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The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare (Cat Who... #7)
There's something rotten in the small town of Pickax - at least to the sensitive noses of newspaperman Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum. An accident has claimed the life of the local paper's eccentric publisher, but to Qwilleran and his feline friends it smells like murder. They soon sniff out a shocking secret, but Koko's snooping into an unusual edit...more
Mass Market Paperbound, 249 pages
Published
June 1st 1988
by Jove Books
(first published 1988)
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It's November - time for the first snowstorm in Moose County. Qwill's friend Arch Riker is leaving The Daily Fluxion and Qwill is heading Down Below to host a farewell party at the Press Club for his friend. He takes Junior Goodwinter, managing editor of the Pickax Picayune, with him believing that the exposure to a large city paper would be good experience for him. During the party, Qwill is called away to take a phone call. He comes back and tells Junior they need to get on a plane fast...more
The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare is the seventh in a very lengthy "Cat Who..." series of mysteries by Lilian Jackson Braun. The protagonist of the series is curmudgeonly Qwilleran, a journalist in a small, very cold, town, and his cat Koko (by this book, Koko has a companion, Yum Yum).
The book involves the mysterious death of a young friend of Qwilleran's father. I liked Qwilleran-he would fit comfortably in a tv series and Koko was entertaining, especially in the use of sophi...more
The book involves the mysterious death of a young friend of Qwilleran's father. I liked Qwilleran-he would fit comfortably in a tv series and Koko was entertaining, especially in the use of sophi...more
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The gym I'm a member of has a shelf of free books to take for your workout, if you happen to be one of those folks who can run, bike and read at the same time. I'm not, but noticed this volume of Braun's "The Cat Who" series while waiting for my friend in the foyer. I'd read many of these books as a kid, and liked them. So, wondering if Braun would hold up to twenty years of life including a college and graduate school education, I took home "The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare."
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I really liked this book. First of all, it has cats and being the owners/ cohabiter of three I love the challenges that only a life with cats can bring. Second, it mentioned Shakespeare in the title and that always intrigues me. This is my first Lilian Jackson Braun mystery and apparently she is quite the writer in this genre. There are more than 20 Million Cat Who... books in print and after reading The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare that does not surprise me. I can remember seeing these books come h...more
Kirsti
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Cat lovers, Mystery lovers, Animal detective fans
I love how while reading this series, it doesn't matter which one I pick up, or in what order, I can still fall easily into the plot and accept the new characters along with the old. This book follows one of my favorites in the series, and focuses mainly on the death of Senior Goodwinter, and what will happen to the county's local paper after his demise. There is plenty of food descriptions, which left me absolutely starving once I'd finished the book, which isn't always a bad thing. The cats li...more
An incredibly light read, The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare is written in such a simplistic manner that it read almost like a young adult novel. If it weren't for (very mild and oblique) references to sexual activities, I would have thought it aimed at ten year olds. The prose is pretty cheesy and clichéd, the characters undeveloped, and the 'mystery' not really one at all—in fact, there isn't really any detective work done. The main character does some mild nosing around other people's business, but...more
This was a quick audio book (only 5 CDs and 6 hours). The narator is a man who suits the main character well.
I am a sucker for cats which is why I originally brought the first book in the series. They are all about a new reporter Mr Q and his two siamese cats YumYum and KoKo. KoKo is a cat who has a habit of solving mysteries and both cats have great personalities.
This one didn't contain as much suspence or action as the first book I read, but I never picked up the who done it for ...more
I am a sucker for cats which is why I originally brought the first book in the series. They are all about a new reporter Mr Q and his two siamese cats YumYum and KoKo. KoKo is a cat who has a habit of solving mysteries and both cats have great personalities.
This one didn't contain as much suspence or action as the first book I read, but I never picked up the who done it for ...more
If you've never read any of "The Cat Who...." books, you really should. They are a mindless, easy read...and really fun! I've read them all, and love them!
I think I read this book too early...Although I have a high reading level I don't fully comprehend it. I can't see the mystery...yet.
Like the other books in this long series, this book is engaging and interesting, although it is very lighthearted. These books would be perfect for young adults interested in the mystery genre or for those looking for a light beach read or something quick that doesn't take a lot of attention to follow. In this installment, Qwill has moved to a quiet town with his inheritance. However, now the newspaper offices have been burned down and the newspaper editor is missing. Now, Qwill is trying to...more
Not very good. The problem I have with all of Braun's post-hiatus works is how casually the characters regard death. In this book a sympathetic character responds to the death of his own mother with little more than a yawn, and there's more concern for the cats than for the people when a building burns down. This just doesn't work, not in a murder mystery.
Then again, there is no mystery and no detecting, and Braun absolutely loves to make female characters into tired, hackneyed stereo...more
Then again, there is no mystery and no detecting, and Braun absolutely loves to make female characters into tired, hackneyed stereo...more
Qwill has now lived in Pickax for a year and is quite comfortable living in his the mansion during the day (having his meals prepared by Iris Cobb) and moving himself and the cats to the apartments over the four car garage in the night. It's fall in Moose County and a big snow storm is predicted any day. Senior Goodwinter is killed in a car accident, leaving the future of the local paper in jeopardy - his widow wants to sell up and leave town. Mrs. Cobb becomes engaged to Herb Hackpole, a man...more
I had to pay one last visit to Pickax for 2008. In this adventure, Jim Qwilleran investigates the death of the local paper's publisher. He quickly discovers that family has had many tragic deaths. Meanwhile Koko is pulling down books by Shakespeare and opening them to specific pages.
As usual, I love the characters in this book. The ending was unexpected to me.
As usual, I love the characters in this book. The ending was unexpected to me.
The mystery is paper thin and it's more a tragi-comedie in a small, incestuous town 400 miles north of every where. Rereading these you can make your own drinking game, mine is which Goodwinter is gonna be murderer?
We had two in this one like in the last novel.
The villain of the tale is grotesque and the "will it snow or not" motif was tiresome. So barely two stars.
We had two in this one like in the last novel.
The villain of the tale is grotesque and the "will it snow or not" motif was tiresome. So barely two stars.
This is a nice light summer read. I would classify it as light mystery. I enjoyed the characters and the plot moved along at a nice pace. The mystery isn't terribly mysterious but the setting of the story is nice and the cats are rather amusing.
This is an extremely clean read. There is absolutely no vulgarity, sexual content or violence.
This is an extremely clean read. There is absolutely no vulgarity, sexual content or violence.
Something is not right in the town of Pickax and the cats know it. The publisher of the local paper met with an accident but the cats think it is murder. A book of Shakewpeare, naturally it is unusual, plays a part in the mystery also.
A good and warm read.
J. Robert Ewbank, author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
A good and warm read.
J. Robert Ewbank, author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
I know, I know these are the literary equivalent of Scooby Doo and the murderer always turns out to be someone who you have never heard of before and was discovered using clues that the author just forgot to let the reader know about! For some sick and twisted reason (I think I’m a masochist) I just keep reading them. :P
Years ago,this was the first of "The Cat who..." books I ever read, and I liked it. I read more in the series whenever I come across them. When I saw this copy at my favorite second hand shop, it fairly purred when I picked it up. I knew I had to bring it home, re-read it and send it out via BookCrossing.
This is one of the earliest Cat Who books that is set in Pickax after Qwill has inherited quite a bit of money. Koko shows off his intelligence in this book, though Qwill doesn't seem to throughly understand his clues. This is a good mystery story that wants you to wait and see what happens next in the book.
All "The Cat Who ..." books by Lilian Braun are light but lovely reading. The main character, Jim Quinerlin is a likeable, interesting fellow with a couple of smart cats. There is always a mystery and somehow the cats are able to put give a few clues to Jim, who always figures it out in the end.
I listened to this as an audiobook. I enjoy the narrator, George Guidell. I think he portrays Qwill perfectly--with just the right amount of humor.
I enjoy all the cat books. But some are not so good. This is definitely one that is very good. I was not disappointed in the read.
I enjoy all the cat books. But some are not so good. This is definitely one that is very good. I was not disappointed in the read.
We got this as a CD book from the library for one of our long trips to Idaho. The kids really got a kick out of it. It was a reather fun book. I read a whole bunch of books in the series as I am wont to do. It is an easy beach read kind of series.
If you ever wondered what it would be like if a truly crazy cat lady wrote a story, here you have it. It boggles the mind there were 6 more before this. Maybe they started out better and I got a hold of the one that really went downhill, but I don't even know why I finished it.
I got it from my mother, who also acknowledged it was bad (evidently she doesn't like me much) and when I asked her if it got any better than from where I was, she said it didn't. Still, I read. I don't know wh...more
I got it from my mother, who also acknowledged it was bad (evidently she doesn't like me much) and when I asked her if it got any better than from where I was, she said it didn't. Still, I read. I don't know wh...more
These are charming and fun mysteries. I went through a binge of everything in the series when I was younger, but haven't touched them since. I remember really enjoying them, though, and both liking the main character and the twists to the stories.
I love thse books. My Mom and I used to read them together, and we'd laugh and tickle at the different ways the stories would go. This book is particularly fun as Qwill and kitties are having such fun with their books. Recommend!
Unabridged audio books.
Get ready for bad Shakespeare references...accidents that aren't...love....death...and so on.
Again the cats Koko and Yum yum are instrumental in solving the mystery using a book of Shakespeare.
Get ready for bad Shakespeare references...accidents that aren't...love....death...and so on.
Again the cats Koko and Yum yum are instrumental in solving the mystery using a book of Shakespeare.
Qwill is still getting to grips with the fortune he inherited, and thinks an accidental death of the local newspaper owner is anything but accidental. Another read which does not take too many brain cells but keeps me amused.
This is the only book in this series that I've read, and I chose it because of the Shakespeare theme. It was fun to read. I need to look for some of the other books by this author when I have a chance.
As always I love the "Cat Who..." books and they are great for light happy reading. I really liked the Shakespeare theme in this one and it is an early story so I learned a little bit more about Qwill and his first experiences after he inherited the fortune. Fun book.
A straightforward mystery--easy to solve. The lifestyle of the main character and the "hints" provided by the cats are amusing. A fast, pleasant read for a lazy afternoon.
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Lilian 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...more
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