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The Cat Who... #29
The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers
A twenty-ninth installment of the popular series finds Moose County in an uproar over a string of lucrative inheritances and a bee sting-related death, throughout which Polly departs for Paris, Koko the irrepressible Siamese meets a piano tuner, and Qwill writes a play.
190 pages, Hardcover
First published January 2, 2007
231 people are currently reading
2322 people want to read
About the author
Lilian Jackson Braun
193 books1,713 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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April 17, 2020
Book Review
3 of 5 stars to The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers, the 29th book in the cozy mystery series, published in 2007, and written by Lilian Jackson Braun. Or was it? It's fairly common knowledge among those who follow Ms. Braun's books that towards the end of her career, which was in her 90s... she had a ghost writer to keep the series going. Whether it's true or not, the fact that she wrote over 20 books in her 70s, 80s and 90s is amazing, even if some of them, like this one, weren't as good as we'd have liked. The unfortunate thing about this book, besides it having a weak plot and too many scattered things going on, was it was the last one in the series... Braun had started the 30th, but either due to her healthy or failing interest in the series, it was never completed nor published. The series is so fun, but the last few were a little batty!
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 Had 60 Whiskers, the 29th book in the cozy mystery series, published in 2007, and written by Lilian Jackson Braun. Or was it? It's fairly common knowledge among those who follow Ms. Braun's books that towards the end of her career, which was in her 90s... she had a ghost writer to keep the series going. Whether it's true or not, the fact that she wrote over 20 books in her 70s, 80s and 90s is amazing, even if some of them, like this one, weren't as good as we'd have liked. The unfortunate thing about this book, besides it having a weak plot and too many scattered things going on, was it was the last one in the series... Braun had started the 30th, but either due to her healthy or failing interest in the series, it was never completed nor published. The series is so fun, but the last few were a little batty!
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.
February 1, 2021
I've read the entire The Cat Who... series, you should know. They were my favorite books and I've reread them until every last paperback was falling apart. They were my fallback books from middle school through college.
It was all about a newspaper writer named James Qwilleran who'd inherited millions from an old friend of his mother and was enjoying small town life in Pickax (Moose County, 400 miles north of everywhere) with his crime-solving Siamese cats Koko and Yum-Yum. The series was funny, clever, and recommended reading for anyone who happened to ask me for some.
But not this one.
I can't even tell you what the plot was, because after reading it I'm still not sure what it was. I looked it up on Goodreads to see if they could spell it out, but all they had was a point by point list of some of the events in the book with nothing tying them together. Poor Ms. Braun, she should have left this one on the drawing board.
While no one seemed to be acting in character, what really bothered me about this edition is the fact that Qwill's reactions were not only odd for him, but odd for any one of us. Not wanting to go into spoilers, he has no reaction to any of the entirely bizarre (read: badly contrived) catastrophes happening to him. The mysteries don't get solved, many things happen for no reason as though she'd forgotten to tie them to any causes, the 'girlfriend' makes a life changing decision that doesn't make any sense in context with the events of the last several books and is grossly out of character, and the ending feels less like an ending and more like someone cleaned away the previous books with a dry erase pad so they could start from scratch.
THE VERDICT? In an effort to stand up to the outpouring of fans certain Ms. Braun didn't write this book, her son publicly announced that she had written it despite her illness and that she was very proud of it (despite the horrible reception destroying plans for the next book, The Cat Who Smelled Smoke [though in fairness the author's death in 2011 could not have helped]). In my opinion, he should have kept his mouth shut and allowed her empire to end with a little dignity.
It was all about a newspaper writer named James Qwilleran who'd inherited millions from an old friend of his mother and was enjoying small town life in Pickax (Moose County, 400 miles north of everywhere) with his crime-solving Siamese cats Koko and Yum-Yum. The series was funny, clever, and recommended reading for anyone who happened to ask me for some.
But not this one.
I can't even tell you what the plot was, because after reading it I'm still not sure what it was. I looked it up on Goodreads to see if they could spell it out, but all they had was a point by point list of some of the events in the book with nothing tying them together. Poor Ms. Braun, she should have left this one on the drawing board.
While no one seemed to be acting in character, what really bothered me about this edition is the fact that Qwill's reactions were not only odd for him, but odd for any one of us. Not wanting to go into spoilers, he has no reaction to any of the entirely bizarre (read: badly contrived) catastrophes happening to him. The mysteries don't get solved, many things happen for no reason as though she'd forgotten to tie them to any causes, the 'girlfriend' makes a life changing decision that doesn't make any sense in context with the events of the last several books and is grossly out of character, and the ending feels less like an ending and more like someone cleaned away the previous books with a dry erase pad so they could start from scratch.
THE VERDICT? In an effort to stand up to the outpouring of fans certain Ms. Braun didn't write this book, her son publicly announced that she had written it despite her illness and that she was very proud of it (despite the horrible reception destroying plans for the next book, The Cat Who Smelled Smoke [though in fairness the author's death in 2011 could not have helped]). In my opinion, he should have kept his mouth shut and allowed her empire to end with a little dignity.
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May 3, 2008DON'T BUY THIS BOOK
IT IS NOT WORTH THE MONEY
There is a huge concensus by LJB fans that she either did not write this book or has gone completely senile if she did.
It is so disjointed and disconnected from the other Cat Who books that in places it makes NO sense at all.
A HUGE disappointment.
IT IS NOT WORTH THE MONEY
There is a huge concensus by LJB fans that she either did not write this book or has gone completely senile if she did.
It is so disjointed and disconnected from the other Cat Who books that in places it makes NO sense at all.
A HUGE disappointment.
June 28, 2013
This was a seriously unsatisfying end to what was a very charming and occasionally enthralling sleuth series. It was like the dregs or basic ideas of about six books were thrown together to make one very poor novel, not even following the general formula that was a staple for the Qwilleran books.
I had first thought I had missed a volume, as a major-minor character was mentioned as having died (No spoiler here: He was a hundred years old and a good friend of main character Jim Qwilleran). Many other plot points are introduced and abandoned, loose threads that weren't all that loose are tied up in different ways, and the entire story is just a letdown from start-to-finish.
It's probably good that the 30th book (the final one written before Lilian Jackson Braun's death) was canceled - the last four or five books in the series were skating on the edge of being pedantic. But most of them at least made a modicum of sense - The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers (a fact established about 8 books previously) is just a badly-written, poorly-plotted travesty that does nothing to give readers closure to some beloved characters.
I had first thought I had missed a volume, as a major-minor character was mentioned as having died (No spoiler here: He was a hundred years old and a good friend of main character Jim Qwilleran). Many other plot points are introduced and abandoned, loose threads that weren't all that loose are tied up in different ways, and the entire story is just a letdown from start-to-finish.
It's probably good that the 30th book (the final one written before Lilian Jackson Braun's death) was canceled - the last four or five books in the series were skating on the edge of being pedantic. But most of them at least made a modicum of sense - The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers (a fact established about 8 books previously) is just a badly-written, poorly-plotted travesty that does nothing to give readers closure to some beloved characters.
October 12, 2016
I hate to say it, but I think Braun is losing her touch. In this and in the second most recent, "The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell" Braun has done things that I just can't believe. Can you believe that Polly just up end left, moved to Paris without any planning? And Braun burned down Qwill's barn! How could she? And then Qwill hardly showed any emotion to either one happening. And in "Dropped a Bombshell" not only did she have 100 yr old Homer Tibbitt die, but she killed Derek's love Liz Hart! And then she had Qwill hardly react to losing them, too. Major things just keep happening that you never thought would, and then hardly anyone gives any real reaction to it. It's like everyone just keeps shrugging shoulders. The most recent books just don't have the depth they used to. I can live with the mystery parts being light, but I liked all the people interactions, and now that seems to hardly be there. Do you think maybe someone is ghostwriting now? I hope not. I hate to admit it, but things just haven't been the same since around "The Cat Who Talked Turkey." Maybe it is time to just end the series before things get even worse, like Koko dying!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2014
This is the worst Cat Who book and murder mystery that I have ever read. I usually enjoy the series as a light-fun-read, but this book definitely disappointed. Braun seemed more occupied with developing the town that she has created, than developing the murder mystery, its investigation, or even the story's characters. The writing style seemed fragmented and incomplete. In the novel, Braun continually refers to Qwilleran's drawer full of partial ideas. This book felt like Braun grabbed a handful from her own drawer and threw them together to make a novel/meet a deadline, or perhaps to just pump out one more Cat Who book for the money. It was almost like reading a rough draft of an outline for a story - an outline which often repeated itself in several places, short thought it is.
There are a few endearing cat anecdotes, but even these fell short as many were re-hashed from previous novels. And because the mystery was highly undeveloped, Koko's sleuthing made few appearances.
*As a side-note - a friend told me that the current derailment of this novel from the series's usual quality is due to Braun's age - sad.
There are a few endearing cat anecdotes, but even these fell short as many were re-hashed from previous novels. And because the mystery was highly undeveloped, Koko's sleuthing made few appearances.
*As a side-note - a friend told me that the current derailment of this novel from the series's usual quality is due to Braun's age - sad.
June 1, 2009
It is time for this series to die. I have obviously loved it, but it has outlived its originality and needs to be put down.
Koko's whiskers still quiver, and he still does his best to give clues and solve the murder, but Qwill is too busy being the eligible-bachelor-about-town to notice, at least until after someone else has solved the murder. Then he thinks, "So that's why Koko freaked out whenever so-and-so walked into the room. Hmmm. I wonder what [insert female character's name here:] is doing tonight?"
It's always fun to check back in with the gang from Pickax, but I give up. These are nothing more than catalogs of Qwill's latest columns and dates at this point.
Don't let me dissuade anyone from starting the series; they are really good cozy mysteries at the beginning. Just give up on them well before this point.
Koko's whiskers still quiver, and he still does his best to give clues and solve the murder, but Qwill is too busy being the eligible-bachelor-about-town to notice, at least until after someone else has solved the murder. Then he thinks, "So that's why Koko freaked out whenever so-and-so walked into the room. Hmmm. I wonder what [insert female character's name here:] is doing tonight?"
It's always fun to check back in with the gang from Pickax, but I give up. These are nothing more than catalogs of Qwill's latest columns and dates at this point.
Don't let me dissuade anyone from starting the series; they are really good cozy mysteries at the beginning. Just give up on them well before this point.
June 27, 2008
Say it with me, really loudly: "UGH". I actually did that a couple of times while reading. I'm not even sure why I finished the book, except that maybe that I'm a masochist. It was disjointed, tired and uninspired. There were actually some lines and conversations that were noticeable repeated within a few pages. Where was the mystery? I didn't spot one. I also didn't spot any real content about the cats. The whole book was one long comment about who he had dinner with, what they ordered and the most boring recaps of their unconnected conversations. Oh, and Qwill's journal entries? Lame! I also hated how LJB dealt with Polly's leaving. I mean, she does not strike me as the type of character to make such an impulsive decision, and then to just send Qwill a letter. And apparently, Qwill is a robot who has no emotion and can conveniently replace his long-term lady friend within a one week span. And if he hates people coming to see the barn so much, then why does he keep inviting them? And why did the barn burn down? Vandals? Really? Pickax is truly becoming a slum when a building gets burned down every other week for no apparent reason. And as a closing note, Qwill has never seemed like such a pretentious jerk as he did in this book.
I hope this is the last. I hope LJB's editors realize that this is a lost cause. I don't know why they let this one get published to begin with.
I hope this is the last. I hope LJB's editors realize that this is a lost cause. I don't know why they let this one get published to begin with.
August 30, 2009
I have read various "Cat Who" books over the years, but recently decided to read the entire series from start to finish. I shared them with two elderly ladies from my church and then passed them on to a 17-year-old young lady from church. We all love the series, which is sweet, light-weight, and appropriate for all age groups. I dubbed our book group "The Old Ladies Book Club - + 1." Some of the novels are much better than others and the later books in the series stray away from mystery solving and are more devoted to the lives of the town people. It's amazing that Ms. Braun is still writing at the age of 92!
Since I've read the series over the past year and it's hard to remember each particular book, I'm rating each one with four stars.
Next I'm planning to introduce the "Old Ladies" to Alexander McCall Smith's "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" novels. We have already begun James Herriott's book, and they love those too. If they aren't as fond of Smith's books as I am, I will get them started on the "Mrs. Pollifax" series.
Since I've read the series over the past year and it's hard to remember each particular book, I'm rating each one with four stars.
Next I'm planning to introduce the "Old Ladies" to Alexander McCall Smith's "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" novels. We have already begun James Herriott's book, and they love those too. If they aren't as fond of Smith's books as I am, I will get them started on the "Mrs. Pollifax" series.
September 17, 2009
Wow... and I used to love this series. :(
What has happened here? I am dead serious when I ask this: Has Braun lost some of her faculties? This was the most disjointed, unclear, frustrating book to read! It was choppy and terribly put-together, and there is no way in hell that a publisher would have considered this if it had been Braun's first submission. I can only feel for her editor, who must've been thinking, "What do I DO to make this workable??"
***SPOILER ALERT*** Polly turns suddenly cold to Qwill and decides to move to Paris?? The barn BURNS -- apparently, tho not stated, TO THE GROUND -- and yet we don't even visit the site?? (It gets about two paragraphs of explication?) And who was this person who was murdered and just exactly who was it who killed her... and WHY? All the "key stuff" is just dropped in, almost haphazardly, with so little detail or explanation that all you can do is scratch your head.
Braun has always made this series more about the personalities than about mysteries, and I always loved feeling like I knew the characters (including the cats), but this one is lacking in so many ways. And Yum Yum barely gets a mention! Just bleh. No wonder it was on the $6.98 (for hardback) table at B&N.
What has happened here? I am dead serious when I ask this: Has Braun lost some of her faculties? This was the most disjointed, unclear, frustrating book to read! It was choppy and terribly put-together, and there is no way in hell that a publisher would have considered this if it had been Braun's first submission. I can only feel for her editor, who must've been thinking, "What do I DO to make this workable??"
***SPOILER ALERT*** Polly turns suddenly cold to Qwill and decides to move to Paris?? The barn BURNS -- apparently, tho not stated, TO THE GROUND -- and yet we don't even visit the site?? (It gets about two paragraphs of explication?) And who was this person who was murdered and just exactly who was it who killed her... and WHY? All the "key stuff" is just dropped in, almost haphazardly, with so little detail or explanation that all you can do is scratch your head.
Braun has always made this series more about the personalities than about mysteries, and I always loved feeling like I knew the characters (including the cats), but this one is lacking in so many ways. And Yum Yum barely gets a mention! Just bleh. No wonder it was on the $6.98 (for hardback) table at B&N.
January 26, 2019
I've read enough of the Cat Who books now to find them somewhat repetitive; however it is the characters that are so endearing. The mystery in this one is not much of a mystery, as I have found in some others as well. However, the people of the town, and the cats of the town, are all very interesting personalities, and thus, the book is a pretty good read.
February 1, 2022
Revising my original review: This probably never should have been published. The series deserves a better ending.
September 16, 2016
I had very low expectations for this book based on the trend of the last 5 or 6 in the series and, unfortunately, my expectations have been proven prophetic. This novel is a complete mess with no actual plot, characters that frequently break with how they would be expected to act based on previous books, and very little mystery at all (for a novel marketed as “mystery”). Just as in the last several books in the series, it’s far more about the day-to-day happenings of the quirky characters of the small town of Pickax and how our protagonist Jim “Qwill” Qwilleran lives his days as a wealthy philanthropist. And that quirkiness has really worn thin. Highlights of the plot include Qwill’s ongoing effort to come up with ideas for his twice-weekly column for the local newspaper, writing a biography of the local historian who recently passed away, following the construction of a new senior center in town as well as the conversion of a local mansion into a charitable museum. Oh and let’s not forget Qwill’s project to create an exhibit on art hats. Pretty exciting stuff here.
The mystery, I guess, involves a suspicious death by bee sting but there is no resolution to it, just some hints at who was likely responsible and a mention that they had run off somewhere. That literally is covered in just two to three paragraphs out of the whole book. His cat, Koko still runs around at odd moments, rips corners off of books, etc. as some sort of way he provides clues to what is happening. Usually by the end of the book we come to understand just what he was trying to tell us (and Qwill) but not this time. It’s as if the book was hurriedly completed because the publisher called and said, “You’ve got 30 minutes to submit the final draft or you don’t get paid.”
But what really sticks in my craw the most is the ridiculous way Qwill reacts (or rather, doesn’t react) to two major, even life-changing negative events (no spoilers) that occur near the end of the novel. I would not have cared too much either if this was the only book I had read in the series. But as it is, I have now traversed the entire set of 29 full-length novels, and feel almost heartbroken at how little Qwill seems to have been effected. Doesn’t he care? It feels to me to be a complete slap in the face to loyal readers.
Despite assurances from publishers and the author’s family saying that she wrote this book herself (at age 90-plus years of age), I feel confident in my belief that Ms. Braun stopped writing them several books back. Perhaps she had outlines or worked with a ghost writer but the feel of the stories, the texture of the characters and the town itself changed a lot over recent books. If she did write these last books herself, then some sort of dementia must have set in to allow her series to deteriorate so far. Shame on those who tried to milk this cash cow for all they could.
As mentioned before, I have now completed the entire run of ”Cat Who” novels. There are a couple of short story collections out there that I may pursue if they relate more to the earlier books. They are very short so not a great loss if they suck. The series was really pretty good for much of its run and the mysteries were usually well done and even creative. I, as many readers did, became fully vested in Qwill and his two Siamese cats’ adventures as well as the regular cast of characters. The ‘redshirt’ phenomenon was well handled for the most part over most of the series…i.e you just know one of the new characters presented has to be the bad guy/gal but there were often a host of new characters introduced so the culprit was not easily determined simply by that method.
So overall, I’m glad I started reading the series but my advice to anybody considering them is to only keep reading for as long as you are enjoying them. Because as the quality begins to taper off, there is simply no reason to keep going. There is absolutely no reward at the end of this rainbow.
The mystery, I guess, involves a suspicious death by bee sting but there is no resolution to it, just some hints at who was likely responsible and a mention that they had run off somewhere. That literally is covered in just two to three paragraphs out of the whole book. His cat, Koko still runs around at odd moments, rips corners off of books, etc. as some sort of way he provides clues to what is happening. Usually by the end of the book we come to understand just what he was trying to tell us (and Qwill) but not this time. It’s as if the book was hurriedly completed because the publisher called and said, “You’ve got 30 minutes to submit the final draft or you don’t get paid.”
But what really sticks in my craw the most is the ridiculous way Qwill reacts (or rather, doesn’t react) to two major, even life-changing negative events (no spoilers) that occur near the end of the novel. I would not have cared too much either if this was the only book I had read in the series. But as it is, I have now traversed the entire set of 29 full-length novels, and feel almost heartbroken at how little Qwill seems to have been effected. Doesn’t he care? It feels to me to be a complete slap in the face to loyal readers.
Despite assurances from publishers and the author’s family saying that she wrote this book herself (at age 90-plus years of age), I feel confident in my belief that Ms. Braun stopped writing them several books back. Perhaps she had outlines or worked with a ghost writer but the feel of the stories, the texture of the characters and the town itself changed a lot over recent books. If she did write these last books herself, then some sort of dementia must have set in to allow her series to deteriorate so far. Shame on those who tried to milk this cash cow for all they could.
As mentioned before, I have now completed the entire run of ”Cat Who” novels. There are a couple of short story collections out there that I may pursue if they relate more to the earlier books. They are very short so not a great loss if they suck. The series was really pretty good for much of its run and the mysteries were usually well done and even creative. I, as many readers did, became fully vested in Qwill and his two Siamese cats’ adventures as well as the regular cast of characters. The ‘redshirt’ phenomenon was well handled for the most part over most of the series…i.e you just know one of the new characters presented has to be the bad guy/gal but there were often a host of new characters introduced so the culprit was not easily determined simply by that method.
So overall, I’m glad I started reading the series but my advice to anybody considering them is to only keep reading for as long as you are enjoying them. Because as the quality begins to taper off, there is simply no reason to keep going. There is absolutely no reward at the end of this rainbow.
March 13, 2019
I was disappointed in this installment in The Cat Who series. The initial books in the series were really good, but this one just kind of left me feeling kind of flat. I think this is the last book in the series. I wonder if a ghostwriter wrote it because it didn't really seem to have Lilian Jackson Braun's flavor.
September 5, 2008
Wow. Extremely disappointing. There was no "mystery" per se and any action was extremely removed from the main character, who spent his time writing in his journal and lamenting the fact that people always want to tour his home.
Well, he won't have to worry about that anymore. The main purpose of this book seemed to be shipping his girlfriend off to France for no reason and burning down his beloved barn home.
But the things that killed me the most were the literary references. They were either overt and boring, used only to show off how "intellectual" the main character was or hidden and annoying. The most blatantly annoying rip-off ( and it was a complete rip-off) was the use of Harper Lee's character trait - a man walking around with a bottle in a brown paper bag, leading people to think that he's drinking (but they don't), when in actuality he's drinking (coca cola) tea.
I used to love these books, but I'm officially cutting myself off.
Well, he won't have to worry about that anymore. The main purpose of this book seemed to be shipping his girlfriend off to France for no reason and burning down his beloved barn home.
But the things that killed me the most were the literary references. They were either overt and boring, used only to show off how "intellectual" the main character was or hidden and annoying. The most blatantly annoying rip-off ( and it was a complete rip-off) was the use of Harper Lee's character trait - a man walking around with a bottle in a brown paper bag, leading people to think that he's drinking (but they don't), when in actuality he's drinking (coca cola) tea.
I used to love these books, but I'm officially cutting myself off.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2016
I don't know what happened to this series! There hit a point where the books really started going down hill, but this one really takes the cake. The plot was kind of all over the place and was never really resolved.The descriptions of the characters seemed to be regurgitated from other books. Koko's unique talent seemed to be too obvious, and some of the cat behaviors seemed to hit the reader over the head too many times. The syntax didn't even seem like Braun's. The length of the book itself was SHOOOORT, and the publisher even blew up the margins so that it seemed longer...
In conclusion, this book leads me to believe that: 1.) Lilian Jackson Braun did not write this book, or 2.) her writing quality is going down due to _________ (you can fill in the blank, but I saw a 1913 birth date on Wikipedia...of course, Wikipedia is known for its accurate information).
In conclusion, this book leads me to believe that: 1.) Lilian Jackson Braun did not write this book, or 2.) her writing quality is going down due to _________ (you can fill in the blank, but I saw a 1913 birth date on Wikipedia...of course, Wikipedia is known for its accurate information).
September 3, 2009
Whoever is writing these, pretending to be Lilian Jackson Braun, is doing a really poor job of it. The style is all wrong. This and the previous outing bear no resemblance to her previous work.
The only thing I can figure is that her publishers don't want to admit she isn't writing these books. But it's so obvious, they may as well just admit it and be done with it. Actually, I think they need to just cut their losses and quit publishing these rip-offs under the Cat Who titles.
This isn't a story...it's an extremely detailed outline! I'm disappointed. I had hoped that the previous book was just a fluke, but it wasn't. These last two are awful and won't win any new readers to the series.
My recommendation: Read the older stuff and forget this and The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell.
The only thing I can figure is that her publishers don't want to admit she isn't writing these books. But it's so obvious, they may as well just admit it and be done with it. Actually, I think they need to just cut their losses and quit publishing these rip-offs under the Cat Who titles.
This isn't a story...it's an extremely detailed outline! I'm disappointed. I had hoped that the previous book was just a fluke, but it wasn't. These last two are awful and won't win any new readers to the series.
My recommendation: Read the older stuff and forget this and The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell.
April 20, 2022
I have enjoyed some of the old-timey charm of these books in the past, but this one seemed to lack a plot. There was a mystery involving a minor character, that was only partially resolved. And what in the world was up with Polly in this one? Meh. Not a favorite for me.
March 13, 2022
I didn't find this book as interesting as the others I have read from this series. There really didn't seem to be much of a mystery. The title didn't seem to tie into the plot. And, finally, I think they cut out one of the main characters, Polly, who was Jim Qwilleran's romantic attachment by having her take a library job in Paris. This was one of the last ones in the series that Braun wrote before her death and she was 94 when she wrote it. So perhaps she knew it was time to come to the end of her series.
March 28, 2017
The couple of earlier books in this series that I have read were much better. The mysterious death didn't even happen till past the halfway point and was never 'solved.'
September 16, 2007
It is August and Qwill and Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum are living in the converted apple barn home in Pickax. This story is a bit a typical of the series in that there is less emphasis upon the Moose County regulars and more on Qwill and things he is doing. He does more community benefiting things as well as personal things than he normamally does in a novel. There is also a developing mystery: mysterious death by bee sting and possible embezzlement. However, there isn't a real solution to the mystery as is usual, just a hinted at solution, and Koko does little to contribute towards it.
I am not sure whether the author is tansitioning the general story line in the novels by eliminating a few continuing characters over the past couple in the series as well as bringing in new characters. If she is, I am not sure of the purpose here as the general plot line and core characters were satisfactory to the novel. Also, the manner of eliminating characters leaves a lot to be desired as the actions appear whimiscal and with out explaination and don't appear to contribute towards the over all story line.
I am not sure whether the author is tansitioning the general story line in the novels by eliminating a few continuing characters over the past couple in the series as well as bringing in new characters. If she is, I am not sure of the purpose here as the general plot line and core characters were satisfactory to the novel. Also, the manner of eliminating characters leaves a lot to be desired as the actions appear whimiscal and with out explaination and don't appear to contribute towards the over all story line.
May 3, 2010
The stories about Qwill, Koko and Yum Yum have been a treat to read. The relationship between Qwill and Polly, the architectural marvel of the barn where Qwill and the cats live in the summer, and Qwill's inability to let a mystery go are the basic building blocks of all of these stories.
That is why this book was such a disappointment. None of these elements were developed, several were let go without even a whimper, and the story ends so abruptly that I went back and re-read the last chapter to try to figure out what I missed, because surely I had to have missed something.
All good things must come to an end, and so I'm afraid the stories of Qwill, Koko, YumYum and Polly have reached their end. I want to say "Thank you" to Lilian Jackson Braun for the many hours of entertainment.
That is why this book was such a disappointment. None of these elements were developed, several were let go without even a whimper, and the story ends so abruptly that I went back and re-read the last chapter to try to figure out what I missed, because surely I had to have missed something.
All good things must come to an end, and so I'm afraid the stories of Qwill, Koko, YumYum and Polly have reached their end. I want to say "Thank you" to Lilian Jackson Braun for the many hours of entertainment.
January 24, 2023
I recently reread the whole Cat Who series for the first time in ages. I loved spending time once again in Moose County, 400 miles north of everywhere.
Unfortunately the last two books were disappointing in how they suddenly did away familiar characters and didn't show much impact on the series' mustached detective.
Then I remembered that Braun was in her 90s when she died. I checked and she was also in her 90s when she wrote the last few books.
So good for her. As a writer still hoping to write a novel, she is my hero.
However if you decided to read the series, make The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell the last one you read. It will allow you to end the series on a better note.
Unfortunately the last two books were disappointing in how they suddenly did away familiar characters and didn't show much impact on the series' mustached detective.
Then I remembered that Braun was in her 90s when she died. I checked and she was also in her 90s when she wrote the last few books.
So good for her. As a writer still hoping to write a novel, she is my hero.
However if you decided to read the series, make The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell the last one you read. It will allow you to end the series on a better note.
April 5, 2020
This book was just sad. Partly because it's the last one and I've enjoyed this series so much. But also it's sad because this book is just not very good. It was just too short and things were not explained very well. I had to go back a couple of times just to figure out who the murderer was, and I'm still not sure exactly how it happened. But the main reason it's sad is that several things went wrong in the end and that is how they were left. It's just a very sad way to end a very good series.
December 17, 2022
I have no idea what the plot of this book was. This was terrible.
May 13, 2023
Lilian Jackson Braun is overleden op 4 juni 2011 op de leeftijd van 97 jaar.
Daarmee is dit het laatste verhaal uit de reeks "De kat die..."
Het nogal abrupte einde van het boek kan verklaard worden doordat deel 30 al op stapel stond.
30 The Cat Who Smelled Smoke – geannuleerd door uitgever Putnam na de dood van Braun.
Er wordt verondersteld dat dit het vervolg was op "De kat die 60 snorharen had" en de oplossing van de brandstichtingen zou brengen.
Deel 29 is het kortste boek uit de reeks maar zit wel vol met de gebruikelijke elementen. Enkele nieuwe personen treden op de voorgrond waarvan er 1 de dood vindt. Begeleidt door het doodsgejammer van Koko kan dat maar 1 ding betekenen... moord.
Het boek is een nieuw keerpunt in de reeks (het zal het eindpunt blijken te zijn maar dat plande Lilian Jackson Braun zeker niet). Qwill verhuist weer naar Indian Village en dan brandt zijn schuur af, het gebouw dat symbool staat voor zijn band met Pickax en Moose County. En waarrond het grootste deel van de serie "De kat die..." zich afspeelt.
Nog ingrijpender is het zich voltrekken van de breuk met hartsvriedin Polly. Al heel wat boeken nu zag de lezer de relatie vertroebelen en steeds maar oppervlakkiger worden. Wie gehoopt had op een huwelijk realiseerde zich al snel dat dat er niet in zat. Nu dus een breuk al hoeft die niet definitief te zijn. Maar... er dient zich meteen al een vervangster aan die zowel wij Qwill als de katten goed in de markt ligt.
Deze reeks, hoewel er de nodige moorden in gebeuren, is toch een verademing in het thriller en detective landschap. Geschreven met zachtheid, focus op positieve menselijke interacties, zoveel mogelijk proberend om opbouwend te zijn. Ook letterlijk met alle museums, centers en renovaties die er door de Klingenschoen stichting uitgevoerd worden.
Een beetje een triest afscheid dat toch wel een leeg gevoel nalaat. En een groot en warm dankjewel aan schrijfster Lilian Jackson Braun die net haar 100 jaren niet mocht volmaken.
Daarmee is dit het laatste verhaal uit de reeks "De kat die..."
Het nogal abrupte einde van het boek kan verklaard worden doordat deel 30 al op stapel stond.
30 The Cat Who Smelled Smoke – geannuleerd door uitgever Putnam na de dood van Braun.
Er wordt verondersteld dat dit het vervolg was op "De kat die 60 snorharen had" en de oplossing van de brandstichtingen zou brengen.
Deel 29 is het kortste boek uit de reeks maar zit wel vol met de gebruikelijke elementen. Enkele nieuwe personen treden op de voorgrond waarvan er 1 de dood vindt. Begeleidt door het doodsgejammer van Koko kan dat maar 1 ding betekenen... moord.
Het boek is een nieuw keerpunt in de reeks (het zal het eindpunt blijken te zijn maar dat plande Lilian Jackson Braun zeker niet). Qwill verhuist weer naar Indian Village en dan brandt zijn schuur af, het gebouw dat symbool staat voor zijn band met Pickax en Moose County. En waarrond het grootste deel van de serie "De kat die..." zich afspeelt.
Nog ingrijpender is het zich voltrekken van de breuk met hartsvriedin Polly. Al heel wat boeken nu zag de lezer de relatie vertroebelen en steeds maar oppervlakkiger worden. Wie gehoopt had op een huwelijk realiseerde zich al snel dat dat er niet in zat. Nu dus een breuk al hoeft die niet definitief te zijn. Maar... er dient zich meteen al een vervangster aan die zowel wij Qwill als de katten goed in de markt ligt.
Deze reeks, hoewel er de nodige moorden in gebeuren, is toch een verademing in het thriller en detective landschap. Geschreven met zachtheid, focus op positieve menselijke interacties, zoveel mogelijk proberend om opbouwend te zijn. Ook letterlijk met alle museums, centers en renovaties die er door de Klingenschoen stichting uitgevoerd worden.
Een beetje een triest afscheid dat toch wel een leeg gevoel nalaat. En een groot en warm dankjewel aan schrijfster Lilian Jackson Braun die net haar 100 jaren niet mocht volmaken.
June 2, 2020
I've finally worked my way through to the end, and I shall miss KoKo and Yum Yum. All that's left now is the three volumes of short stories. Over all, I very much enjoyed this series. Had I not, I would not have made it all the way through 29 volumes! I do have a couple of nits to pick, however! Polly, who has been Qwill's steadfast friend and implied romantic interest, So, although there are those nits, I was, overall, satisfied with the situation as I left my old friends to continue their adventures without me. I'll miss you, KoKo and Yum Yum. We lost a great deal with your author left us, but I still think of the pair of you out there, 400 miles from everywhere, living the good life with your faithful servant, Qwill.
April 26, 2023
This was a decent read, not my favorite, there isn't any type of big action. I can't believe I am about to say this, but this was a bit too much of cat talk to me... gasp... I said it! Me the self appointed crazy cat lady just said there was too much cat talk. I do have to say the story flows and is well written, it's just not my type of story. It was not painful to read, I am reading this for a bookclub so I feel obliged to read these, but it was ok. It wasn't exciting, this is not meant to be exciting, but falls more in the category of cozy read.
February 16, 2017
I was seriously disappointed by the ending! I'm not a fan of mystery cliffhangers. Furthermore the loss of Polly to Paris seemed forced and left me perplexed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2017
Last book of the series, and I hated it. Listened to it on CD. Half the time I had no clue what was going on and the other half I didn't care what was going on.
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