Cat Striking Back (Joe Grey Mysteries)

Bewareofthecatstrikingback...Onalovelymoonlitnight,JoeGreyismindinghisownbusiness,carryingagiftofmicetoalitterofkittens,whenhestumblesuponamurderscene.Behindanemptyhouseliesaswimmingpool,itsbottomcoveredwithmud.Thereisalsoblood,thesmellofhumandeath,anddragmarks.Butthereisnovictim.Withoutabody,it'sacrimethatwillbehardtoprove.Withstubbornfelinecuriosity,JoeGreysetsouttoinvestigate.Ashe,Dulcie,andKitfollowthekiller'strailamongfourhouseswhoseownersareonvacation,theydiscoverthatmoremurderhasbeenplannedforthesmall,close-knitneighborhood.Theyuncoverevidenceofconflictamongtheresidentsandmultiplesignsofbreaking-and-entering,althoughnothingvaluableseemstobemissing.Withthehelpoftwolocalferals,thecatsfindthevictim'shiddengraveandlearnoftheviolencethatisyettocome.Astheysetouttoalertthelaw,theydiscovertheperfectwaytothwartthekiller—throughthatperson'sunnaturalbutpowerfulfearofcats.ThusunfoldsthenextinstallmentinShirleyRousseauMurphy'sbeguilingseriesaboutthegraytomcatP.I.,hisfelinefriends,andhumancompanions,as,skirtingdanger,theyunraveleventsshapedbyhumanfrailtyandbythedarkestfelineimaginingsfromthekiller'spast.