Cat Chase the Moon: A Joe Grey Mystery

At the start of Murphy’s bland 21st Joe Grey mystery (after 2017’s Cat Shining Bright), feline detective Joe Grey saves the life of a badly beaten woman who was left for dead on a beach in Molena Point, Calif. Meanwhile, the town’s friendly residents, including Joe’s humans, Ryan and Clive, face trouble living near the rowdy Luther family, whose members may be connected to robberies in the area. As Joe tries to determine a connection among these crimes, his beloved adolescent calico daughter, Courtney, is kidnapped by an antique shop owner who wants to use the cat to make money by performing tricks. Alongside his partner, Dulcie, and other feline friends, Joe weaves in and out of several police investigations, leaving anonymous tips by phone to assist the authorities and creating diversions to thwart criminals. Unfortunately, the meandering, repetitive plot will frustrate some readers. This one’s strictly for devoted series fans, who will enjoy revisiting the compassionate cats. [em]Agent: Martha Millard, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Apr.) [/em]