This series truly has the potential to ascend to the ranks of my all-time favorites.

The relationship between the human and feline characters is beautifully crafted, with each complementing the other in the most charming way. It makes for an incredibly fun and engaging read that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

What really adds an extra layer of allure is the element of magic that is woven into the story through the cats' ability to talk and understand humans. This unique aspect brings a touch of the fantastical to the narrative, making it stand out from other similar works.

I am absolutely on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating the release of the second installment. I can't wait to see what new adventures and developments await our beloved characters.

It's safe to say that this series has already captured my heart and imagination, and I have high hopes for what's to come.

This might be a cat book, but in my opinion, there's a touch of science fiction intertwined within it.

Anyway, Shirley Rousseau Murphy surely has an in-depth understanding of cats and their various mannerisms, quirks, and peculiarities.

At the beginning, Joe gave me a strange impression. Just as I was starting to get accustomed to him, he met Dulcie. I'm truly glad that he did, as now he's not by himself.

The story is filled with a great deal of suspense and action.

Then, when Kate appears as an abused wife, I couldn't have been more pleased because she manages to turn the situation around on her sleazy husband.

I'm eagerly looking forward to the next installment in the Joe Grey book series.

It will be exciting to see what new adventures and developments await our feline friends and the other characters in the story.

I have a feeling that it will be just as engaging and entertaining as the previous books.

Overall, this series has been a great read so far, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

I'm a huge cat fan, so I had high hopes that the book would be highly entertaining. And to some extent, it was, but not as much as I had initially expected.

Joe Gray is Clyde's cat, and like many male cats, he likes to roam around the neighborhood. Clyde, a bachelor with his fair share of lady friends, understands Joe's wanderlust. Dulcie, on the other hand, belongs to Wilma, a spinster in the neighborhood. These two cats, who are not likely to socialize much, find themselves in a rather unexpected situation when they witness a murder behind Jolly's Delicatessen. The victim had apparently discovered some illegal activities such as money laundering and illegal car sales.

The story quickly builds tension as the murderer realizes that the cats are witnesses and sets out on a mission to kill them. What makes this story a bit different is that Joe is not your typical feline. He has the remarkable ability to speak like a human. Unbeknownst to the murderer, there is another cat witness who also has the ability to transform into a human.

The three cats manage to avoid the murderer through some daring dodges while at the same time making sure that the police are alerted to stop the criminal activity. However, my main issue with the story is that it was a bit too predictable for my liking. I was hoping for a more intricate and mysterious plot that would keep me on the edge of my seat, but unfortunately, it lacked that element of intrigue that I was looking for in a mystery.

Overall, while the book had its moments, it didn't quite live up to my expectations as a mystery novel.

I have read numerous books that center around cats assisting in solving crimes. I have a profound love for cats and an equal passion for reading mysteries. So, it seems only natural to combine the two. Among all the books I've perused that merge cats and murder, I must assert that this particular one stands out as the most imaginative and original.

Joe Grey is a quintessential tom cat. He prowls the streets in search of lady-cats, hunts for food, and explores his neighborhood. He enjoys napping in the sun and has a rather splendid life, considering it's a cat's life, all thanks to his owner, Clyde. However, one day, Joe's life takes a drastic turn when he suddenly acquires the ability to understand human speech. Not only that, but he can also read. And, as if that weren't astonishing enough, he can even talk. Before the initial shock of his newfound talents can wear off, Joe Grey witnesses a murder in an alleyway, and the murderer follows him home. Now, Joe must embark on an investigation to safeguard his owner from the killer.

Readers must be able to set aside reality when delving into this book. The concept was charming enough for me to temporarily believe that a cat could suddenly possess the power to speak and read. Why not? :) It made for an enjoyable read. The plot was a bit foreseeable....but I'm willing to overlook that because...well....talking cats. :)

The Joe Grey Mystery Series consists of 17 books. I'm not certain if I'll read every single one, but I will undoubtedly be reading more from this series! Readers who have a penchant for mysteries and also love cats should most definitely give this series a try.

My rating: 7/10

Ages: 10+

Solid 3.

There were several parts of this book that had me laughing out loud. To be honest, I've always had a desire to communicate with my cats, so I found that entire aspect of the plot truly enjoyable.

The mystery itself was just average, and this could largely be attributed to the fact that it was told from the perspective of felines. The characters, for the most part, were rather basic and underdeveloped.

Nevertheless, I will definitely give the second book in the series a chance. I really relished the cats and their adventures. It was a light and entertaining read that had its moments of charm. Despite the flaws in the mystery and character development, the cats stole the show and made it worth my while. I'm curious to see where the story will lead in the next installment and how the cats will continue to navigate their world.

I'm looking forward to delving into book two and experiencing more of the cats' antics and the unfolding mystery.

I really have a strong desire to know more about welsh cat magic.

This story was an outstanding murder mystery, and I seldom make such a comment. I was sitting on the edge of my seat, extremely worried about the cats. To be honest, who on earth would attempt to murder a cat??

I really liked the fact that the cats maintained their cattiness throughout the story. The mystery wasn't something that could be easily guessed.

However, I do need to know what exactly happened with Kate and the cat magic. Fortunately, it wasn't such a huge cliffhanger that made me angry.

I'm looking forward to uncovering the secrets and details in the following parts of the story.

It seems that the world of welsh cat magic is full of surprises and intrigues, and I can't wait to explore it further.

I hope the author will continue to develop this story in an interesting and engaging way.

Overall, this story has really piqued my interest and made me eager to know more.

Cats are known for their intelligence. They communicate with their owners in their own unique ways. They can be quite demanding at times, but they also care deeply for their human companions. All cat owners are well aware of these characteristics. Cats have been featured in countless legends and folklore, often believed to possess mystical and unusual talents.

Enter Joe Grey. Through some unexplained phenomenon, he has the ability to understand human speech. In fact, he can even speak and read human English. Just as he is about to come to terms with this new talent, he witnesses a murder.

"The murder of Samuel Beckwhite in the alley behind Jolly’s Delicatessen was observed by no human witness. Only the gray tomcat saw Beckwhite fall, the big man’s heavy body crumpling, his round, close-trimmed head crushed from the blow of a shiny steel wrench." Joe saw it all, including the murderer. And unfortunately, the murderer saw him too. To Joe's dismay, the murderer realizes that he is one of "Those" cats with unusual talents and comes after him.

What Joe doesn't know is that another kitty also witnessed the killer and his deed. But the killer saw this little Tabby as well. Now it's a race against time to catch the killer before Joe Grey runs out of his nine lives.

I absolutely loved this debut novel in the Joe Grey Series. Joe is a snubbed tailed rescue with a natural inclination for being a private investigator. I wouldn't want to cross him. Shirley Rousseau Murphy writes the novel from Joe's first person point of view, and she clearly knows cats. The character of Dulce, the little thief, had me laughing out loud. And she's no ordinary kitty either. Throw in a shape-shifter and you have a highly entertaining and fun read.

I embarked on this book immediately after concluding Felidae as I was in the mindset for more cat-related mysteries. However, this particular book left me feeling disappointed.

In terms of the overall plot framework, it has its merits. The notion of a cat attaining human intelligence and leveraging it to solve mysteries is indeed a highly unique concept, one that holds great potential for exploration. Nevertheless, I still found the book to be rather dull.

Many of the scenes in the beginning simply depict the main character engaged in hunting various animals, which is a typical behavior for a cat. But after a while, it becomes repetitive. After numerous hunting scenes, Joe encounters Dulcie, another cat who is remarkably similar to him. I'm uncertain whether their relationship was intended to be romantic, but in either case, it failed to captivate my interest.

All of the characters in the novel fell short. They all seemed rather bland. There was Joe Grey's owner, Clyde, who simply came across as a stereotypical adult male character. And his friend Wilma, the owner of Dulcie. Wilma and Dulcie did have some charming moments together, which I'll concede. The villains were uninteresting. It doesn't assist matters that I was more intrigued by how Joe and Dulcie acquired their human intelligences than the murder that initiates the plot of the novel. The origins of their intelligences remain undisclosed.

And there's another character, Kate, the wife of one of the villains, who gains the ability to transform into a cat after one of the villains seizes her and utters some magic words. This aspect is never explained, despite being a fascinating idea. As I mentioned earlier, I wish the mystery had centered more on the cats and the abilities they possess, rather than a murder.

I'm undecided as to whether I'll read the other books in the series. While the concept is intriguing, I'm still unsure.

I thought I would really like this particular work as it was advertised as a cat-centric cozy mystery. However, what I didn't anticipate was that the cats were not just secondary or supporting characters, but in fact, they were the main characters of the story. And to make matters even more extraordinary, some of these cats had magical powers. They could read and speak English with ease, and what's more, they could even transform into human form. This aspect of the story was a bit too much for my liking. It felt as if it was veering too far from the realm of a traditional cozy mystery and into a more fantastical and perhaps even over-the-top territory. As a result, it took away from the overall enjoyment and believability of the story for me.

I don't typically read mystery novels, particularly not those that involve murder mysteries. However, the concept of a talking cat intrigued me and lured me in. Overall, it was a decently consistent book that offered a good means to pass the time and perhaps even ignite the imagination to some extent. Now, let's get into the nitpicking.

As I've mentioned, I'm not highly knowledgeable in the mystery genre. But I would assume that there should be some element of reader interaction involved. I desire to follow the clues, solve the puzzles, and guess who committed the murder. Regrettably, this story didn't really have any of that, which made it feel a bit lackluster.

One aspect that I believe Murphy executed really well in this book was perspective. The perspective continuously shifted among several characters, yet it was effortless to read. I was never perplexed about who was who and what they were doing. I always had a precise understanding of what was happening. A simple sentence that推进 the story forward is far superior to a fancy sentence that confounds readers, and this book is filled with clear and concise sentences that convey just the right amount of necessary information.

1 star: "did not like it"
2 stars: "it was ok"
3 stars: "liked it"
4 stars: "really liked it"
5 stars: "it was amazing"

Murder mystery with talking kitties. It's a rather interesting concept, but the way it's written can be a bit confusing.

One of the kitties has this amazing ability. By simply uttering a few Welsh words, it can change from being a cat to a human and then back again. It's quite extraordinary!

I find myself thinking that if someone can actually speak that most difficult language, Welsh, then they probably can do just about anything.

This is the first book in a series that focuses on these furry lead characters. I'm curious to see where the story will take us next and how the abilities of these talking kitties will play out in the mystery.

It has the potential to be a really engaging and unique series, despite the initial confusion in the writing. I'm looking forward to delving deeper into the world of these talking kitties and uncovering the secrets and mysteries that lie ahead.

Rewriting this article, we can expand on the ideas and provide more details. The original text starts by the author deciding to take on a fantastic detective story centered around cats, expecting it to be a children's literature book. However, they find that the content is far from child-friendly, with murders, mentions of sexual scenes, and even strong language. As they delve into the descriptions and story, they discover a new subgenre of crime novels - the cozy mystery. For those who, like the author, had never heard of this genre before, cozy mysteries are set in a small town and present the themes of violence and sex in a soft, humorous, or ironic way.

Despite the book opening up new aspects of the detective genre for the author, who is not indifferent to it, a question arises: what is the target audience of the book? It cannot be given to children, and it is not recommended for teenagers under 16 either. For adults, the story of a cat detective might seem silly. Therefore, the book is recommended for the so-called "Young Adult" age group, although it does not fully fit the characteristics of the genre.

Despite the non-childish content, the plot of the novel is somewhat infantile: two cats that can talk and think like humans investigate a murder that they witnessed. But even with this setup, the book is quite captivating with a strong intrigue, and it is more about the mysterious rather than the detective aspect: the author really wanted to know where Joe and Dulcie got their "supernatural" abilities from.

The integrity of the book is also enhanced by its composition: each chapter tells about the events with a particular individual character, allowing the reader to recreate a full picture of the events in their mind.

In conclusion, despite the non-standard combination of theme and genre, the novel turned out to be quite interesting. As it turns out, this is only the first book in the series about Gray Joe, so it is quite possible that the author will return to this cycle. After all, the book appealed to them. And, judging by the beginning of this year, it promises to be full of surprises and literary discoveries.