From Booklist
With her latest Joe Grey mystery, Murphy moves closer to integrating the world she created in her first adult novel, The Catswold Portal (1992), which features shape changers who shift between cat and human forms. Azrael, the sinister black tomcat with burning yellow eyes introduced in Cat in the Dark (1999), has returned to Molena Point, California, to embark on another crime spree with human cohorts while he attempts to find the cat portal to the Netherworld. Kate Osborne, who moved to San Francisco three years earlier to search for information about the parents she has never known, also comes back to the village, obviously troubled and arousing great interest on the part of Azrael. The fast-paced story involves sophisticated burglary, murder, and the bizarre secret of Kate's own nature. Once again the delightful mix of humans, sentient cats, mystery, and humor remains true to the preceding books in the series, only this time with a larger dollop of fantasy, which should extend the audience beyond the usual cat-mystery buffs. Sally Estes
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Book Description

From Shirley Rousseau Murphy, six-time winner of the Cat Writers' Association Muse Medallion, here is crime-solving from the paws of the most cunning and intelligent feline detectives around: tomcat and feline sleuth extraordinaire Joe Grey, his tabby pal Dulcie, and their tattercoat friend Kit.

When antiques and valuables begin to disappear from residents' homes, Joe Grey knows that something is very wrong in sleepy Molena Point, California. Could the thief be a local or, even worse, is it the old crook who may be connected to Azrael, the sinister, yellow-eyed cat who terrorized Joe and Dulcie years ago, and whose return has Joe's fur standing on edge? Even a seasoned tomcat like Joe isn't prepared for the shock that awaits Molena Point residents at the opening for artist Charlie Harper.

While guests are dining on hors d'oeuvres and fine wine at the joyous celebration, a young, healthy waiter drops dead at Charlie's feet.

Meanwhile, just north of Molena Point, in San Francisco, the cats' friend Kate, a woman with a troubling secret, is followed by a stranger and robbed. Her apartment is then gutted, with claw marks and black cat hairs leading her to suspect the vicious tomcat Azrael. In the most dramatic investigation of their lives, Joe Grey, Dulcie, and Kit, following diverse leads, scratch out the truth and, with cunning feline skills, restore a distraught village to its usual cozy tranquility.


About the Author
Shirley Rousseau Murphy has received six national Cat Writers' Association Awards for best novel of the year and for the Joe Grey books, and five Council of Authors and Journalists Awards for her children's books. She and her husband live in Carmel, California, where they serve as full-time household help for two demanding feline ladies.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Shattered families and long-hidden secrets (both human and feline) are the themes of this ninth volume of Shirley Rousseau Murphy's popular mystery series about exceptionally clever cats who can carry on a conversation￯﾿ﾽand an investigation. As autumn's chill settles on the quiet town of Molena Point, California, three unusual burglaries have the gossips buzzing. The victims are all respected citizens, and each had only a single, favorite item stolen from amid a collection of similar, equally vulnerable, valuables. A diamond choker, a precious painting, and a painstakingly restored antique car -- each protected by top-notch locks and alarm systems -- have vanished without a trace. As news of the break-ins spreads, it's obvious that a very skilled and selective thief has come to town. Clyde Damen isn't depending solely on the police to sniff out the crook who stole his beloved Packard. He's fortunate to share a house with one of the finest detectives in town, the large gray tomcat named Joe Grey. Joe, and his fellow sentient felines, Dulcie and Kit, have plenty of crime-fighting experience -- their accurate, anonymous tips make them the best snitches the local police department has. From the first, however, Joe knows this case is going to be a rough one. Though other clues are few and far between, the evil cat burglar Azrael's scent is all over Joe's territory￯﾿ﾽincluding the crime scenes. As danger stalks some of Joe's favorite people, and the rash of wrongdoing escalates, with valuables, long-protected secrets, and lives at risk amid an ever-expanding crime wave, Joe and his fellow feline detectives are quick to spring into action. Sue Stone

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"When antiques and valuables begin to disappear from residents' homes, Joe Grey knows that something is very wrong in sleepy Molena Point, California. Could the thief be a local or, even worse, is it the old crook who may be connected to Azrael, the sinister, yellow-eyed cat who terrorized Joe and Dulcie years ago, and whose return has Joe's fur standing on edge?" "Even a seasoned tomcat like Joe isn't prepared for the shock that awaits Molena Point residents at the opening for artist Charlie Harper. While guests are dining on hors d'oeuvres and fine wine at the joyous celebration, a young healthy waiter drops dead at Charlie's feet." Meanwhile, just north of Molena Point, in San Francisco, the cats' friend Kate, a woman with a troubling secret, is followed by a stranger and robbed. Her apartment is then gutted, with claw marks and black cat hairs leading her to suspect the vicious tomcat Azrael. In the most dramatic investigation of their lives, Joe Grey, Dulcie, and Kit, following diverse leads, scratch out the truth and, with cunning feline skills, restore a distraught village to its usual cozy tranquility.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Once again sleek feline sleuth Joe Grey and his tabby partner, Dulcie, prove to be the best snitches the Molena Point, Calif., police ever had in this superior cat cozy, the ninth entry in Murphy's popular series (after 2003's Cat Seeing Double). A sophisticated thief has been targeting the small coastal town, stealing prize jewelry and paintings, despite elaborate security measures. Also missing is a vintage 1927 Packard belonging to Joe's owner, Clyde Damen. The ante is raised when a waiter at an art gallery opening suddenly falls dead and a local realtor gets blown up in a gas explosion. Meanwhile, someone is stalking interior designer Kate Osborne, whose apartment is invaded by ferocious tomcat Azrael, an old adversary of Joe's, and the avaricious Consuela Benton is leading astray troubled teenager Dillon Thurwell, whose mother is having an affair with a suave art collector. As usual, the relationships between the lively human characters and the talking cats in whom they confide their problems provide as much interest as the crime solving. The intricate and absorbing plot keeps the reader in suspense throughout. (Mar. 5) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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