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Joe Grey #21
Cat Chase the Moon
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.
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.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published April 23, 2019
141 people are currently reading
465 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Rousseau Murphy
62 books515 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 93 reviews
April 28, 2019
I have read all the books in the Joe Grey series and the 21st book was a reunion with old friends and some new ones. If I have a problem with reading, a Joe Grey book helps me to start reading other books. The paranormal aspects don't bother me. For a light, fun and reading book this great.
Joe and Dulcie's family are growing and getting their own personalities. Buffin and Striker are living with Firettii and Buffin seem to help an ill person get better by cuddling up. This book is focused on Courtney as she is catnap and all points bulletin is issued to help find her. It not long before Dulice find where she is being held. The cats find a way into the area. Courtney refuses to leave wanting to know what were the plans for her.
Molina Point is having problems with robberies occur when a person leaves the bank or is coming to the bank. Joe is intrigued by this crime. He discovers a woman being buried alive and ma aged to stop it. The Luther's become neighbors and Joe becomes friends with a youngster,
Mindy. MPPD has a substitute Reception. The person does like cats and is a problem for the cats handle very well. The several points are neatly brought together for a tale. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND SERIES.
Joe and Dulcie's family are growing and getting their own personalities. Buffin and Striker are living with Firettii and Buffin seem to help an ill person get better by cuddling up. This book is focused on Courtney as she is catnap and all points bulletin is issued to help find her. It not long before Dulice find where she is being held. The cats find a way into the area. Courtney refuses to leave wanting to know what were the plans for her.
Molina Point is having problems with robberies occur when a person leaves the bank or is coming to the bank. Joe is intrigued by this crime. He discovers a woman being buried alive and ma aged to stop it. The Luther's become neighbors and Joe becomes friends with a youngster,
Mindy. MPPD has a substitute Reception. The person does like cats and is a problem for the cats handle very well. The several points are neatly brought together for a tale. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND SERIES.
May 3, 2019
It's hard to believe that this is the 21st book in my favorite series of cat mysteries. I enjoyed it just as much as all the previous ones. I love the speaking cats (Joe Grey, Dulcie, Kit, Pan, Buffin, Courtney et al.) and their humans (Charlie, Clyde, Max, Ryan, Pedric, Lucinda et al.). These are well-told stories with lovable characters, feline and human.
April 23, 2019
The Joe Grey series was the first cat mystery series I ever read. I fell in love with Joe Grey immediately. I always anxiously awaited each book as it was released. They never sat on my TBR for long. Eventually I got away from reading the books, but continued to add them to my TBR. Not because I didn’t like them, but it was a case of too many books, too little time. When I saw a new one was being released now, I couldn’t resist.
This is book #21 and previously the last one I read was #10. Quite a bit happened during that time frame. Joe has a family and children by now. I definitely need to go back and read the books I missed, but I quickly managed to catch up with my favorite characters, both feline and human.
This book centers around Joe’s teenage kitten, Courtney. She is catnapped by Ulrich Seaver, owner of an antique shop. His reasons are not good ones and puts the young cat in grave danger.
The humans in Molena Point are going through some of their own problems. Joe Grey found a woman who had been beaten up. Although his attentions turn towards his daughter, he also wants to help the police uncover the truth about the attack on the mysterious woman.
The Joe Grey series might not be for everyone as there is a touch of paranormal involved since the cats do speak. I have always found this series to be intriguing, exciting, and cleverly written. I still feel that way. It makes me happy to read about Joe and his family. I always wonder if my cats could speak, what would they say? LOL
I do recommend that this series be read from the beginning. It gives the reader a chance to get to know Joe Grey and see how this series grows with each book.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Edelweiss and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
This is book #21 and previously the last one I read was #10. Quite a bit happened during that time frame. Joe has a family and children by now. I definitely need to go back and read the books I missed, but I quickly managed to catch up with my favorite characters, both feline and human.
This book centers around Joe’s teenage kitten, Courtney. She is catnapped by Ulrich Seaver, owner of an antique shop. His reasons are not good ones and puts the young cat in grave danger.
The humans in Molena Point are going through some of their own problems. Joe Grey found a woman who had been beaten up. Although his attentions turn towards his daughter, he also wants to help the police uncover the truth about the attack on the mysterious woman.
The Joe Grey series might not be for everyone as there is a touch of paranormal involved since the cats do speak. I have always found this series to be intriguing, exciting, and cleverly written. I still feel that way. It makes me happy to read about Joe and his family. I always wonder if my cats could speak, what would they say? LOL
I do recommend that this series be read from the beginning. It gives the reader a chance to get to know Joe Grey and see how this series grows with each book.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Edelweiss and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 23, 2019
Cat Chase the Moon by Shirley Rousseau Murphy is the 21st book in her fun Joe Grey series. I have read every book in this series, and it is one of my favorite go to books when I want a fun relaxing story to read. Refresher: Joe Grey series is always sweet lighthearted mysteries with a group of wonderful talking cats, and their humans. These are magical sentient cats that live in Molena Point, California, but only their humans close to them know they can talk, and the cats are the real ones who solve the crimes. I am still amazed that into the 21sth book, Murphy can still win us over each and every time. I adore our cats, Joe, Dulcie, Kit, Pan & the kittens. They are awesome, sweet, daring, and clever. The humans who are a major part of this series, are Clyde and Ryan; Wilma, Charlie (who is married to the police chief, and he does not know about the cats). They are all an awesome group that makes this series so much fun and exciting.
In Cat Chase the Moon there is another mystery starting with a women found badly beaten, which will lead to a family involved in stolen goods, as well as being very abrasive and loud. The town of Molena Point does not take well to the Luthers, who also do not take good care of their young daughter,Mindy, who runs away to find her grandpa. The police and Joe Grey keep a close eye on the Luthers, especially trying to discover about the stolen goods.
While this is going on, Courtney, Joe and Dulcie’s daughter suddenly goes missing. This will bring everyone, cats and family humans desperately trying to find her. When they finally find her locked up in a antique store and apartment, Courtney wants to say to find out more information to help find why they kidnapped her, and what are their plans for her. Currently they are treating her nice, but Joe and Dulcie worry.
What follows is an exciting mystery, trying to help the beaten woman hide from those who are trying to harm her from revealing information about them; as well as trying to get Courtney out of the house she is locked in. The police bring the women to a hiding place to protect her, and in time when Courtney is rescued, she will be put there too.
There are trying times for Joe and Dulcie, who know their sweet little girl is in danger, and perhaps moving on with her life away from them. I loved how Charlie, Ryan, Wilma, Clyde all work closely with our wonderful smart talking cats, to solve the crimes. Even 21 books later, the Molena Point police like the snitches who give them info, but they are still stumped who they are. Of course, would they believe it is the cats that are snitches? lol
Cat Chase Moon was a good exciting mystery with some very bad villains; who have to deal with Joe Grey on the job, and his little group of friends. This is a fun series, exciting mysteries, and fantastic characters, including cats and humans. Do not let that fact that these cats can talk deter you into reading this series. It is a fun and awesome series, and so well written my Shirley Rousseau Murphy. Give yourself a chance to read this enjoyable series.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
In Cat Chase the Moon there is another mystery starting with a women found badly beaten, which will lead to a family involved in stolen goods, as well as being very abrasive and loud. The town of Molena Point does not take well to the Luthers, who also do not take good care of their young daughter,Mindy, who runs away to find her grandpa. The police and Joe Grey keep a close eye on the Luthers, especially trying to discover about the stolen goods.
While this is going on, Courtney, Joe and Dulcie’s daughter suddenly goes missing. This will bring everyone, cats and family humans desperately trying to find her. When they finally find her locked up in a antique store and apartment, Courtney wants to say to find out more information to help find why they kidnapped her, and what are their plans for her. Currently they are treating her nice, but Joe and Dulcie worry.
What follows is an exciting mystery, trying to help the beaten woman hide from those who are trying to harm her from revealing information about them; as well as trying to get Courtney out of the house she is locked in. The police bring the women to a hiding place to protect her, and in time when Courtney is rescued, she will be put there too.
There are trying times for Joe and Dulcie, who know their sweet little girl is in danger, and perhaps moving on with her life away from them. I loved how Charlie, Ryan, Wilma, Clyde all work closely with our wonderful smart talking cats, to solve the crimes. Even 21 books later, the Molena Point police like the snitches who give them info, but they are still stumped who they are. Of course, would they believe it is the cats that are snitches? lol
Cat Chase Moon was a good exciting mystery with some very bad villains; who have to deal with Joe Grey on the job, and his little group of friends. This is a fun series, exciting mysteries, and fantastic characters, including cats and humans. Do not let that fact that these cats can talk deter you into reading this series. It is a fun and awesome series, and so well written my Shirley Rousseau Murphy. Give yourself a chance to read this enjoyable series.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
April 30, 2019
Originally published at Reading Reality
There is a sadness that permeates this tale from the very beginning. While in the end good triumphs and evil gets its just desserts, the ending is bittersweet and something about that feels like it’s woven throughout the entire story.
It’s that all of the mysteries – which do, of course, get solved in the end – all have their roots in something not merely awful but also heartbreaking – and they all connect up at the end into one giant ball of wrong that brings a whole lot of grief in its wake – as well as the beginning of healing. And more adventure.
The story begins when a wandering Joe Grey discovers a half-dead woman half-buried in a shallow grave. He breaks into a nearby cottage, and the Molena Point PD receives a phone call from their favorite “snitch” letting them know where to get the body before it becomes a dead body.
As bad as that sounds, we don’t yet know (and neither does Joe Grey) just how that poor woman’s story is going to tangle into the others.
The family that has moved in across the street from Joe Grey’s humans, Clyde and Ryan, does not put the fun in dysfunctional. It’s more like the Luther family is one spark away from taking their regular domestic arguments over the line into the kind of domestic situation that gives police officers everywhere nightmares.
There’s plenty of sadness to be found in that mess, as the adults are at best neglectful and at worst borderline abusive of the pre-teen girl that they have dragged away from her beloved grandfather and equally cherished horse, leaving all three, the girl, the horse, and the grandfather in emotional distress.
A grandfather who not only misses his granddaughter, but one who has put the puzzle pieces together to figure out that his sons and his daughter-in-law are the ones behind the rash of robberies currently in progress in and around Molena Point.
His family is causing no end of trouble for everyone in town, but they are still his family. And he fears, rightly or wrongly, that getting them all locked up will see his granddaughter lost to him in the bowels of family services hell.
Just as it seems that nothing in town is going right, tragedy strikes directly at the heart of Joe Grey’s family when his daughter, the beautiful if occasionally silly half-grown kit Courtney, is kidnapped (catnapped?) by someone who promises her a life at the center of worshipful crowds IF she is willing to live that pampered life in a gilded cage.
Joe is frantic at the loss of Courtney, heartsore at the plight of Mindy, and worried at the situation of the woman he rescued. When it all comes together, it also falls apart. With deadly results.
Escape Rating B: With a cozy series like Joe Grey’s, the reader comes to expect a lighthearted tone to even some of the darkest investigations. And much of this series is pretty light and fluffy – as fluffy as the cats’ fur.
But this entry isn’t the least bit fluffy. It also ends on more of a fantasy note than has been seen in this series in a while, in spite of the series origins in the author’s contemporary fantasy novel The Catswold Portal. The speaking cats all have their origins in that realm beyond the portal, and it’s time again for one of them to make the journey into that Netherworld.
But not before we all work our way through everything currently wrong in Molena Point.
So much is wrapped up in the dysfunction of the Luther family. Zebulon doesn’t seem like a bad sort, so one has to wonder what warped all of his kids – but his progeny are all seriously bad. That he doesn’t want to turn in his own kids while still needing to turn in his own kids is a dilemma that no parent wants to face no matter how criminal those kids turn out to be as adults. That he turns his depression over his granddaughter being forced to move out into a determination to discover just how wrong his sons have gone leads to nowhere but grief for all concerned.
It’s a sad situation that permeates the story. Readers will find themselves wondering why, when every adult for miles around knows that young Mindy is being neglected if not abused, no one can manage to rescue her. In the end, she has to rescue herself and her grandfather. And she’s not even a teenager yet!
The situation with Courtney felt a bit odd. It seemed like a very weird tangent of the main case, because her kidnappers have catnapped her not because they know she can talk, but because she resembles a lot of historical portraits of magical cats and they think they can wrap an expensive traveling exhibit around her and the art works. This seems more fantastical to me than the speaking cats. YMMV.
There are also a couple of serious notes among Joe Grey’s circle that add to the atmosphere. Joe Grey himself, with his feline instincts and human intelligence, seems to have more and deeper questions about who and what he is and what it all means as the series goes on. His attitude is maturing in ways that make him question the meaning of it all – and that scare him, if he would admit to being scared – out of at least a couple of his nine lives.
The other thing I’m wondering about as a reader is the dilemma faced by Charlie Harper, the police chief’s wife. Charlie knows about the cats, her husband does not, in spite of the number of incredibly excellent tips the police have received from their elusive snitches. Max is suspicious of Joe Grey in particular, and Charlie is lying to her spouse. That’s a situation I expect to come to a nasty head in some future book in the series.
But speaking of future books, I love this series, and always look forward to my next trip to Molena Point for more adventures with Joe Grey, Dulcie and their clowder of speaking cats. This particular book was a bit darker than I expected, but I still enjoyed checking in with the gang and finding out how everyone is doing.
I’ll be back again next year to see how they’re all getting on, and whether the MPPD has figured out the identity of their favorite snitches yet!
There is a sadness that permeates this tale from the very beginning. While in the end good triumphs and evil gets its just desserts, the ending is bittersweet and something about that feels like it’s woven throughout the entire story.
It’s that all of the mysteries – which do, of course, get solved in the end – all have their roots in something not merely awful but also heartbreaking – and they all connect up at the end into one giant ball of wrong that brings a whole lot of grief in its wake – as well as the beginning of healing. And more adventure.
The story begins when a wandering Joe Grey discovers a half-dead woman half-buried in a shallow grave. He breaks into a nearby cottage, and the Molena Point PD receives a phone call from their favorite “snitch” letting them know where to get the body before it becomes a dead body.
As bad as that sounds, we don’t yet know (and neither does Joe Grey) just how that poor woman’s story is going to tangle into the others.
The family that has moved in across the street from Joe Grey’s humans, Clyde and Ryan, does not put the fun in dysfunctional. It’s more like the Luther family is one spark away from taking their regular domestic arguments over the line into the kind of domestic situation that gives police officers everywhere nightmares.
There’s plenty of sadness to be found in that mess, as the adults are at best neglectful and at worst borderline abusive of the pre-teen girl that they have dragged away from her beloved grandfather and equally cherished horse, leaving all three, the girl, the horse, and the grandfather in emotional distress.
A grandfather who not only misses his granddaughter, but one who has put the puzzle pieces together to figure out that his sons and his daughter-in-law are the ones behind the rash of robberies currently in progress in and around Molena Point.
His family is causing no end of trouble for everyone in town, but they are still his family. And he fears, rightly or wrongly, that getting them all locked up will see his granddaughter lost to him in the bowels of family services hell.
Just as it seems that nothing in town is going right, tragedy strikes directly at the heart of Joe Grey’s family when his daughter, the beautiful if occasionally silly half-grown kit Courtney, is kidnapped (catnapped?) by someone who promises her a life at the center of worshipful crowds IF she is willing to live that pampered life in a gilded cage.
Joe is frantic at the loss of Courtney, heartsore at the plight of Mindy, and worried at the situation of the woman he rescued. When it all comes together, it also falls apart. With deadly results.
Escape Rating B: With a cozy series like Joe Grey’s, the reader comes to expect a lighthearted tone to even some of the darkest investigations. And much of this series is pretty light and fluffy – as fluffy as the cats’ fur.
But this entry isn’t the least bit fluffy. It also ends on more of a fantasy note than has been seen in this series in a while, in spite of the series origins in the author’s contemporary fantasy novel The Catswold Portal. The speaking cats all have their origins in that realm beyond the portal, and it’s time again for one of them to make the journey into that Netherworld.
But not before we all work our way through everything currently wrong in Molena Point.
So much is wrapped up in the dysfunction of the Luther family. Zebulon doesn’t seem like a bad sort, so one has to wonder what warped all of his kids – but his progeny are all seriously bad. That he doesn’t want to turn in his own kids while still needing to turn in his own kids is a dilemma that no parent wants to face no matter how criminal those kids turn out to be as adults. That he turns his depression over his granddaughter being forced to move out into a determination to discover just how wrong his sons have gone leads to nowhere but grief for all concerned.
It’s a sad situation that permeates the story. Readers will find themselves wondering why, when every adult for miles around knows that young Mindy is being neglected if not abused, no one can manage to rescue her. In the end, she has to rescue herself and her grandfather. And she’s not even a teenager yet!
The situation with Courtney felt a bit odd. It seemed like a very weird tangent of the main case, because her kidnappers have catnapped her not because they know she can talk, but because she resembles a lot of historical portraits of magical cats and they think they can wrap an expensive traveling exhibit around her and the art works. This seems more fantastical to me than the speaking cats. YMMV.
There are also a couple of serious notes among Joe Grey’s circle that add to the atmosphere. Joe Grey himself, with his feline instincts and human intelligence, seems to have more and deeper questions about who and what he is and what it all means as the series goes on. His attitude is maturing in ways that make him question the meaning of it all – and that scare him, if he would admit to being scared – out of at least a couple of his nine lives.
The other thing I’m wondering about as a reader is the dilemma faced by Charlie Harper, the police chief’s wife. Charlie knows about the cats, her husband does not, in spite of the number of incredibly excellent tips the police have received from their elusive snitches. Max is suspicious of Joe Grey in particular, and Charlie is lying to her spouse. That’s a situation I expect to come to a nasty head in some future book in the series.
But speaking of future books, I love this series, and always look forward to my next trip to Molena Point for more adventures with Joe Grey, Dulcie and their clowder of speaking cats. This particular book was a bit darker than I expected, but I still enjoyed checking in with the gang and finding out how everyone is doing.
I’ll be back again next year to see how they’re all getting on, and whether the MPPD has figured out the identity of their favorite snitches yet!
January 20, 2020
Either it's been too long since I've read one of these or the mood of the author really is getting darker. Unfortunately, it is a mood that seems to reflect reality quite accurately. I also don't remember some of the characters (particularly Charlie) using the language they do in this book. (And I thought the little white cat had died in an earlier book- what am I thinking of?)
Overall, though, as always an excellent book. I love Joe Grey and Dulcie and their pals. :-)
Overall, though, as always an excellent book. I love Joe Grey and Dulcie and their pals. :-)
May 6, 2019
The magic of Joe Grey surrounds you whenever you open a book and stroll down to Molena Point. The fact this series has been going on for 21 books is amazing but not surprising. I love each and every one of the series and each is a gift from the author to us. Her skills at conjuring a special world are without equal.
I have a sort of spoiler coming up right now if you haven't finished or read the book.
What surprised me was how sad I am that the series ends here. The last, valedictory chapter is brief, moving and it suddenly hits you that this could be the last goodbye. No-one dies, no one gets hurt but Joe, Dulcie, Striker and Buffin will adventure no more except in our hearts. The moment the talking ferals vanish with Courtney I felt my heart break because I love Joe Grey.
Thank you Shirley for a wonderful series. One that I will re-read so that I once again enter Joe's wonderful world of adventure, affection and drama.
I have a sort of spoiler coming up right now if you haven't finished or read the book.
What surprised me was how sad I am that the series ends here. The last, valedictory chapter is brief, moving and it suddenly hits you that this could be the last goodbye. No-one dies, no one gets hurt but Joe, Dulcie, Striker and Buffin will adventure no more except in our hearts. The moment the talking ferals vanish with Courtney I felt my heart break because I love Joe Grey.
Thank you Shirley for a wonderful series. One that I will re-read so that I once again enter Joe's wonderful world of adventure, affection and drama.
June 25, 2019
I always look forward to a new Joe Grey book. Who wouldn't want a talking cat? Yet, I don't think this latest book was as well written as it could have been. There were details that were slightly "off". For example, Maurita had told the police that her earring was the only gift she had from her husband - it was a stolen, priceless Peruvian artifact, yet it was given back to her after the latest robbery was wrapped up!
The story also bounced back and forth in time, which sometimes made it slightly difficult to follow, and seemed somewhat disjointed.
I have never understood why police chief Max Harper is not let in on the secret of the talking cats. So many others, including his wife, know, and it would not spoil the story because there could still be humorous moments when Max had to hide the secret from his fellow officers. It would be fun and more effective to show Joe working along with the chief.
The story also bounced back and forth in time, which sometimes made it slightly difficult to follow, and seemed somewhat disjointed.
I have never understood why police chief Max Harper is not let in on the secret of the talking cats. So many others, including his wife, know, and it would not spoil the story because there could still be humorous moments when Max had to hide the secret from his fellow officers. It would be fun and more effective to show Joe working along with the chief.
October 10, 2021
So sad this series is done!!
Read
March 27, 2023I loved this series. Even though the author passed away this past September this was still going to be the last in the Joe Grey Series. Im going to miss the series. I intend to read it all again.
May 13, 2019
The small town of Molena Point, California is having a big problem. Bank couriers and business people alike are being mugged as they make big cash deposits. These may be tied to a man the MPPD is informally watching; a scruffy looking man who is attending Saturday morning story hour at the library where children listen to stories as closely as four cats. Dulcie, the official library cat, insists that her mate Joe Grey attend, and is glad when her daughter Courtney joins along with friend Kit and her mate Pan. Joe Grey and his gang are all sentient cats who can read and speak, a secret kept from everyone but their housemates.
Police only know Joe Grey as the unofficial cat of the police station. Joe frequents Chief Max Harper’s desk often, reading reports and notes so that he can do his own detecting work. While the police don’t know it, Joe is the phantom snitch, a voice that calls in tips to the police that always reveal clues or information they might otherwise never have. This time Joe Grey has foiled a man burying a woman in the sandy beach, and he calls in so a rescue can be made. No one knows who she is.
The police are perplexed when they receive another anonymous tip from someone who sounds very different but whose message is urgent. A businessman has been mugged and gravely injured. The caller is recently widowed Zebulon Luther whose sons, daughter-in-law and granddaughter have moved to town from his farm and left him alone. A chance delivery of his son’s bank statement reveals he has an enormous sum of money stashed away, so Zeb follows his son Nevin and watches him murder the restaurant owner headed for the bank.
While the cats are searching the town for clues, the scruffy man kidnaps Courtney! He has focused on her striking appearance, which has been featured in artwork and tapestries from as long ago as medieval times. He takes her to his antique shop and apartment above it, revealing his disguise. He has grand plans to put Courtney on display and travel the world when her feline markings link her to the classic artwork featuring her likeness. He promises a life of luxury and stardom. Stars fill Courtney’s dreams, but she knows she won’t be happy even in a three-story cage studded with gems.
Courtney is watching the store owner, for he is dealing with Zeb’s son Nevin too. How are they connected, and where is all this cash going? Will Courtney escape? Will Zeb survive if his son Nevin discovers he is being watched? Will Joe Grey and friends save the day? Tangled story lines finally bring the answer to how all is interconnected.
This 21st entry in the Joe Grey series is just as charming and compelling as the entire series. Having read all the entries up to this one brings a rich and full understanding of all the characters, human and feline. However, this book can stand alone as the enthralling story it is. Brief explanations bring the newcomer into the story without boring the long-time reader. I enjoyed it immensely.
Police only know Joe Grey as the unofficial cat of the police station. Joe frequents Chief Max Harper’s desk often, reading reports and notes so that he can do his own detecting work. While the police don’t know it, Joe is the phantom snitch, a voice that calls in tips to the police that always reveal clues or information they might otherwise never have. This time Joe Grey has foiled a man burying a woman in the sandy beach, and he calls in so a rescue can be made. No one knows who she is.
The police are perplexed when they receive another anonymous tip from someone who sounds very different but whose message is urgent. A businessman has been mugged and gravely injured. The caller is recently widowed Zebulon Luther whose sons, daughter-in-law and granddaughter have moved to town from his farm and left him alone. A chance delivery of his son’s bank statement reveals he has an enormous sum of money stashed away, so Zeb follows his son Nevin and watches him murder the restaurant owner headed for the bank.
While the cats are searching the town for clues, the scruffy man kidnaps Courtney! He has focused on her striking appearance, which has been featured in artwork and tapestries from as long ago as medieval times. He takes her to his antique shop and apartment above it, revealing his disguise. He has grand plans to put Courtney on display and travel the world when her feline markings link her to the classic artwork featuring her likeness. He promises a life of luxury and stardom. Stars fill Courtney’s dreams, but she knows she won’t be happy even in a three-story cage studded with gems.
Courtney is watching the store owner, for he is dealing with Zeb’s son Nevin too. How are they connected, and where is all this cash going? Will Courtney escape? Will Zeb survive if his son Nevin discovers he is being watched? Will Joe Grey and friends save the day? Tangled story lines finally bring the answer to how all is interconnected.
This 21st entry in the Joe Grey series is just as charming and compelling as the entire series. Having read all the entries up to this one brings a rich and full understanding of all the characters, human and feline. However, this book can stand alone as the enthralling story it is. Brief explanations bring the newcomer into the story without boring the long-time reader. I enjoyed it immensely.
October 22, 2019
I was fortunate with this book. My library just acquired a copy and I was the first person to borrow it. A very good omen. Quite a complex story with the wonderful cats (to whom I have now become quite attached) featuring again. This one had quite a twist at the end - will now seek a copy of 'The Catsworld Portal'.
May 15, 2023
Picked this up from the library discards for traveling because I could give it away after. I have no idea. Maybe you need to read the series to understand about the talking cats etc. Still confused about what happened and why some storylines were left unfinished.
May 8, 2019
I have enjoyed this whole series and love all the characters - human and feline. This book was painfully sad, however, but ended the way it probably should have. It does leave it wide open for another book in one of two different directions. Would love exploring the Netherworld with Courtney or continuing the exploits of Joe Gray and company!
September 19, 2023
I have loved the Joe Grey series. Each book has been written so the story comes alive and this one is no exception. I have greatly enjoyed watch the lives of the cats and their human friends grow and change. This last book has me a little sad as I finish it so close to the one year mark of Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s death. (9/23/2022) Her stories will keep her in our memories.
December 29, 2024
I am so glad I took a chance on this little book. Probably should have looked to see that it was the series but that's ok. I picked it up in line at the store. Now I will definitely go back and begin the series from book 1. Whether you are a cat lover or not it is well worth getting into and enjoying. I'd like to go on many more adventures with Joe and Dulcie and the crew.
April 29, 2019
Cat Chase the Moon (Joe Grey #21)
by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
I've followed this series from the beginning. It is one of the few that I still follow in hardback.
While technically, this book is as well written as all of the other Joe Grey novels (and I did enjoy it), I struggled to give it a 4-star rating. Why?
The answer is probably pretty complex, but the simple answer is the cast of characters is getting to large to easily follow. In the beginning there were Joe and Dulcie and Wilma and Clyde and Max. Then came Charlie. Then her friend, Ryan. Then there came Charlie's uncles, Dallas and Scotty, Billy, and, of course, Kate. Add in Kit and Misto's son, Pan, and Rock, and Snowball, and, of course, the kittens, Buffin, Striker, and Courtney, plus a new receptionist at the Sheriff's office and a couple of new/relatively new minor characters in the two police officers, the Seavers and their antique shop, plus the entire Luther family plus their entourage. Too much.
Otherwise, the writing was a evocative as ever, the pacing seamless, the action and danger constant, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader awake and reading. No proofing errors, no editing errors, no cliff hanger ending. Kudos.
So, this is the second adventure featuring Joe and Dulcie's kittens, Buffin, Striker, and Courtney. While Buffin and Striker had relatively minor roles in this novel, Courtney had a very big role, and, if the ending can be believed, perhaps the last we shall see of her in this series, although I'm betting the calico will show up in spin-offs, much as Misto did in his after-death adventures.
Someone has noticed the uncanny resemblance Courtney has to the calico shown in old art work and tapestries regarding the Celtic speaking cats of legend. And that someone as big plans for her: a gallery devoted to the legend and the artwork surrounding it, with the modern day living calico double as its centerpiece. Once they have her, can Joe and Dulcie ever get her back? How will the Molina PD put together the disappearance of one small cat, the nearly successful murder of a woman whose identity is initially unknown, the string of burglaries they are investigating, and the domestic troubles of the family of Zebulon Luther? And once the pieces fall together, can they save those that need saving while putting away those that need putting away?
So - conflicted. Enjoyed the book, but think perhaps Joe's universe is getting a bit crowded.
by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
I've followed this series from the beginning. It is one of the few that I still follow in hardback.
While technically, this book is as well written as all of the other Joe Grey novels (and I did enjoy it), I struggled to give it a 4-star rating. Why?
The answer is probably pretty complex, but the simple answer is the cast of characters is getting to large to easily follow. In the beginning there were Joe and Dulcie and Wilma and Clyde and Max. Then came Charlie. Then her friend, Ryan. Then there came Charlie's uncles, Dallas and Scotty, Billy, and, of course, Kate. Add in Kit and Misto's son, Pan, and Rock, and Snowball, and, of course, the kittens, Buffin, Striker, and Courtney, plus a new receptionist at the Sheriff's office and a couple of new/relatively new minor characters in the two police officers, the Seavers and their antique shop, plus the entire Luther family plus their entourage. Too much.
Otherwise, the writing was a evocative as ever, the pacing seamless, the action and danger constant, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader awake and reading. No proofing errors, no editing errors, no cliff hanger ending. Kudos.
So, this is the second adventure featuring Joe and Dulcie's kittens, Buffin, Striker, and Courtney. While Buffin and Striker had relatively minor roles in this novel, Courtney had a very big role, and, if the ending can be believed, perhaps the last we shall see of her in this series, although I'm betting the calico will show up in spin-offs, much as Misto did in his after-death adventures.
Someone has noticed the uncanny resemblance Courtney has to the calico shown in old art work and tapestries regarding the Celtic speaking cats of legend. And that someone as big plans for her: a gallery devoted to the legend and the artwork surrounding it, with the modern day living calico double as its centerpiece. Once they have her, can Joe and Dulcie ever get her back? How will the Molina PD put together the disappearance of one small cat, the nearly successful murder of a woman whose identity is initially unknown, the string of burglaries they are investigating, and the domestic troubles of the family of Zebulon Luther? And once the pieces fall together, can they save those that need saving while putting away those that need putting away?
So - conflicted. Enjoyed the book, but think perhaps Joe's universe is getting a bit crowded.
April 13, 2024
I have to start with I LOVE the Joe Grey mysteries. I LOVE all the characters, two and four leggeds. Sadly Cat Chase The Moon is the last of the series and we have unfortunately lost the very creative Shirley Rousseau Murphy. Such a wonderful, imaginative writer. I guess we’ll have to create futures for our beloved characters as there are still so many possibilities and doors left half open; for instance, will Max figure out the secret? He seems to be getting very close. Molena Point seems to be an idyllic but crime infested village,(sort of like the Cotswolds in the English cozies). Lovely but dangerous as towards the end of the series everyone seemed to be ‘carrying’ and guns did become more prominent. The author did comment throughout the series on some of her more important societal issues. That’s only one element that makes this series so enjoyable. I’m sorry it’s over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2019
This was very much a cat-centric story with lots of mysticism re the ancient race of cats from which Joe Grey and his family descend. I wonder if a newcomer to the series who started with this book would be more taken with the human events- the vicious robberies and beatings- and would not feel the cats’ story eclipsing the actual mystery as I did. The cat action would almost require familiarity with at least the past few books to make any sense at all. Having loved Joe and company from the start I am there mainly for the cats and their human friends who know of their abilities. While a few aspects of little kit Courtney’s disappearance felt a bit silly the ending made up for that. Why did this feel so much like a last of series book? Sure hope not.
December 27, 2021
I LOVED this book. Of course I used the audio version, and Susan Boyce did a wonderful job as Narrator. I have listened to her presentations before and think she is excellent.
Now the book itself also was a thrilling tale and I had no idea as to how the whole story would come together. I know I was anticipating how it would end and how I would feel. Without telling fans of the series, I can tell you that the finale was outstanding. Absolutely brilliant and although I would love this wonderful series to go on longer, I am 100% delighted with the ending.
Nope, I am not giving any hints. So much went on and little snippets of several stories wrapped into one book, well, it is worth the time to read. Or if you like to be read a story, than by all means, go for the audio version. The End.
Now the book itself also was a thrilling tale and I had no idea as to how the whole story would come together. I know I was anticipating how it would end and how I would feel. Without telling fans of the series, I can tell you that the finale was outstanding. Absolutely brilliant and although I would love this wonderful series to go on longer, I am 100% delighted with the ending.
Nope, I am not giving any hints. So much went on and little snippets of several stories wrapped into one book, well, it is worth the time to read. Or if you like to be read a story, than by all means, go for the audio version. The End.
July 10, 2019
I admit I skipped some pages, as the story goes on and on for far too long. There really is no mystery, as you know who the bad people are from the very beginning. I realize that having taking cats in the story should be interesting, but in reality it's not. Lots of the characters know the cats talk, so it's not really a secret. And it took the cops way too long to solve the "case." There is also no way real police would let a jewel thief go, so the end is forced. The author lives in Carmel, and since that is where I am currently hanging out, I figured it was worth a read, but it really wasn't.
October 8, 2019
People sometimes ask if it's ok to read a book that is not the first one in a series. I can say that you should definitely not start with this book about Joe Grey, cat detective, and all the other cats who can speak and read. This one involves a man and his three sons who are not nice and another plot line involving Joe's kitten Courtney. The only reason I knew who all the cats and people involved were is that I have read several other books in the series. It's easier to believe the cats can talk than to believe they can run across roofs, jump from roof to roof and branch to branch and up and down trees. As a cat owner Murphy should know better.
May 21, 2020
I hated to get to the end, knowing I didn’t have another one of this series waiting for me. I love discovering any kind of series (tv or book) late, so I can binge, just going from one to the next to the next. But then you get to the last one. 🙁 At least with this there is a possibility for more—eventually. Funny thing: as I was writing this, a catbird landed just outside my window! Haven’t seen or heard one of them in quite a while! I don’t know if it was just my state of mind, or if this is accurate, but I feel like there was more about mystical stuff than crime stuff in this one. I do hope she’s writing another one, tho. After 21 books, I feel like they’re family!
January 23, 2022
Joe Grey, feline sleuth, leaves anonymous calls to the police when he discovers wrongdoing. He is one of many talking cats around the Molina Point area; the only people who know their secret are their human companions. Joe and Dulcie, parents of three teenage kittens who are finding their purposes in life, are frantic when their daughter Courtney goes missing. It seems that she is identical to cats in ancient tapestries and paintings so she is kidnapped to exploit that. Meanwhile there are multiple robberies around the area and a woman who was almost buried alive--many mysteries for Joe and company to solve.
April 21, 2019
I always loved the books in this series and I loved this one.
Joe Grey and the other cat are amazing and lovely as usual and it was like meeting old friends and seeing what was going on.
The plot is complex, with various subplot that sometimes makes the book less engaging but pleasant nonetheless.
Even if it can be read as a standalone I think this book is perfect of the fan of the series but it wouldn't be the best one to start it.
I recommend it to cat lovers and whoever love this series.
Many thanks to William Morrow and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Joe Grey and the other cat are amazing and lovely as usual and it was like meeting old friends and seeing what was going on.
The plot is complex, with various subplot that sometimes makes the book less engaging but pleasant nonetheless.
Even if it can be read as a standalone I think this book is perfect of the fan of the series but it wouldn't be the best one to start it.
I recommend it to cat lovers and whoever love this series.
Many thanks to William Morrow and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
May 9, 2019
This series, with speaking cats, should be nothing but corny. Somehow it is anything but. Shirley Rousseau Murphy lays out a cast of characters you wish were your friends and a town, Modena Point, CA you wish you called home. Not one book in this series is ‘bad’ .......I’ve been reading this series for years and have yet to be disappointed. Yes, the cats really make these books, but there is enough here to p,ease anyone who likes a good mystery peopled with intelligent humans. You need not be a cat lover to enjoy.......but I defy anyone not to love Joe Grey......he is a hoot.
May 29, 2019
Really, who wouldn't want to talk with their favorite feline? I'm sure my Barney would be just as intelligent and smart-ass as Joe Grey. My hope is that Barney doesn't explore quite as much of the surrounding town as Joe and his other sentient cats do. Joe and Dulcie and their now-grown children help thwart a gang of thieves who have moved into town. They also need to rescue one of their kits from some bad people who would love to become rich off of her classic cat looks. As always, these stories require you to suspend reality and play along. If you do that, you are in for a good read.
July 22, 2019
Even though this is the twenty-first book of the series, it is the first I have read. I do think I would have struggled less if I had read previous books. That being said, I am very intrigued about cats who can not only talk to humans, but can read newspapers and dial telephones. I have long known of cats who seem to show compassion, give comfort or help those who are ill. I was not aware of cats with a penchant to solving crimes. All said, it was a delightful romp and well worth the read.
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October 28, 2025Amazing
A fitting ending to the last Joe Grey book that Shirley Rousseau Murphy wrote. Joe Greay, Dulcie, Kit, Pan, and Misto, as well as Buffin, Striker, and Courtney, will always live on, through their many lives, through us.
We will also remember Willow, Cotton, Coyote, Sage, and Tansy, and the cereal closest. And also Clyde, Ryan, Wilma, Charlie, and Max Harper. We will remember Cate and Scotty, the Greenlaws, the older women, the Firettis, Billy, and the three girls. And detectives Garza and Davis and all the others.
A fitting ending to the last Joe Grey book that Shirley Rousseau Murphy wrote. Joe Greay, Dulcie, Kit, Pan, and Misto, as well as Buffin, Striker, and Courtney, will always live on, through their many lives, through us.
We will also remember Willow, Cotton, Coyote, Sage, and Tansy, and the cereal closest. And also Clyde, Ryan, Wilma, Charlie, and Max Harper. We will remember Cate and Scotty, the Greenlaws, the older women, the Firettis, Billy, and the three girls. And detectives Garza and Davis and all the others.
May 10, 2019
Joe Gray is back! He and Dulcie are on a quest to keep their remarkable calico kitten, Courtney, safe from those who would use her for nefarious purposes...but Courtney, now a teen cat, has her own ideas! And in the middle of that, there's real crime spree going on in the village, and people are being hurt, badly! Can the remarkable talking cats of Molena Point manage to simultaneously keep Courtney safe, and rid their village of a most dangerous group of villain?
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