Published by: Ingrid King. Last Updated on: February 2, 2023 by Crystal Uys
Clea Simon’s Dulcie Schwartz mystery series, featuring the Harvard graduate student, along with her kitten Esme and the spirit of her departed cat, Mr. Grey, has become one of my favorite cat mysteries. In Grey Howl, the seventh installment of the series, we find Dulcie helping with preparations for a prestigious literature conference. Dulcie is in the final stages of her doctoral thesis about an obscure gothic novel by a mysterious author, and she is excited about presenting her paper at the conference. But as the visiting scholars arrive, things begin to go wrong, and Dulcie finds herself in the middle of a tangled web of academic rivalries. A presentation is sabotaged, a scholar disappears, and another is murdered. And to top it all off, Dulcie’s boyfriend Chris is acting strangely.
It’s a good thing Dulcie has the help of her young cat Esme, and the spirit of her beloved Mr. Grey, as she tries to put together the pieces of the mystery!
As with the other books in the series, the multiple plot lines and well-developed characters will keep the reader engaged. Dulcie becomes more and more likeable with each installment. I loved seeing how Simon balanced Dulcie’s somewhat scatterbrained nature with more confidence in her abilities. The cats in the book, from Mr. Grey’s gentle guidance to Esme’s sometimes frustratingly veiled input, showcase the author’s deep connection with and understanding of cats and their nature.
This book, and the others in the series, will appeal to mystery lovers who enjoy a mystery with lots of twists and turns, and to cat lovers who will find the frequent cat references delightful.Simon provides enough backstory so that Grey Howl can be read as a standalone, but why deprive yourself of the fun of reading the entire series?
Enter to win an autographed copy of Grey Howl
To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment letting me know why you’d like to win this book. For an additional chance to win, share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Pinterest, and leave a separate comment for each social network, letting me know that you shared. No need to post the link to your share. This giveaway is open to readers in the United States only. This giveaway ends Friday, April 25. Winners will be chosen by random drawing*.
Clea Simon is the author of the Theda Krakow and Pru Marlowe mysteries and the nonfiction The Feline Mystique – On the Mysterious Connection Between Cats and Their Women as well as several other nonfiction books. For more information about Clea, please visit her website or her blog.
*No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Winners will be notified via e-mail. The prize winner must provide The Conscious Cat with a physical address to which the prize will be mailed within 72 hours. If this information is not received, an alternate winner will be chosen by random drawing. Winners will be announced in a separate post following the drawing.
About the author
Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats.
