Cat Striking Back: A Joe Grey Mystery

“Murphy’s series is top-notch...a real treat.”
—Cats magazine

The acclaimed mystery writer whom Kirkus Reviews praises for having “raised the stakes of the feline sleuth genre,” Shirley Rousseau Murphy brings back cat detectives Joe Grey, Dulcie, and Kit in Cat Striking Back. Arguably the most unusual sleuth in contemporary crime fiction, Joe Grey is at his curious best when he pads across evidence of a heinous crime but with no victim in sight. Cat Striking Back is a treat for readers of Lillian Jackson Braun, Rita Mae Brown, and Carole Nelson Douglas—for cat people and anyone who loves a good whodunit—a bravura display of the mastery that has won Murphy an unprecedented seven straight Muse Medallions from the national Cat Writers Association.

"Why is it, Joe, that you are always the one to find the body?"

On a lovely moonlit night, while carrying a gift of mice to a litter of kittens, Joe Grey stumbles upon a murder scene. Behind an empty house, in an empty swimming pool, there's blood, the smell of human death, and drag marks. But there's no victim—and it's hard to prove a crime without a corpse.

Driven by stubborn feline curiosity, Joe Grey sets out to investigate. With Dulcie and Kit following him along a killer's trail, Joe discovers evidence of conflict among the residents of this seemingly peaceful neighborhood—multiple signs of breaking-and-entering, with nothing of value stolen. And they find something far worse: hints of violence yet to come . . . and more planned murder.

With the help of two local ferals, Joe, Kit, and Dulcie must now thwart a killer using the most unorthodox means at their disposal: a criminal's unnatural yet powerful fear of cats.

“[W]ith an uncanny understanding of a cat’s behavior and personality quirks, Murphy has created a series of supense yarns that not only capture the feline ‘attitude” but offer a satisfying read.” - Californian (generic quote)

“Murphy’s series is top-notch...a reat treat.” - Cats magazine (generic quote)

“Joe Grey and his ladyfriend Dulcie aren’t just your ordinary feline detectives. Murphy’s raised the stakes of the feline sleuth genre.” - Kirkus Reviews (generic quote)

“Savoring Murphy’s clever plots and writerly machinations that allow secretly talking cats to pass along clues and inside information to the police, is a delight for Murphy fans.” - Carmel Pine Cone (generic quote)

“Magical.” - Publishers Weekly

“[The] premise, a mystery that withholds the identities of both the victim and the perp, is intriguing.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Joe continues to be one of the most entrancing (and effective) detectives in modern cozy mysteries.” - Booklist