Feline P. I. Joe Grey and his friends pounce on three investigations that may connect to one larger mystery—including one case that is very personal—in this hair-raising installment in Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s beloved, award-winning series.
Joe Grey and his partner, Dulcie, are frantic when Courtney, their pretty teen-kitten goes missing. Aided by their two- and four-legged friends, they hit the streets of Molina Point in search of their calico girl. Has Joe Grey and Dulcie’s only daughter been lured away by someone and stolen? Is she lying somewhere hurt, or worse?
Courtney has no idea that everyone is desperately looking for her. Locked in an upstairs apartment above the local antiques shop, she’s enjoying her first solo adventure. When she first met Ulrich Seaver, the shop’s owner, Courtney was frightened. But the human has coddled and pampered her, winning her trust. Sheltered by her parents, her brothers, and her kind human companions, the innocent Courtney is unaware of how deceptive strangers can be. She doesn’t know that Ulrich is hiding a dangerous secret that could threaten her and everyone in this charming California coastal village.
With his focus on finding Courtney, Joe Grey has neglected his detective work with the Molina Point Police Department. Before his daughter disappeared, Joe found a viciously beaten woman lying near the beach. Now the police investigation has stalled, and the clever feline worries his human colleagues may have missed a vital clue. Joe is also concerned about a family of newcomers whose domestic battles are disturbing the town’s tranquility. Loud and abrasive, the Luthers’ angry arguing, shouting, and swearing in the early hours of the night have neighbors on edge and the cops on alert. One of the couple’s late-night shouting matches masked the sounds of a burglary, and now a criminal is on the loose.
Though the crimes are as crisscrossed as the strands of a ball of yarn, Joe Grey’s cat senses tell him they may somehow be linked. It’s up to the fleet-footed feline and his crime-solving coterie to untangle the mysteries before it’s too late.
About the Author
In addition to her popular Joe Grey mystery series for adults, for which she has received eight national Cat Writers’ Association Awards for best novel of the year, Murphy is a noted children’s book author who has received five Council of Authors and Journalists Awards. She and her husband live in Carmel, California, where they serve as full-time household help to two demanding feline ladies.
Industry Reviews
Praise for Cat In the Dark: "Joe Grey and his ladyfriend Dulcie aren't just your ordinary feline detectives. Murphy's raised the stakes of the feline sleuth genre."--Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Cat On the Edge: "A delicious romp . . . of murder, revenge, and jealousy, interlaced with fantasy. This is excellent reading, whether you believe or not. Not to be missed!"--Armchair Detective
Praise for Cat Shining Bright: "The book's charm lies in the clever cats and the people they care about. This is a must read for those who enjoy the feline side of sleuthing."--Romantic Times BOOKclub
Praise for Cat Under the Fire: "Magical whimsy and deft writing."--Cats Magazine
"A special treat for cat mystery fanciers."--Library Journal
"[A]delightful mix of humans, sentient cats, mystery, and humor."--Booklist on CAT FEAR NO EVIL
"[W]ith an uncanny understanding of a cat's behavior and personality quirks, Murphy has created a series of supense yarns that not only capture the feline 'attitude' but offer a satisfying read."--Californian on CAT BREAKING FREE
"A complex, well-crafted plot and lively, credible characters will leave fans purring with pleasure."--Publishers Weekly on CAT BREAKING FREE
"A heartwarming and satisfying tale."--Booklist on CAT COMING HOME
"A quintessential cat fantasy . . . in high fantasy style."--Locus on CAT DECK THE HALLS
