The story started too slowly. It just didn't keep my interest. I really like the books where pets are the real sleuths. This one didn't work so I didn't finish it.
It's been almost a year since stub-tailed tomcat Joe Grey and his female friend Dulcie discovered they could think, talk, and read, and in that year they've helped the Molena Point police solve three cases. Their fourth brings them face to face, for the first time, with another cat of their own sentient kind--but very different. The large and powerful black tomcat who calls himself Azrael is sardonic, bullying, and of criminal bent--Joe and Dulcie first see him when he opens a skylight, unlocks the store door from within, and admits his human partner, a shabby old man who cleans out the safe. It doesn't take them long to discover his real identity, but at first they're uncertain of whether to share their knowledge with the cops: Dulcie worries that humans will learn of the existence of talking cats, and what will that do to their status as police snitches and unsuspected auxiliaries? But Joe feels that it's bad enough for a human to steal from his town's shops--a cat has no business doing such stuff. And he resolves to nail the pair.
But Azreal may be more than just a burglar's helper. He claims to see death around Joe and Dulcie--three human deaths before the moon is full. And, sure enough, murder once again intrudes on the peace of Molena Point, as first a pair of visiting Georgians is found dead in the library's front garden, then a financial advisor's body is discovered in his home office. It's up to Joe and Dulcie to discover how these two incidents are connected--and whether they relate to Azrael and his partner.
Murphy paints a vivid portrait of a sentient cat gone wrong--Azrael may be a villain, but he's a strong character. There's also a share of humor in this novel--Joe and Dulcie batting possible newspaper headlines back and forth as they speculate on the ramifications of Azrael's discovery, a sly probable reference to Clint Eastwood (one of the best-known inhabitants of Carmel, on which Molena Point is based), Dulcie's "favorite movie star," attending a gallery show (at which Charlie Getz's portraits of the cats are on display) and feeding her duck liver canapes from his own hand. And though they're burglars, Azrael and his human partner aren't cardboard figures. Greeley Urzey is the father of one of the murdered Georgians and the brother of Charlie's cleaning woman, Mavity Flowers; his deep emotional reaction to the deaths makes it obvious that he's no sociopath. And Dulcie, though she rebukes Azrael for failing to recognize that "common cats" have their own feelings, their own "sensibilities and unique ways," is the first to recognize that he genuinely cares for Greeley, indeed loves him, and has come as close as he can to asking her and Joe to help. The resolution of the case is one that perhaps only cats could have worked out, though what becomes of Azrael is left for another book to tell. This is an excellent entry into the popular and award-winning series.
Logic and charming cats solve mysteries
It all starts with a series of burglaries. Joe Grey and his female paramour Dulcie are doing their normal prowling when they notice a big black cat helping a human in robbing a local store. This is repeated, and then done again leading to a total of three robberies. The local police are baffled, but Joe and Dulcie find out that the black cat is just like them: he can speak English.
There is a lot of tension between Joe and Azrael (as the black cat calls himself) and even Dulcie rakes her clues across Azrael as we find out that the black cat is one of those sadists who enjoy creating pain and suffering among those smaller or less capable than themselves. While engaged in a lot of cat bickering, Azrael seems to go into a trance and predicts three human deaths.
Now, this is something for the gumshoe duo to look into! Simple robberies are just ho hum, but Murder! Ah, now there is a good choice morsel!
As it turns out, Azrael is really in love with his human companion and does everything he can to help him out. Unfortunately, Azrael's human keeper is involved with the three people who get killed as do a whole host of newcomers and visitors to the town. Add to the mix a librarian who hates cats; a golddigger; an unusual cleaning lady; and you get quite a mix with the locals who we've learned about over the previous three books. All make appearances here.
There is actually very little mystery here as the bok's plot is ponderously unraveled. When you get to the part where the murder takes place, you already have enough clues to figure out who the murderer is and even enough clues to know how he story will progress. That is why I took off one star from this rating - a mystery book should have a mystery and I did not find one here.
On all the other attributes of this series, I like what I read. About the only other negative comment I can make is that there seem to be an awful lot of cats with the ability to speak, understand, and read English in one small town in California. If that was only true I would be having a civilized conversation with at least one of my own cats! Maybe it's time to stop introducing so many cats who can speak; or humans who can turn into cats, and focus instead on the mystery aspects of the plotting?
The people in the town are likable. The romantic involvement of the main principals are believable for the most part and you really care about these folks after a while. So, those parts of the books are highly rated and should hopefully continue unabated.
Loved it!
This is a great series. The books continually get better as the series goes on, so keep reading the Joe Grey mysteries! So far, I've read the first 6 books, and I'd have to say that this one is by far my favorite. Definitely a recommendation!
An excellent book for cat-lovers
As the lone human in a household that includes cats, I can't help but appreciate Joe and Dulcie. If my cats could speak (and solve mysteries), this is just the way they'd behave. The books in this series are great for an entertaining, light read. Ms. Murphy does an excellent job in developing her characters, and the reader comes to know them as friends. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
