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Joe Grey #20
Cat Shining Bright
The stakes are higher and more personal than ever for feline investigator Joe Grey when death comes to his beloved coastal California town in this twentieth installment of the enchanting cat mystery series.
While new father Joe Grey is overjoyed to teach his three young kittens about the world, he misses his cop work — secretly helping solve crimes alongside his human friends at Molena Point P. D. But when beautician Barbara Conley and one of her customers are found dead in the salon, Joe makes an exception, he heads for the crime scene. He has no idea that the kittens are following him, or how they will complicate the investigation.
But this is not the only danger to the kittens. A stranger is lurking around the home of Joe’s tabby lady, Dulcie, where the kittens were born. Both parents’ backs are up and their claws out, ready to protect their babies and to protect Wilma Getz, Dulcie’s human housemate.
As the death of the beautician becomes entangled with a gang of thieves working the village, Joe, Dulcie, Kit and Pan are all into the investigation; and they are led to unexpected connections, to the building of the new cat shelter and to a neighbor who becomes suddenly an unexpected part of the tangle.
Joe Grey fans will relish this latest installment following their favorite feline detective and his growing group of friends.
While new father Joe Grey is overjoyed to teach his three young kittens about the world, he misses his cop work — secretly helping solve crimes alongside his human friends at Molena Point P. D. But when beautician Barbara Conley and one of her customers are found dead in the salon, Joe makes an exception, he heads for the crime scene. He has no idea that the kittens are following him, or how they will complicate the investigation.
But this is not the only danger to the kittens. A stranger is lurking around the home of Joe’s tabby lady, Dulcie, where the kittens were born. Both parents’ backs are up and their claws out, ready to protect their babies and to protect Wilma Getz, Dulcie’s human housemate.
As the death of the beautician becomes entangled with a gang of thieves working the village, Joe, Dulcie, Kit and Pan are all into the investigation; and they are led to unexpected connections, to the building of the new cat shelter and to a neighbor who becomes suddenly an unexpected part of the tangle.
Joe Grey fans will relish this latest installment following their favorite feline detective and his growing group of friends.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published August 15, 2017
213 people are currently reading
595 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Rousseau Murphy
62 books517 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 78 reviews
November 28, 2019
In the early morning hours, car thieves were busybody the in the small towns off the northern California coast. They would hit a town for several nights breaking into cars, stealing valuables or the car itself. Then they would disappear and next would be in an another. How Grey and Dulcie were nowhere to be seen. They were busy elsewhere. Dulcie would not leave her kittens and Joe was often there with his family. After a wicked stormy night, Joe decided he would take an interest in the car thieves. He heads to Max's office, only to find two of his offspring there. Before he realized it, he and of the kittens are at a murder scene.
the mystery begins here when all the talking cats take part in tracking down thieves. The feral clowder has a role. All the characters are mention in the book. While this book can be read as a standalone, it is better if read in order. I highly recommend this book and series.
the mystery begins here when all the talking cats take part in tracking down thieves. The feral clowder has a role. All the characters are mention in the book. While this book can be read as a standalone, it is better if read in order. I highly recommend this book and series.
May 8, 2019
CAT SHINING BRIGHT is about coming of age and changes in the lives of the magical sentient felines that live in Molena Point, California. Joe Grey and his love Dulcie are marveling over the birth of their three kittens, two boys and a girl, waiting to see if they, too, will speak and read human language. The boys Striker and Buffin are buff colored. The third kitten, Courtney, is the calico female that Misto, the wise old yellow tomcat, had predicted would return from the lands in the Celtic myths.
On the night of severe rain storms and howling winds, a car theft ring skulks through the village breaking into cars, driving those they can away and stealing any valuables left inside the cars they can’t start. Felines Kit and Pan brave the storms and follow detectives from MPPD compiling a description of two thieves and observing their actions. Joe Grey still enjoys his investigative work as snitch for the Molena Point Police Department but has cut his hours drastically to save more time for his family. When he reads the newspaper account of the car thefts, Dulcie urges him to go be part of what he loves at MPPD. Up until now the kittens had been sheltered from learning any bad news, but they latch onto these stories wanting to be part of detecting work too.
Unknown to Joe, the kittens sneak out of the house and follow him to MPPD. They watch as Joe appears to sleep on the police captain’s desk, when he is actually stealing glances at reports and listening to detectives discuss the day’s events. When the police chief’s wife calls 911 to report the shooting deaths of her beautician and a customer in the salon, Joe follows detectives toward the MPPD exit to head for the scene. Just then, moving shadows alert him to the presence of his kittens! He is mortified to see them there, but he is compelled to visit the crime scene. Promising to stick close to Joe, the kittens follow him to the scene. Dulcie has discovered the kittens missing from home and hears the sirens; she knows then where the kittens have gone.
Dulcie and the kittens are no longer safe at Wilma Getz’s home after a stranger lurking outside breaks in. Wilma scares him away before knowing what he was after, but she suspects it is an ancient hand printed book on the wild sentient cats. Discovering who broke into Wilma’s home and why gets tangled together with investigations into the murders and car thefts. Kit and Pan and the feral cat clowder are led to connections between the new cat shelter and its closest neighbor. Shelter owner Kate Osborne and construction worker Scotty Flannery observe strange happenings near the shelter. Joe Grey has a plan to tie everything together and entice the thieves out of hiding right into the arms of MPPD detectives.
This 20th entry in the charming Joe Grey series takes us deeper into the lives of human and feline residents of Molena Point. Joe and Dulcie watch their kittens grow up and discover new passions and new alliances. They know their trusted friends will help guide their kittens into their adult lives.
Highly recommended.
On the night of severe rain storms and howling winds, a car theft ring skulks through the village breaking into cars, driving those they can away and stealing any valuables left inside the cars they can’t start. Felines Kit and Pan brave the storms and follow detectives from MPPD compiling a description of two thieves and observing their actions. Joe Grey still enjoys his investigative work as snitch for the Molena Point Police Department but has cut his hours drastically to save more time for his family. When he reads the newspaper account of the car thefts, Dulcie urges him to go be part of what he loves at MPPD. Up until now the kittens had been sheltered from learning any bad news, but they latch onto these stories wanting to be part of detecting work too.
Unknown to Joe, the kittens sneak out of the house and follow him to MPPD. They watch as Joe appears to sleep on the police captain’s desk, when he is actually stealing glances at reports and listening to detectives discuss the day’s events. When the police chief’s wife calls 911 to report the shooting deaths of her beautician and a customer in the salon, Joe follows detectives toward the MPPD exit to head for the scene. Just then, moving shadows alert him to the presence of his kittens! He is mortified to see them there, but he is compelled to visit the crime scene. Promising to stick close to Joe, the kittens follow him to the scene. Dulcie has discovered the kittens missing from home and hears the sirens; she knows then where the kittens have gone.
Dulcie and the kittens are no longer safe at Wilma Getz’s home after a stranger lurking outside breaks in. Wilma scares him away before knowing what he was after, but she suspects it is an ancient hand printed book on the wild sentient cats. Discovering who broke into Wilma’s home and why gets tangled together with investigations into the murders and car thefts. Kit and Pan and the feral cat clowder are led to connections between the new cat shelter and its closest neighbor. Shelter owner Kate Osborne and construction worker Scotty Flannery observe strange happenings near the shelter. Joe Grey has a plan to tie everything together and entice the thieves out of hiding right into the arms of MPPD detectives.
This 20th entry in the charming Joe Grey series takes us deeper into the lives of human and feline residents of Molena Point. Joe and Dulcie watch their kittens grow up and discover new passions and new alliances. They know their trusted friends will help guide their kittens into their adult lives.
Highly recommended.
July 21, 2023
This was Hannah's book club pick for this month and I just have one thing to say to her: I'm so sorry.
At initial glance, this does not look like it would be my thing, seeing as I don't like cats and anthropomorphism is only something I enjoy when the animals are essentially humans. Additionally, while I feel in my heart that cozy mystery is a genre I could really enjoy, I have read a fair amount of them, all of which have not turned out to be favourites. All of this being said, I still went into this fully wanting and hoping to be surprised by it. I mean, that's what book club is all about, right?
Unfortunately, this was not for me. There are so many things about it that I disliked:
- Too many characters! Especially jumping into the 20th book in the series, there were just too many characters that I felt like we should already know and care about. It was confusing and all the big character moments were lost on me because the author did nothing to make me care.
- The writing was bad. It was clunky and very "tell not show." This made it incredibly difficult to sink into the story and truly appreciate any other element. It was bogged down with stream of consciousness and speculation - long paragraphs of characters asking questions to themselves or thinking to themselves what might have happened. Let the reader come to that conclusion themselves! Please add some descriptions! My lanta!
- The plot was sporadic and made no sense. I mean, after writing 19 cat mysteries, there's only so many plots you can follow, I suppose. Unfortunately, this made for a very random mystery to be solved. It felt like this mystery was supposed to be high stakes, but there was just so much going on that it felt messy. The "twists" felt either like cop-outs, and don't get me started on the non-cliffhanger endings after each chapter.
That's enough gripes for one review, I think. I am glad it's over.
At initial glance, this does not look like it would be my thing, seeing as I don't like cats and anthropomorphism is only something I enjoy when the animals are essentially humans. Additionally, while I feel in my heart that cozy mystery is a genre I could really enjoy, I have read a fair amount of them, all of which have not turned out to be favourites. All of this being said, I still went into this fully wanting and hoping to be surprised by it. I mean, that's what book club is all about, right?
Unfortunately, this was not for me. There are so many things about it that I disliked:
- Too many characters! Especially jumping into the 20th book in the series, there were just too many characters that I felt like we should already know and care about. It was confusing and all the big character moments were lost on me because the author did nothing to make me care.
- The writing was bad. It was clunky and very "tell not show." This made it incredibly difficult to sink into the story and truly appreciate any other element. It was bogged down with stream of consciousness and speculation - long paragraphs of characters asking questions to themselves or thinking to themselves what might have happened. Let the reader come to that conclusion themselves! Please add some descriptions! My lanta!
- The plot was sporadic and made no sense. I mean, after writing 19 cat mysteries, there's only so many plots you can follow, I suppose. Unfortunately, this made for a very random mystery to be solved. It felt like this mystery was supposed to be high stakes, but there was just so much going on that it felt messy. The "twists" felt either like cop-outs, and don't get me started on the non-cliffhanger endings after each chapter.
That's enough gripes for one review, I think. I am glad it's over.
February 24, 2023
My friend Deloris Clausen recommended this book to me on Friday, February 17, 2023 and she passed on Saturday, February 18, 2023. I read it as a tribute to her. She said, "This is a weird one, Elizabeth. The cats are able to use cellphones, talk, and give hints to the police about the crimes. But I think you would like it." I thought she was recommending it to me based on the fact that it had cats in it. But there were also references to Scottish & Irish folklore about cats being very powerful in the past. It was interesting stuff. I would not have picked this up w/o her suggestion. My difficulty was keeping all the characters and all the cats straight. And it was obvious that this was from a series since it referred to past plot points not contained in this volume. I was curious about the author and read about her online. She, unfortunately, passed last year in 2022 @ the age of 94. She had quite a body of work! And, clearly, quite the imagination!
August 30, 2018
This is the type of book (a cozy mystery) that provides a really enjoyable mental holiday. This is my third book by Shirley Rousseau Murphy who has become a favourite author of mine for this type of restful reading.
August 11, 2017
Originally published at Reading Reality
There are two threads in Cat Shining Bright. One is indeed a bright shiny thread, and the other is dark and twisted. A fairly fitting combination for this series.
The bright and shining thread revolves around talking feline detective Joe Grey, his tabby lady Dulcie, and their three kittens, born at the very beginning of the book (also at the very end of the previous book, Cat Shout for Joy.
Joe Grey, Dulcie, and their feline friends Kit and Pan are talking cats with human-level intelligence. Also with human-level emotions, maturity and conflicts. They walk a very fine line between feline instincts and human complications.
As for why these particular cats, or for that matter the feral clowder of cats that congregate at the old Pamillon Estate, all have the capacity for human speech, no one knows. Which brings an air of suspense to the birth of Joe Grey and Dulcie’s kittens. Everyone, both human and feline, hopes that they will be speaking cats like their parents, but there is no certainty until they open their little mouths and something comes out besides “meow”.
Because cats mature relatively quickly, a big part of this story encapsulates all the joys and trepidations of parenthood into a brief four-month period, as the three kittens, Buffin, Striker and Courtney grow from blind, mewling fluffballs to young adults ready to strike out on their own.
While Joe Grey worries about his new family, and Dulcie is both contented and stir-crazy hovering over the kittens during their early months, a gang of sophisticated car thieves preys on Molena Point and the neighboring small towns along the California Coast.
Their pattern is insidious. They strike a town, and for two or three days steal as many late-model cars as they can, while trashing all the cars they can’t steal and robbing the trashed cars of any valuables. After a two or three day rampage, they move to the next town, and the one after that. A few weeks later they return and start all over again. And even though the police manage to arrest a few members of the gang each time, the gang itself seems to continue unimpaired.
While Dulcie is cooped up with the kittens, Joe Grey, Kit and Pan do their best to help the police track the gang, at least whenever they hit Molena Point. Meanwhile, Dulcie’s human friend Wilma is threatened with a problem of her own, one that puts Dulcie, the kittens and possibly all the speaking cats in grave danger.
It’s not until Joe Grey and the police are able to connect ALL the dots that both cases can come to their proper conclusion. And unfortunately, not until after grand theft auto escalates to murder most foul.
Escape Rating B: I love this series, and I really enjoyed my visit to Molena Point to see both the cats and the humans are doing. As Cat Shining Bright is the 20th book in the series, and I’ve read them all (including the semi-sorta-prequel The Catswold Portal) I feel like these two and four-legged people are all friends and I’m always glad to visit and see what everyone is up to.
If the idea of a story featuring a sentient (and often smart-alecky) cat sounds like catnip to you, start with Joe Grey’s first adventure, Cat on the Edge. A lot of what makes Cat Shining Bright work for fans is the emotional investment, and that just takes time to develop. You could probably start anywhere in the earlier books, but the last four rely on previous knowledge and involvement with the series to really come together.
As much as I enjoyed Cat Shining Bright, it felt like both threads of the story were a bit blinded by that shining brightness.. Your mileage may vary.
On the mystery side of the equation, it doesn’t feel quite so much like Joe Grey and the Molena Point PD solve the case as that the solution falls into their laps (at least for those of the two-legged persuasion who actually HAVE laps, that it). The criminals were fairly ingenious in their methods, the cats were distracted, and the humans just couldn’t catch a break. At least not until everything broke all at once.
And I’m not sure we ever got the full story on Wilma’s problem. It ended, but for this reader it felt like some of the whys and wherefores were missing.
The feline side of the equation had a lot more bright spots. Listening in on Joe Grey’s thought processes as he deals with fatherhood and watches the kittens grow up in what to humans would be accelerated time works well. We feel for his dilemma. Joe Grey is a warrior and a protector. He wants to protect his family, his humans and his town, and those drives come into conflict. He also loves his kittens but recognizes that he has to not merely let them, but actually help them, grow up. And he’s “human” enough not to want to.
The fates and futures of the kittens are tied up in prophecies made the wise old cat Misto near his end, during Cat Shout for Joy. Misto’s wisdom and the kittens various powers are tied in with the feral speaking cats at the old Pamillon Estate, with the ancient past of the speaking cats, and with the events of The Catswold Portal and an earlier book in Joe Grey’s series, Cat Bearing Gifts. It looks like little Courtney is going to be the cat that connects that particular set of dots, so there’s a lot left hanging.
One final note about the human side of the story. One of the issues for the humans in this story is what to do about the secret that they are the caretakers for. There is a small circle of humans that knows all about the cats’ talents, including Joe Grey’s people, Clyde and his wife Ryan, Dulcie’s human, Wilma, and Kit and Pan’s human family, the Greenlaws. The vet John Firetti also knows, which is both convenient for the cats and necessary for parts of this particular story. As their humans have found life companions, the circle of people in on this dangerous secret has slowly widened. That’s what happens here, as the speaking ferals take it upon themselves to let Scott Flannery in on their secret so their friend Kate can have her happily ever after. Kate was right that it would be impossible to have a good marriage with a lie that big at its heart.
Which begs the question, what about Charlie and Max? Charlie knows the secret, and has known for a long time. But her husband Max does not know. Max is the Chief of the Molena Point Police Department, and everyone is afraid that if Max discovers that his best snitches are Joe Grey, Dulcie and Kit, that he will stop letting them help him, which would certainly contribute to a rise in the Molena Point crime rate. But how long can this go on?
Hopefully we’ll find out in one of Joe Grey’s future adventures, hopefully sometime next year.
There are two threads in Cat Shining Bright. One is indeed a bright shiny thread, and the other is dark and twisted. A fairly fitting combination for this series.
The bright and shining thread revolves around talking feline detective Joe Grey, his tabby lady Dulcie, and their three kittens, born at the very beginning of the book (also at the very end of the previous book, Cat Shout for Joy.
Joe Grey, Dulcie, and their feline friends Kit and Pan are talking cats with human-level intelligence. Also with human-level emotions, maturity and conflicts. They walk a very fine line between feline instincts and human complications.
As for why these particular cats, or for that matter the feral clowder of cats that congregate at the old Pamillon Estate, all have the capacity for human speech, no one knows. Which brings an air of suspense to the birth of Joe Grey and Dulcie’s kittens. Everyone, both human and feline, hopes that they will be speaking cats like their parents, but there is no certainty until they open their little mouths and something comes out besides “meow”.
Because cats mature relatively quickly, a big part of this story encapsulates all the joys and trepidations of parenthood into a brief four-month period, as the three kittens, Buffin, Striker and Courtney grow from blind, mewling fluffballs to young adults ready to strike out on their own.
While Joe Grey worries about his new family, and Dulcie is both contented and stir-crazy hovering over the kittens during their early months, a gang of sophisticated car thieves preys on Molena Point and the neighboring small towns along the California Coast.
Their pattern is insidious. They strike a town, and for two or three days steal as many late-model cars as they can, while trashing all the cars they can’t steal and robbing the trashed cars of any valuables. After a two or three day rampage, they move to the next town, and the one after that. A few weeks later they return and start all over again. And even though the police manage to arrest a few members of the gang each time, the gang itself seems to continue unimpaired.
While Dulcie is cooped up with the kittens, Joe Grey, Kit and Pan do their best to help the police track the gang, at least whenever they hit Molena Point. Meanwhile, Dulcie’s human friend Wilma is threatened with a problem of her own, one that puts Dulcie, the kittens and possibly all the speaking cats in grave danger.
It’s not until Joe Grey and the police are able to connect ALL the dots that both cases can come to their proper conclusion. And unfortunately, not until after grand theft auto escalates to murder most foul.
Escape Rating B: I love this series, and I really enjoyed my visit to Molena Point to see both the cats and the humans are doing. As Cat Shining Bright is the 20th book in the series, and I’ve read them all (including the semi-sorta-prequel The Catswold Portal) I feel like these two and four-legged people are all friends and I’m always glad to visit and see what everyone is up to.
If the idea of a story featuring a sentient (and often smart-alecky) cat sounds like catnip to you, start with Joe Grey’s first adventure, Cat on the Edge. A lot of what makes Cat Shining Bright work for fans is the emotional investment, and that just takes time to develop. You could probably start anywhere in the earlier books, but the last four rely on previous knowledge and involvement with the series to really come together.
As much as I enjoyed Cat Shining Bright, it felt like both threads of the story were a bit blinded by that shining brightness.. Your mileage may vary.
On the mystery side of the equation, it doesn’t feel quite so much like Joe Grey and the Molena Point PD solve the case as that the solution falls into their laps (at least for those of the two-legged persuasion who actually HAVE laps, that it). The criminals were fairly ingenious in their methods, the cats were distracted, and the humans just couldn’t catch a break. At least not until everything broke all at once.
And I’m not sure we ever got the full story on Wilma’s problem. It ended, but for this reader it felt like some of the whys and wherefores were missing.
The feline side of the equation had a lot more bright spots. Listening in on Joe Grey’s thought processes as he deals with fatherhood and watches the kittens grow up in what to humans would be accelerated time works well. We feel for his dilemma. Joe Grey is a warrior and a protector. He wants to protect his family, his humans and his town, and those drives come into conflict. He also loves his kittens but recognizes that he has to not merely let them, but actually help them, grow up. And he’s “human” enough not to want to.
The fates and futures of the kittens are tied up in prophecies made the wise old cat Misto near his end, during Cat Shout for Joy. Misto’s wisdom and the kittens various powers are tied in with the feral speaking cats at the old Pamillon Estate, with the ancient past of the speaking cats, and with the events of The Catswold Portal and an earlier book in Joe Grey’s series, Cat Bearing Gifts. It looks like little Courtney is going to be the cat that connects that particular set of dots, so there’s a lot left hanging.
One final note about the human side of the story. One of the issues for the humans in this story is what to do about the secret that they are the caretakers for. There is a small circle of humans that knows all about the cats’ talents, including Joe Grey’s people, Clyde and his wife Ryan, Dulcie’s human, Wilma, and Kit and Pan’s human family, the Greenlaws. The vet John Firetti also knows, which is both convenient for the cats and necessary for parts of this particular story. As their humans have found life companions, the circle of people in on this dangerous secret has slowly widened. That’s what happens here, as the speaking ferals take it upon themselves to let Scott Flannery in on their secret so their friend Kate can have her happily ever after. Kate was right that it would be impossible to have a good marriage with a lie that big at its heart.
Which begs the question, what about Charlie and Max? Charlie knows the secret, and has known for a long time. But her husband Max does not know. Max is the Chief of the Molena Point Police Department, and everyone is afraid that if Max discovers that his best snitches are Joe Grey, Dulcie and Kit, that he will stop letting them help him, which would certainly contribute to a rise in the Molena Point crime rate. But how long can this go on?
Hopefully we’ll find out in one of Joe Grey’s future adventures, hopefully sometime next year.
July 22, 2023
I must have the soul of an 80 year old woman, because that seems to be the demographic of those who like this book, and I am not mad at that one bit. I had a great time reading this book, despite the rest of my bookclub absolutely hating it. But this is not their review, this is mine. The vibes in here were great, chilling with cats, doing kitty things. Amazing. The coziness, the sillyness.
Now, I will admit that objectively, this book is awful. The mystery was so ill advised, there were way too many characters to keep track of, and well, the whole thing was rather pointless. However! Did I enjoy my read? Yes. Would I read another book in the series? No.
Oh to be a cat who can talk!
Now, I will admit that objectively, this book is awful. The mystery was so ill advised, there were way too many characters to keep track of, and well, the whole thing was rather pointless. However! Did I enjoy my read? Yes. Would I read another book in the series? No.
Oh to be a cat who can talk!
December 4, 2017
Enjoyed the interaction of the taking cats and people. And seeing the kittens growing
July 14, 2019
This book was more like the earlier books in the series-more mystery and cat detective work.
January 8, 2018
I love Murphy’s Cat novels. They are mystery, romance and mythology combined in a wonderful way.
August 14, 2017
Cat Shining Bright by Shirley Rousseau Murphy is the 20th book in her fabulous & fun Joe Grey series. I have read every book in this series, and it is one of my favorite go to books when I want a sweet lighthearted mystery with a group of wonderful talking cats, and their humans. These are magical sentient cats that live in Molena Point, California, but only their humans close to them know, and the cats are the real ones who solve the crimes. I am amazed that into the 20th book, Murphy can still win us over each and every time. I adore our cats, Joe, Dulcie and Kit. They are awesome, sweet, daring, and clever. The humans who are a major part of this series, are Clyde and Ryan; Wilma, Charlie (who is married to the police chief, and he does not know about the cats). They are all an awesome group that makes this series so much fun and exciting.
In Cat Shining Bright, Dulcie has given birth to three kittens, two boys and a girl, and Joe, the proud father, is finally able to get past the stress of Dulcie giving birth. Joe and Dulcie have always been a team from the start of this series, and we have enjoyed the love they have for each other. A few books later, we met the wonderful sweet and daring Kit, who found her own love, Pan recently. It will take a few months, with everyone waiting with anticipation, for the kittens to begin to talk. It was very well written and fun when they did.
It is Kit and Pan who will discover a car theft ring stealing cars during a storm; this after the death of a beautician found in her salon with a customer. Though Joe has been spending most of his time with his kittens and Dulcie, he becomes intrigued by the car thefts, and will join Pan and Kit in their investigations. The Molena Police department has gotten used to Joe entering the station and falling asleep in the Chief’s office’ of course they do not know he listens and learns all the information there. One day, the kittens became interested in what their father was doing and secretly followed him; Joe will catch them before they are discovered, but their curiosity is now peaked.
What follows is an exciting mystery, trying to find out who murdered the two people, and who was behind all the car thefts. There are trying times when Joe, Kit, Pan and even the kittens find themselves in danger. When Wilma (Dulcie’s human), senses an intruder in her house, she will take Dulcie and the kittens to stay at Clyde & Ryan’s (joe’s humans) house for protection. Someone knows about the secret book about the magical sentient cats, and their ability to talk; and they want the book. Besides the cats finding clues, and making secret calls to the police, the humans will also play a big part in solving the crimes. As I have noted before, I love the characters that have accepted our cats; Charlie, Ryan, Wilma, Clyde, Kate, etc. We also spend time with the police department characters, such as Max, Dallas, etc, who have no idea about the cats.
This is a fun series, exciting mysteries, and fantastic characters, including cats and humans. Do not let that fact that these cats can talk deter you into reading this series. It is a fun and awesome series, and so well written my Shirley Rousseau Murphy. Give yourself a chance to read this enjoyable series.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
In Cat Shining Bright, Dulcie has given birth to three kittens, two boys and a girl, and Joe, the proud father, is finally able to get past the stress of Dulcie giving birth. Joe and Dulcie have always been a team from the start of this series, and we have enjoyed the love they have for each other. A few books later, we met the wonderful sweet and daring Kit, who found her own love, Pan recently. It will take a few months, with everyone waiting with anticipation, for the kittens to begin to talk. It was very well written and fun when they did.
It is Kit and Pan who will discover a car theft ring stealing cars during a storm; this after the death of a beautician found in her salon with a customer. Though Joe has been spending most of his time with his kittens and Dulcie, he becomes intrigued by the car thefts, and will join Pan and Kit in their investigations. The Molena Police department has gotten used to Joe entering the station and falling asleep in the Chief’s office’ of course they do not know he listens and learns all the information there. One day, the kittens became interested in what their father was doing and secretly followed him; Joe will catch them before they are discovered, but their curiosity is now peaked.
What follows is an exciting mystery, trying to find out who murdered the two people, and who was behind all the car thefts. There are trying times when Joe, Kit, Pan and even the kittens find themselves in danger. When Wilma (Dulcie’s human), senses an intruder in her house, she will take Dulcie and the kittens to stay at Clyde & Ryan’s (joe’s humans) house for protection. Someone knows about the secret book about the magical sentient cats, and their ability to talk; and they want the book. Besides the cats finding clues, and making secret calls to the police, the humans will also play a big part in solving the crimes. As I have noted before, I love the characters that have accepted our cats; Charlie, Ryan, Wilma, Clyde, Kate, etc. We also spend time with the police department characters, such as Max, Dallas, etc, who have no idea about the cats.
This is a fun series, exciting mysteries, and fantastic characters, including cats and humans. Do not let that fact that these cats can talk deter you into reading this series. It is a fun and awesome series, and so well written my Shirley Rousseau Murphy. Give yourself a chance to read this enjoyable series.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
August 19, 2017
Cat Shining Bright, Joe Grey mysteries #20
by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
Maybe some mild spoilers...
Joe Grey, Dulcie, Kit, Pan and their humans, the Greenlaws, Clyde and Ryan, Wilma, Charlie, and Kate are back. In this adventure, they add three new talking cats, Joe and Dulcie's kittens, Courtney, Buffin and Striker, and another human who knows their secret, Scotty. All their talking-cat-clueless friends, Max and the rest of the MPPD are back, too.
Kate's cat shelter built on the Pamillon Estate property she purchased has opened. The kittens are now approaching their 3rd month and evidence of their ability to speak is clear. As the story opens, Molena Point is undergoing attack on two fronts: one is the strong storm wreaking havoc on the town and the second is the band of car thieves wreaking havoc of another kind on the village. And who is the mysterious stranger with such a great likeness to one of Wilma's old parolees who is lurking about, following her and watching from the shadows?
Once again, Murphy has managed the impossible -- she makes you believe wholeheartedly that it is possible, perhaps even probable, that speaking cats could exist. The storyline weaves the elements of the changing lives of the cats, the problems caused by the storm, the catching of the car thieves, the secrets hidden deep in all ov the above, and the developing relationship between Kate and Scotty and Scotty and the Pamillon clowder.
No grammar or spelling errors, just good writing and great flow, backed up by competent editing and proofreading. Maybe not the deepest nor most intricate mystery you will read all year, but definitely satisfying. Great addition to an already great series.
by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
Maybe some mild spoilers...
Joe Grey, Dulcie, Kit, Pan and their humans, the Greenlaws, Clyde and Ryan, Wilma, Charlie, and Kate are back. In this adventure, they add three new talking cats, Joe and Dulcie's kittens, Courtney, Buffin and Striker, and another human who knows their secret, Scotty. All their talking-cat-clueless friends, Max and the rest of the MPPD are back, too.
Kate's cat shelter built on the Pamillon Estate property she purchased has opened. The kittens are now approaching their 3rd month and evidence of their ability to speak is clear. As the story opens, Molena Point is undergoing attack on two fronts: one is the strong storm wreaking havoc on the town and the second is the band of car thieves wreaking havoc of another kind on the village. And who is the mysterious stranger with such a great likeness to one of Wilma's old parolees who is lurking about, following her and watching from the shadows?
Once again, Murphy has managed the impossible -- she makes you believe wholeheartedly that it is possible, perhaps even probable, that speaking cats could exist. The storyline weaves the elements of the changing lives of the cats, the problems caused by the storm, the catching of the car thieves, the secrets hidden deep in all ov the above, and the developing relationship between Kate and Scotty and Scotty and the Pamillon clowder.
No grammar or spelling errors, just good writing and great flow, backed up by competent editing and proofreading. Maybe not the deepest nor most intricate mystery you will read all year, but definitely satisfying. Great addition to an already great series.
January 2, 2019
Joe Grey, the talking and reading cat is at it again, solving mysteries. This time it's a car theft ring and a double murder but things get complicated when his kittens start getting involved. If you can get past the idea of talking cats that are smarter than humans (how many people do you know taught themselves to read before they were in school?) it is an amusing read. I'm feeling a bit cranky about this book because once again one sees the effect of lack of a good editor. The police chief says the same thing twice in succeeding paragraphs which is a minor problem. As a librarian I got excited when they discussed the ancient book hand printed on parchment (which is animal skin) only to read that it was printed in 1862! Not ancient at all and not 200 years old as she says later. I also was disturbed by the repeated reference to a characters ethnicity- Murphy didn't say how a dress looked good with the European-American woman's coloring but had to label the Hispanic guy 3 times and his coloring. I noticed Murphy did attempt to explain how Joe can race across rooftops but I've never seen any place where a cat could do that unless it was flat-roofed row houses. And I dare a cat to climb up the siding of any house! But these are all minor compared to the fact that the murders were never really solved (did I miss that somewhere?) nor the appearance explained of a guy that was supposedly in jail far away.
January 14, 2023
Maybe it's because I'm not a cat lover, but I didn't find the cats' personalities to really reflect the fact they are cats. Sometimes I had to go back and check the name of the character who was talking to see if it was a cat or a human. The cats seemed to me pretty much like humans who happened to be in cat bodies. (This is the only one I've read in the series, so I don't know the origins of the speaking cats, whether there is a reason they seem so much like humans except in physical shape.) When I read a series of mysteries where a dog was helping solve mysteries, the dog seemed very much like a dog, or at least what we think a dog would be like. I had thought this book would be like that, but for cats. I'm not sure just how I'd expect a speaking cat to think and act, but somehow more different from humans. The purpose of their being cats - aside from pleasing cat lovers - seems mostly to be that they can go places humans can't, never being noticed by the bad guys. Still, it's a reasonably enjoyable cozy mystery.
September 14, 2017
A purr-fectly delightful feline mystery about a clowder of cats that have a knack for helping solve crimes in their small seaside town of Molena Point with the assistance of their two legged family and friends. I was mesmerized from beginning to end with the story line that continued to spread a tale of adventure, friendship, and humanity.
Tomcat Joe Grey his Lady Dulcie and brood of three kittens, Buffin, Striker, and Courtney with friends Kit and Pan along with Rock the Weinheimer dog and a colony of feral cats that live in the ruins within the woods have the ability to talk among other things. In this the twentieth novel in the Joe Grey series we find father Joe taking his young kittens into some dangerous situations but comes to realize that his kittens are coming of age and heading down their own paths all the while learning the Celtic old stories that have been handed down from generation to generation.
Tomcat Joe Grey his Lady Dulcie and brood of three kittens, Buffin, Striker, and Courtney with friends Kit and Pan along with Rock the Weinheimer dog and a colony of feral cats that live in the ruins within the woods have the ability to talk among other things. In this the twentieth novel in the Joe Grey series we find father Joe taking his young kittens into some dangerous situations but comes to realize that his kittens are coming of age and heading down their own paths all the while learning the Celtic old stories that have been handed down from generation to generation.
December 15, 2017
The birth of three precious kittens to Dulcie and Joe Grey, a double murder in Molina Point, a ring of brazen car thieves and vandals, a home invasions burglary of Wilma's home, a precious old book, mysterious goings on down by the old Pamillon estate... and a secret that comes between lovers.
How precious and precocious are the children of Dulcie and Joe Gray! But will they be talking cats and crime hunters like their parents or will they be just "normal" small cats like little white Snowball? Until they say their first words the parents and friends, both four and two legged, wait and worry.
Meanwhile another crime wave blows into the sleepy little town with one of the worst summer storms in living memory.
I lost sleep over this book, in that I lost touch with time while reading. I will be happy to have this book on my read-again shelf to be enjoyed again.
How precious and precocious are the children of Dulcie and Joe Gray! But will they be talking cats and crime hunters like their parents or will they be just "normal" small cats like little white Snowball? Until they say their first words the parents and friends, both four and two legged, wait and worry.
Meanwhile another crime wave blows into the sleepy little town with one of the worst summer storms in living memory.
I lost sleep over this book, in that I lost touch with time while reading. I will be happy to have this book on my read-again shelf to be enjoyed again.
January 9, 2018
I love this series, primarily because there are talking cats that help solve mysteries with an assist from their human friends. In this book Dulcie and Joe Grey have kittens with special powers. One of the kittens, Buffin, has an affinity with sick or injured animals. Their female calico kitten, Courtney, may be the reincarnation of a queen from the Netherworld.
The stories are always well written with intriguing mysteries and romantic human relationships. In this one Kate finds love but can she get married and keep the secret of the talking cats.
I highly recommend this latest book I. The series and I eagerly await the next one!
The stories are always well written with intriguing mysteries and romantic human relationships. In this one Kate finds love but can she get married and keep the secret of the talking cats.
I highly recommend this latest book I. The series and I eagerly await the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2017
Cat Shining Bright
Joe and Dulcie now have a litter of kittens, who quickly prove that they are anything but dumb animals. When a gang of car thieves starts breaking into vehicles all over town, Joe finds himself with adolescent felines who have heard lots of exciting tales of their parents' adventures and are eager to have some of their own. Ms. Murphy has delivered another enchanting crime drama, with murder, mayhem and mystery. Followers of the Joe Grey Mystery Series will not be disappointed.
Joe and Dulcie now have a litter of kittens, who quickly prove that they are anything but dumb animals. When a gang of car thieves starts breaking into vehicles all over town, Joe finds himself with adolescent felines who have heard lots of exciting tales of their parents' adventures and are eager to have some of their own. Ms. Murphy has delivered another enchanting crime drama, with murder, mayhem and mystery. Followers of the Joe Grey Mystery Series will not be disappointed.
September 11, 2017
Joe Grey and Dulcie have just become the proud parents of three kittens! Two boys and a girl. They are anxious to find out whether any or all of them will be able to speak. Meanwhile, a group of car thieves have started working out of Molena Point. Dulcie isn't able to help, but Joe does his part until the rest of his family can aid in the investigation. Once you buy into the cat speaking premise, it's really a charming series and one that you look forward to further revelations of their history.
September 30, 2017
A good entry in this much loved series. Lots going on among the special cats and the humans of Molena Point. I particularly enjoy when the story brings out more of the mystical background and society of the sentient cats. The mystery, here involving a car theft ring, is always of secondary interest to me in these books and I’ll admit it was a bit hard to follow with all the other stuff going on, but the feline drama excelled. I teared up several times- amazing how these cats can bring out sweet emotions so easily.
August 25, 2017
I gulped this book down like a ravening wolf! I am enchanted with the entire Joe Grey series, and this story of his kittens and their almost-coming-of-age was engaging, sweet, fun, and the mystery was quite good as well. This series will remain on my shelves for as long as I can hold a book. It will be reread at least annually! LOL...I liked it well enough to have started it at 2am this morning, and read it straight through, finishing around 11 this evening!
September 5, 2017
Darn it, now I need to re-read The Catswold Portal yet again. I enjoyed learning about the kittens. I thought the actual mystery was lighter than the Catswold-related back story, and some of the mystery's plot points weren't tied up at the end, but I assume they'll be addressed in future books. This would be a VERY confusing book for someone reading it as their intro to the series, but for those of us who've read all or most of the previous books, it's catnip.
March 18, 2018
4.5 stars
This is one of the better written series that involves cats that can talk and think. The regular cast of characters shows up in each book. These are always a good read and a pretty quick read too. This book with new kittens born to the speaking cats. You may not appreciate this book if you haven't been reading the series. But the plot of the kittens and the murder are woven together fairly well in this book.
This is one of the better written series that involves cats that can talk and think. The regular cast of characters shows up in each book. These are always a good read and a pretty quick read too. This book with new kittens born to the speaking cats. You may not appreciate this book if you haven't been reading the series. But the plot of the kittens and the murder are woven together fairly well in this book.
June 27, 2019
Cat Shinning Bright a Joe Grey Mystery
This is another winner. I love this series and the author writes wonderful characters and storylines in every book. Her mysteries are great too. The cats steal the show every time. The three kittens now will start their life, the two boys at the best and the girl is still a mystery. I highly recommend this series to everyone who loves cats and cozy mysteries. Diana Romano
This is another winner. I love this series and the author writes wonderful characters and storylines in every book. Her mysteries are great too. The cats steal the show every time. The three kittens now will start their life, the two boys at the best and the girl is still a mystery. I highly recommend this series to everyone who loves cats and cozy mysteries. Diana Romano
October 10, 2020
I actually thought this was the last in the series and thinking I would have to wean myself away from what has become one of my all time favorite tales.
Who ever imagined talking cats? Now really. However with Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s gift of weaving a tale and Susan Boyce’s Narrating abilities, I was hooked. This was one of my favorite books in the series, and I really enjoyed the stories of these cats and their humans. They have made me smile!
Who ever imagined talking cats? Now really. However with Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s gift of weaving a tale and Susan Boyce’s Narrating abilities, I was hooked. This was one of my favorite books in the series, and I really enjoyed the stories of these cats and their humans. They have made me smile!
March 22, 2021
I found Shirley Rousseau Murphy's charming entry in her "Joe Grey" series at Dollar Tree in Grenada, Miss., recently. I love cats, by the way, but I'll admit I had a tough time getting it on with a certain aspect of the author's characters -- cats that can speak, though not all of the humans realize this!!! But ... well, go with the flow of the imagination. They help solve the mysteries and help get lonelyhearts together, also --Set in small village California.
September 20, 2017
If you are a cat lover, you will enjoy this series. Apparently a cat's brain is more like a human brain than is a dog's brain so can quite imagine cats talking as they do Shirley Rousseau Murphy's books. Being 'Mom' to one spoiled cat I've learned that cats so seem understand everything that is said to them.
March 30, 2019
I love these little Mysteries all of them are excellent, excellent reads.
Shirley Rousseau Murphy does such a wonderful job with these stories. I always look forward to reading them. They're well-written, well edited and appropriate for anyone of any age to read. Thank you Shirley!
Shirley Rousseau Murphy does such a wonderful job with these stories. I always look forward to reading them. They're well-written, well edited and appropriate for anyone of any age to read. Thank you Shirley!
August 16, 2017
Love it
I have loved loved loved this series from the first book to the now 20th book. You will be taken to a place where you will want to stay with characters you will love both two footed and furry four pawed I can't wait till #21
I have loved loved loved this series from the first book to the now 20th book. You will be taken to a place where you will want to stay with characters you will love both two footed and furry four pawed I can't wait till #21
August 25, 2017
Nice addition to the Joe Grey series. I love the premise of an ancient race of wise, Celtic, talking cats. When they decide to become detectives to protect their town it becomes even more interesting.
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