Cat Sleuths Books

Santa Clawed (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries)

Rita Mae Brown

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

New York Times bestselling authors Rita Mae Brown and her feline partner, Sneaky Pie Brown, are back for the holidays in a new mystery featuring Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen, the sleuthing cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and corgi Tee Tucker. Can they save the season from a killjoy who’s decided to gift the festive little town…with murder?

As Harry well knows, there’s hardly a place on earth cozier than Crozet, Virginia, at Christmastime. The snowflakes drifting lazily down, the soft glow of the winter light, the sound of old carols in the streets…even cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter get into the spirit batting ornaments and climbing the holiday tree. In fact, it’s this year’s tree that Harry and her husband, Fair, have gone to fetch when they find the one they’ve chosen grimly decorated with a dead body.

The tree farm is run by The Brothers of Love, a semimonastic organization that tends to AIDS patients. The brothers live in a monastery atop the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. Harry is surprised to find an old high-school friend associated with The Brothers of Love. Christopher Hewitt wasn’t a bad man, but good works weren’t exactly one of his priorities. But then, if even Scrooge could turn over a new leaf, certainly Chris could. And after the scandal that all but destroyed his life, there were probably few in Crozet who needed the gift of a second chance more.

Harry knows she shouldn’t take it personally, but it was her tree that someone left the corpse under. Now, as the season grows merrier, a murderer is growing bolder. One by one, prominent men of Crozet are being crossed off Christmas shopping lists and added to the morgue. And if Harry and her four-legged helpers aren’t very good—and very careful—this Christmas may be her last.

Cat Deck the Halls: A Joe Grey Mystery (Joe Grey Mysteries)

Shirley Rousseau Murphy

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Joe Grey does it again! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

These three cats keep me wanting more. They are pure delight and there is a wonderful cast of "humans" to go along with them.

The Cats Have What It Takes 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

If only the police were as quick and competent as these cats are. This book is something that all cat lovers should read, especially around Christmastime. The team of three felines is delightful, and their care and concern for the child is heart-warming. This is the first Joe Gray book I've read, but I'll be reading more of them.

Editorial Review:

Christmas in the charming seaside village of Molena Point, California, has always been a traditional affair—but not this holiday season. Instead of singing carols and climbing into Christmas trees, Joe Grey, feline P.I., is faced with his most difficult case yet—and that's saying a lot for a wily tomcat who for years has been solving crimes the police can't even crack.

A stranger lies dead beneath the village Christmas tree, with a little child the only witness to the shooting. As the police scramble for leads, the grey tomcat, his tabby lady, Dulcie, and their tortoiseshell pal, Kit, launch their own unique investigation. As they care for the child who may be the shooter's next target, the cats realize they're facing their most heartbreaking case yet—and that they must catch a cunning killer if they have any hope of saving Christmas.

The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers (Cat Who...)

Lilian Jackson Braun

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 270 Average rating: 1.5 of 5

"Cat Who..." meets "Murder She Wrote" 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I just finished this book and realized that I had read it over a year ago. It was so unmemorable that I had forgotten almost everything about it until I was several chapters in.

This series has been going on for 42 years now, and in the last few it's really losing its edges. The crimes are vague, they go unsolved and the bad guys mysteriously disappear instead of getting their just deserts. In the last few books, this one included, I reach the end looking for more pages containing resolution. Not only that, but a 42-year-old cat is the equivalent of a 185-year-old human. The cats should be on life support, because the series clearly is. If Braun can't find her groove again, she should pull the plug and retire.

Finally, the town of Pickax is a John McCain middle class community - everybody has at least five million dollars. It also has one of the same problems that the old series "Murder, She Wrote" did: for such a small place, it has a ferociously high murder and major crime rate. It's not the sort of place I'd want to live.

Editorial Review:

Polly Duncan is off to Paris, temporarily leaving Jim Qwilleran without his lady companion. Good thing there's lots to keep Jim busy. Like a mysterious death from a bee sting that leaves everyone but Koko the Siamese in a state of confusion. If only the kitty with sixty whiskers would stop pussyfooting around and let Jim in on the deadly secret

The Purrfect Murder (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries)

Rita Mae Brown

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 36 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Some things don't add up 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I enjoyed the early books in this series, but like many other reviewers, am getting tired of the politics involved. Also, while I appreciate the descriptions of life in rural Virginia, is it necessary for Ms. Brown to trash people from other areas?

I'm also noticing inconsistencies, some of which have already been pointed out by others. One that I noticed that hasn't been brought up yet is that Big Mim states to Little Mim that she never had an abortion, but in an earlier book in which a doctor is poring through old medical records, it is revealed that Big Mim did, in fact, have an illegal abortion. Either Ms. Brown is getting sloppy or Big Mim lied to her daughter. Hmmm....

Please, RMB, be more thorough and get back to the plain old mystery telling and animal banter that got you your fans in the first place.

Editorial Review:

It’s autumn in cozy, idyllic Crozet, Virginia—a time for golden days, crisp nights…and murder. Mrs. Carla Paulson is one of the diamond-encrusted “come-here” set who has descended on Crozet with plenty of wealth and no feeling for country ways. She’s determined to make her new house the envy of all her well-heeled friends—and enemies —and she’s hired architect Tazio Chappers to build it. From the start, the project—and Mrs. Paulson—are a major headache for all involved. But no one could foresee that it would end with Mrs. Paulson stabbed to death at a gala fund-raiser with Harry’s friend Tazio standing over her, holding the knife. Now Harry must solve what seems to everyone else an open-and-shut case. Her four-legged partners —sleuthing cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter and corgi Tee Tucker—see it Harry’s way. But will they have to choose between catching the purrfect killer and saving Harry?

Cat Playing Cupid: A Joe Grey Mystery (Joe Grey)

Shirley Rousseau Murphy

Amazon Price: $11.55 List Price: $16.99 Not yet published By: William Morrow

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Editorial Review:

Love—and murder—is in the air. . . .

It took Joe Grey's human, Clyde, nearly forever to pop the question to Ryan Flannery, and what more romantic time to tie the knot than on Valentine's Day? But dark secrets from the past, uncovered by Joe and his feline pals, threaten to ruin the happy union.

First, a body discovered many miles away reopens a ten-year-old cold case involving a man who disappeared days before his own wedding. The jilted bride is back in town and eager to find the truth . . . or to hide evidence of her own wrongdoing. Trouble is, she's soon involved with Ryan's father, who is house-sitting and preparing meals for Joe Grey while Clyde and Ryan are on their honeymoon.

Then another body is found closer to home on the grounds of a ruined estate, deserted save for a band of unusual feral cats. Around the wrist of the corpse is a bracelet bearing the image of a rearing cat, and the cats discover a rare literary volume hidden nearby that divulges their own secret: their special ability to speak.

But as the police investigate the two murders, located more than five hundred miles apart, only Joe Grey suspects that the crimes are related. It takes a chase from which the tomcat wonders if he'll emerge alive for anyone to hone in on the connection between the murders. Finally, feline perception and cop sense combine to bring a killer to justice in this delightful new tale involving Shirley Rousseau Murphy's three amazing cats.

The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (Cat Who...)

Lilian Jackson Braun

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 73 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Dialog of male characters is not realistic, story wanders, rather weak over all. Sorry. 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Being a cozy mystery lover - and a confirmed animal lover - I thought The Cat Who Could Read Backwards might be perfect for my tastes. Sadly, it was a slow, meandering read. My biggest complaint is about the dialog. The author doesn't write the dialog of her male characters in a way that SOUNDS like a real man speaking. For example, our main character was a long time journalist and war correspondent. He's no doubt been involved in grizzly events - and I doubt there is much that makes him flinch. Knowing this, when he reacts to the cat sniffing a dried blood stain by shrieking, "Koko! Don't be disgusting!" (and he whisks the cat away immediately) he sounded (and acted) more like a very big wimp. Point 2: The author seemed to have so much fun discussing modern art, that she forgot to keep the story going in the right direction at times. Point 3: Some red herrings made me feel as if I was cheated - in the end the "red herring" characters inclusion was never justified, their odd behaviors and activities were never explained. In fact, there were simply too many unimportant characters who didn't propel the story forward. Too many directions of interest. Untidy writing. Not very much fun to read. A major let down in the ending - like the ending was an after-thought -- as if the ending wasn't in mind when she was writing all the previous chapters. Lastly, our main character was too much of an idiot at times - especially when he'd ignore the cats clues only hours after he had been ranting about how brilliant this cat that reads is to his fellow journalists. I wish could get the time I spent reading this back again.

Editorial Review:

The first appearance in hardcover of the first installment of the author's ever-popular series features the unusual detective team of award-winning reporter Jim Qwilleran and Koko, his brilliant Siamese cat, who penetrate the world of modern art to solve a mystery. 135,000 first printing."

Puss 'n Cahoots (Mrs. Murphy)

Rita Mae Brown

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 49 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Instead of a proper second honeymoon, the newly remarried Harry and Fair Haristeen leave cozy Crozet, Virginia, for Shelbyville, Kentucky, site of the famous saddlebred horse show. There they’ll visit dear friends Joan Hamilton and Larry Hodge and enjoy a week among some of the finest horses, trainers, and riders in the country.

But soon after they arrive, events veer mysteriously–and murderously–off course. First, Joan’s ruby and sapphire horsehead heirloom pin is stolen from her private box at the fairgrounds. Next, a young film star’s prize three-gaited mare disappears into thin air. There is no lack of suspects, from hotheaded trainers and jealous rivals to vicious ex-spouses. Then a body is found flagrantly murdered and it’s obvious to Harry that someone at Shelbyville is sending a strong message: winning is only secondary–first prize is survival.

As Harry searches for clues, rediscovers life as a married woman, and deals with her upcoming fortieth birthday, her four-legged detective friends are already on the case. But is animal instinct any match for human depravity? Especially with two humans to protect and a killer on the prowl?


From the Hardcover edition.

The Cat Who Went Bananas (Cat Who...)

Lilian Jackson Braun

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 87 Average rating: 2.0 of 5

Fall Comes to Pickax 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

It is autumn again in Pickax. Polly is staying busy getting the new bookstore opened. She and Qwill hardly have time for each other.

Qwill decides to write a book about the Hibbard House for Violet Hibbard. Her house is very historical and was built many years ago by her great grandfather. Violet is a professor of English and Qwill invites her to dinner.

Mystery follows mystery as Qwill and the cats move to town to prepare for winter.

I liked this edition of "The Cat Who.." series. It made you think at the end. You don't want to miss this one.

The cat went bananas? Not in my copy of the book he didn't 3 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Very disappointing actually. I've read lots of 'The Cat Who ...' books and this one was quite unlike any of the others. The plot elements did not tie together and people, who seemed mysterious and interesting, disappeared or died. And the banana peel, which could clearly have been used to great comic effect, made a single very brief appearance and was barely mentioned again.

Very poor. I gave it 3 out of 5 because it reads well *but* and this is a big butt ;-) there is no closure to any of the mysteries introduced.

Editorial Review:

The merry atmosphere in Pickax is dampened by the death of an out-of-town actor and the theft of a rare book. Qwill finds himself distracted from the events by his finicky pal Koko, who's been acting more fishy than feline. Has Koko gone bananas, or is he trying to let the cat out of the bag to solve the dual mysteries?

The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell (Cat Who...)

Lilian Jackson Braun

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 107 Average rating: 2.5 of 5

The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell; The Cat Who Went Bananas 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The books arrived sooner than I expected them to arrive, and are in excellent condition. I am very pleased with the promptness and care shown by "Please-Buy-Mine" and will keep them in mind when the next occasion arises for buying books.

clarifications... 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

"The sad fact is that if Ms. Braun were still alive, she'd be over 100 years old now."

um, she was born in 1913? do the math???

I agree this book was not nearly anything compared to the rest of the series... it had several disappointments... however, as a collector, I am always thrilled to hear when a new TCH is coming out... Hopefully the next one will have been straightened out... or maybe if there is a ghostwriter someone could just nix this book & rewrite another in it's place, as if that whole book had been nothing but a freaking nightmare... I know the writing was!

Editorial Review:

The residents of Pickax are about to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding. But in the midst of all the preparations, Qwill has to take time out to deal with Koko's strange new habit of dropping from balconies and landing in the oddest of places-and a couple that has mysteriously gone missing.

The Cat Who Talked Turkey (Cat Who...)

Lilian Jackson Braun

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 88 Average rating: 2.0 of 5

What does the turkey have to do with this mystery? 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I was disappointed in this book. I had started getting these books on CD from the library amd thoroughly enjoyed the first few I listened to. I enjoy the author's picturesque, almost poetic, descriptions of things. Those descriptions were still there, but they did not connect well. The mystery of the person murdered becomes an incidental by-line, not really crucial to the other goings-on in the story. There is no expanation to why the return of the turkeys is of any significance and what do the cats' being able to communicate with them have to do with anything in the story line. I felt very let down at the end of this audio book.

Editorial Review:

It's almost time for the gala groundbreaking for the Pickax bookstore--and the town of Brrr is preparing for its bicentennial celebration. All the festivities, however, are spoiled by the discovery of a man's body on James Qwilleran's property. Could it be the work of the killer who used the same methods in northern Michigan? To solve the case, Qwill and his feline pals, Koko and Yum Yum, will have to prick up their ears and determine who committed this foul deed.