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Joe Grey #15
Cat Striking Back
"Why is it, Joe, that you are always the one to find the body?"
On a lovely moonlit night, while carrying a gift of mice to a litter of kittens, Joe Grey stumbles upon a murder scene. Behind an empty house, in an empty swimming pool, there's blood, the smell of human death, and drag marks. But there's no victim—and it's hard to prove a crime without a corpse.
Driven by stubborn feline curiosity, Joe Grey sets out to investigate. With Dulcie and Kit following him along a killer's trail, Joe discovers evidence of conflict among the residents of this seemingly peaceful neighborhood—multiple signs of breaking-and-entering, with nothing of value stolen. And they find something far worse: hints of violence yet to come . . . and more planned murder.
With the help of two local ferals, Joe, Kit, and Dulcie must now thwart a killer using the most unorthodox means at their disposal: a criminal's unnatural yet powerful fear of cats.
On a lovely moonlit night, while carrying a gift of mice to a litter of kittens, Joe Grey stumbles upon a murder scene. Behind an empty house, in an empty swimming pool, there's blood, the smell of human death, and drag marks. But there's no victim—and it's hard to prove a crime without a corpse.
Driven by stubborn feline curiosity, Joe Grey sets out to investigate. With Dulcie and Kit following him along a killer's trail, Joe discovers evidence of conflict among the residents of this seemingly peaceful neighborhood—multiple signs of breaking-and-entering, with nothing of value stolen. And they find something far worse: hints of violence yet to come . . . and more planned murder.
With the help of two local ferals, Joe, Kit, and Dulcie must now thwart a killer using the most unorthodox means at their disposal: a criminal's unnatural yet powerful fear of cats.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
74 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Rousseau Murphy
62 books515 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 58 reviews
April 18, 2018
All is quiet in Molena Point as Joe carries his gift over roof tops on the way he smells DEATH. Keep in the struggling mice tight he investigates the area and finds a scene of death. He continues on and leaves the gift for Mango.
Meanwhile Kit and Dulice make friends with Tansy a clowder cat. Randy used to live in the town before she was dumped in wilderness area. Tansy is a lot of help as she knows the houses. Sage watches the killer bury the woman and is hurt.
Clyde has decide to sell his antique cars and joined Ryan in restoring houses. Clyde and Ryan are looking at houses to buy. The killer follows them looking for a burial site. These plots are neatly solved together.
Meanwhile Kit and Dulice make friends with Tansy a clowder cat. Randy used to live in the town before she was dumped in wilderness area. Tansy is a lot of help as she knows the houses. Sage watches the killer bury the woman and is hurt.
Clyde has decide to sell his antique cars and joined Ryan in restoring houses. Clyde and Ryan are looking at houses to buy. The killer follows them looking for a burial site. These plots are neatly solved together.
November 20, 2009
I just laugh to myself when I think about this book. I was shocked when I began reading it, "why?" you may ask? Because its sleuths are not only cats, but talking cats! It was a fun murder mystery, full of anticipation, excitement, and kept me on the edge of the chair the whole time. I felt the "cat-energy" the author tried to create, as she told the story based on what the cats saw. Being a cat owner/lover myself, I think she did a good job describing these creatures and their quirks and personalities.
March 24, 2013
another delight in the Joe Grey series. Joe stumbles across a crime scene, sans body. Ahh,
Joe & trouble just seem to find each other.
Once more we meet the regulars in Molena Point... always a great read.
Joe & trouble just seem to find each other.
Once more we meet the regulars in Molena Point... always a great read.
April 19, 2021
A good murder-mystery, a clever and unscrupulous thief, an accidental death (or was it?): Joe Gray and the other furry detectives are promptly on the case. Crime does not pay in Modena Point, when Joe Gray, Dulcie, and Kit are watching!
No real surprises here. The Usual Crowd of cat servants dish up tasty food. The men are strong, the women are good looking. Pleasant light entertainment, though some of the details of the crimes and punishment are a bit graphic. Recommended for fans of the series.
No real surprises here. The Usual Crowd of cat servants dish up tasty food. The men are strong, the women are good looking. Pleasant light entertainment, though some of the details of the crimes and punishment are a bit graphic. Recommended for fans of the series.
June 21, 2019
Even though I love anything cat related I couldn't get into the premise of the book. It felt like the author was putting too much humanity onto the cats which just felt wrong somehow. The whodunit story line was good though, the ending was rather reminiscent of Carl Hiaasen. Couldn't cope with the sections of the story when things happened to the cats. Funny how I can read about humans getting hurt but I'm too sensitive when it comes to my favourite animals.
December 3, 2010
Amazing as all her books are!
May 30, 2020
This was the first Joe Gray story I was not totally tickled with. To be fair, I may go back and listen to it again.
February 17, 2021
Read this if you really like cats. If you really like well written books, do not read this.
February 26, 2021
Not my favorite. It had a few chapters from the "murders" view point.
Still like the idea of cats talking. May read books towards the beginning of the series.
Still like the idea of cats talking. May read books towards the beginning of the series.
June 23, 2025
Picked this up at a library discard sale.... I read so many books about dogs ...thought it was time to give the cats a chance...and it was ok
like any fiction book you need to suspend belief to a point...but this one really went off the cliff...the story is that in our world...there are special cats that can speak english...they solve problems...so...highly intelligent ...andddd...completely able to do physical feats that defy logic...which if you are going to press the envelope..i can deal with that....but when a cat can jump grab a doorknob...swing back and forth and open the door...can jump and grab the lock and unlock the door...all by using the paws as we know it and able to grip things like a doorknob...
ok
but if i ignored these crazy things the book was sorta fun...but did get draggy at time...worth the price i paid lol...but wont be in a hurry to pick up more of this series...and yes..it is a series..this was printed in 2009 and there were 15 other books...so has to be a following...maybe can read one by borrowing from the library ...
like any fiction book you need to suspend belief to a point...but this one really went off the cliff...the story is that in our world...there are special cats that can speak english...they solve problems...so...highly intelligent ...andddd...completely able to do physical feats that defy logic...which if you are going to press the envelope..i can deal with that....but when a cat can jump grab a doorknob...swing back and forth and open the door...can jump and grab the lock and unlock the door...all by using the paws as we know it and able to grip things like a doorknob...
ok
but if i ignored these crazy things the book was sorta fun...but did get draggy at time...worth the price i paid lol...but wont be in a hurry to pick up more of this series...and yes..it is a series..this was printed in 2009 and there were 15 other books...so has to be a following...maybe can read one by borrowing from the library ...
June 20, 2021
Another Wonderful Mystery
MS Murphy enchants the reader again with characters of death you love to hate and cats that provide clues that have no apparent source. Through metaphors the reader sees two different ways cats live: one with humans and one in the ruins of an abandoned ranch. One civilized and one wild perhaps. Both have their pros and cons. Friends can still be from different backgrounds and happy. There is more from the humans but read it to find out more! Bravo. Luff this series. Serious but not....hmmmm....
MS Murphy enchants the reader again with characters of death you love to hate and cats that provide clues that have no apparent source. Through metaphors the reader sees two different ways cats live: one with humans and one in the ruins of an abandoned ranch. One civilized and one wild perhaps. Both have their pros and cons. Friends can still be from different backgrounds and happy. There is more from the humans but read it to find out more! Bravo. Luff this series. Serious but not....hmmmm....
September 16, 2017
On one of his nighttime walks Tom cat Joe Gray smells death in an empty swimming pool. At the same time there's been several vacationing families burglarized. It's up to Joe to call the police and report what he knows. He, his lady love Dulcie and their pal Kit can all talk! This is a great series if you're a cat lover or enjoy fantasy!
Read
September 24, 2018Ms. Murphy's writing about her cats characters make me want to read more to see what's next. By giving her cats a human perspective, as a reader that makes me think if only life was as such. I would have understood what my dogs are planning when they give me a certain look. Can't wait to read about Dulcie, Kit, and Joe Gray's other shenanigans😄😄😄
August 8, 2022
A perfect Joe Grey detective novel! The trio of speaking cat sleuths living with humans (Joe, Dulcie, and Kit) work together with feral speaking cats to solve the mystery of whose body first appears, then disappears, in an abandoned swimming pool. Human companions, cops, and the villain weave through the tale, but the story belongs to the cats.
August 9, 2020
I enjoy all these books. This one, sorry to say, I did not log into the Goodreads to write a proper commentary. Sorry. I know I enjoyed it and what I remember in particular is the ending. Suffice my review to say, he got what he deserved!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2020
I enjoy the series - this would be my third read of it, I think - but this book is spending far too much time from the PoV of a particularly revolting murderer. Page after page of a self-pitying narcissist who got his start killing his mother’s cats are not for me.
May 19, 2024
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and her talking cats. It is well written and I just have a little some trouble with the talking cats. It was very suspenseful in many places….i didn’t want the cats to get hurt!!! Not my cup of tea, as they say.
September 16, 2024
Talking intelligent cats!🐱🐆
Cats looking out for the neighborhood come across murder, burglary! Few know they can talk! Police take their tips called in by Joe! Enjoy this book!
Cats looking out for the neighborhood come across murder, burglary! Few know they can talk! Police take their tips called in by Joe! Enjoy this book!
November 20, 2024
Joe Grey, the cat detectives, smelled human blood and evidence of blood and a body being drugged, in an abandoned swimming pool. Kit finds a new friend, Tansy, she is like Kit, Dulcie and Joe Grey, talking cats. Together they work to find a killer.
July 25, 2017
A cats tale
A great who done it mystery.
A collection of suspects.
A number of clues.
Well written action suspense story
Development from previous books.
A great who done it mystery.
A collection of suspects.
A number of clues.
Well written action suspense story
Development from previous books.
June 21, 2020
This is an older one in a series I love. The murder mystery was great and the cats antics are a delight.
March 29, 2022
As always great fun.
May 25, 2024
This was a really enjoyable mystery, with an interesting villain and great characters, both feline and human. Recommended for animal lovers.
October 30, 2009
Granted, considering the number sold it's doubtful that there are many first-time readers of Rousseau's Joe Grey series, but just in case there are a few things that should be accepted for prime enjoyment of this fun, part fantasy, all mystery story. First, decide that it's ok for cats to talk, to one another and to their human friends. Second, accept the fact that Joe is a cat and a full-time detective who will dare almost anything until the crime in question is solved. There, now that's settled prepare for the 15th installment of his sleuthing shenanigans.
Joe is padding through Molena Point toting a four course meal for a nursing mother cat when his sharp senses detect a smell that stopped him, " smell that made his fur bristle." It was the awful odor of blood and human death. He follows this to an abandoned property and an empty swimming pool. The pool's bottom is covered in muddy slime but it's also clear that something, something large has been dragged across one end of the pool. Joe is able to follow a trail that leads to where what he believes to be a body is dragged, tire marks indicate the body was put in a car and taken away.
He calls the police, and then after taking food to the hungry mother cat returns to the scene only to find that in such a brief period someone has hosed down the area removing the evidence he had seen. Who and why?
No sooner had Joe made his report and hardly had time to ponder the strange goings-on when houses in the neighborhood are broken into. Strange robberies if that is what they are as nothing seems have been taken. Four houses that have been entered are vacant as the owners are on vacation. Joe, his lady, Dulcie, and friend Kit begin going house to house trying to put a few pieces of this strange puzzle together. These are really odd break-ins and Joe knows there's been a murder but there is no body. What can the crime busting kitties do next?
A couple of feral cats join them while continuing to marvel at the strange ways of humans. Joe and his two-footed friends certainly have their work cut out for them and readers have one more Joe Grey mystery to enjoy.
- Gail Cooke
Joe is padding through Molena Point toting a four course meal for a nursing mother cat when his sharp senses detect a smell that stopped him, " smell that made his fur bristle." It was the awful odor of blood and human death. He follows this to an abandoned property and an empty swimming pool. The pool's bottom is covered in muddy slime but it's also clear that something, something large has been dragged across one end of the pool. Joe is able to follow a trail that leads to where what he believes to be a body is dragged, tire marks indicate the body was put in a car and taken away.
He calls the police, and then after taking food to the hungry mother cat returns to the scene only to find that in such a brief period someone has hosed down the area removing the evidence he had seen. Who and why?
No sooner had Joe made his report and hardly had time to ponder the strange goings-on when houses in the neighborhood are broken into. Strange robberies if that is what they are as nothing seems have been taken. Four houses that have been entered are vacant as the owners are on vacation. Joe, his lady, Dulcie, and friend Kit begin going house to house trying to put a few pieces of this strange puzzle together. These are really odd break-ins and Joe knows there's been a murder but there is no body. What can the crime busting kitties do next?
A couple of feral cats join them while continuing to marvel at the strange ways of humans. Joe and his two-footed friends certainly have their work cut out for them and readers have one more Joe Grey mystery to enjoy.
- Gail Cooke
August 16, 2016
If you enjoy paranormal mysteries go for Joe Grey. Although this is book 15, you can read it as a stand-alone. It took me awhile to get back to Joe Grey; I overdosed on the first 14 books.
Joe irritates me, and I keep reading. It’s like being married; you love the person, but they can get on your nerves. He is kind and selfish. Surprisingly the balance works in these books.
Joe lives with Clive and his wife and her dog. Hmm, better let you know now, Joe is cat…who speaks. Honestly, it does work. He is also our sleuth.
Joe is sulking because there are to be changes to their domestic arrangements. So Joe the ‘mardy’ cat forgets his troubles in detecting a murder he happens across.
It’s quirky, warm and amusing and you want to shake Joe sometimes but don’t tell the RSPCA. Dulcie, and Kit, two amateur detectives, help Joe. They're also cats. The interplay between the talking cats and humans that know they can speak is absorbing.
This story wanders off to the feral cats. They did not add to the story on this occasion. It made me wonder if the author was page filling, as a subplot it made little sense. I was also disappointed in how the villain died. I won’t spoil it and tell you but is seemed a lazy way to conclude the murder. Hence two stars.
Connect with me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/imjussayin2
Book Rating
Sexual Content Rating: None
Language Content Rating: Safe
Violent Content Rating: Low
Will I read the next book? Probably
My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book
1* Finished the book but didn't like it.
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.
Joe irritates me, and I keep reading. It’s like being married; you love the person, but they can get on your nerves. He is kind and selfish. Surprisingly the balance works in these books.
Joe lives with Clive and his wife and her dog. Hmm, better let you know now, Joe is cat…who speaks. Honestly, it does work. He is also our sleuth.
Joe is sulking because there are to be changes to their domestic arrangements. So Joe the ‘mardy’ cat forgets his troubles in detecting a murder he happens across.
It’s quirky, warm and amusing and you want to shake Joe sometimes but don’t tell the RSPCA. Dulcie, and Kit, two amateur detectives, help Joe. They're also cats. The interplay between the talking cats and humans that know they can speak is absorbing.
This story wanders off to the feral cats. They did not add to the story on this occasion. It made me wonder if the author was page filling, as a subplot it made little sense. I was also disappointed in how the villain died. I won’t spoil it and tell you but is seemed a lazy way to conclude the murder. Hence two stars.
Connect with me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/imjussayin2
Book Rating
Sexual Content Rating: None
Language Content Rating: Safe
Violent Content Rating: Low
Will I read the next book? Probably
My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book
1* Finished the book but didn't like it.
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.
November 29, 2009
Liked this one quite a bit. I read the Joe Grey's for the characters & the village life rather than for the mystery aspect. I like the way she wrote part of the action from the perp's point of view but never gave enough identifying detail to pinpoint just WHO he was. A bunch of possibles were introduced & we learn quite a bit about each but you didn't get the final ID of the bad guy till the end and he had a satisfactory comeuppance. Lots of changes are in the wind for some main characters and there was some good cat interaction as well. Maybe I liked this one because it was a tiny bit more focused on a few main characters so it didn't seem as frantic as some recent titles. I know I appreciate a little peace and quiet this time of year.
August 14, 2012
2009, #15 Joe Grey/Dulcie, Molena Point, California; fantastical cosy. The scent of a dead body near a neighbor's empty house and water-less swimming pool leads Joe Grey and his feline friends to a murderer and thief with Ailurophobia and a terminal case of paranoia.
Molena Point is a beautiful coastal town in Northern California, lure to tourists, and a nice place for folks to live. In one small neighborhood four 30-ish couples have formed a friendly group, sharing meals and outings and the stories of their lives, childcare and pet sitting. But one couple is not quite like the others - they have a nefarious plan about to be set in motion... full review at Reviewing The Evidence:
http://reviewingtheevidence.com/revie...
Molena Point is a beautiful coastal town in Northern California, lure to tourists, and a nice place for folks to live. In one small neighborhood four 30-ish couples have formed a friendly group, sharing meals and outings and the stories of their lives, childcare and pet sitting. But one couple is not quite like the others - they have a nefarious plan about to be set in motion... full review at Reviewing The Evidence:
http://reviewingtheevidence.com/revie...
July 30, 2013
Ironically, I just wrote a rave review of the series and then read (or tried to read) this book. The author, who I know can write very well, spent most of the book telling, not showing. It was like the book was written by an entirely different author and was beyond boring. Then much of the book is spent inside the mind of the killer and flashbacks to his intolerable cruelty and murder of cats when he was a child. It was ghastly. Then in the present day he harms more cats. Another cat is terribly abused by multiple people. Even mice are treated gruesomely. Geez. What was with this book?! What was the author thinking?!!
I could not finish this novel and I do not recommend it.
I could not finish this novel and I do not recommend it.
March 12, 2016
The talking cats of Molena Point, Joe, Dulcie, and Kit, with the help of two talking ferals, solve a murder and some house break - ins in this episode. A few people know of their unique abilities, their housemates and the wife of the police chief. Over the years the cats have assisted the police in solving crimes, undercover. No one else must know of their abilities so the police don't know that their tips come from the cats, but they have learned to trust their help.
March 8, 2020
Good suspense! Read 90% of it in one day. There is an error in the continuity (consistency?), when late in the book it says the killer moved the body from vehicle A to vehicle B before then taking it to where he buried it, whereas earlier it said the body had only been in vehicle A, from which he’d taken it to bury it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews