Cat Deck the Halls
by Shirley Rosseau Murphy
Published by William Morrow
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Reviewed by Vanessa Lee
Joe Grey is not your typical cat. For one, he talks, and not in the way that most cats do, but rather with actual words that his owner and anyone else who happens to be around can understand. So can his friends, Kit and Dulcie. Together, acting as anonymous sources to the Molena Point Police Department, they’ve solved several crimes. When Kit stumbles upon a dead body and a frightened but alive little girl in the middle of the night–this might present a mystery beyond even the feline detectives.
Who was the man? Why was he killed? Is the small, silent witness safe? As Molena Point plans its annual Christmas celebrations, the cats and their human counterparts set out to answer these questions, and a few more they encounter along the way.
Though the premise may seem strange, fans of Murphy’s series will be used to the talking cats, and newcomers will notice how natural they seem. I can easily imagine my own cats saying and doing many of the same things as Joe Grey, Kit, and Dulcie. Murphy plays on cats’ inquisitiveness to turn them into natural detectives who easily pull the story along. Through them you meet a whole cast of loveable characters… and encounter a whole slew of other problems that need to be solved.
Though everything may wrap up just a little too neatly to be really believable, Cat Deck the Halls is complex and entertaining – a real treat for fans of cat or cozy mysteries. The human characters are as well-developed and interesting as the cats, the subplots fit into the story without distracting from the main mystery, and the twist at the end is one I didn’t see coming.
Armchair Interviews says: With Cat Deck the Halls, Murphy has added another star to her Joe Grey series. It’s a delightful holiday treat that’s sure to please.
Author’s Web site: http://www.JoeGrey.com