Review of "Cat Breaking Free : A Joe Grey Mystery" by Shirley Rousseau Murphy

If you remember Murphy’s previous tale about the feral cats that can talk you may remember that Joe Grey looks like an ordinary cat but he can chat away with his owner. Joel Gray is not the only can in this little village who can talk but very few people know about them and they won’t tell. This story is about a gang of very bad folk from Los Angeles. They are planing to rob the town’s stores on a special event night. One of the gang, the head, knows about the feral cats that can talk. He has set traps to capture them around their mountain home. He has trapped and caged several already. The fact that they can talk he isn’t sharing with anyone. He wants to make big bucks showing the cats on television. This very nasty villain is hiding out at the home of an elderly lady and her granddaughter. They have been forced to cook and clean for the bad guys and the captured cats.

Lots of things happen and the reader is treated to an intriguing murder to solve with the help of the talking cats who have become quite lovable and live with several of the village residents.

The cats are very clever, and they can get all over the little town using the rooftops. They keep a good watch on the thieves. The two major cats are caught and imprisoned with the captured cats. All comes to a satisfactory ending. Many thanks are due the cats and their human friends.