder, but then suddenly realizes it can comprehend and speak human language, which causes it more than a little distress. How and why did this transformation occur? No idea. One of the first things it does is make a phone call to warn its person, by looking up the number in a phone book (!) and somehow using a telephone very soon after realizing it can speak for the first time. What? How could it know numbers or how a phone book is alphabetized? One of the major evolutionary advantages humans and other great apes possess is an opposable thumb, which allows us to grip objects. In cats their thumbs have been relegated to the dew claws, which means they can't grasp and manipulate objects as humans can, so picking up phone receivers and such is next to impossible. In the past I had a cat who watched me open doors and knew the knob was the key to doing it. He tried many times to open doors by standing up and grasping the knob, but without an opposable thumb he was never able to get enough purchase on the brass to make it turn. I'm pretty sure I could have taught him to open a lever knob in a couple of minutes but we didn't have any in the house to try. So this part with a cat using the phone was just silly.
Then there is another cat who somehow developed the same ability with no explanation. Then a person who finds themselves transformed into a dirty cat in an alley, but then gets back to their house and somehow knows the incantation that can turn themselves back into human form, despite having no idea or recollection of how they became a cat in the first place. And when you transform from cat back into a human you have your clothes on including whatever was in your pockets. Sorry, but even assuming some kind of magic that just makes no sense. There was never any explanation for what kind of magic this could be, except references to some Welshman. As far as I am aware, there are no legends about magical cats in Wales so no idea where this came from. Furthermore, several people in the town could recognize a Welsh accent. Really? I've heard people speaking Welsh (in Wales) and have heard some with an accent but wouldn't recognize one myself and I seriously doubt that multiple people in a small town in California would hear someone speak and think they had a Welsh accent. This was just lazy writing on the part of the author.
The cat antics were quite amusing although some were stupid. For example, one person tries to catch and harm the cats and chases them for many blocks. This just is not realistic in my experience. All of my cats figured out very quickly that humans are clumsy and slow (or at least I am) compared to them. They run much faster and are excellent at hiding so would have no trouble outrunning and avoiding any human, no matter how fast, especially at night when they can see easily and we cannot. It also was weird that the cats were swearing and praying as soon as they could speak, and one cat thought that the world was intelligently designed. Whether the author was attempting to promote Intelligent Design nonsense is not clear, but I'm quite certain every cat I've known is pagan and, if they believed in anything, would quickly figure out that only the fastest escape predation and go on to reproduce so they would be much more likely to discover Darwinistic natural selection as the driver of biological diversity rather than Intelligent Design. Plus why would any cat pray to some speculative being when they are deities themselves (or at least that's what mine think)? I almost stopped reading at that point but no other religious references were made during the rest of the book so it was not clear why that bit was in there.
In addition to providing no explanation for the source of these magical transformations there were other parts of the book that were weak and indicated lazy writing. The crime part had several aspects but it wasn't clear exactly what was being done and that part could have been better thought out. Most likely this is because the author wasn't a criminal so didn't think much about illegal activities. One of the cats wished they could travel and go to San Francisco despite just developing human cognition - how would they know about such places or want to go to them? That was silly. The characters in the town were well described and developed but they all - including the cats! - spoke the same way with the same kinds of expressions and styles, which was lazy writing to me. While these gripes are minor they took away from the enjoyment of the book and to me indicated an author who was writing books to sell rather than doing the careful research and effort needed to write a really compelling magical environment.
Will I read any more books by this author? This one was the first in a series with 20 more to go but probably not. While overall it was a quick and entertaining read, the writing to me just seemed lazy and I'd rather spend time on authors who have worked hard to craft worlds with more depth and authenticity. However, if I am at the airport and just want something to take my mind off of traveling for a while then I might try another - never say never.
I bought it without reading any reviews since my phone was next door at Best Buy. When I got home and looked it up I realized I might have made a mistake because the first review I read was quite negative. However, I am currently reading a book on the colonial history of Australia, which is great but a bit of a slog and this seemed like it might provide a nice break.
First off, the good parts. The book is a fast, easy read and the mystery is interesting. It takes place in Molina Point, a fictional, coastal California town somewhere south of Santa Cruz that to me sounds a bit like Pacific Grove or maybe Carmel. The town was nicely described and the author did a good job of developing the characters and making them interesting. She also had a lot of nice cat behavior and the crime part was fairly good. I liked at the end about the two cats reacting to the idea of being able to speak and understand English - with one being content and the other having to reconcile.
On the negative side, a lot of it was not well explained and often frankly stupid. I think some of this was due to laziness on the part of the author. OK, it's fiction so you have to suspend belief but it at least should be somewhat explained and it just wasn't. A cat witnesses a murder, but then suddenly realizes it can comprehend and speak human language, which causes it more than a little distress. How and why did this transformation occur? No idea. One of the first things it does is make a phone call to warn its person, by looking up the number in a phone book (!) and somehow using a telephone very soon after realizing it can speak for the first time. What? How could it know numbers or how a phone book is alphabetized? One of the major evolutionary advantages humans and other great apes possess is an opposable thumb, which allows us to grip objects. In cats their thumbs have been relegated to the dew claws, which means they can't grasp and manipulate objects as humans can, so picking up phone receivers and such is next to impossible. In the past I had a cat who watched me open doors and knew the knob was the key to doing it. He tried many times to open doors by standing up and grasping the knob, but without an opposable thumb he was never able to get enough purchase on the brass to make it turn. I'm pretty sure I could have taught him to open a lever knob in a couple of minutes but we didn't have any in the house to try. So this part with a cat using the phone was just silly.
Then there is another cat who somehow developed the same ability with no explanation. Then a person who finds themselves transformed into a dirty cat in an alley, but then gets back to their house and somehow knows the incantation that can turn themselves back into human form, despite having no idea or recollection of how they became a cat in the first place. And when you transform from cat back into a human you have your clothes on including whatever was in your pockets. Sorry, but even assuming some kind of magic that just makes no sense. There was never any explanation for what kind of magic this could be, except references to some Welshman. As far as I am aware, there are no legends about magical cats in Wales so no idea where this came from. Furthermore, several people in the town could recognize a Welsh accent. Really? I've heard people speaking Welsh (in Wales) and have heard some with an accent but wouldn't recognize one myself and I seriously doubt that multiple people in a small town in California would hear someone speak and think they had a Welsh accent. This was just lazy writing on the part of the author.
The cat antics were quite amusing although some were stupid. For example, one person tries to catch and harm the cats and chases them for many blocks. This just is not realistic in my experience. All of my cats figured out very quickly that humans are clumsy and slow (or at least I am) compared to them. They run much faster and are excellent at hiding so would have no trouble outrunning and avoiding any human, no matter how fast, especially at night when they can see easily and we cannot. It also was weird that the cats were swearing and praying as soon as they could speak, and one cat thought that the world was intelligently designed. Whether the author was attempting to promote Intelligent Design nonsense is not clear, but I'm quite certain every cat I've known is pagan and, if they believed in anything, would quickly figure out that only the fastest escape predation and go on to reproduce so they would be much more likely to discover Darwinistic natural selection as the driver of biological diversity rather than Intelligent Design. Plus why would any cat pray to some speculative being when they are deities themselves (or at least that's what mine think)? I almost stopped reading at that point but no other religious references were made during the rest of the book so it was not clear why that bit was in there.
In addition to providing no explanation for the source of these magical transformations there were other parts of the book that were weak and indicated lazy writing. The crime part had several aspects but it wasn't clear exactly what was being done and that part could have been better thought out. Most likely this is because the author wasn't a criminal so didn't think much about illegal activities. One of the cats wished they could travel and go to San Francisco despite just developing human cognition - how would they know about such places or want to go to them? That was silly. The characters in the town were well described and developed but they all - including the cats! - spoke the same way with the same kinds of expressions and styles, which was lazy writing to me. While these gripes are minor they took away from the enjoyment of the book and to me indicated an author who was writing books to sell rather than doing the careful research and effort needed to write a really compelling magical environment.
Will I read any more books by this author? This one was the first in a series with 20 more to go but probably not. While overall it was a quick and entertaining read, the writing to me just seemed lazy and I'd rather spend time on authors who have worked hard to craft worlds with more depth and authenticity. However, if I am at the airport and just want something to take my mind off of traveling for a while then I might try another - never say never.
February 16, 2018
I want to have a cat like Joe Grey. Dulcie, for me, comes across as a very vain and jealous cat. Overall, I give this book 5 stars, because it is an enjoyable read.
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