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Joe Grey #7
Cat Laughing Last
Fans of Lillian Jackson Braun and Rita Mae Brown and cat lovers everywhere will delight in this newest mystery featuring two furry felines on the scent of a killer.
Famous novelist Elliot Traynor is temporarily living in Molena Point. He and his wife don't have much to do with the villagers, which is fine with them since no one particularly likes Vivi. But their arrival has coincided with some peculiar happenings in the town, culminating with a botched burglary in the home of 60–something Susan Brittian. Susan is a friend to feline detectives Joe Grey and Dulcie and they aren't going to let this crime go unpunished. With whiskers twitching they investigate the crime and soon find themselves on the scent of a killer.
Famous novelist Elliot Traynor is temporarily living in Molena Point. He and his wife don't have much to do with the villagers, which is fine with them since no one particularly likes Vivi. But their arrival has coincided with some peculiar happenings in the town, culminating with a botched burglary in the home of 60–something Susan Brittian. Susan is a friend to feline detectives Joe Grey and Dulcie and they aren't going to let this crime go unpunished. With whiskers twitching they investigate the crime and soon find themselves on the scent of a killer.
368 pages, Paperback
First published December 24, 2001
95 people are currently reading
461 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Rousseau Murphy
62 books516 followersShirley 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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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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
May 8, 2019
As Joe Grey and Dulcie stroll the streets and rooftops of Molena Point, California, they are privvy to information no human is aware of. For you see, they are cats. Even among their own furry kind, they are unique and extraordinary, for they can speak just like human beings. Very few humans are aware of their amazing talents, as the felines strive to hide their intellectual ability. However confidential their speaking abilities may be, Joe and Dulcie are key informants to Captain Max Harper of the Molena Point Police Department.
In Joe Grey’s seventh adventure, the five ladies of the Senior Survival Club are working hard to raise money to put toward their goal – a communal home to provide mutual security and comfort as they grow older. They scout the yard and estate sales and offer their treasures on the Internet. Someone else must think they have something of great value when Susan Brittain finds her home broken into, and their purchases ransacked and damaged. Later the same day, when Cora Lee French scouts a small engraved chest, the local antiques dealer rips it from her hands.
These acts may have to do with the supposedly true story upon which author Elliott Traynor has based a play to be enacted by the little theatre in Molena Point. Traynor and his much younger wife Vivi have come to town to supervise the first performance of his play about two doomed lovers who secretly wrote each other love letters while Elliott works on his latest novel. Elliott is far overdue on his deadline, and the pages that Joe and Dulcie read printed out in his study are woefully lacking his former capacity for writing. Elliott and Vivi veto the local director’s superior choice of Coral Lee for lead in the play in favor of Fern Barth, assistant to the antiques dealer. Then Fern’s body is found in the display window of the local consignment shop, The Pumpkin Coach, with the three small chests once on display missing or smashed. It is revealed that chests such as these may have held the secret love letters from the true characters in Elliott Traynor’s play. But do these particular chests hold any such letters? It is time for Joe and Dulcie to take matters into their own paws.
A work of fiction requires a certain suspension of disbelief, and it takes skilled writing to achieve this goal. Shirley Rousseau Murphy makes the speaking and thinking abilities of the cats, well, not exactly everyday sort of normal, but somehow within the scope of reality enough to believe it could happen. I knew I was charmed by the results when I began to look twice at my own furry pets and wonder just how much they understood what I was saying.
This ingenious idea, besides being pure feline delight to the reader, actually offers a way for us to become aware of key clues. No human being would stroll from roof to roof and enter a home via the attic window. Through their own sleuthing skills and posing as innocent bystanders, the cats are able to gather information not available any other way and then pass that sensitive information on to police detectives.
Charming and cozy. Warm and fuzzy. Delightfully sneaky. All thoughts I was left with at the end of this captivating tail, oops, tale. Will the Senior Survival Club find a new home suitable for all five ladies? Will anyone find out that Joe and Dulcie can speak? I can’t wait to read their next adventure, sure it will bring purrs of delight.
In Joe Grey’s seventh adventure, the five ladies of the Senior Survival Club are working hard to raise money to put toward their goal – a communal home to provide mutual security and comfort as they grow older. They scout the yard and estate sales and offer their treasures on the Internet. Someone else must think they have something of great value when Susan Brittain finds her home broken into, and their purchases ransacked and damaged. Later the same day, when Cora Lee French scouts a small engraved chest, the local antiques dealer rips it from her hands.
These acts may have to do with the supposedly true story upon which author Elliott Traynor has based a play to be enacted by the little theatre in Molena Point. Traynor and his much younger wife Vivi have come to town to supervise the first performance of his play about two doomed lovers who secretly wrote each other love letters while Elliott works on his latest novel. Elliott is far overdue on his deadline, and the pages that Joe and Dulcie read printed out in his study are woefully lacking his former capacity for writing. Elliott and Vivi veto the local director’s superior choice of Coral Lee for lead in the play in favor of Fern Barth, assistant to the antiques dealer. Then Fern’s body is found in the display window of the local consignment shop, The Pumpkin Coach, with the three small chests once on display missing or smashed. It is revealed that chests such as these may have held the secret love letters from the true characters in Elliott Traynor’s play. But do these particular chests hold any such letters? It is time for Joe and Dulcie to take matters into their own paws.
A work of fiction requires a certain suspension of disbelief, and it takes skilled writing to achieve this goal. Shirley Rousseau Murphy makes the speaking and thinking abilities of the cats, well, not exactly everyday sort of normal, but somehow within the scope of reality enough to believe it could happen. I knew I was charmed by the results when I began to look twice at my own furry pets and wonder just how much they understood what I was saying.
This ingenious idea, besides being pure feline delight to the reader, actually offers a way for us to become aware of key clues. No human being would stroll from roof to roof and enter a home via the attic window. Through their own sleuthing skills and posing as innocent bystanders, the cats are able to gather information not available any other way and then pass that sensitive information on to police detectives.
Charming and cozy. Warm and fuzzy. Delightfully sneaky. All thoughts I was left with at the end of this captivating tail, oops, tale. Will the Senior Survival Club find a new home suitable for all five ladies? Will anyone find out that Joe and Dulcie can speak? I can’t wait to read their next adventure, sure it will bring purrs of delight.
February 3, 2012
Again talking detective cats? Who could ask for more?
December 3, 2024
Joe and his antics! I think I am going to watch what I say around my cat now. LOL
February 9, 2018
Joe Grey, Dulcie and Kit are at it again.
A famous writer has come to Molena Point, along with his snippy young wife. He is there to finish his book and work on a play based on his book as well. And there are events around town causing an uproar--according to the writer's story, based on history of the region, little caskets made of wood, may hold letters from the past and are worth a lot of money that someone would kill to get a hold of.
Joe is on the hunt after one of the caskets in the hand of Susan, is violently snatched from her. The later a break in results in another murder. Can the three cats find out who and why the murders happened. And unearth other surprises along the way.
A famous writer has come to Molena Point, along with his snippy young wife. He is there to finish his book and work on a play based on his book as well. And there are events around town causing an uproar--according to the writer's story, based on history of the region, little caskets made of wood, may hold letters from the past and are worth a lot of money that someone would kill to get a hold of.
Joe is on the hunt after one of the caskets in the hand of Susan, is violently snatched from her. The later a break in results in another murder. Can the three cats find out who and why the murders happened. And unearth other surprises along the way.
March 20, 2014
Well I am a huge fan of Lillian Jackson Braun's "Cat Who..." books so I was a little skeptical about trying a new cat detective series. I was pleasantly surprised by this well written fun book. Never mind that the cats actually talk to humans (and call them on the phone) and that the location is set in a thinly disguised Carmel-By-The-Sea, it was a fun mystery with several good twists and turns. Well worth the time.
April 9, 2016
Awesome!!!
Joe Grey, Dulcie, and the kit return in this 7th installment of a delightful series. You will laugh, and be brought to tears by the antics of the cats as they assist law enforcement in solving this very complex murder. Even a dog person will like this one as several dogs are highlighted in this story. Enjoy!
Lydia Erickson
Joe Grey, Dulcie, and the kit return in this 7th installment of a delightful series. You will laugh, and be brought to tears by the antics of the cats as they assist law enforcement in solving this very complex murder. Even a dog person will like this one as several dogs are highlighted in this story. Enjoy!
Lydia Erickson
February 6, 2020
Lots of things going on in this story! I enjoyed it very much. Nice “wholesome” not gory or gross. Clever cats! I chuckle at Kit. The newest addition to the collection of special cats. Very imaginative and fun series!
December 13, 2012
Highly predictable and dragged on and on.
July 16, 2014
Interesting read but the cats not only talk to each other, they talk to a few people. It's too much of a stretch for my money.
April 29, 2020
Fantastic!
Are you a cat lover? Do you love detective mysteries? Then look no more, this book has it all! Drama, mystery and action. You won't regret reading this!!
Are you a cat lover? Do you love detective mysteries? Then look no more, this book has it all! Drama, mystery and action. You won't regret reading this!!
August 25, 2022
Shirley Rousseau Murphy (2013) CAT LAUGHING LAST (AUDIOBOOK)
Audible - AudioGO
⭐️⭐️ 2 out of 5 stars
Audible writes, "Even felines with such amazing talents as Joe Grey and his partner, Dulcie, need some down time. Using their amazing abilities to talk and read, they’ve helped their unwitting humans put bad guys away. But these clever four-footed detectives can’t possibly enjoy a little catnap, not when their lovely seaside village is in an uproar. It’s bad enough that Molena Point has been invaded by a famous writer and his suspiciously rude wife. Then the local yard sales set off a host of puzzling thefts. Whiskers twitching and tails up, Joe Grey and Dulcie can’t resist pouncing on the case. Helped by their beloved companion, an inquisitive young tortoiseshell Kit, Joe Grey and Dulcie soon discover that certain collectibles at those sales hold a secret treasure someone will kill to possess. But before the fur can fly this talented trio will unmask a murderer - and unearth a few other surprises along the way."
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All meh and absolutely no meow. Goes to show that just because there's cats, it doesn't necessarily mean I'm gonna like it. Am positive people will love this book and it's series. It just didn't float my boat. I nearly abandoned ship with 4hrs to go but I persevered.
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#ShirleyRousseauMurphy #CatLaughingLast #Book #Books #Read #Reads #Reading #Review #Reviews #BookReview #BookReviews #GoodReads #Audiobook #Audiobooks #Audible
Audible - AudioGO
⭐️⭐️ 2 out of 5 stars
Audible writes, "Even felines with such amazing talents as Joe Grey and his partner, Dulcie, need some down time. Using their amazing abilities to talk and read, they’ve helped their unwitting humans put bad guys away. But these clever four-footed detectives can’t possibly enjoy a little catnap, not when their lovely seaside village is in an uproar. It’s bad enough that Molena Point has been invaded by a famous writer and his suspiciously rude wife. Then the local yard sales set off a host of puzzling thefts. Whiskers twitching and tails up, Joe Grey and Dulcie can’t resist pouncing on the case. Helped by their beloved companion, an inquisitive young tortoiseshell Kit, Joe Grey and Dulcie soon discover that certain collectibles at those sales hold a secret treasure someone will kill to possess. But before the fur can fly this talented trio will unmask a murderer - and unearth a few other surprises along the way."
=====
All meh and absolutely no meow. Goes to show that just because there's cats, it doesn't necessarily mean I'm gonna like it. Am positive people will love this book and it's series. It just didn't float my boat. I nearly abandoned ship with 4hrs to go but I persevered.
=====
#ShirleyRousseauMurphy #CatLaughingLast #Book #Books #Read #Reads #Reading #Review #Reviews #BookReview #BookReviews #GoodReads #Audiobook #Audiobooks #Audible
January 25, 2024
Genre(s): mystery, contemporary fiction
Theme(s): cats
Recommended for ages: 14+
Summary: Small town Molena Point, California is home to 3 very extraordinary cats- those with the ability to communicate with human speech. And these cats can't resist getting sucked into every mystery and crime scene that takes place in their little town. Only a few very special humans know about their ability and are sworn to secrecy. Even the chief of police has no idea who's providing the anonymous calls that are so helpful is solving cases.
Big time author, Elliot Traynor, has come to town and is working on his next highly anticipated novel. Suddenly, one woman's home is broken into, another woman is stolen from in plain view, and a third woman winds up dead. What's going on in Molena Point and could this famous new resident and his latest wife be involved? The cats are determined to find out.
Review: This is the first Joe Grey mystery I've read. It was enjoyable-nothing amazing, but nice, light, and funny. I would be interested to go back and read the first book to get more background on the cats and how they assumed their powers of human communication as well as get better acquainted with some of the human characters. I wasn't particulary invested in any of the characters. This was more of a fun, light-hearted beach read for me.
If you loved this you should try... Lemon Tart
Theme(s): cats
Recommended for ages: 14+
Summary: Small town Molena Point, California is home to 3 very extraordinary cats- those with the ability to communicate with human speech. And these cats can't resist getting sucked into every mystery and crime scene that takes place in their little town. Only a few very special humans know about their ability and are sworn to secrecy. Even the chief of police has no idea who's providing the anonymous calls that are so helpful is solving cases.
Big time author, Elliot Traynor, has come to town and is working on his next highly anticipated novel. Suddenly, one woman's home is broken into, another woman is stolen from in plain view, and a third woman winds up dead. What's going on in Molena Point and could this famous new resident and his latest wife be involved? The cats are determined to find out.
Review: This is the first Joe Grey mystery I've read. It was enjoyable-nothing amazing, but nice, light, and funny. I would be interested to go back and read the first book to get more background on the cats and how they assumed their powers of human communication as well as get better acquainted with some of the human characters. I wasn't particulary invested in any of the characters. This was more of a fun, light-hearted beach read for me.
If you loved this you should try... Lemon Tart
June 26, 2025
This was cute, but I'd clearly jumped into a book that had already set up an entire village of characters and it was kind of a lot of people to suddenly have to get to know and care about. (It didn't help that 2 of the girls were named "Charlie" and "Ryan" and several of the characters went by last names like "Garza" and "Harper" half the time and so I couldn't always remember who the guys and girls were and who had what jobs.)
My main reason I don't feel the need to find another book in this series to read is that I don't feel like there's ANY reason for the cats to be cats. Their voices, behaviors and personalities don't feel in any way distinctive from a human. I wasn't a fan of The Art of Racing in the Rain, but at least that author tried to do something with the story about it being written from the perspective of a dog. it wasn't my thing, but it was a quirk. Other than their physical bodies, every emotion and sentence from Dulcie and Joe Grey could've come directly out of a human, and I just didn't see the need for them to be cat characters. It was fine, it just wasn't my thing.
My main reason I don't feel the need to find another book in this series to read is that I don't feel like there's ANY reason for the cats to be cats. Their voices, behaviors and personalities don't feel in any way distinctive from a human. I wasn't a fan of The Art of Racing in the Rain, but at least that author tried to do something with the story about it being written from the perspective of a dog. it wasn't my thing, but it was a quirk. Other than their physical bodies, every emotion and sentence from Dulcie and Joe Grey could've come directly out of a human, and I just didn't see the need for them to be cat characters. It was fine, it just wasn't my thing.
November 27, 2019
The plot is fine. And these days, since “proofreader” became a nonexistent occupation, I expect little typos like a missing word or a double word, or transposed letters. But continuity errors—like changing someone’s last name 3 out of several times that they’re mentioned, or just getting the wrong name altogether (no, it wasn’t Gabriella that happened to, it was Cora Lee—I went back & checked!)—& more than once—that’s just sloppy! (Sloppy writing or sloppy editing, I’m not sure, but this has been getting worse over the last couple of books—like after the first few she became so in-demand they had to just get them spit them out fast? I hope this gets better as I proceed thru the series, because trying to go back to check facts in a non-digital book is a pain.)
I’m still squeamish about the mention of the cats’ wild-caught feasts, but at least they’re not being described in detail any more.
The descriptions of Kit made me want to be cuddling a kitten while I was reading this. She’s so emotional! The part at the end with Cora Lee had me teary-eyed!
I’m still squeamish about the mention of the cats’ wild-caught feasts, but at least they’re not being described in detail any more.
The descriptions of Kit made me want to be cuddling a kitten while I was reading this. She’s so emotional! The part at the end with Cora Lee had me teary-eyed!
September 21, 2021
Horriable!!!! It's very rare that I call a book horrible but this one is. I tried five times to read it and I just couldn't get into it. There was to much going on to build the plot of the story. Sure it all probably had something to do with the break in but it was to much for an opening and not enough build up. The characters were one note and the cats well they were the only ones that felt like the author took time to write. Problem with that is this story wasn't and isn't about the cats. It's about this group of old ladies who go to a massive junk sale buy stuff and sell it online. By chance they found something important and someone needed it back so badly they tried to kill for it.
March 27, 2024
A cat mystery book, what else do you need to know? Without spoiling it, the characters were not annoying like other books I have listened to. Even the "bad guy" was written well, not annoyingly. I hope to listen to more of the Joe Grey mysteries. About the only quibble I have is the mispronunciation of Latino words; they were like listening to nails on a chalkboard. For example, "ll" is pronounced like a "y", "i" like a long "eee", and "e" like the "e in meh". Hopefully, the next audiobooks avoid Mexican restaurants, so I don't have to listen to nails on chalkboard grating mispronunciations.
July 5, 2022
🐈⬛Book Review🐈
This book is about 3 intelligent cats who can talk, read, and understand humans, but only a few know about their secret. They are the "detectives" of this mystery series. This particular book is about a break-in incident, a murder, and some old Spanish tale that ties the events together like a chain.
I liked the cozy mystery vibe and I find the cats cute. I am amazed and somewhat curious as to how they came to learn how to talk. This is not the first book of the series but I like that the author included an explanation what are the cats' abilities and who knows about it. I also didn't expect the revelation but it wasn't something mindblowing really.
The mystery was not the sole theme of the book. It is mixed with the lives of the othet characters as well as filler parts. I just don't really like filler parts. There wasn't much plot twist, it's just a feel good cozy mystery and it kinda let me down. But all in all it was good and if you are a cat person, this book is definitely for you.
This book is about 3 intelligent cats who can talk, read, and understand humans, but only a few know about their secret. They are the "detectives" of this mystery series. This particular book is about a break-in incident, a murder, and some old Spanish tale that ties the events together like a chain.
I liked the cozy mystery vibe and I find the cats cute. I am amazed and somewhat curious as to how they came to learn how to talk. This is not the first book of the series but I like that the author included an explanation what are the cats' abilities and who knows about it. I also didn't expect the revelation but it wasn't something mindblowing really.
The mystery was not the sole theme of the book. It is mixed with the lives of the othet characters as well as filler parts. I just don't really like filler parts. There wasn't much plot twist, it's just a feel good cozy mystery and it kinda let me down. But all in all it was good and if you are a cat person, this book is definitely for you.
June 26, 2017
Wow Major character reset
Best book in series so far.
Brings together many from previous books.
Resets relationships.
Future books in series should be outstanding.
Books in this series should be read in order.
EBook Novels Cat For The Money should be read befor this book.
Best book in series so far.
Brings together many from previous books.
Resets relationships.
Future books in series should be outstanding.
Books in this series should be read in order.
EBook Novels Cat For The Money should be read befor this book.
August 23, 2018
Very enjoyable. I wasn't sure when I began if I'd like it but, I thoroughly did. And I will be reading more of Shirley Rousseau Murphy's books. I have fallen in love with Joe, Dulcie and the adorable kit!
October 11, 2018
Took forever to tie up all the loose ends. It should hae ended sooner.
October 29, 2018
I enjoy the adventures of Joe Grey and his lady Dulcie. How the cops of Molena Point could not figure out who their snitches are is part of the crime solving.
September 29, 2019
I just can't get enough of this series; I love hanging out with the characters.
October 1, 2019
AWESOME series!
February 24, 2020
Very enjoyable read!
March 9, 2020
Talking cats, theater, and murder add up to a fun, involving mystery. Love these nonhuman sleuths! Happy reading!🙂
February 18, 2021
This one is really good with some interesting twists. The cats are just perfect and on audio the reader is perfect
April 23, 2021
This is a really good mystery with entertaining cats and quirky people!
October 29, 2021
Really couldn't get into this at all!
June 18, 2023
I've listened to all of the audiobooks in this series at least three times. I think this one must be one of my favorites because it's the one where Kit goes on stage. Makes me cry every time
January 10, 2024
Maybe I've read too many of these in quick succession, but this one seemed less fun than the last few, and less lyrical, too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews