Joe drops a dime to Sheriff Max Harper to be on the lookout for foul play. He is also now contending with some puppies that he brought home that Clyde has taken a shine to. Meanwhile, Dulcie has been keeping tabs on recently widowed Lucinda Greenlaw and the clan of in-laws gathering under the pretense of attending a funeral, but more likely looking to see how they can benefit from Shamus Greenlaw’s death. Working quickly and surreptitiously, Joe Grey is able to solve the mystery of the accident, tie it into Shamus’s odd family and lead the police to the same conclusion.

Cat to the Dogs is a very unique mystery, but requires a bit of suspension of disbelief to be completely successful. Cat lovers will be delighted by Joe Grey and Dulcie, and their personified behavior. Joe is a clever character with a sharp wit, as either a human or as a feline. His owner Clyde is portrayed as a warmer, caring pet owner, albeit he lets his cat run things a little too often.

Readers will most likely guess the connection between Shamus and the dead young man, but Shirley Rousseau Murphy, keeps many surprises up her sleeve as Joe and Dulcie lead the police on the investigation, privy to things that most humans would miss.

Non-cat people (and they do exist) may find the constant level of disbelief a bit tedious and without careful concentration, the lines between human and feline will be blurred and the effectiveness of the story lost. A solidly plotted mystery with a very unusual twist will leave readers anxious to CATch Joe Grey’s next adventure.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry