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The Cat Who... #28
The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell
The magnificently mustached local columnist Jim Qwilleran (along with his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum) has his hands full with numerous projects associated with the town's 150th birthday. But when an aspiring young architect visiting from California -- the nephew (and only heir) of the deceased socialites Nathan and Doris Ledfield -- asks to sketch his renowned home (a renovated apple barn), Qwill happily obliges. When the young man stops by, however, Koko inexplicably assaults the visitor by dropping onto him from an upper balcony. Quill realizes that his extraordinarily perceptive Siamese knows that something unseemly involving the architect is in the works -- but what?
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 10, 2006
About the author
Lilian Jackson Braun
127 books1,634 followersLilian Jackson Braun was an American writer. She is well-known for her light-hearted series of The Cat Who... mystery novels. The Cat Who books center around the life of former newspaper reporter James Qwilleran, and his two Siamese cats, KoKo and Yum Yum in the fictitious small town of Pickax located in Moose County, "400 miles north of everywhere." Although never formally stated in the books, the towns, counties and lifestyles described in the series are generally accepted to be a modeled after Bad Axe, Michigan (located in the "Michigan Thumb") where she resided with her husband for many years until the mid 1980's. Many also believe that the culture and history of the Upper peninsula of Michigan are represented in the series as well, which is quite possible as it is indeed a fictitious location.
Lilian Jackson Braun began her writing career as a teenager, contributing sports poetry for the Detroit News. She later began working as an advertising copywriter for many of Detroit's department stores. After that stint, she worked at the Detroit Free Press as the "Good Living" editor for 30 years. She retired from the Free Press in 1978.
Between 1966 and 1968, she published three novels to critical acclaim: The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern and The Cat Who Turned On and Off. In 1966, The New York Times labeled Braun, "the new detective of the year." The rising mystery author disappeared from the publishing scene for 18 years. The blame came from the fact that mystery novels were starting to focus on sex, violence, and foul language, and Braun's light-hearted books were not welcome in this new territory. It wasn't until 1986 that the Berkley Publishing Group reintroduced Braun to the public with the publication of an original paperback, The Cat Who Saw Red. Within two years, Berkeley released four new novels in paperback and reprinted the three mysteries from the sixties. Braun's series became an instant best seller once again. In January 2007 the twenty-ninth novel in the series, The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers, was released in hardcover by the Penguin Group.
Not much was really known about Braun, as she prefered to keep her private life that way. For years, publishers have given inaccurate accounts of her year of birth, which has remained unknown until she openly acknowledged her age in an interview for the Detroit News in January 2005.
Lilian Jackson Braun began her writing career as a teenager, contributing sports poetry for the Detroit News. She later began working as an advertising copywriter for many of Detroit's department stores. After that stint, she worked at the Detroit Free Press as the "Good Living" editor for 30 years. She retired from the Free Press in 1978.
Between 1966 and 1968, she published three novels to critical acclaim: The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern and The Cat Who Turned On and Off. In 1966, The New York Times labeled Braun, "the new detective of the year." The rising mystery author disappeared from the publishing scene for 18 years. The blame came from the fact that mystery novels were starting to focus on sex, violence, and foul language, and Braun's light-hearted books were not welcome in this new territory. It wasn't until 1986 that the Berkley Publishing Group reintroduced Braun to the public with the publication of an original paperback, The Cat Who Saw Red. Within two years, Berkeley released four new novels in paperback and reprinted the three mysteries from the sixties. Braun's series became an instant best seller once again. In January 2007 the twenty-ninth novel in the series, The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers, was released in hardcover by the Penguin Group.
Not much was really known about Braun, as she prefered to keep her private life that way. For years, publishers have given inaccurate accounts of her year of birth, which has remained unknown until she openly acknowledged her age in an interview for the Detroit News in January 2005.
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March 7, 2020
Book Review
3 of 5 stars to The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell, the 28th (and next to last) release in the "Cat Who" cozy mystery series, written in 2006 by Lilian Jackson Braun. For fans of the series, this one was a bit of a disappointment. The last few books took longer than usual to come out and may have had a ghost writer for parts of them, due to the author being in her 90s and starting to get ill. It's also hard to come up with new ideas after this many books in a single series, but the characters are always fun and memorable. In this one, Pickax is turning 150 years old and the inhabitants want to celebrate their town. When an architect sees the converted apple barn Qwill now lives in, he begs to spend time there. Koko and YumYum aren't having it, leading Qwill to suspect the architect is up to no good. Of course, there's some murder and mystery... and Qwill provides his usual sleuthing skills to the story. Mystery was weak. Characters were good. It's one o the less fulfilling in the series, but still worth a read for fans.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
3 of 5 stars to The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell, the 28th (and next to last) release in the "Cat Who" cozy mystery series, written in 2006 by Lilian Jackson Braun. For fans of the series, this one was a bit of a disappointment. The last few books took longer than usual to come out and may have had a ghost writer for parts of them, due to the author being in her 90s and starting to get ill. It's also hard to come up with new ideas after this many books in a single series, but the characters are always fun and memorable. In this one, Pickax is turning 150 years old and the inhabitants want to celebrate their town. When an architect sees the converted apple barn Qwill now lives in, he begs to spend time there. Koko and YumYum aren't having it, leading Qwill to suspect the architect is up to no good. Of course, there's some murder and mystery... and Qwill provides his usual sleuthing skills to the story. Mystery was weak. Characters were good. It's one o the less fulfilling in the series, but still worth a read for fans.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
October 21, 2021
In this 28th addition to the 'Cat Who' series, billionaire newspaper columnist (and sometime amateur detective) Jim Qwilleran trots around town talking to people and engaging in miscellaneous activities while his 'psychic' cat Koko is signaling criminal activity. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
When "The Cat Who" series began Jim Qwilleran was a Chicago crime reporter who owned two Siamese cats, Koko and YumYum, and solved mysteries.
In time Qwill inherited billions, moved '400 miles north of everywhere' to Pickax, became a newspaper columnist, met a lot of interesting locals, and continued to solve crimes. I've enjoyed many books in this quirky series, where Koko uses his 'kitty intuition' to help Qwill investigate. Eventually, though, the series ran out of steam and this book is a disappointment.
As the story opens Pickax is about to celebrate its 150th anniversary and the town planners organize a series of events - including parades, family reunions, an heirloom auction, and a kitten auction - to celebrate the occasion. Qwill is the 'go to' guy in Pickax and becomes involved, to some extent, in most of these activities.
In the midst of all this a rich local couple, Doris and Nathan Ledfield, ask Qwill to let their California-based nephew Harvey - a budding architect - sketch the barn Quill's converted into a home.
Koko seems to dislike Harvey but all goes well until Harvey returns to California, after which Doris and Nathan develop severe allergies and disappear from public view. In another occurrence Koko yowls onimously...perhaps at the very moment a man is killed in a hunting accident. These seem to be the 'mysteries' in the story, but Qwill takes minimal interest in either one.
Instead, Qwill spends most of his time moving back and forth between his condo and his barn (weather problems); writing limericks and scrawling in his journal; chatting/having dinner with his lady friend Polly; enjoying beverages, snacks, and meals with various friends and acquaintances; emceeing the kitty auction; feeding and brushing Koko and YumYum; eavesdropping, listening to gossip, and otherwise collecting ideas for his newspaper column; etc.
I'll admit it was a small pleasure to meander around town with Qwill and see what Pickax residents are up to - though some of my favorite characters got short shrift. Still, "The Cat Who" books are supposed to be mysteries, and this just isn't one. If you're up for a quiet human interest story you might enjoy this book. Otherwise, skip it.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
August 2, 2007
Come on people! It's a light mystery novel based on a cat with ESP. You're expecting too much! I love this series. It's even better with a bag of chocolate covered raisins and a hammock.
August 4, 2012
I am truly disappointed in this book. The Cat Who... series has been a go to series for me for about 12 years now. Whenever I need an easy, yet entertaining read, I turn to Braun's cat tales. But this one fell sorely short of the rest of series, I felt. First of all, nothing really happened. Some random character the reader has no emotional connection to dies fairly early on. Then there is no true investigation into the murder, like other titles in the series. Then a tragic accident kills another character... that if you've read other titles in the series you might have a vague connection to. Again, no investigation into this accident. Then the big "bombshell" happens when you've only got a few pages left: an old couple dies suspiciously. Yes, they arrest someone, but there's not really any investigation into it by Qwill, Koko and Yum Yum, unless you count being nosy by calling the newsroom for the scoop before print. The reader is left hanging as to what really happened in all three of these situations. Isn't a good part of a mystery novel supposed to be about unraveling the mystery? Call me crazy... Then the author's "post script;" what was that? Is Braun dropping her own bombshell saying that this is the last of the Cat Who... and that she's now going to write for Broadway? I hope not, because this a terrible ending to a great series. I don't recommend this book to anyone, whether fans of the series or newbies to the series. It doesn't hold a flame to the rest of the Cat Who... series.
October 4, 2019
I have loved these "Cat Who" books, and am sorry that I'm about done reading them all. I guess I might have to revisit them sometime ... the characters are so interesting, especially the cats and the journalist protagonist and his lovely lady. Murder mysteries that are not at all scary, just good clean fun. Delightful reading!
September 29, 2019
I think my reading experience wasn't the best because I only read the first two books of the series. I might give it another try when I'll be at this book.
December 30, 2019
Amateur feline sleuths KoKo and YumYum again help reporter Qwilleran solve the mystery. This time, the Town of Pickax is on the verge of its 150th anniversary. Polly, Qwill’s love/like interest, has moved from Head Librarian to Manager of The Pirates’ Chest, a bookstore financed largely through the K-Fund which came from Qwill’s unexpected inheritance.
A large part of Braun’s success is a reader’s enchantment with Qwill, his two cats and his community. After an architect student sketches the interior of Qwill’s apple barn home, a murder takes place at a family reunion. Qwill and his Siamese cats put together their senses to find out the who and why. The mystery plays a small part of this novel but it is fun to revisit the world created by Braun. She has a real talent for writing pleasant, not to deep books, that keep a readers interest, and as the characters develop, we appreciate each new book.
This story occurs during Pickax’s 150th anniversary celebration. Qwilleran’s barn is going to be sketched by an architectural student. The young architect is Harvey Ledfield, nephew of Nathan and Doris Ledfield. Harvey brings along his fiancée Clarissa Moore, who is in Journalism School. When they arrive, Harvey begins sketching but then Koko drops on his head.
Clarissa breaks up with Harvey after they return Down Below, but she returns to Pickax looking for a job at The Moose County Something. She confesses to Qwilleran she never was really engaged to Harvey. As they are childless, he hopes they will support his plans.
During the Pickax Now celebrations, Qwilleran attends the Ogilvie-Fugtree reunion. Two cousins go out rabbit hunting, and only one returns. Both were set to receive a large sum of money from a rich uncle. The other rabbit hunter is indeed found dead, so the first is arrested. However, he is later released because of a lack of evidence.
In the meantime, the Ledfields have come down with allergies. Harvey never got Clarissa a ring, so Doris gave her one before she knew the engagement was a ruse. Clarissa wanted to give it back, but she could not get the Ledfields on the phone nor was she allowed to go in their house. Qwilleran calls the Ledfields’ doctor, who says she too was considering calling in an allergy specialist. Both the Ledfields die from respiratory complications.
Clarissa brings her friend Vicky to Pickax to participate in a kitten auction for charity and to watch the Labor Day Pickax Now parade. She leaves before she has a chance to speak to Qwilleran, but she leaves a letter for him. Apparently Harvey had come up to Moose County not too long ago. But the Ledfields are unwilling to give money to such a venture. Clarissa informs Harvey, Vicky and Vicky’s boyfriend about deadly mold, which she wrote a report on for journalism school, and Vicky’s boyfriend, a construction specialist, said that it could be found in the closets of old houses. Clarissa tells Vicky how Harvey became furious when the Ledfields would not fund the ski lodge even though it seemed he would be entering college and he had a fiancée. He even refused to go to church that morning, and Vicky suspected he had used the time to put mold in the ventilation shafts of the Ledfields' bedroom.
Qwilleran shares this with the police, and Harvey is arrested. In the meantime, the Ledfields' wills is opened, revealing that the Ledfields left their collection of mounted animals to the city and funded the creation of a music center in Pickax and a museum in their old home. They also gave funds for a massive music foundation that would make the Ledfield name famous worldwide, to be set up in a city with a population of one million or more. Shortly after the mystery is solved, a tragic accident at the ill-fated Black Creek bridge takes the life of Qwill's long-time eccentric friend, Elizabeth Hart, the owner of the Grist Mill fine restaurant. In honor of her, the Black Creek Bridge is set to be repaired so that no more deaths occur.
Highly Recommend this book. It is very enjoyable. I love the Cat Who Series very much, and they have been with us for a very long time.
A large part of Braun’s success is a reader’s enchantment with Qwill, his two cats and his community. After an architect student sketches the interior of Qwill’s apple barn home, a murder takes place at a family reunion. Qwill and his Siamese cats put together their senses to find out the who and why. The mystery plays a small part of this novel but it is fun to revisit the world created by Braun. She has a real talent for writing pleasant, not to deep books, that keep a readers interest, and as the characters develop, we appreciate each new book.
This story occurs during Pickax’s 150th anniversary celebration. Qwilleran’s barn is going to be sketched by an architectural student. The young architect is Harvey Ledfield, nephew of Nathan and Doris Ledfield. Harvey brings along his fiancée Clarissa Moore, who is in Journalism School. When they arrive, Harvey begins sketching but then Koko drops on his head.
Clarissa breaks up with Harvey after they return Down Below, but she returns to Pickax looking for a job at The Moose County Something. She confesses to Qwilleran she never was really engaged to Harvey. As they are childless, he hopes they will support his plans.
During the Pickax Now celebrations, Qwilleran attends the Ogilvie-Fugtree reunion. Two cousins go out rabbit hunting, and only one returns. Both were set to receive a large sum of money from a rich uncle. The other rabbit hunter is indeed found dead, so the first is arrested. However, he is later released because of a lack of evidence.
In the meantime, the Ledfields have come down with allergies. Harvey never got Clarissa a ring, so Doris gave her one before she knew the engagement was a ruse. Clarissa wanted to give it back, but she could not get the Ledfields on the phone nor was she allowed to go in their house. Qwilleran calls the Ledfields’ doctor, who says she too was considering calling in an allergy specialist. Both the Ledfields die from respiratory complications.
Clarissa brings her friend Vicky to Pickax to participate in a kitten auction for charity and to watch the Labor Day Pickax Now parade. She leaves before she has a chance to speak to Qwilleran, but she leaves a letter for him. Apparently Harvey had come up to Moose County not too long ago. But the Ledfields are unwilling to give money to such a venture. Clarissa informs Harvey, Vicky and Vicky’s boyfriend about deadly mold, which she wrote a report on for journalism school, and Vicky’s boyfriend, a construction specialist, said that it could be found in the closets of old houses. Clarissa tells Vicky how Harvey became furious when the Ledfields would not fund the ski lodge even though it seemed he would be entering college and he had a fiancée. He even refused to go to church that morning, and Vicky suspected he had used the time to put mold in the ventilation shafts of the Ledfields' bedroom.
Qwilleran shares this with the police, and Harvey is arrested. In the meantime, the Ledfields' wills is opened, revealing that the Ledfields left their collection of mounted animals to the city and funded the creation of a music center in Pickax and a museum in their old home. They also gave funds for a massive music foundation that would make the Ledfield name famous worldwide, to be set up in a city with a population of one million or more. Shortly after the mystery is solved, a tragic accident at the ill-fated Black Creek bridge takes the life of Qwill's long-time eccentric friend, Elizabeth Hart, the owner of the Grist Mill fine restaurant. In honor of her, the Black Creek Bridge is set to be repaired so that no more deaths occur.
Highly Recommend this book. It is very enjoyable. I love the Cat Who Series very much, and they have been with us for a very long time.
May 6, 2013
Hoo boy. I found this and two other books, "talked turkey" and "went bananas" in a thrift store and was excited. I used to read the older books from this series, and while not necessarily the most groundbreaking things, they were always pretty interesting and enjoyable. Now I know why these were tossed away.
most readers going into these books know that they have an extremely antiquated, sort of squeaky-clean charming setting and cast that you can't take too seriously. I think it's supposed to be making fun of small-town America a little bit. (I mean.. Qwilleran is a rich and mustachioed lady killer/celebrity somehow without any sex. And he has a psychic cat.)
However, I'm prefacing this review with that because jokey or fluffy as they may be, the older iterations of this series at least had a developed plot and some kind of intrigue to pull you through. This one I actually had to put down a few times because I was so irritated by the nonexistent plot and slow pace. I mean, nothing. Happens. The whole book is fluffer fill about this made-up town called Pickax preparing for their bicentennial celebration. And the writer (who I hope to god is a ghostwriter an not Braun herself) describes every little thing. Every little insignificant detail or conversation, no matter how mundane. I mean, apparently the people in this town are so starved for entertainment they are willing to sit through a narrated (not even playacted!) version of their whole town burning down in the early 20th century. Multiple times. In "talked turkey" they are willing (nay, excited!) to sit through the same dang thing except about a big 1913 storm instead.
That leads me to the characters- they are all caricatures of their former already caricature-like selves -lacking anything interesting at all to say or do. I understand small-town mentality of everyone being in everyone's business, but really? Qwilleran says he doesn't gossip but that's ALL he does. Apparently whenever anything happens, no matter how dumb or small, he gets calls. For instance, how the festival, "pickax now" gets its name is somehow a big secret/hot news. I quote: "do you know what? 'Pickaxe Now' came to Hixie in a dream, although she's hushing it up!" Right. Hushing it up. And then It gets mentioned three more times during a snoozefest of a chapter on why an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT TOWN named its festival something else. Not to mention the fact that almost every chapter is finished with some kind of variation of "how could Koko know the things he knows? Is he psychic? OH, CATS ARE SO PECULIAR!" As if the whole friggin'' series isn't about that very subject.
Okay. Well sorry about this long ranty review but It's kind of two reviews (and a lot of nostalgic feelings) rolled into one. I was really hoping to enjoy these and was thoroughly disappointed and kind of perturbed/insulted that I wasted hours hoping something interesting would happen (spoilers: nothing ever does.) I will read the older books in the series again, but I think these wastes of paper are headed to the dumpster.
most readers going into these books know that they have an extremely antiquated, sort of squeaky-clean charming setting and cast that you can't take too seriously. I think it's supposed to be making fun of small-town America a little bit. (I mean.. Qwilleran is a rich and mustachioed lady killer/celebrity somehow without any sex. And he has a psychic cat.)
However, I'm prefacing this review with that because jokey or fluffy as they may be, the older iterations of this series at least had a developed plot and some kind of intrigue to pull you through. This one I actually had to put down a few times because I was so irritated by the nonexistent plot and slow pace. I mean, nothing. Happens. The whole book is fluffer fill about this made-up town called Pickax preparing for their bicentennial celebration. And the writer (who I hope to god is a ghostwriter an not Braun herself) describes every little thing. Every little insignificant detail or conversation, no matter how mundane. I mean, apparently the people in this town are so starved for entertainment they are willing to sit through a narrated (not even playacted!) version of their whole town burning down in the early 20th century. Multiple times. In "talked turkey" they are willing (nay, excited!) to sit through the same dang thing except about a big 1913 storm instead.
That leads me to the characters- they are all caricatures of their former already caricature-like selves -lacking anything interesting at all to say or do. I understand small-town mentality of everyone being in everyone's business, but really? Qwilleran says he doesn't gossip but that's ALL he does. Apparently whenever anything happens, no matter how dumb or small, he gets calls. For instance, how the festival, "pickax now" gets its name is somehow a big secret/hot news. I quote: "do you know what? 'Pickaxe Now' came to Hixie in a dream, although she's hushing it up!" Right. Hushing it up. And then It gets mentioned three more times during a snoozefest of a chapter on why an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT TOWN named its festival something else. Not to mention the fact that almost every chapter is finished with some kind of variation of "how could Koko know the things he knows? Is he psychic? OH, CATS ARE SO PECULIAR!" As if the whole friggin'' series isn't about that very subject.
Okay. Well sorry about this long ranty review but It's kind of two reviews (and a lot of nostalgic feelings) rolled into one. I was really hoping to enjoy these and was thoroughly disappointed and kind of perturbed/insulted that I wasted hours hoping something interesting would happen (spoilers: nothing ever does.) I will read the older books in the series again, but I think these wastes of paper are headed to the dumpster.
July 21, 2010
Just finished this book and it left me very annoyed. First of all, there was absolutely no mystery to be solved at all. The author kept promising that something big or exciting was about to happen, and it never did. This is really just a book about a man who lives in a small town that is hosting an anniversary celebration. That's it. At the very end there is a bit of drama, but it is all wrapped up within 5 pages and not because of anything the main character does. Other little things that happened along the way were never again referenced or resolved- for example, someone is suspected to have been murdered while hunting. The police say they were suspicious, but they never look into it. The main character doesn't give it another thought. It was in the book for absolutely no reason. This book was a waste of time and that fact that it had a "great read guaranteed" stamp on the front of it was ironic to say the least.
January 4, 2010
Having just read Lilian Jackson Braun's latest Cat Who novel Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell, I can agree bomb was a good word to use in the title. It was just not up to her former standard. Perhaps this is partly due to the fact that she has written 28 of these stories. And that means up wards of 28 deaths, (probably closer to 60, but I digress). Koko is still smart as a whip, but he is more used to spout aphorisms than catching killers. She seems to fill the books with back story that is unnecessary. Those that have read all the books know it already and those who don't, don't need all the details. And for filler it was a slim book. Not a great combination. We have a hunting accident where the bad guy gets off and a elderly couple who are killed for their money, the bad nephew is caught, and the good town gets lots of benefit from a well crafted will. Money was all the story was about. Raising and and Mr. Q spending his inheritance. I know it was a big inheritance, but I think he has spent it over and over again unless he is making good money in all these strange things he keeps buying for the community.
This time it was 1,000 dollar kitties. And antiques passed around the rich of the community. And what college student learning to be a writer can spend a grand on a CAT for crying out loud.
I can only hope that 29 is better constructed, but I think I may just have to take a pass and look up one of her classics when the story was story and not fluff and filler.
This time it was 1,000 dollar kitties. And antiques passed around the rich of the community. And what college student learning to be a writer can spend a grand on a CAT for crying out loud.
I can only hope that 29 is better constructed, but I think I may just have to take a pass and look up one of her classics when the story was story and not fluff and filler.
April 16, 2017
Koko is up to his usual tricks, dropping on the heads of bewildered guests and chewing up photos to show Qwill that the new people in town are not all they seem. He knows something sinister is happening in order for someone to inherit, but Qwill can't grasp the meaning until the very end. Hixie Rice is up to her usual failures, but some good comes from them anyway.
Another enjoyable look at Pickaxe and it's inhabitants, and Moose County as a whole. There is a nice fixation on cats and limericks. Unfortunately we lose a character I really enjoyed reading, and it's like a certain someone can never find happiness, unfortunately. This was the only disappointment for me with this book. I know the last books in this series were a disappointment for some, but with the loss of the author last year I kind of value all I can get from these books.
'The cat who dropped a bombshell', and not in the way expected, charmed me and I will continue reviewing this series :)
Another enjoyable look at Pickaxe and it's inhabitants, and Moose County as a whole. There is a nice fixation on cats and limericks. Unfortunately we lose a character I really enjoyed reading, and it's like a certain someone can never find happiness, unfortunately. This was the only disappointment for me with this book. I know the last books in this series were a disappointment for some, but with the loss of the author last year I kind of value all I can get from these books.
'The cat who dropped a bombshell', and not in the way expected, charmed me and I will continue reviewing this series :)
May 22, 2017
I really have enjoyed this series and was devastated to learn of the authors death, in the middle of writing the 30th book. I am slowly buying each one and adding to my collection for my own library. If you love to read but do not care to read foul language and be bombarded with sexual innuendos, then this is a good series for you.
March 2, 2020
Light reading
I was looking fir something light with no need to learn anything and no agenda. This was the perfect fit although I still don’t know who dunnit.
I was looking fir something light with no need to learn anything and no agenda. This was the perfect fit although I still don’t know who dunnit.
January 15, 2014
Wow! I only finished this book for book club. I was so surprised to find that this book had 3.5 stars. Reading the comments, however, it seems that most people liked past books in the series, but that Braun's later work (including this one) was sadly lacking. I will never know, since I won't be trying any others. I found the story line to be incredibly dull and boring. Every conversation I read I kept wondering "why!?!" And the entire story is meaningless conversation. That seems to be the whole point of this book. I thought it would be a murder mystery, but it's not. There is a murder, but you don't really know anything that's happening, and it is all explained in one page, and you find that it's a boring murder about people we don't even meet.
I could go on and on about how much I dislike the characters, whom I thought were poorly developed, and the cats, whom we heard too much about.
I may have to bump my rating up to 2 stars since this evoked more emotion from me than usual and caused me to write more than I ever have in a review.
I could go on and on about how much I dislike the characters, whom I thought were poorly developed, and the cats, whom we heard too much about.
I may have to bump my rating up to 2 stars since this evoked more emotion from me than usual and caused me to write more than I ever have in a review.
December 24, 2012
These books have sadly and seemingly permanently gone downhill. I read every book in this series twice when I was in high school, and I loved the first 25. The last several installments, however, have been nearly unrecognizable. Either the publisher has contracted a truly awful ghostwriter, or something bad has happened to Ms. Braun. The reading isstill enjoyable, as the place and characters were so fully and wonderfully developed over the years that even a butcher cannot destroy them completely, but the magic and great writing, the suspense and well-placed details, all the little things that made the series to much fun are totally missing. I said Bananas would be the last one I read, and I wish I'd stuck to that. Back to the originals for me.
January 9, 2019
I absolutely love this series. I find them easy to read, enjoyable, delightful and an escape from my life. I don't like cats but charming here. The main character Quilleran is a wonderful man and beloved by all in this small community.
I don't want to say too much, but Braun's earlier books in the series are much better than this one. This one seems disjointed and contained a whole bunch of story lines. Please start reading from Book #1 "The Cat Who Could Read Backwards".
I don't want to say too much, but Braun's earlier books in the series are much better than this one. This one seems disjointed and contained a whole bunch of story lines. Please start reading from Book #1 "The Cat Who Could Read Backwards".
June 27, 2014
Quick read, not too much of a plot, still nice to see the regulars.
December 17, 2022
This is feelgood, end of year stuff to the max. If you expect hard excitement, bloody murders, high speed chases and that kind of stuff you clearly haven't read any of the previous The Cat Who... books before. But persist in reading and you soon will turn into an adept too.
My mistake, there are high speed chases aplenty, Koko and Yum-Yum chasing each other in the famous barn that has been completely adapted to their needs.
The book is about people in on outhook of the world and what is happening there. But people are judged and referred to by their cat ownership. For these people cat's come first and the rest... just happens. People think of others and do things for the good of others or even the whole community. This is possible because of a huge fortune that Qwill made available to the community to allow just this to happen.
A double murder is plotted and (as usual) only Koko knows but Qwill doesn't understand till after it happens. Although also an old women knitter with psychic powers predicts it but even more obscure.
Apart from the murder part (a minor happening in the whole book) it is all about daily life in Pickax around Qwill and his two cats. Qwill visits his newspaper to deliver his columns, his ladyfriend Polly, they go out and dine, vist, receive friends and help realise events in Pickax.
It is the writing style from Lilian Jackson Braun that makes is readable, pallatable en enjoyable.
My mistake, there are high speed chases aplenty, Koko and Yum-Yum chasing each other in the famous barn that has been completely adapted to their needs.
The book is about people in on outhook of the world and what is happening there. But people are judged and referred to by their cat ownership. For these people cat's come first and the rest... just happens. People think of others and do things for the good of others or even the whole community. This is possible because of a huge fortune that Qwill made available to the community to allow just this to happen.
A double murder is plotted and (as usual) only Koko knows but Qwill doesn't understand till after it happens. Although also an old women knitter with psychic powers predicts it but even more obscure.
Apart from the murder part (a minor happening in the whole book) it is all about daily life in Pickax around Qwill and his two cats. Qwill visits his newspaper to deliver his columns, his ladyfriend Polly, they go out and dine, vist, receive friends and help realise events in Pickax.
It is the writing style from Lilian Jackson Braun that makes is readable, pallatable en enjoyable.
August 21, 2019
This is book #28 in The Cat Who series. The early books were sharp, crisp, and had lots of interesting nuances. Braun was in her 90's when she wrote this her next to last book, and I almost wonder if she perhaps had a ghost writer. It just lacked the finesse that was in all of the earlier books and was much more focused on the people and happenings of Pickax rather than much of a mystery. The mystery seemed to be added about 2/3 of the way through just so it had one. I still enjoyed Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese cats along with all the other cats that are residents of Pickax.
December 10, 2020
Love this series! Kokomo and Yum Yum are sneaky, smart cats who always seem to sniff out trouble and help Qwill solve whatever malady befell the town located 400 miles north of everything.
Its a cute cozy mystery series that can be read out of order as the author shares enough to keep you caught up no matter where you start your Pickaxe adventure.
Its a cute cozy mystery series that can be read out of order as the author shares enough to keep you caught up no matter where you start your Pickaxe adventure.
July 13, 2020
Is this a mystery? It was mainly about visiting every person in Pickax. If you had never read any Cat Who books you would be bewildered. Who are these people? What is the backstory of the people? What "mystery" there was, was not even solved by Qwill. It was a yawn and helped me to sleep.
May 1, 2023
Another fun Moose County story interspersed with tragedy. However this time I noticed repetition in the writing that I don't recall in the first 27 installments of the series. There were 5 or 6 instances of something being stated that had already been said a few pages before.
November 9, 2019
Cute book. Must be a cat lover to appreciate the feline mystique.
July 5, 2023
Predictable and comfortable.
September 23, 2023
Another fine book with Koko and Yum-Yum helping Qwill to solve murders and Mayhem!!
July 22, 2020
Typical cat who stuff. Rich people in upstate somewhere hanging out and doing philanthropy. Everything feels pleasant to read. I guess there was a mystery in there somewhere. And cats.
October 17, 2021
Love this series and read it when it was first out; every once in a while, I like to re-read one of the books.
April 22, 2017
I discovered the first two The cat who... books during my preteen years. I was thrilled. Twenty-odd years later I discovered Lilian Jackson Braun had written a few more books in the series. I was thrilled, again. I am very sorry to hear of her passing.
James Mackintosh "Qwill" Qwilleran is a very likable protagonist. Forever in his fifties, Qwill is a tall and well-spoken newspaper reporter. He has progressed from being an alcoholic to a jovial millionaire after inheriting the Klingenschoen fortune, which he turned into K Fund to dole out money for philanthropic purposes. He lives with his two cats, Koko and Yum Yum in Pickax, a town 400 miles north of everywhere and solves crimes with his feline companions. The character of Qwill and his many friends (Pickax and the neighboring counties seem to produce a plethora of eccentric characters) are described with a sly wit and warmth throughout the series. In fact, the focus of the books seems to be the life and times of Qwill & cats. Nothing wrong with that, of course.
If you are interested in The cat who... series, just enjoy the first dozen or so and ignore the rest. You see, the tail end (haha) of these books are quite different. The shrewd and sharp wit of LJB has turned into a blunt instrument. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the latter books were written by someone else altogether. They are focusing more on the small town gossip and less on crime. The actual crimes/mysteries are introduced and "solved" in a really slapdash and puerile way, if at all. Since these books are supposed to be whodunnits I think it's only fair to assume there is a crime and some amount of actual work involved in solving it. In this particular book (and here be spoilers) a double murder is solved by a rather random note from a rather random character saying "this is how I imagine it might have happened". Well stop the press and call the police, we've got our culprit bang to rights!
Such a shame. You should always know how to quit while you're ahead.
James Mackintosh "Qwill" Qwilleran is a very likable protagonist. Forever in his fifties, Qwill is a tall and well-spoken newspaper reporter. He has progressed from being an alcoholic to a jovial millionaire after inheriting the Klingenschoen fortune, which he turned into K Fund to dole out money for philanthropic purposes. He lives with his two cats, Koko and Yum Yum in Pickax, a town 400 miles north of everywhere and solves crimes with his feline companions. The character of Qwill and his many friends (Pickax and the neighboring counties seem to produce a plethora of eccentric characters) are described with a sly wit and warmth throughout the series. In fact, the focus of the books seems to be the life and times of Qwill & cats. Nothing wrong with that, of course.
If you are interested in The cat who... series, just enjoy the first dozen or so and ignore the rest. You see, the tail end (haha) of these books are quite different. The shrewd and sharp wit of LJB has turned into a blunt instrument. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the latter books were written by someone else altogether. They are focusing more on the small town gossip and less on crime. The actual crimes/mysteries are introduced and "solved" in a really slapdash and puerile way, if at all. Since these books are supposed to be whodunnits I think it's only fair to assume there is a crime and some amount of actual work involved in solving it. In this particular book (and here be spoilers) a double murder is solved by a rather random note from a rather random character saying "this is how I imagine it might have happened". Well stop the press and call the police, we've got our culprit bang to rights!
Such a shame. You should always know how to quit while you're ahead.
August 10, 2010
This is my first foray into Lillian Jackson Braun, and I don't believe I will read her books again. A cozy mystery, I can see that readers who have read the other 27 books will enjoy the little reminders of past events sprinkled in the story, but I did not find that I needed to read any other Cat book before reading this one.
I did not finish this book
The town of Pickax is having it' 150 anniversary, and they decide to have three festivals: Pickax Then, Pickax Now, and Pickax Future. The cats are featured prominently, with personalities, and readers who do not like cats will be off put by this. I did not get to the part where I find out about the bombshell the cat dropped in the title.
I did not finish this book
The town of Pickax is having it' 150 anniversary, and they decide to have three festivals: Pickax Then, Pickax Now, and Pickax Future. The cats are featured prominently, with personalities, and readers who do not like cats will be off put by this. I did not get to the part where I find out about the bombshell the cat dropped in the title.
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