Cat Raise the Dead: A Joe Grey Mystery

Joe Grey #3

by Shirley Rousseau Murphy

Joe Grey can't believe his human housemate Clyde would even consider volunteering him for the Animal Therapy program at the local nursing home, just when Joe was on the verge of solving the string of burglaries that has Molena Point residents shaking in their collective boots. But it turns out it's Dulcie, Joe's pretty little cat-friend, who came up with the idea of subjecting Joe to the cooing attentions of a bunch of doddering old coots. Dulcie believes there's more going on at the old folks' home than the care and feeding of lonely seniors. And she needs Joe's help in getting to the bottom of a conspiracy ... and a very suspicious set of deaths.

Genres: Mystery, Fantasy, Cozy Mystery, Cats, Fiction, Audiobook, Animals

Audiobook

First published May 23, 1997

About the author

Shirley 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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Reviews

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute mystery, especially for cat lovers. The cats solve the mystery, with a little help from human helpers. This is definitely brain candy, but I'm a sucker for mysteries and books about cats, so it was a natural fit for me.

[Emmalynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another adventure with Dulcie and Joe, who knew a cat could be sexist ….. well welcome to Joe’s sexist world even as a cat.

[JD Waggy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually quite like this series, and I very rarely give books only one star, but this was kind of awful. The prose was stilted, the dialogue rare and forced, and even the plot got a little lost in Murphy's musings--through Suddenly Gnostic Joe--about life after death and the nature of living accordingly. The whole thing felt overbearing and heavy-handed, and I still have no real idea what happened at the end. I'm hoping the next one is better, because I do like this series for fluff reading, but this one was neither fluffy nor fun. It was just poorly written.

[Chris Meads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joe Grey is upset in this story--he has been volunteered by Clyde for the Pet-a-Pet therapy group that goes to the local nursing home. Dulcie is all for it.

But Joe is more interested in trying to find out who the little old lady is that is burglarizing the neighborhoods around Molena Point. He has followed her but hasn't a clue to who she is yet. Dulcie is concerned about the little woman that she is paired with--the woman claims that her friends at the nursing home are disappearing and why can't anyone visit the nursing wing there?

Is it just old people's imagination about the disappearances? Are the two instances related--the robberies and the missing people, and how does the owner of the nursing home able to live in luxury?

Chock this one down for the cats again. And the chief of police of Molena Point keeps seeing Joe Grey and Dulcie around every crime that being investigated and it's spooking him.

I really like how these stories are written--well thought out and page turners. I wonder if my cats would ever start talking like Joe and Dulcie.

[Kathleen Meacham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty far fetched on this one, and I could do without the graphic details of the cats killing and eating animals -- right down to the crunching of the bones and all the blood. Yes, I realize that is realistic, but is it necessary in a cozy cat mystery which is anything but realistic? I mean we have talking cats here, folks. Why get real on the hunting? I am baffled by the author's choice to do this.You would never catch CoCo and YumYum from The Cat Who cozy mysteries being described in this fashion. I just personally feel it is unnecessary. Stepping off my soap box now -- smiles.

[Cathy]

Cat Raise the Dead (Joe Gray, #3)
This book was full of fun and action, with two feline sleuths. Don't miss reading this book, it's one of Shirley Rousseu Murphy's, best book by far. I highly recommend it.

[Nancy Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having just read a rather depressing book, I felt the need for some light enjoyable entertainment, so who better to turn to than Joe Grey?! Such a fun story with Joe and Dulcie on the trail of a local cat burglar as well as trying to solve the mystery of allegedly disappearing patients at the nursing home. There is always humor in these books, but this one had me in stitches for several pages with Joe's description of being included in a pet therapy session at said nursing home! I just love his attitude:

"Bonnie Dorriss's poodle remained sitting at heel in an attitude of total dullsville. This was why cats were not given obedience lessons -- no cat would put up with this smarmy routine."

The managers of the nursing home make great villains, and the identity of the cat burglar is a fun surprise. As always, the antics of the two cats are thoroughly enjoyable. This was definitely good "pet therapy" for me!

[✨Susan✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the main characters are back and a few more have been added to the mix. Still loving this series. Onto the next.

[Kinyorda Sliwiak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great entry in the Joe Grey mystery series. Even when you know who the guilty party is, the details of the crime are always fresh and unexpected. The cats' personalities are both what you could imagine your cats doing and completely over the top. Joe's awareness of what is going on around him and his glee in making others uncomfortable is central to the narrative. At some point, Joe is going to have to let more humans in on his secret or risk driving them mad. The citizen crime solver is a familiar trope but those citizens being cats continues to be entertaining. I hope the series maintains its quality going forward. These books are always a quick read. Despite cats being the central characters, the crimes are not cute. If you are a cat lover and a mystery lover you should add this series to your bookshelf.

[Christine (KizzieReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started off slow, but it picked up after a bit. I found the cat burglar part of the mystery a bit boring and maddening. The mystery surrounding the retirement home was a lot more interesting. You really have to suspend your sense of reality with this series, but it's cute. The author does know how to make the actions of cats seem to be human.

[Christina's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute installment of this series

[Alexandra Scarborough · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm only three books in to this beloved series, and I love it. It is so fun much to experience Joe and Dulcie as sentient beings who nonetheless retain every bit of their cat natures. In this installment, I also appreciated the mystery taking place in a retirement home, and the humanization of the elderly folks inside--a group of people often undervalued and ignored.

Joe's dark sense of humor is delightful, and picturing him rolling around laughing after he once again confuses and terrifies the Sheriff is hilarious!

I have a feeling I'll blast through this series quite quickly, as each novel offers a pleasurable balm when I need a break from the world.

[Karen Chong · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not as entertaining as the previous books in the series.

[Sherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much action. Nothing happened through the story with the exception of the last 40 pages.

[empressofeverything · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of a blah book, but I was determined to finish it by the end of the year. Another bathroom read at work.

[Adrian (Changeling Reader) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Barely 2 stars. Probably should have dnf'd a little past halfway like I was thinking. Finished this a little bit ago and have been getting thoughts together. Was insanely slow (things only really got going in the last 88 pages), highly predictable (I called every single reveal with confidence before a lot of information was even revealed or investigation had happened), the characters had not a speck of my heart caring about them, and the ending was disappointing with the cats not actually quite solving the mystery, but just stumbling into the solution/exposing it. Some unnecessary hunting cats chapters and descriptions (including some dated ones toeing near sexism and homophobia) and inconsistent references to plot materials (such as a death relevant to one of the main characters and glimpses into the human characters), but I did find some things to get me through it I guess, so it's not sub-two stars at the moment (although I'm debating going more for 1.75 stars) and I'm feeling generous towards the talking cats.

[Debbie Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate to say that these books about murder and mayhem are fun... but they are. How can it not be fun with cat's that can talk, read, use the phone, open doors AND solve crimes. This is a doozy. A possible stream of missing patients and a (I know... funny) cat burglar... lol Will the cats solve both the crime and the missing patients? Is there something sinister afoot? Of course. Try these funnyish, cozy mystery series.

Using this book for the The 52 Book Club 2023 Challenge prompt #28 - Includes a Funeral

[Rhonda Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I read in this series many years ago, so it has a bit of a special nostalgic place in my heart. I enjoyed it on another read-through. The story was interesting, and I love the cat characters. There were a few things that didn't age really well, particularly with Joe's attitudes toward certain things, but his attitude is nicely set off by Dulcie's counter responses, and he does have quite a bit of character growth in this book (he's getting softer ha ha). The only other minor issue I had was her description of them hunting rabbits. Anyone who knows me knows how obsessed I am with bunnies lol.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series. I have a cat and I love Oscar dearly, he is a big fluffy house cat. I cringe at the idea of him being on the adventures that Joe and Dulcie go on. I especially am glad he eats cat food and I do no have to imagine the kill of the hunt any more than these tales!
I admire Dylan’s persistence. How many kids would pursue to this degree?She is a great young lady, and hopefully a new character addition.I love the stories, and their adventures. Such clever tales! Thanks Shirley!

[MaureenAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this Joe Grey mystery. I found it particularly enjoyable as, for the most part, it was set in a care home with some interesting characters. There were two intertwined stories -the cat burglar - and the missing care home residents -, but it all came together in the final chapters at the end. I listened to an audio version read by Susan Boyce who is an excellent actress/voice artist.

[Bright · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve never finished a cat book. And this book is no exception. I did like that the cat was doing his own talking as opposed to the human interpreting what he thinks the cat is saying.
Every chapter was “suspenseful” in that it’s not revealed what they were doing or talking about until several paragraphs into the scene. I couldn’t decide if that kept me interested or was irritating.
I’m glad I tried it out.

[JOYCE DURHAM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cats are kind of crazy

Dulcie and Joe get caught up in a multitude of cases this time out. A cat burglar, nasty happenings at the local retirement home and missing patients from that retirement home. The had some help from a couple of patients at the retirement home and a 12 year old who was good friends with one of the missing patients. This requires all the help the police can get to solve this one.
A good read and keeps your interest. Enjoy.

[Jamie Storer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave this series three chances to prove it’s not religious bs. The intelligent design passage from the first book, the blissed out cat after realizing there is an afterlife in the second, and then the crazy religious old lady in the third book are disgusting. I will not be finishing this series. I had such high hopes for it.

[Connie Massaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

best cat(s) mystery with lots of surprises

The cats - Joe and Dulcie - were amazing again. Seeing the mystery unfold through their eyes and mannerisms was a delight. The narrative is lively and very descriptive, bringing the plot to life. Another great mystery and murders solved with feline help !

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable cat mystery -- must first get used to the idea that two cats can think & talk & still hunt small prey. Two plots intertwine which require longer opening narrative to set up the storylines. Resolution quite satisfying.

[Amy Lindberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cats investigate a cat burglar and a series of disappearances at an old folks' home.

The mystery part is middling -- there are almost no distractors, meaning every clue is relevant, so it's easy to figure out. But it's still fun, and really more enjoyable than it has any good reason to be.

[Priya Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you can survive the first 200 pages of mundane unoriginal descriptions of places and things and life and death, the last 80 pages is quite fun as the mystery unfolds. I wasn't too impressed since the writing lacked imagination and didn't take me with it through the eyes of a cat.

[Fred Nachbrunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great followup to last book

This book is a great followup and continuation to the previous books in this series .
A real page turner.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not enjoy as much as the first two.

[Tracy Smyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cats are so clever