Cat Under Fire [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Shirley Rousseau Murphy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2001

A big, powerful, gray feline, Joe Grey is perfectly content with his remarkable ability to understand and communicate with humans -- especially now that he has company. A mysterious accident similar to the one that enabled him to speak and read has transformed his friend Dulcie as well. The trouble is, the cute tabby female not only hears human words, she believes them.

Now she's convinced the man who was jailed for murdering a famous local artist and burning down her studio is innocent -- simply because he says so -- and she's willing to do whatever it takes to dig up the evidence that will exonerate the accused. Joe would much prefer just lazing around the house doing kitty things, but the lady cat is determined. And Joe must admit that he is curious ... though everyone knows what that can lead to!

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Crusty Joe Grey, the feline hero of Cat on the Edge (1996), and his spirited love, Dulcie, return to investigate another murder, and this time, it's not their lives that are threatened; it's just that Dulcie thinks the young man arrested for the murder of a local artist is innocent. Once again, it's not really clear just how Joe and Dulcie acquired their ability to think and talk like human beings; however, the clever dialogue, fast-paced action, humor, and interactions between cats and humans make it worth the reader's effort to suspend disbelief. Good fun for cat lovers and fans of offbeat fantasy. Sally Estes --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

Joe Grey, a cat with the ability to talk and understand human speech, now has company--a "girlfriend" cat named Dulcie who shares his gifts. But Dulcie's enthusiasm for solving an all-too-human murder mystery could get Joe Grey killed.

The second in a series that combines cats. fantasy, mystery, and plenty of charm.

Will appeal to fans of cat fantasies and cat mysteries such as Tad Williams's Tailchaser's Song and Lillian Jackson Braun's The Cat Who..series. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 265 pages
• Publisher: Thomas T Beeler (May 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574903411
• ISBN-13: 978-1574903416
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,294,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Shirley Rousseau Murphy grew up in southern California, riding and showing the horses her father trained. She attended the San Francisco Art institute. Shortly after graduation, she married and worked as an interior designer while her husband attended USC. "When Pat finished school, I promptly quit my job and began to exhibit paintings and welded metal sculpture in the West Coast juried shows," Murphy explains. Her work could be seen in many traveling shows in the western States and Mexico. She continues, "But when we moved to Panama for a four-year tour, in Pat's position with the U.S. Courts, I put away the paints and welding torches, and began to write."

She has published sixteen children's books, a young adult fantasy quintet, the Dragonbards fantasy trilogy, and The Catswold Portal. "It was while working on this adult fantasy that I knew I wanted to explore further the fascinating world of sentient cats. I began to see the gray tomcat, whom I knew well in real life, as a feline detective with a brash attitude--and the die was cast. I launched into the Joe Grey mystery series. I like discovering anew with each book how the three cats interact with their close-knit world of human friends--Joe Grey in-your-face abrasive, Dulcie of a gentler nature, and Kit wildly imaginative."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Midnight Louie my 1st love, now Joe Grey a worthy 2nd, March 22, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Cat Under Fire: A Joe Grey Mystery (Mass Market Paperback)

The concept of cats who can think and talk like people is a bit frightening. I'm not sure I want to think about what my five would have to say if they could! Apparently this ability comes from some sort of Celtic/Egyptian/Italian folklore/mythological roots. Sometimes however, Joe or Dulcie will say or think something that seems just a bit beyond belief for a cat even with this super ability. And more than once they demonstrated physical abilities that seemed unlikely even allowing for their being able to conceive of doing them. But this may be nit picking. After you get used to the idea, this is a good mystery. I have to admit I fell for a couple of red herrings. Dulcie is certain that the young man in jail for murder is innocent and she gets Joe Grey involved in a big way. Along the way they encounter all sorts of strange characters and a very nasty dog. Their escapades make for an enjoyable reading experience (just be sure to check your ideas about what cats can and can't do at the door). All things considered, if I had to choose, I think I would stay with Midnight Louie, Carol Nelson Douglas' street wise cat in Las Vegas. I prefer my cats a little more cat like and a little less people like. Fortunately I don't have to choose, I can have BOTH! Enjoy Murphy's Joe Grey and Dulcie then go check out Midnight Louie as well, you won't be disappointed.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For a good time, read this book, December 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Cat Under Fire: A Joe Grey Mystery (Mass Market Paperback)

I throughly enjoyed reading this as will many other lovers of the felines and crime solving genre. The characters are real and very lovable, and in all her books the author also creates intriguing little 'sub plots' which will pull you in if the main one does not. Humor mixed with tenderness--if you can handle that combination, this book is for you.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another murder solved by Joe and Dulcie, July 23, 2001

By 

William L. Gilstrap - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cat Under Fire: A Joe Grey Mystery (Mass Market Paperback)

When a prominent artist is burned to death in her own studio, the two cat detectives can't believe it to be an accident. They set out to find out exactly what happened and like always they are into everything and keeping their house mates worried about them and Captain Harper off balance because he thinks the cats are involved in his anonymous tips. He doesn't want to admit, even to himself, that he believes simple little cats could do these unusual things. Joe and Dulcie are always kitty on the spot when something happens and to find clues to crimes. This is a good, interesting book. The author deserves credit for coming up with such an unusual series of stories.