I love to read and i am always looking for more. The Ivory Lyre, the second of a captivating series, was just the thing i was looking for. The book is about a prince fighting for his kingdom, a league of dragons, and freedom. The thing about books is that you pretty much always know what will happen. You always know that the person has to win, and you know the ending will be happy. That's what it was like for this book. I knew what would happen afterwards in the third book, but i only knew the last chapter. Murphy puts such a twist in the story that you have to continue reading it, and it's hard to put the book down. Still, now, i am looking for another book to read; something that will catch my interest just as this book (and her others) did.

This is a wonderful book. Although the first and third books (Nightpool and Dragonbards)are also excellent, I think this is the best by far. It's about a young dethroned prince (Tebriel) who has discovered he has the power to contact dragons and help free the captive world from the tyrrany of the Unmen. It is a terrific book for young and old alike. I would recommend it to anyone who loves fanasty or a good adventure. I hope that soon this trilogy will be rereleased.

I have to admit, I loved these books, and I wish they would do a reprint. I own The Ivory Lyre, but I was interested in finding the other two. Oh, and I had a huge crush on Kiri as a youngster.

As a cat lover and a lover of mystery novels, I'll read anything that combines these two fascinations. This is the first book in the Joe and Dulcie series that I have read. However, the cat sleuth theme is not handled as convincingly here as in stories written by, for example, Lilian Jackson Braun and Rita Mae Brown. While I can suspend disbelief and accept that cats may communicate non-verbally with their owners, or with each other, I was not able to suspend my disbelief and accept that two cats can speak and read English. Nevertheless this is an engaging, rainy-day read.

This time, the two talking cat detectives come to the rescue of some old people at a home and also catch a "cat burglar". When a few of the people at the home are suspicious and scared, Dulcie starts investigating and, as always, manages to get Joe Grey involved too. How they are everywhere to find out what goes on and how they can do surveilance and eavesdropping so much easier than a human are quite entertaining. Always, they keep the police captain jumping with their anonymous phone tips and keep him worried because he suspects the two cats are involved in the crime solving. He won't allow himself to believe such things and that keeps him worried. This is a great job of cat sleuthing and is an interesting book.

I really enjoyed this light mystery. Of course, I'm a cat lover... I often chuckled at the voice, the viewpoint and the antics of these cats...who can talk to each other and understand humans very well. There were several mysteries weaving through this book. A good, fast read.

I did enjoy reading this book, and I did have a hard time putting it down, but there were a few things that bugged me.
I was surprised when I read the setting was in the 50's. It appears to be a very 90's book, and the 50's setting wasn't very important to the plot.
Also, there were plot twists in the making that were dropped, like Melissa's baby/kitten, and the dragon. Much more could have come from both, but turned out to be very minor.
Lastly, and I know I'm getting nitpicky here, but it bugs me just the same, there's mention of gold mines in Coloma. I've been there, and let me tell you, there are no mines there.
However, this is a good book to read anyways, especially if you're bored, like I was when I picked it up.

One of the best science-fiction/fantasy stories I have ever read. Murphy is an expert on cats and their behaviour, and makes the story compelling and hypnotic. Her descriptions of Melissa's (the main character) world are both enchanting and original.
Having the upper-world meet the Catswold through one of the portals available to both was a wonderful stroke of genius. I would thoroughly recommend this book to any fantasy/romance enthusiast.

Catswold Portal is one of my all-time favorites! I share an uncanny amount of similarities to the main character--not the least of which being green eyes, streaky-blonde hair, the same first name and an unnatural affinity for cats. I read this when I was sixteen and was totally hooked. There are a few snags that seem a slight bit predictable or over-used, perhaps the 50's setting is hard to believe, but nevertheless, if you suspend disbelief, this book will take you on a fantasy ride you'll never forget.

I throughly enjoyed reading this as will many other lovers of the felines and crime solving genre. The characters are real and very lovable, and in all her books the author also creates intriguing little 'sub plots' which will pull you in if the main one does not. Humor mixed with tenderness--if you can handle that combination, this book is for you.

The concept of cats who can think and talk like people is a bit frightening. I'm not sure I want to think about what my five would have to say if they could! Apparently this ability comes from some sort of Celtic/Egyptian/Italian folklore/mythological roots. Sometimes however, Joe or Dulcie will say or think something that seems just a bit beyond belief for a cat even with this super ability. And more than once they demonstrated physical abilities that seemed unlikely even allowing for their being able to conceive of doing them. But this may be nit picking. After you get used to the idea, this is a good mystery. I have to admit I fell for a couple of red herrings. Dulcie is certain that the young man in jail for murder is innocent and she gets Joe Grey involved in a big way. Along the way they encounter all sorts of strange characters and a very nasty dog. Their escapades make for an enjoyable reading experience (just be sure to check your ideas about what cats can and can't do at the door). All things considered, if I had to choose, I think I would stay with Midnight Louie, Carol Nelson Douglas' street wise cat in Las Vegas. I prefer my cats a little more cat like and a little less people like. Fortunately I don't have to choose, I can have BOTH! Enjoy Murphy's Joe Grey and Dulcie then go check out Midnight Louie as well, you won't be disappointed.

When a prominent artist is burned to death in her own studio, the two cat detectives can't believe it to be an accident. They set out to find out exactly what happened and like always they are into everything and keeping their house mates worried about them and Captain Harper off balance because he thinks the cats are involved in his anonymous tips. He doesn't want to admit, even to himself, that he believes simple little cats could do these unusual things. Joe and Dulcie are always kitty on the spot when something happens and to find clues to crimes. This is a good, interesting book. The author deserves credit for coming up with such an unusual series of stories.

I read Nightpool the other day and I love it! I had read the other books in this series before this one and I was so suprised that there was another one in the series. Nightpool is the first one. Then there's The Dragonbards and The Ivory Lyre. They are all great books and I hope she writes more.

This is a wonderful novel, by a little known author with a terrific level of talent. An evil, and dark power has flexed its muscles over the land of Tirror. The king of Auric is killed, but his son, Prince Tebriel manages to escape. He is protected by the animals that used to once co-exist peacefully with humans. The animals can no longer hide him however, from the dark forces that have inhabited Tirror, or from his destiny. Teb will look to the dragons who rule the skies.

This was a very quick read for me as it was tremendously enjoyable. I was moved by the author's description, and imagination. She developes an beautiful story that held my attention from beginning to end.

Hands down, one of the best written fantasy books I have ever read. It is not as dark as Jordan or even Tolkien and seems to lie more in the vein of the Narnia books, but the writting is sublime. I consider it one of the great tragedies of the fantasy genre that Shirley Rousseau Murphy is not better known.

Further into the story of talking cats Joe and Dulcie, Cat to the Dogs is another fantasy story in which two cats try to solve a crime that happened in Hellhag Canyon. This all takes place in Molina Point, California. Joe and Dulcie are able to talk to each other and their respective owners, as well as reading the newspaper and using the phone. Dulcie is spying on the house next door. This is where Lucinda Greenlaw lives. Two weeks before, her husband Shamus was drowned. She is trying to fend off Greenlaw relatives who are waiting for the funeral in a nearby trailer park. This is all happening when Joe is hunting on Hellhag Conyon when a car came skidding off of the street down a cliff. Joe studied the car and found the driver to be dead, and a break line to be cut through. Joe always tries to keep the sheriff, Max Harper, alert to the murder. Joe discovers that the victim was part of Shamus's business operations. Later it is found out that his nephews Dirken and Newlon along with his cousin Sam were also part of the business. When Shamus's last mistress Cara Ray Crisp appears, complications escalate. It takes Joe and Dulcie, helped by a tiny nameless cat to bring the killer of Newlon to justice. Clyde, the owner of Dulcie locks both of the cats out of the house when officer Harper comes over to play a game of poker. He does this because he thinks that cats should stay out of police business. He is also afraid that they will give away their secrets. That these cats can talk, read, and even use the telephone. Joe will not give up until the killer of Hellhag hill is brought to justice. Feline worshipers will enjoy countless situations of cat adoration in Cat to the Dogs. It is a book of feline fantasy and will meet up to the cat lover's standards.

Joe Grey and his "girl friend" Dulcie are after the ghost of Hellhag Hill, who has already done several murders. Joe's human, Clyde is doing all the interfering he can, and the two feline eyes meet the Kit, who will be a character in future stories. Kit is another lovable feline character who adds a lot to this story and later ones. Joe and Dulcie are at their best in this well plotted whodunit. They actually take an active part in the detection and murder solving, unlike most of the other fictional Cat PI's, who are somewhat incidental to the real happenings. These cats are special! They are a little bit of a different breed and are able to understand, speak and read human language. They are highly intelligent, and highly capable of functioning in a human world. How they manipulate things and give clues to the human police is most interesting. This book is required reading for those who like cats and mysteries.

Joe Grey is awesome! Taking advantage of his unique combination of human and feline traits, he does so many of the things we all wish we could do. A true cat's curiousity drives him to solve a murder that would have surely been chalked off as accident. You MUST follow him and his lady love Dulcie through this terrific mystery/adventure.

Cat on the Edge is clever and whimsical. This is not great literature, but the "fun factor" is high! I loved it and have ordered every book in the series.

Joe Grey is a typical tomcat who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He witnesses a brutal murder, and is seen by the perpetrator. The murderer seems to know something about Joe Grey that the tomcat hasn't even discovered himself yet--that he can talk.

The "characterization" of humans and felines is darn good, and the story is engaging if not believable. If you're ready to kick back and just enjoy a creative journey through the imagination, then this book will delight you.

What a wonderful day when a new series of books is found which guarantees hours of reading pleasure ahead. such is the case with this delightful mystery series. I have just completed two of the books and am totally delighted. Cat on the Edge was my first and I unexpectedly loved it and had to have the rest of the series. I am more of a dog person but loved these cats! The author obviously knows cats well as Joe and Dulcie behave exactly as you would expect a cat to behave except......they find themselves having human feelings about various situations, and the ability to talk, read and understand human speech. Add mystery and murder to all of the above and you have a delightful, light reading adventure. I felt like the characters in this book were old friends when finished reading and could hardly wait to begin reading their next adventure.

Somehow, to his surprise and horror, Joe Grey has learned to speak, read and understand English. And to make matters worse, he's on the run from a murderer who will stop at nothing to kill the small grey tomcat. You see, Joe saw the killing, and he can identify the murderer. So Joe has had to leave his comfortable home, and hit the road in an effort to get the goods on the murderer and save his own skin. On the lam, he meets up with Dulcie, a female cat with the same mysterious talents as Joe, and a taste for soft human garments like sweaters and underthings. Dulcie, the other witness to the murder, is also on the run from the fiend trying to kill Joe. The two cats team up with a spurned wife who also has a few tricks up her sleeve to save the day and catch a killer.
This is a charming and interesting novel. Other than their amazing linguistic abilities (which are never really explained, but don't let that keep you from enjoying the story. Just go with the flow!), the cats are very true to life in every other respect. Dulcie is a particularly winning "cat"racter, I just fell in love with her from the moment she appeared on the page. If you like cats and cat mysteries and enjoy an element of fantasy in your reading, you'll have fun with Joe and Dulcie.

Ever since spending the winter in an airplane hangar, Rory the kangaroo rat has longed to fly. His seemed an impossible dream - until he finds the old model plane. But before he could hide it and then begin to work on it, Charlie Gribble came along - a boy as interested in the plane as Rory was. Together, Rory, Charlie, and Crispin the lemming made a good team. And the model plane soon became a real plane. But one problem remained - a huge flock of starlings. With all the starlings, the plane couldn't take off. But what could one lemming, one boy and one rat do about it? Although the characters are a bit shallow, the story was very well written, like all of Murphy's novels. If you love planes and human-animal communicaton furry tales, give this a try.

The fifth and final novel in the Children of Ynell series. All the sub-plots come together in a beautifully written scene.

Elmo Doolan though being a mouse was dull, and that mice in general were dull. Father Mouse knew what had brought that on; Dimblehauser, the grumbling cockroach with no real love for mice had. And the time had come, Father decided, for Elmo and his sister Midge to learn who the rodent family really was. But the encyclopedia yielded little to impress - fascinating detail about distant relitives, and not so fasinating comments on the habits of certain very close relitives. Someone who really knew mice ought to write a book - why not Father? As the Doolan family researched, Elmo searches for the most exciting story of all - The Golden Mouse. Little could be found on him; was he even real? In the outcome, Elmo makes the discovery of a lifetime, Father writes an extradinary book. Dimblehauser too finds what he wants most. Charming and well written, but doesn't really have much in the plot and point department, except lots of information about mice. Interesting, though. :-)