Cat Shout for Joy

A Joe Grey Mystery, Book 19

By: Shirley Rousseau Murphy

Narrated by: Susan Boyce

Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

For feline PI Joe Grey and his companion, Dulcie, life is a bittersweet mix of endings and beginnings. While they joyfully await their first litter, they are also sad for their friend, the old yellow cat Misto, whose time on Earth is drawing to an end. But Misto tells them an exciting future awaits: Among the litter will be a little calico from the distant past who will be born with ancient markings and the adventurous spirit of Joe Grey.

While the proud parents await the birth of their babies, their humans have their hands full with projects of their own. Kate Osborne has bought the old Pamillon estate, and Ryan Flannery is building a new cat shelter as part of their volunteer rescue project. The criminals are busy, too. The Molena Point PD has stepped up patrols to apprehend a mugger attacking the local elderly. The case becomes a homicide when one of the victims dies, leaving everyone in the town - including Joe Grey and his furry sleuthing companions - on edge.

When Dulcie gives birth, her little calico is just as Misto predicted, as if she has come back to the world from mythic ancient times. But the celebrations will have to wait. A murderer is on the loose - and neither young nor old is safe until the culprit is found.

©2016 Shirley Rousseau Murphy (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Vintage Joe Grey - Superb Storytelling

Joe Grey and Shirley Rousseau Murphy are, once again, on top form, with a truly satisfying tale of mystery, murder, and kittens. Our favourite characters are all woven into a colourful rich tapestry within Molena Point, San Francisco and the mysterious Netherworld. The storytelling is exciting, the narration characterful and fluent - this is Joe Grey at his best.

A bittersweet mix of happy and sad

Molena Point, California is alive with the activities of its human and feline populations. Sentient cat Joe Grey’s lady love Dulcie has good news for everyone: she is expecting kittens! Joe Grey is beside himself with joy and wonder as Dulcie’s pregnancy progresses. However, they are saddened as the old yellow cat Misto is dieing. He says it is only his time on earth that is ending. He gives them many prophecies and says an exciting future awaits them all. He predicts that Dulcie will have three kittens, one of which will be a calico marked with the ancient markings of three black bands on her front paw. This kitten will have lived before and will bring an ancient adventurous spirit.

While everyone protects Dulcie and her unborn babies, their humans have their hands full with a mugger who attacks the elderly, leaving them injured and humiliated. When one victim dies, it becomes a homicide for Captain Max Harper and his men to solve. Of course, Joe Grey is there to help as the “snitch” who calls in tips to the Molena Point Police Department. The reader must suspend their disbelief over this community of talking cats. Their secret is only known by a select few humans, and they prefer to stay anonymous to protect their secret. Keeping silent can be a daunting task.

Kate Osborne is busy after buying the old Pamillon estate, including the ruins of the Pamillon mansion where the wild band of felines is currently living. It is on this estate that Ryan Flannery is building a new cat shelter to serve the volunteer effort of rescuing cats. During construction, several of the sentient feral cats lead Kit and Pan to the secret Netherworld to see the place from where the talking cats have risen. It is a harrowing trip through tunnels, dark places, and decay. The pair see artwork and porcelain and many treasures that picture the cats of the Celtic myths. The cats above worry about their return. Misto, Pan’s father, magically knows they are safe and allays their fears.

This nineteenth entry in the Joe Grey series is a bittersweet mix of happy and sad, endings and beginnings. As Misto passes from this world, Dulcie has her three kittens including the calico girl he predicted. The other two kittens are boys; one is named Striker and the other is Buffin, both tan colored tabbies. While the cats and their humans wonder over their birth, the rest of Molena Point is still plagued by the street prowler. With no witnesses and few clues, they are at a loss as to who the criminal is and why he is preying on the elderly.

Shirley Rousseau Murphy has written another enchanting tale which follows in the series beautifully. It can, however, also be read as a standalone mystery with some back story provided throughout. Mrs. Murphy creates a mystery full of twists and turns in the midst of a charming feline tale. There are many storylines swirled together. Narrator Susan Boyce leads us through them with ease.

Highly recommended.

Bravo Fabulous Tail With Joe Grey & Beautiful Dulcie

Loved, Loved, Loved this great read - listening on audible! I’ll be purchasing the next book indeed!

Joe Grey, Dulcie, Kittens and the Circle of Life

This long running series is SO good and has definitely become one of my favorites . . . so much so that when my husband and I found a tiny grey kitten at my mother's house, shy, neglected and living in a sink hole . . . we visited it every day until he became used to us and came to greet us each day . . . and then we brought him home . . . to Alabama from Kentucky. 🐱😻 And his name is Joe Grey. 🐱‍👤 But unlike his counterpart in the stories, our Joe Grey will not be having babies with His Lady 😂. Book 19 in the series may be the best so far. Joe and Dulcie are expecting kittens, but Dulcie so far has only told Wilma, her owner . . . and of course, the vet knows. She wants to tell Joe Grey, yet she's sort of afraid of what he will say . . . so finally she bursts out: Kittens! Joe is taken aback, but soon he is joyous and watching after His Lady. At the same time, old Misto is about to leave this world, having used up his nine lives 😊 this go round, but before going he has imparted some important news to Dulcie about her coming kittens: There will be three, two boys and one girl. And the girl will be very special; her name will be Courtney. Misto's son, Pan, along with Kit are off on a trek to the underworld of the feral talking cats and don't know that MIsto is dying. 😥 Pedric and Lucinda Greenlaw, Kit's humans are off on a cruise to Alaska, but are checking in with Clyde and Ryan while they are gone, learning that Misto is about to die . . . and that Kit and Pan are off on an adventure. Meanwhile, crime hasn't stopped in the little town of Molena Point . . . and even though he is about to become a father, Joe Grey cannot stop himself from investigating. A mugger is on the loose, attacking the elderly . . . and now one of them has died. Joe continues to call in tips to the Molena Point PD . . . and Police Chief Max Harper follows up. Great conclusion to the story. With three beautiful kittens welcomed by Dulcie and Joe Grey.

Very engaging

Great narrator. Love the characters. The mystery is quite engaging. Author creates such hateful villains

loved it!

these books are so mysterious and wonderful. I love the card and their humans who love them enough to keep they'er secret!

The cunningness of the cats.

Loved the hearing of the books but I had a tendency to drift off after 30 minutes or so.

The BEST ONE YET!!!

Will finish this later. I love the talking cats and their human families ! Later....

This series is so entertaining.

The author makes the cats seem so real that I wish my animals could talk!

Another enjoyable listen

I’ve listened to all the stories so far about Joe Gray. The characters and plot lines are aging well. Can’t believe I only have 2 to go. What then?