Cat's Claw

Rachel Murdock Mystery #3

by Dolores Hitchens, Katherine Hall Page (introduction)

Part of the Miss Rachel mystery series. Miss Rachel has a cat named Samantha that follows her everywhere. There is also her sister Jennifer and a Lieutenant Mayhew who regularly appears.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

1 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 1943

About the author

Julia Clara Catherine Maria Dolores Robins Norton Birk Olsen Hitchens, better known as Dolores Hitchens, was an American mystery novelist who wrote prolifically from 1938 until her death. She also wrote under the pseudonyms D.B. Olsen, Dolan Birkley and Noel Burke.

Hitchens collaborated on five railroad mysteries with her second husband, Bert Hitchens, a railroad detective, and also branched out into other genres in her writing, including Western stories. Many of her mystery novels centered around a spinster character named Rachel Murdock.

Hitchens wrote Fool's Gold, the 1958 novel adapted by Jean-Luc Godard for his film Bande à part (Band of Outsiders, 1964).

Although she was known as Julia as a child, she later said Dolores was the only one of her five given names she liked. Robins was her maiden name; Norton and Birk were two previous stepfathers; Olsen was her first husband; and Hitchens was her second husband.

Reviews

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second Dolores Hitchens read from her 'cat mystery' series, and my position on cats in general has changed quite a bit. I went from actively disliking them to owning one of my own that I simply adore (although I still maintain that they are more wild than domesticated in many ways). However, this shift in perspective on the namesake of these novels hasn't really changed my opinion of the books themselves. Our amateur detective, a Miss Rachel Murdock, drags her equally elderly sister Jennifer and her black cat Samantha, to a case in the orange groves of CA. Putting both her sister and her cat in mortal danger barely seems to bother her, as her curiosity and desire to outdo the police at their own game supersedes any loyalty or devotion to those near and dear to her. Other people might describe her as 'spunky' or a woman ahead of her time, but I just find her to be selfish and self-absorbed. I don't even get the sense she cares about justice, but more about wanting to be the first to the finish line. My dislike of the main character knocks one star down from my rating, as otherwise I think it's a strongly written mystery with interesting characters and a well-developed setting.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Hrishika Shetty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been reading some books dealing with heavy themes and this murder mystery set in the orange groves of 1943 California was a nice respite. I have a soft corner for detectives who are old women and who either because of their incurable curiosity/nosiness/decades of experience with solving mysteries and a good dash of boredom, go about solving crimes. They maybe considered selfish or self absorbed or busybodies but to me they embody the zest for life and childlike spirit that we all try try to keep alive.

I had only known of Miss Marple and Vera Wang but thanks to my local library’s fiction recommendations of the month I discovered Miss Rachel. Looking forward to reading more of her adventures.

[Susan Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this vintage mystery & look forward to reading more of the Rachel Murdock mysteries.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A niece gave me this, having received it from a cousin. It wasn't to her taste, but to me, raised on the Golden Age of Mystery, this was comfort food.
This reissue, courtesy of Otto Penzler's American Mystery Classics, is one of several reissues from an author who reflected a sub-genre of mystery fiction popular in the 1930s and 1940s--the "snoop sister," a older woman, often a spinster, whose knack for puzzles and assembling clues leads her to a sort of frenemy relationship with the police department. Here, we have Rachel Murdock, who often drags her older sister Jennifer unwillingly into investigations.
Rachel can hardly avoid this investigation, as it relates to a hit and run she witnesses from the window of her home in Los Angeles. The victim had been lurking near an apartment building down the street, where a young couple had recently moved in. The couple departed within hours of the death.
Soon Rachel finds a clue to point her toward a rural area south of Los Angeles, near a mountain known as San Cayetano. There, the Aldershott family have held sway for a few generations. Rachel pursues her case by peering into windows, eavesdropping on conversations, and asking innocent questions whenever she can, much to Jennifer's dismay and concern.
Working "with" Lieutenant Mayhew, they learn Robert Aldershott had secretly married one Florence MacConnell. Also, a map found in the possessions of the hit-and-run victim, seems to point to a possible conflict over land rights on the mountain. Monica Aldershott seems to be in an adversarial relationship with an employee, Tommy Hale, and her Uncle Carder, who collects spiders, seems a malevolent presence in all of the Aldershott's lives.
When Florence is found with her throat cut, Rachel realizes her picture of the crime must be reshuffled and assembled again... to reveal an unsuspected killer.
Rachel falls in the category of "thinking machine." She is not unfeeling, but she loves to solve puzzles, and is not above a little emotional blackmail to keep Mayhew on his toes, or persuade her sister to assist. She is, of course, very good at reading people, and seeing clues the police overlook.
I enjoyed this, and plan on finding the other recently reissued volumes in this classic series.

[Darius Ostrowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my fourth book by Dolores Hitchens and the third that features Rachel Murdock, an old lady who enjoys inserting herself into mysteries, her tutting sister Jennifer, and her cat Samantha.

This time Rachel is being quite the nosey busybody, watching a man who has his sights fixed on the house across the street, day after day. That house is being rented by a young couple, and the man is trying to catch the attention of the man while avoiding the lady. When his vigil is ended by being (deliberately) run down in the middle of the road, Rachel springs into action, much to the dismay of her sister as well as Detective Mayhew, always warning Rachel not to get involved in police business (even though she often helps him solve the crime).

The sisters (and Samantha) soon make their way to San Cayento, in the mountains and orange groves of southern California, where they rent a house and start to get involved in a family squabble. A Scottish girl out for revenge, a rich heir with a weak heart, some ranch hands who are trying to move up in the world, and an invalid who has a house full of spiders... what could possibly go wrong? When the girl goes missing and the hit and run victim is found buried, Detective Mayhew shows up and gets involved. But it isn't until after a second victim is found that Rachel is able to piece together the mystery.

A fun golden age mystery with an unlikely sleuth. Yes, she's a bit annoying, but Rachel is still a hoot.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this 1943 mystery featuring a septuagenarian sleuth and her sister. It’s set in the mountains outside Los Angeles and is good mix of matter-of-fact fair play and occasional dread. It’s not a page-turner but at under 200 pages, it’s a quick read.

Cat’s Claw is the fourth in the series and most recent to be republished as an American Mystery Classic. I’ll definitely look for the earlier titles.

[eris ★]

DNF at 33% . i feel so bad but im so bored :(

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my full review click the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.com/2025/...

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a number of Dolores Hitchens books and have enjoyed them all. The Rachel Murdoch series also features her cat Samantha and her sister (who is the polar opposite of the forward thinking, unfraid Rachel.)

This one starts with Rachel just looking at homes to get out of the house and see things. She decides to rent one home based on a feeling after coming across a young girl who was burying a toad and realizing that it was killed by a person, and that person knew what effect it would have on this girl. Basically, renting a place that would catapult her into the middle of murder.

The wonderful thing about Dolores Hitchens (or D.B. Olsen or any number of alias’s) is that she can make the story feel really big and action packed all the time. Even small events of someone watching someone staring across the area from the back door takes on larger meaning. Her ability to compress action and have so much personal information as well is pretty amazing.

I may have read this one before Goodreads; as I’ve read a lot of them, but decided to read the reprint just revisit a writer I spent a great deal of time hunting down stories to read.

The stories tend to be in the 200 or so page length and read really quickly, I call these kind of stories - eating candy cause they are so good as soon as you finish, you want more.


This one is a bit darker than others as Rachel’s sister isn’t involved as much here, just at the end. When she is involved there is much more humor in the story.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is not to everyone's taste, but I love it. Written in the early 1940s, the book is a reflection of a particular time and place. I actually finished and then read it over. There are things that modern readers will take issue with, but overall I feel it has held up well. Miss Rachel is a spunky detective, a little old lady who takes chances and shows courage and cleverness in the face of danger. While some readers would say she is terrible, a snoop, a nosy old woman, I think some of these same readers would applaud modern cozy heroines who do the same thing and then are astonished at the outcome. Miss Rachel knows the risks she is taking.

And while these might still be considered cozy, there are some very brutal murders.

Finally, if you are a fan of films of the 1930s-1950s, I think you'll recognize a lot of scenes. Miss Rachel loves the movies and it's obvious her author did too.

At another time, I might have given this four stars instead of five, but I feel the book deserves a higher rating and it was just the book I needed at the time after some less than stellar reads.

Every book is not for every person. Your mileage may vary.

[Kidlitter · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorites in the series because Miss Rachel is so smart and determined and her sister, Miss Jennifer, abandons her disapproval of Rachel's sleuthing and helps investigate a new murder. And of course their cat Samantha is along for the adventure in this unique Southern California setting.

[Nicolette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok, for quite a dated mystery. Women were often described as hysterical. I liked the dynamics of Miss Rachel being a fearless sleuth and her sister Miss Jennifer being a practical and cautious person.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25. I liked the cat but I didn’t care much for the characters especially the mosey sister and her put upon sister. It was slow moving and weak, imo. Mathew kind of humored her, Miss Rachel, but kind of used her too. It really was another life ago.

[blue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not the author having a character racially profile someone in the first chapter. 🤨

[Eddynhx · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank God that’s over. Jennifer was insufferable.

[Melody Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first I had read of the author. I found it a little hard to keep track. Many characters and jumping back and forth. The suspense is good and I didn’t know who killer was until the end.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved it! Another awesome book! I’m so glad Jennifer joined in the sleuthing. This is a must read series! I can’t wait for the next book.

[Anna’s Books 📚📖 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An elderly woman, Miss Rachel, and her cat Samantha get involved in solving a murder after a hit-and-run, leading them to a mountain town with property conflicts and hidden secrets.

[Lisa Continelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best part of this book is the the cover

[Suzanne Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gentle, old-fashioned murder mystery story published in 1942. Sort of like a Miss Marple but in LA.

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss Rachel (and her sister Jennifer) watch a bandy-legged man spy on a house across the street. Then they see him get hit, taken and driven off.

This leads the ladies to investigate what happened to the man and the mysterious tenants of the house who disappeared the next day.

In this story Rachel and Jennifer travel to San Cayento and find intrigue and murder and spiders. Of course Samantha, their cat, travels with them and as usual has a claw in on solving the mystery.

[Ashley Hardee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminds me of an episode of murder she wrote. Lovely story and always love the cat theme.