Product Description

From Shirley Rousseau Murphy, six-time winner of the Cat Writers' Association Muse Medallion, here is crime-solving from the paws of the most cunning and intelligent feline detectives around: tomcat and feline sleuth extraordinaire Joe Grey, his tabby pal Dulcie, and their tattercoat friend Kit.

When antiques and valuables begin to disappear from residents' homes, Joe Grey knows that something is very wrong in sleepy Molena Point, California. Could the thief be a local or, even worse, is it the old crook who may be connected to Azrael, the sinister, yellow-eyed cat who terrorized Joe and Dulcie years ago, and whose return has Joe's fur standing on edge? Even a seasoned tomcat like Joe isn't prepared for the shock that awaits Molena Point residents at the opening for artist Charlie Harper.

While guests are dining on hors d'oeuvres and fine wine at the joyous celebration, a young, healthy waiter drops dead at Charlie's feet.

Meanwhile, just north of Molena Point, in San Francisco, the cats' friend Kate, a woman with a troubling secret, is followed by a stranger and robbed. Her apartment is then gutted, with claw marks and black cat hairs leading her to suspect the vicious tomcat Azrael. In the most dramatic investigation of their lives, Joe Grey, Dulcie, and Kit, following diverse leads, scratch out the truth and, with cunning feline skills, restore a distraught village to its usual cozy tranquility.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #895732 in Books
• Published on: 2004-03
• Released on: 2004-03-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 336 pages

From Booklist
With her latest Joe Grey mystery, Murphy moves closer to integrating the world she created in her first adult novel, The Catswold Portal (1992), which features shape changers who shift between cat and human forms. Azrael, the sinister black tomcat with burning yellow eyes introduced in Cat in the Dark (1999), has returned to Molena Point, California, to embark on another crime spree with human cohorts while he attempts to find the cat portal to the Netherworld. Kate Osborne, who moved to San Francisco three years earlier to search for information about the parents she has never known, also comes back to the village, obviously troubled and arousing great interest on the part of Azrael. The fast-paced story involves sophisticated burglary, murder, and the bizarre secret of Kate's own nature. Once again the delightful mix of humans, sentient cats, mystery, and humor remains true to the preceding books in the series, only this time with a larger dollop of fantasy, which should extend the audience beyond the usual cat-mystery buffs. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"Cat-chy . . . fast-paced." (Publishers Weekly )

"Magical whimsy and deft writing." (Cats magazine )

"Excellent reading, whether you believe or not. Not to be missed!" (Armchair Detective )

"Beautifully written." (Carmel Pine Cone )

About the Author
Shirley Rousseau Murphy has received six national Cat Writers' Association Awards for best novel of the year and for the Joe Grey books, and five Council of Authors and Journalists Awards for her children's books. She and her husband live in Carmel, California, where they serve as full-time household help for two demanding feline ladies.

Customer Reviews

Exciting Cat Mystery
When jewelry and antiques begin disappearing from the homes of Molena Point, California residents, and then a waiter dies at the feet of renowned artist, Charlie Harper, during the opening of her new solo art show, feline detectives Joe Grey and Dulcie know that there is something seriously wrong taking place in the sleepy town. Then, just a few miles north in the city of San Francisco, Joe Grey and Dulcie's human friend, Kate, a clever woman concealing a troubling secret, is not only followed and robbed, but also has her apartment invaded by a rogue, yet very tough tomcat named Azrael. Now, with the help of Joe's owner, Clyde Damen, Joe Grey and his partner in crime (or solving crime), Dulcie will begin clawing out the truth to uncover this frightening new mystery.

This was the first book that I have read by Shirley Rousseau Murphy, and I am quite pleased with the outcome. Joe Grey is a witty character, who's personality can change from funny to serious in the matter of seconds. Dulcie is adorable, even though she is a bit hard-headed. And Clyde is a fun character whom is lead around by the nose by two mischevious cats. Overall this was a fabulous mystery that will capture the hearts of all fans of a good animal-narrated story. Fans of Lillian Jackson Braun and Rita Mae Brown will relish in the likeness of Shirley Rousseau Murphy's plot and characters. A must read.

Erika Sorocco

NOT THE BEST, STILL FUN
I'm sure when a writer dives into a series of novels, it's bound to get a little stale. Shirley Rousseau Murphy's Joe Gray/Dulcie series has so far been a very enjoyable series, with her feline hero/heroines (Kit's the other female)a delight to spend time with. CAT FEAR NO EVIL, while sure to please Ms. Murphy's fans, is a little stale. Murphy spends a lot of time commiserating over some of her character's dilemmas redundantly and uncolorfully. This is true in the case of both Kate and Dillon. There also isn't as much of Dulcie and Kit in this one; seems Murphy is spending a little more time on her humans in this one, and while Kate Osborne was initially fascinating, in this book she comes across pathetically inept both emotionally and physically. Azriel, the black cat, also chews up too much of the scenery. There's some far fetched plotting in this one, and resolutions come a little too easily.
But, the series isn't dead; Ms. Murphy needs to reassess why her readers have followed her---the three cats should be the focal point of the books, and let other fiction writers focus on the humans!!!

Weakest "Joe Grey" yet. A "C" book.
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EVIL , the ninth Joe Grey, is readable, but weak and implausible. As in many long-running series, my willing suspension of disbelief suffered from the shear quantity of mayhem that happens to Our Heroes and their pals. Plus this one has a confused mishmash of plotlines. Has moments, but Murphy needs a fresh start, I guess.

Note that the first 4 or 5 Joe Greys are delightful. Just don't start here.

Happy reading!
Pete Tillman