Joe Grey, Dulcie and Kit, cats of unusual intelligence and capable of speech, are back for another adventure. Murder once again strikes the sleepy, quaint town of Molena Point, this time at Christmastime. Kit, on her nightly prowl of the town, sees a dead man hidden among an outdoor Christmas display. In his arms a small child sobs quietly. But when Kit races away to call for help, the body and the child both disappear.
After a search, rescuers locate the child but cannot find the body of the man. There are traces left behind by the killer, however, and police work to decipher the clues. As the Molena Point police department works the case, the cats find another plot unfolding in the town. Why is someone spying on Kit's new neighbors? And what are the neighbors up to?
Multiple POVs give insights in the minds of the cats, their human companions, other locals and the killer himself. The disparate threads eventually weave together into two distinct criminal activities, dividing the cats' attention. But with the killer still among the townspeople is anyone safe?
Readers familiar with Ms. Murphy's Joe Grey series will delight in another episode of cat crime-solving. There are some references to past events that may confuse new readers to the series, but not too much detail is given. I was able to pick up the series again after missing the past several books without causing significant confusion. CAT DECK THE HALLS is an enjoyable visit with old friends.
The cats who saved Christmas . . .
The charming
seaside village of Molena Point, California, leads one to
expect a quiet traditional Christmas surrounded by family
and friendsโbut 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 yetโand that's
saying a lot for a wily tomcat who for years has been
solving crimes the police can't even crack.
At
midnight in the deserted gardens of the shopping plaza, a
stranger lies dead beneath the village Christmas tree; the
only witness to the shooting is a little child. But when the
police arrive, summoned by an anonymous phone call of feline
origin, both the body and the child have disappeared. As
police scramble for leads, the grey tomcat, his tabby lady,
and their tortoiseshell pal, Kit, launch their own unique
investigation.
Together Joe Grey, Dulcie, and Kit
face their most heartbreaking case yet as they care for the
child who may be the killer's next target. Trying to sort
out perplexing clues amidst the happiness of the season,
they shadow a cast of colorful characters. But neither the
police nor their unknown feline assistants are aware that
they might have stumbled over the murderer and never known
it, until an electrifying final scene when the killer's
identity is revealed.
For years Shirley Rousseau
Murphy has written tales that have delighted readers and
critics alike. With her lyrical prose and fast-paced
plotting, Murphy has created another delightfully absorbing
trip to a magical place populated by unforgettable
characters whom readers have come to think of as friends.
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