Kind of strange and different with a mystery.

This description immediately piques our curiosity. What could this strange and different thing be? Is it an object, a place, or perhaps a person? The mystery surrounding it makes us eager to know more.

Maybe it's a rare artifact that has been discovered, with markings and symbols that no one can decipher. Or it could be an abandoned building on the outskirts of town, with a reputation for being haunted.

Perhaps it's a person with an unusual past or a unique set of skills. They might seem ordinary at first glance, but upon closer inspection, there are hints of something more mysterious lurking beneath the surface.

Whatever it is, this strange and different thing with a mystery has the power to captivate our imaginations and draw us in. We can't help but wonder what secrets it holds and what adventures might await us if we were to解开 its mystery.

I constantly found myself dozing off.

The shape-shifting "Welch selkie" on page 122 - the "willing suspension of disbelief" concept does fit within the plot. However, it is presented in an awkward manner.

On page 30, being a writer appeared to Joe as a matter of disassembling things and reassembling them in novel ways. … (and remaining committed to the task).

Page 94 features an essay about a caterpillar weaving, suggesting that this remarkable little creature was far too intelligent to have come into the world by chance. (Is it an awe of creation? The logic of/why shapeshifting?).

Page 194 mentions Dean Kootz.

On page 199, body language is described as a natural way to communicate. Is it innate?

These various elements within the text seem to hint at deeper themes and ideas, yet they are presented in a somewhat disjointed fashion, leaving the reader to piece together the connections and make sense of the overall narrative.

I read this book at my husband's urging.

He is a huge fan of Joe Grey and has devoured every single book in the series.

I have to admit that it wasn't exactly what I had in mind initially.

However, once I got past my initial surprise, I found myself thoroughly enjoying it.

I'll be eagerly moving on to Joe Grey #2 in the very near future.

This series is truly a treat for all cat lovers out there.

Shirley Rousseau Murphy has an amazing talent for capturing feline attitudes and characteristics with the most exquisite charm.

If my own cats were as clever as Joe Grey, I'm quite sure they would have already ordered the entire series for themselves by now.

It's a wonderful and engaging read that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

I highly recommend it to anyone who has a soft spot for our furry friends or simply enjoys a good mystery with a unique twist.

My cats have truly taken over the house. They seem to rule every nook and cranny with an air of authority.

Surprisingly, we manage to communicate rather well. There's a certain understanding between us that goes beyond words.

However, the premise of this particular situation was just a bit too much for me to handle. I did persevere and finish the book, but after the first 100 pages, it took a turn that was a little too strange even for an old strange guy like me.

The story started to venture into territory that was beyond my comprehension and comfort zone. It was as if the author had unleashed a wild imagination that I couldn't quite keep up with.

Nonetheless, I can't deny that it was an interesting read, albeit a bit too outlandish for my taste.

I won't describe the action in the book as it has been covered sufficiently.

It's crucial to note that this isn't a story for those who struggle to suspend disbelief.

If you can do that, especially if you love cats, then the first book in Murphy's Joe Grey series will offer several hours of pure pleasure.

The story is non-stop, with tense moments and funny ones.

I didn't rate it five stars because the descriptions are sometimes overly detailed and thus too long.

If this flaw were on every page, it would have been a deal-breaker, but there were just enough instances to be noticeable.

Overall, it's a great read for cat lovers and those who can embrace the fantasy.

The characters are well-developed and the plot keeps you engaged from start to finish.

Despite the minor flaw in the descriptions, it's definitely worth picking up and giving a try.

I truly adored this book.

Just imagine how amazing it would be if one morning you woke up and discovered that your very own cat could communicate with you.

I have a special fondness for Joe and all the other captivating characters within the pages of this book.

The anticipation of reading the next installment in this series has me on the edge of my seat.

I was overjoyed that Joe, with the invaluable assistance of his feline friend and that remarkable woman who had the ability to transform into a cat, managed to apprehend the killer.

This story has been a thrilling adventure from start to finish, and I can't wait to see what new mysteries and excitement await in the next book.

It's safe to say that this series has become one of my absolute favorites.

I highly recommend it to all those who love a good mystery with a touch of the supernatural.

Cat on the Edge by Shirley Rousseau Murphy offers a winning combination of a cozy mystery and the paranormal. After all, what else could one call a book that features not just one, but two cats who can talk and understand humans? The story has several twists as Joe and Dulcie strive to stay alive long enough to report the murder they witnessed. I had never before read a cozy mystery from the perspective of a cat, so it was truly intriguing.

Ms. Rousseau doesn't hold back when it comes to describing how cats feel about hunting, devouring their prey, their curiosity about human behavior, and how amused they are by their human "roommates". She vividly brings to life the feline perspective, making the reader feel as if they are right there with Joe and Dulcie, experiencing the world through their eyes.

This book was an absolute delight to read. It was filled with charm, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural. I found myself completely engrossed in the story from start to finish. I look forward to reading more books in this series and seeing what other adventures Joe and Dulcie will embark on.

It started as a really fun read since I'm a cat lover, and I initially gave it a 4-star rating.

However, as I delved deeper into the story, it became downright tedious and a bit silly. The plot seemed to meander aimlessly, taking forever to get to the point and solve the mystery.

It felt as if the author was stretching out the narrative just for the sake of it, rather than presenting a tightly constructed and engaging tale.

The characters, too, lacked depth and development, making it difficult for me to truly invest in their fates.

By the time I reached the end, I was more relieved than satisfied, and my initial enthusiasm had waned considerably.

Overall, what began as a promising read quickly turned into a disappointment.

This particular book has been sitting on my To Be Read (TBR) list for quite some time.

I have been looking forward to getting to it, and finally, I did.

However, I must admit that it took me a bit longer to finish this one than I am accustomed to.

Nevertheless, I am determined to give book 2 a try.

I am curious to see how the story progresses and if it will capture my attention in the same way as this first installment.

Despite the slightly longer reading time, I still found the book to have its interesting aspects and I am hopeful that the next one will be even better.

I am excited to continue exploring this series and see where the author takes the characters and the plot.

Overall, while this book had its challenges, it has also piqued my interest enough to want to see what comes next.

So, on to book 2 I go!

I don't ask a lot from my cozy cat mysteries. I can get behind magical cats, detective cats, cats allergic to humans, and many other types of cats. So, when I got this book with a cat who discovers he can think and speak like a human, I wasn't asking for realism. However, I ended up hating this book for several reasons.

The first reason was the disconcerting way the author sometimes described the cats. For example, "The green eyes slitted with amusement. He caught her scent now, delectable as sun-warmed clover... Her eyes caressed him. Her little pink mouth curved up in a smile. She moved so near to him that he trembled." Maybe it's just me, but these descriptions made me uncomfortable. It felt like the cats were being sexualized. Near the end, the same cat wishes that she could be a human so she could wear "little satin bras and lace panties." No. No. No. She's a cat.

The second reason was the cat finding a god. It wasn't long into the book, and the implication was that he hadn't been having these human thoughts for very long. But as he was walking in the woods and saw a caterpillar spinning a cocoon, he began thinking in an "unfeline manner." He realized in an instant that the caterpillar was too cleverly conceived to have come into the world by accident. He then thought of an intellect that had created all these animals and cats, but didn't mention humans, suggesting (though not stating) that his god was a human one. I don't believe that a cat would have this sudden realization about religion only weeks after realizing he could think like a human, nor do I think he would then decide it wasn't a cat-like intellect. People have human-looking gods, but I can't conceive of a cat thinking that right away.

Thirdly, and most problematically for me, was a moment not even halfway into the book. It was only a couple of sentences, but they were awkward. It was when the two cat owners went to dinner and were served by a Latin waiter. I thought, "Ok, cool, but why does it matter that he's Latin?" And the answer seemed to be so that we could get these two sentences: "His English wasn't too good, he had trouble understanding that Clyde wanted mustard. He returned with catsup, Tabasco, steak sauce, and mustard, and seemed pleased with himself that he had covered all possibilities." This is a sentence I might expect to read in a Patricia Wentworth or Dorothy Sayers book from the early 20th century, not one written in 1996. I knew when I read it that this was the only time I would see the Latin waiter, and that it wouldn't advance the plot or be integral to solving the mystery. But I hoped. This book could have slightly redeemed itself if he had, but in the end, he never did. So, that was just a little racist moment that topped off a book that wasn't very good to begin with.

PS. The cat can talk, witnesses a murder, calls his owner on the phone, and doesn't even say, "hey, I witnessed this murder and the guy who committed it is after me, you know him, he works with you." It was never properly explained why he couldn't do that. And again, I don't ask much from my cat mysteries, but some semblance of an explanation would have been nice.

Not my kind of book

Although the book was well written, it simply wasn't to my liking, and as a result, I didn't finish it. The story seemed to progress at a rather slow pace, and I got tired of waiting for something more exciting to happen. I felt that there were far too many chapters dedicated to the cat's feelings, which didn't really hold my interest.

However, I must admit that the writing itself was quite strong. The author had a good command of the language and was able to create a vivid and detailed world. But despite this, the overall plot and pacing just didn't work for me.

Maybe I'll give it another try sometime in the future, but for now, I'm moving on to other books that I hope will be more to my taste.

This was a truly delightful and cozy mystery that took an unexpected turn with the addition of talking cats who played a crucial role in solving a murder.

The story had its fair share of squeamish parts that might make some readers cringe, but it also had moments that were so hilarious that they would have you in stitches.

This is the first installment in the series, and I highly recommend starting with this book. It provides the necessary background knowledge that will enhance the reader's understanding and enjoyment of the subsequent books.

I'm not entirely sure if the other books in the series can be read as stand-alones or not. I'll definitely update my review once I've had the chance to read another one.

As for the genre, it's a bit of a mystery. It could be classified as a mystery, a fantasy, or perhaps a combination of both. Regardless of the genre, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what else this series has in store.