Shades of Grey

Dulcie Schwartz #1

by Clea Simon

The first in the brand-new Dulcie Schwartz feline-filled mystery series - Dulcie's having an awful summer. Her beloved cat Mr Grey's been put to sleep, and her new room-mate, Tim, is a jerk. Walking home, she sees a cat the spitting image of Mr Grey, and hears a voice say, I wouldnt go in just now. She enters to find Tim dead stabbed with her own knife. Dulcie's in the frame for murder and she hasn't seen the last of Mr Grey, either . . .

Genres: Mystery, Cats, Animals, Cozy, Fiction, Paranormal, Cozy Mystery

216 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

Boston Globe-bestselling author Clea Simon is the author of The Butterfly Trap, a sinister slow-build "he said/she said" that will definitely surprise you.

This follows Bad Boy Beat a fast-paced amateur sleuth mystery featuring a novice crime reporter with a nose for news who is convinced a series of street-level killings are connected.

In a different mood, Clea's most recent cozy is The Cat's Eye Charm, the fifth in her "Witch Cats of Cambridge" series.

She is also the author of the psychological suspense novels, Hold Me Down and World Enough, both named "Must Reads" by the Massachusetts Book Awards, as well as the dystopian Blackie and Care black cat series (The Ninth Life), the Dulcie Schwartz feline/academic mysteries (Shades of Grey), the Pru Marlowe pet noir mysteries (Dogs Don't Lie), and the Theda Krakow cats & crime & rock & roll mysteries (Mew is for Murder), as well as three nonfiction books: Mad House: Growing Up in the Shadow of Mentally Ill Siblings; Fatherless Women: How We Change After We Lose Our Dads; and The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats.

The recipient of multiple honors, including the Cat Writers Associations Presidents Award, she lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, with her husband, Jon Garelick, and their cat, Thisbe. Find her at Clea Simon.com

Reviews

[Mary Kennedy]

Every amateur sleuth needs a sidekick and Dulcie Schwartz is fortunate to have Mr. Grey at her side.

Mr. Grey is quick-witted, resourceful and endlessly devoted. He’s has finely tuned instincts and a nose for ferreting out the truth.
Oh yes, and he happens to be a cat.

Mr. Grey is more than a garden variety house cat; he’s the ghost of Dulcie’s beloved pet feline, and it quickly becomes apparent that he’s more of a spirit guide” than a woo-woo presence in the book.

Dulcie, still mourning the loss of her pet, feels an immediate affinity with him when he crosses her path. Is he really an incarnation of Mr. Grey? Could it be possible? He has “long silver fur and a face more Siamese than Persian, the slanted eyes giving him an intelligent and inquisitive look.”

And he’s not only a gorgeous feline, but a talkative one. When Dulcie walks right into a crime scene, he gently chides her, “Dulcie, please go back outside. Go outside and dial 911.”

Is it the spirit of Mr. Grey speaking to her? Dulcie wonders if her imagination is playing tricks on her–perhaps it’s a grief reaction or maybe the heat is getting to her. But the fact remains: his advice is eerily on target. “Please be careful, Dulcie,” he tells her.”Trust, like faith, can weave spells.”

Anyone who has ever lost a pet can certainly relate to the notion that our beloved furry friends are somehow still “with us.” As Clea Simon said, “I came up with the idea of Mr. Grey after losing a beloved cat – and feeling like I was seeing him everywhere. It's very comforting, when you've lost a pet to feel like he's still there, watching over you, and my particular "Mr. Grey" was the cat of my single years, the wise and quiet companion who was always there for me. I think that's a common phenomenon - to keep seeing someone, human or animal, who you have lost. The feeling lives on, the love lives on, even after the corporeal being is gone.”

A multi-layered plot is another element in this delightful series and the reader is treated to a rare glimpse into the world of academia. Dulcie, a Harvard graduate student, is fascinated by eighteen century Gothic novels and is caught up in The Ravages of Umbria. The author cleverly passages from the book into Dulcie’s own musings, adding another dimension to the story and a new insight into Dulcie’s character.

The first release in Clea Simon’s Dulcie Schwartz series, SHADES OF GRAY (Severn House, September, 2009) has everything a mystery-lover could hope for–an engaging heroine, an intriguing plot, plenty of smart, sophisticated dialogue, and wonderful secondary characters.

[Carol]

I've read mysteries with talking cats and mysteries with ghosts. I'm pretty sure this is the first book I've read featuring a talking ghost cat.

It's well written and well developed. The paranormal aspect was present but not too heavy-handed, and the focus stayed on the human characters rather than the cat. I'm not entirely sure about Dulcie, the main character. I liked her, but she seemed too trusting, too naive, too willing to spill her guts to new acquaintances. But I liked the book overall and would like to read the next in the series.

[Gogarcias8]

Loved it! I love a heroine who is brainy, brave, and wonders what it would be like to marry every single man she meets. Also had the wonderful element of a mystery. I guess the only down side was the mystery was a bit see-through, but it did not deter me from loving the book. Looking forward to the next installment....

[Debs]

I really loved this book. I started reading it for some light refreshment as i just started a demanding Masters program myself. I also have an affinity for cats.
The characters were fun and interesting, the book was well written and suspenseful. A true delight and not nearly as mindless as some Mystery Lite authors I could mention.

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod]

This book was a very satisfying mystery. Also, I learned alot about being a Doctorial Canidate. At times, I will admit, the English Literature discussion went over my non-graduate mind, but I learned alot. I just love learning so I'm eagerly going into her next book!

[LibraryCin]

3.5 stars

Dulcie is a grad student, attempting to find a topic for her English literature thesis. She is having a really bad summer - her cat died; the class she was supposed to teach was cancelled, so she's doing temp work; worst of all, when she comes home one day, she finds her new (not very likeable) roommate dead on the floor, murdered. It seems the ghost of her cat is keeping watch over her, and is able to keep her safe. Things get worse at work, as someone is tampering with the computer system, and later the computer system at her library is hacked. What is going on!?

It was good. Nothing really special, I didn't think, but it was good. It went into a little more detail than I was interested in with the English lit thesis stuff, but other than that, I liked it. I guess it's the first in a new series, and I probably won't seek out the next one, but if I come across it or it works for a group read or game, I might pick it up.

[Lighthearted]

Dulcie Schwartz is grieving the death of her much-loved cat, she’s stuck with the roommate from hell and she has no idea for her thesis. After a day spent fuming about her roommate’s most recent bad behavior, she comes home to find him with a knife in his back. A series of bizarre incidents follows, making her wonder if Tim’s murder is somehow connected to the malicious computer programs causing problems at both work and school—the guy helped himself to everything in the apartment, why not her laptop?

I wanted to like this book. The main character is an English major (like), spends a lot of time in a library (like) and adored her cat (like). The cat apparently adored her as well and is now hanging about as a ghost cat, trying to look out for her (like). Mostly though, I found myself frustrated. Dulcie takes naivete to a whole new level—I’m a trusting person but when you’re involved in three separate investigations (one murder, two computer-related), well, I think that calls for scrutinizing casual acquaintances a little more carefully. It doesn’t call for hanging out with people who snubbed you previously and sharing information with them. It doesn’t call for trusting the brother of the murdered roommate—the brother who states that he wants to protect his family from anything that might embarrass them. It doesn’t call for letting someone use your workstation to access the server when you know you’re being investigated. Seriously!!! Dulcie is a 26 year-old grad student at Harvard and all of the characters keep referring to how smart she is but I think she’s a complete idiot. To top it off, she’s at least as concerned about whether guys like her as she is about the fact that she’s a suspect in Tim’s murder (she moves from one crush to another without missing a beat). True, she knows she didn’t do it but I think I would be a little too freaked out about the fact that I was a murder suspect to be wondering if a guy *liked* me. Plus, I would be thinking, “Gee, his best friend/brother was just murdered in my apartment and everyone knows I hated Tim—why is he asking me out to dinner? Offering to look at my computer?”. ACK!

Aside of the fact that the main character is an idiot, there are other problems with the story. I’m all for guys falling for the previously overlooked girl but when she suddenly finds herself with more than a few options, it strains the believability of the story. She hasn’t suddenly developed more confidence or done anything noteworthy—so why are these men suddenly looking her way? Did Maxim run an article on English grad students? Is it sexy to mention you have a ghost cat? Beyond that, I *hated* the scene where she finally figures everything out—by indulging in a little thinking out loud with the murderer. And what the heck was the deal with Nemo?

All that said, it is an intriguing idea for a series and I’m tempted to give the next book, Grey Matters, a try to see if Dulcie’s a bit more credible—or I’m a bit more tolerant.

[Wendy]

Having read and enjoyed author Clea Simon's Theda Krakow series, I looked forward to trying her new series featuring Dulcie Schwartz, a doctoral student specializing in gothic literature at Harvard University. Besides, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to meet a ghost cat, could I?

In order to help pay the bills, Dulcie has sublet her roommate's room in their apartment to another college student, a rather obnoxious man who likes the ladies. Dulcie isn't too fond of him, but she would never have wished him dead, which is exactly how she finds him one evening after a long day at work. He's been stabbed to death with her own knife. A cat that looks an awful lot like her former companion, Mr. Grey, tried to warn her not to enter the apartment, but Dulcie dismisses the voice in her head, and goes in anyway.

Besides finding herself a suspect in her roommate's murder, things aren't going so well at Dulcie's workplace either. Someone has been hacking into the computer system at the insurance company and suspicion seems to have fallen on Dulcie, whose temp position began not to long before the trouble began. She cannot afford to lose her job, at least not before the school year starts and her grant money comes in.

As to that grant, she may lose that if she cannot come up with a thesis topic. She's drawing a blank and with the drama unfolding around her, is it any wonder? Could someone be trying to frame her for both crimes? Dulcie is not sure who to trust, even amongst her friends.

I took an instant liking to Dulcie. She lives and breathes gothic literature. And is it any wonder with a name like Dulcinea straight out of the gothic novel, Don Quixote? She is bookish and good hearted. Some may find Dulcie’s penchant for day dreaming to be distracting, but I found it endearing. Dulcie was not the only character who won me over in Shades of Grey, and I look forward to discovering more about those I hope will become regulars in future books.

The author was very subtle in her handling of the supernatural element of the novel. While Mr. Grey clearly is a spirit, his few appearances in the novel are understated, and, as a result, come across as quite natural. It suited the novel well.

There are several bookish references for the booklover within the pages of Shades of Grey. My favorite location in the novel was the Widener library. I would have loved to venture down into the lower floors of the library along with Dulcie, losing myself in the pages of some old gothic novel.

Shades of Grey was a pleasure to read. There’s plenty of mystery, a bit of thrill and even some romance. There was something about the tone--the atmosphere--that I found especially appealing. Perhaps a hint of that gothic flare coming out in Simon’s own tale? Looks like I have a new series to add to my must read list.

[Kira Barnes]

I really enjoyed this one and am eager to read the rest of the series. The protagonist, Dulcie Schwartz, is a Ph.D. student in English, studying 18th century Gothic novels, and the preoccupations of graduate students are quite familiar to me, as I spent the better part of the '90s in graduate school, first studying French literature, then leaving my Ph.D. at the ABD stage for a library degree. I also happen to have worked as a typist for an insurance-related company, which is what Dulcie's doing as a summer job.

This novel is more cerebral than Simon's other series. It does have supernatural elements but they are not over the top. I had feared it would be a silly cozy with a talking ghost cat solving the mystery, but it's more subtle than that.

There are a few over-used tropes, such as the overly-worrying ditzy hippie mother, but all in all I enjoyed the read and look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Leah]

The only reason I finished this book was because it was a 14 day library loan and I needed to return it. I can't quite put my finger on why, but the main character fell flat for me. I got more out of the descriptions of Cambridge than I did out of the plot. It didn't help that my eyes kept missing the single quotes embracing the dialog, so I kept misreading thoughts, descriptions, and dialog.

[Rebecca]

I really, really like this first book of the Dulcie Schwartz series. It's a cozy mystery, and there's a cat, and the cat is a ghost! Tiny spoiler, but nothing about the plot. This ghost cat does give advice (very enigmatic advice, about what you would expect from a cat), but Dulcie solves the crimes. I'm enchanted.

[Staci]

literary feline

[Cheri Schaefer]

What a roller coaster mystery!!!

This was a grab it and go right to the
end! An absolutely riveting read with so
many nail biting moments! The characters
were fascinating and the story line was
full of lots of twists and turns. Mr. They
sounds like a wonderful cat and I'm hoping
he'll be featured much more in the coming
books. Two of my favorite features in this
series -- cats and ghosts! I'm so enthused
about this series! So glad I have it a try!!!!!
Clea Simon is a fantastic, talented author
and really knows how to grab a reader and
not let go until the very end where the
reader is left breathless and diving right into
the next book!!!!!!!

[Joan]

Dulcie a grad student at Harvard and working the summer at a boring temp job. She is still
grieving over the loss of her cat Mr. Grey. Her roommate is gone for the summer and she
sublet her room to a jerk Tim. One afternoon as Dulcie arrived home she sees a grey cat
that looks like Mr. Grey sitting on her front steps, the cat tells her not to go inside but
she does and finds Tim murdered on her living room floor. Dulcie is a suspect and until
she is cleared Mr. Grey frequently appears to give her advice.

[Julie Mink]

I really enjoyed this mystery and stayed up late reading it. The plot is complicated with many characters with reasons for the dead roommate found in Dulcie Schwartz's apartment. Dulcie is a Harvard Post graduate student looking for the subject of her Doctoral Thesis. She doesn't need a dead roommate messing with her head. She didn't like Tim but she didn't want him dead.

I loved the twists and turns but it kept me guessing until the end. I love a book that keeps me guessing. I loved the help that Mr. Grey gave her from the spirit world.

[Kirsten]

This missed the mark a bit for me. I think either the mystic cat should have featured more in this story or not at all. It would have been just fine in fact. The tech descriptions were a bit lacking too - but maybe it’s just because the book is a bit dated. It’s an ok read for the first in a series. But I don’t know if I’m hooked enough to read the 2nd. I liked Dulcie and her academic exploration.

[Beth]

I loved this first book in the series of Dulcie Schwartz. It takes place at Harvard and Dulcie is a graduate student. Her recently decased cat Mr. Grey may not be as gone as Dulcie thougth. Dulcie is dragged into finding the murderer of her roommate to prove her innocence. I loved the ending so much I wanted the next book immediately.

[Kim]

Because of life, it took me longer than I wanted to read this. However, when I could actually read, I felt myself pulled it. There was drama, comedy, tragedy, and more in this novel. A good start to a new cozy series.

[Carmen]

I liked that Mr. Grey, Dulcie's deceased kitty kept her psychic company and watched out for her. Nice cozy mystery, though she did dither about a lot what with all this reading of old handwritten texts which padded the book .. she did figure out the murderer

[James Traxler]

A whodunnit with a supernatural cat element.
Didn't really do it for me.
I think I only read it because I accidentally borrowed it on Libby when I was really looking for the Jasper Fforde dystopian novel of the same name.
Read it on hol whilst in Cyprus.

[February Four]

I'm intrigued enough by the cat theme and the academic setting that I'm willing to overlook a slightly overwrought protagonist.

[Jan]

I found this draggy... gave up after about 20 %

[Janet Lynch]

Cute murder mystery about a lit grad student at Harvard who studies the gothic novel and whose cat is a ghost. A bit slow-moving and tedious for me.

[Danielle]

I always love books that take place in places I'v been.. this one moves through Harvard University, Harvard Square, Central Square and many familiar bars & restaurants...

[Lisa]

Mostly good but the ending was rushed.

[Dawn]

Meh. The scatter-brained "smart" girl trope is tiring and has no place in a GOOD cozy mystery. This protagonist spent so much of the book stressing over her graduate thesis in English, her boring temp job, and which new guy in her life was right for her that she barely had time to focus on who killed her roommate or who was trying to frame her for fraud at her day job. Dulcie (short for Dulcinea) was also a bit self-centered and whiny. Oh, and kinda stupid for a grad student. The wrap-up of the mystery felt rushed and forced where it could've been interesting. I kept hoping the subject of her thesis (an re-evaluation of an unfinished Gothic novel) would be reflected in the modern crime but that was only marginally related. I'm not certain if the series improves. I'm not sure I want to waste the time finding out.

[Kathei]

Oh boy, oh boy, I found a new series to read! Clea Simon has written a new cat-filled series. It features Dulcie Schwartz and her recently deceased cat, Mr. Grey, as they solve a murder mystery and trace the origin of a computer hacking scheme going on at Harvard University.

I can't say enough about how much I love books that feature cats, the difference with Clea's books is that they are intelligently written. I love that they're set in Cambridge Massachusets because I lived there for many years and it's fun to read her accurate descriptions of an area that I loved.

You don't even have to like cats to enjoy Clea's writing it's witty and interesting. I recommend it!

[Deirdre S.]

I enjoyed this enough to summon the next two in the series from the library. It reminds me a bit of the Aunt Dimity books, with the sleuth getting supernatural help, in this case from her departed cat, Mr. Grey, who offers sage (if sometimes gnomic) advice at critical moments, and even manages to intervene on the physical plane when life-or-death perils demand it. This is a pleasing book for cat lovers, and scholars. It is as satisfying to see the struggling grad student protagonist settle on a promising topic for her thesis as watching her successfully solve the murder.

[Ryan]

I found this as I looked through the Goodread sponsors pages. I liked the idea - a kind of Ghost & Mrs Muir, but with a cat. I read the whole thing and for the most part it was fine. Tilted into the kind of romantic girl thing I dislike, but not irretrievably. Dulcie was a bit too obsessed with possible dates with guys she'd just met, a bit too victim-like. Doing anything plausible with computer technology & crime in a story is tough. Ariadne Oliver would have steered clear.

[Jamie]

This book was given to me to read from a woman I work with, and I was a bit skeptical about reading it after finding out it was about a woman seeing her dead cat. However, I gave it a chance and I'm glad that I did. While the idea of an animal guardian coming back to guide their previous owner seems far-fetched to me, I still found this book an enjoyable read. It was full of action and suspense, and was very well written.