MYSTERY
|
|
|
|
Edgar Allan Poe
|
Byam Shaw's
illustration for Poe's The Black Cat in "Selected Tales of Mystery"
(London : Sidgwick & Jackson, 1909)
|
Illustration for "The Black Cat" by Aubrey Beardsley (1894–1895)
|
|
|
BOOK
ILLUMINATIONS
From Merrimon Book Reviews
|
|
Cat Striking Back
by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
Unique, refreshing cat mystery series!
When
tom cat Joe Grey smells blood and sees track marks near an empty
house's swimming pool, he knows there has been a murder.
With such faint clues and the absence of a body, can the tip to the
Molina Point, California Police Department be enough to
solve the murder? Taking matters into his own hands, Joe Grey
sets out to investigate with his feline friends Dulcie and Kit in
the ways only cats can. Even two local ferals join him. Joe
discovers all sorts of conflicts among the seemingly tranquil
neighborhood. Will he and his friends be able to stop the killer
before he strikes again, and at what cost to themselves? With the
killer's pathological fear of cats, Joe and his feline friends will
have their paws full!
CAT STRIKING BACK, the newest in the long running Joe Grey mystery
series, combines fantasy and mystery with a feline tom cat sleuth able
to talk, not only to other cats but humans as well. Not only does
the reader enter into his thoughts directly from the cat but the
interaction with humans adds a wonderful sense of humor to this
mystery. The author alternates point of view so that the reader
is taken into the thoughts of the other cats in this mystery.
Kit's interactions with the feral cats, Tansy and Sage, are
particularly moving. The author clearly at her best when
narrating through the eyes of cats. Each cat has his own identity
and voice. Each draws the reader into the world the author
creates. If you love cats, Shirley Rousseau Murphy's mysteries
are a must! Tom Cat Joe Grey and his bit of swagger is downright
cool. Kit's story pulls on the heartstrings. Even the feral
cats and their world is presented with a richness and
multi-dimensionality.
Newcomers to the series, like myself, who are unfamiliar to the series
might find the shifting points of view a bit distracting in the
beginning, although this becomes less of an issue as one continues to
read and becomes familiar with the voices of the different cats, voices
which the author clearly distinguishes. Nevertheless, whether you
start here or earlier, CAT STRIKING BACK will leave a
reader wanting more Joe Grey mysteries! CAT
STRIKING BACK is not just another cat mystery. If you love cats
and are looking for something unique to add to your reading list, the
voices of Shirley Rousseau Murphy's cats are fresh and exciting.
If you are looking for a mystery with a unique edge, the ending here
was certainly unexpected and refreshing as well.
Publisher: Avon (May 4, 2010)
A Joe Grey Mystery
Author
website
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
|
|
|
