"Missing humans, missing cats, what's the difference?"
A fire in the seaside village of Molena Point has left a twelve-year-old boy homeless—and the body of his alcoholic guardian is found in the smoldering ruins. A most curious tomcat, feline p.i. Joe Grey wonders if escape was really impossible for the elderly woman or if something more sinister occurred. And when boisterous Debbie Kraft descends uninvited on the Damens' home with her two children, claiming that her ex-husband has left her destitute, Joe really smells a rat—especially when he discovers Debbie is carrying loads of cash . . . and that the dead woman was her estranged mother.
This case—a nasty mix of missing persons, abandoned pets, real-estate scams, and murder—has Joe's fur standing on end. But it's not until Debbie's left-behind housecat shows up that Joe and his furry detecting pals find the biggest, most troubling clue of all: a grave that the cops somehow have missed.
From Booklist
Yes, Joe Grey is one of those mythical talking cats who populate crime fiction, but at heart he’s just a simple guy dedicated to solving crimes and catching criminals. This time Joe is busy snooping into the background of Debbie, a woman who recently showed up on the doorstep of Clyde and Ryan (humans in Joe’s life), claiming her ex-husband, a well-known real-estate agent in Molena Point, California, has taken all her money. When Debbie’s estranged mother is found dead in the burned remains of her shack, and Joe tosses her bags and finds $2,000 in cash, he knows something is going on. Murphy cleverly weaves in current issues but doesn’t let them overwhelm the main story; it’s true there may be a few too many asides about the problem of homeless house cats (a side effect of foreclosures), but fans of cat mysteries won’t mind that a bit. As the plot heats up, the weather cools down, culminating in a rare winter snow as Joe and his fellow talking feline Dulcie sniff out the real killer. A must-read for Murphy’s devoted audience and a good choice for those who enjoy Rita Mae Brown’s Sneaky Pie Brown novels. --Jessica Moyer
Review
“The heartwrenching stories of an orphaned child and a stray cat at Christmas will tug on more than a few heartstrings.” (Romantic Times on Cat Coming Home )
“A heartwarming and satisfying tale.” (Booklist on Cat Coming Home )
“[A] marvelous holiday gift of a tale.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Cat Coming Home )
“This is delightful entertainment. It would be a true cat-tastrophe if you let it pass you by.” (Todd David Schwartz, CBS Radio, Four Stars (Highest Rating) on Cat Coming Home )
Description:
"Missing humans, missing cats, what's the difference?"
A fire in the seaside village of Molena Point has left a twelve-year-old boy homeless—and the body of his alcoholic guardian is found in the smoldering ruins. A most curious tomcat, feline p.i. Joe Grey wonders if escape was really impossible for the elderly woman or if something more sinister occurred. And when boisterous Debbie Kraft descends uninvited on the Damens' home with her two children, claiming that her ex-husband has left her destitute, Joe really smells a rat—especially when he discovers Debbie is carrying loads of cash . . . and that the dead woman was her estranged mother.
This case—a nasty mix of missing persons, abandoned pets, real-estate scams, and murder—has Joe's fur standing on end. But it's not until Debbie's left-behind housecat shows up that Joe and his furry detecting pals find the biggest, most troubling clue of all: a grave that the cops somehow have missed.
From Booklist
Yes, Joe Grey is one of those mythical talking cats who populate crime fiction, but at heart he’s just a simple guy dedicated to solving crimes and catching criminals. This time Joe is busy snooping into the background of Debbie, a woman who recently showed up on the doorstep of Clyde and Ryan (humans in Joe’s life), claiming her ex-husband, a well-known real-estate agent in Molena Point, California, has taken all her money. When Debbie’s estranged mother is found dead in the burned remains of her shack, and Joe tosses her bags and finds $2,000 in cash, he knows something is going on. Murphy cleverly weaves in current issues but doesn’t let them overwhelm the main story; it’s true there may be a few too many asides about the problem of homeless house cats (a side effect of foreclosures), but fans of cat mysteries won’t mind that a bit. As the plot heats up, the weather cools down, culminating in a rare winter snow as Joe and his fellow talking feline Dulcie sniff out the real killer. A must-read for Murphy’s devoted audience and a good choice for those who enjoy Rita Mae Brown’s Sneaky Pie Brown novels. --Jessica Moyer
Review
“The heartwrenching stories of an orphaned child and a stray cat at Christmas will tug on more than a few heartstrings.” (Romantic Times on Cat Coming Home )
“A heartwarming and satisfying tale.” (Booklist on Cat Coming Home )
“[A] marvelous holiday gift of a tale.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Cat Coming Home )
“This is delightful entertainment. It would be a true cat-tastrophe if you let it pass you by.” (Todd David Schwartz, CBS Radio, Four Stars (Highest Rating) on Cat Coming Home )