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The Cat Who... #9
The Cat Who Went Underground
alternate cover edition of ISBN 0515101230 / 9780515101232
Jim Qwilleran packs up his old kit bag and his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, for a sun-and-fun summer at his log cabin in Moose County. Their vacation starts out ominously with the disappearance of a handyman hired to patch up Qwilleran's cabin. But the felines really start throwing catfits when they come across a dead body or two...A serial killer may be right under Koko's nose, and now this ingenious Siamese must dig deeper to clear poor Qwilleran of suspicion--and dig up the motive for a catastrophic crime.
Jim Qwilleran packs up his old kit bag and his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, for a sun-and-fun summer at his log cabin in Moose County. Their vacation starts out ominously with the disappearance of a handyman hired to patch up Qwilleran's cabin. But the felines really start throwing catfits when they come across a dead body or two...A serial killer may be right under Koko's nose, and now this ingenious Siamese must dig deeper to clear poor Qwilleran of suspicion--and dig up the motive for a catastrophic crime.
201 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 22, 1989
330 people are currently reading
1960 people want to read
About the author
Lilian Jackson Braun
195 books1,721 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 17, 2020
Book Review
3 of 5 stars to The Cat Who Went Underground, the 9th book in the "Cat Who" cozy mystery series, written in 1989 by Lilian Jackson Braun. I adore this series. It's just plain comfy home. Sure, the mystery isn't too complex. Yes, sometimes it's a little silly. But it's just good, easy, fun reading. In this little escapade, Qwill and the cat are staying at a remote cabin, even more remote than Pickax itself. And another murder starts driving the cats a little batty. The cast of characters in this series just keeps growing, and they sorta feel like an extended family. Perfect for a rainy day when you just want to lull yourself into comfort.
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 Went Underground, the 9th book in the "Cat Who" cozy mystery series, written in 1989 by Lilian Jackson Braun. I adore this series. It's just plain comfy home. Sure, the mystery isn't too complex. Yes, sometimes it's a little silly. But it's just good, easy, fun reading. In this little escapade, Qwill and the cat are staying at a remote cabin, even more remote than Pickax itself. And another murder starts driving the cats a little batty. The cast of characters in this series just keeps growing, and they sorta feel like an extended family. Perfect for a rainy day when you just want to lull yourself into comfort.
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.
August 20, 2025
More about the cute, comic, small town vibe than the mystery, but that was enjoyable too.
January 8, 2015
In one of the earlier books in the series, Qwilleran takes a break at the cabin with the cats. He meets new unusual characters and the regular cast, except Polly are invited. An enjoyable read.
July 26, 2025
'The Cat Who Went Underground' by Lilian Jackson Braun is the best story in The Cat Who series I have read so far! This novel in the series has an unusually tense and dramatic plot! Our hero James Qwilleran, retired journalist, ends up battling a number of many seemingly mystic forces while on a summer vacation.
Qwilleran packed up the Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum and a few essentials, expecting a relaxing couple of months to write pedestrian feature articles for the local newspaper Something and hopefully to enjoy the company of his friends (human) who live in Moose County. Qwilleran owns a log cabin near a beautiful lake in Mooseville, north of Pickax where he normally lives. But a mysterious UFO sighting, a cat-like tourist, several missing carpenters, strangely accurate horoscopes and a séance, plus an unexpected wind storm messes up his plans! The cabin keeps breaking down, too - plumbing leaks, no heat, blocked fireplace, no power! Topping off these unexpected troubles, Koko won't stop tapping three times with his tail at certain mysterious junctures in the midst of these happenings.
Qwilleran is frustrated and amazed. He wonders if he should give up and return to Pickax - when a body is discovered! And it doesn't seem to be breathing....worse, Qwilleran thinks he recognizes it!
'The Cat Who Went Underground' is number 9 of the series. Since there are continuing situations following the main characters, I strongly recommend starting with book 1, The Cat Who Could Read Backwards.
Qwilleran packed up the Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum and a few essentials, expecting a relaxing couple of months to write pedestrian feature articles for the local newspaper Something and hopefully to enjoy the company of his friends (human) who live in Moose County. Qwilleran owns a log cabin near a beautiful lake in Mooseville, north of Pickax where he normally lives. But a mysterious UFO sighting, a cat-like tourist, several missing carpenters, strangely accurate horoscopes and a séance, plus an unexpected wind storm messes up his plans! The cabin keeps breaking down, too - plumbing leaks, no heat, blocked fireplace, no power! Topping off these unexpected troubles, Koko won't stop tapping three times with his tail at certain mysterious junctures in the midst of these happenings.
Qwilleran is frustrated and amazed. He wonders if he should give up and return to Pickax - when a body is discovered! And it doesn't seem to be breathing....worse, Qwilleran thinks he recognizes it!
'The Cat Who Went Underground' is number 9 of the series. Since there are continuing situations following the main characters, I strongly recommend starting with book 1, The Cat Who Could Read Backwards.
June 3, 2020
The only reason I purchased a cheap physical copy was the mention of cats and solving mysteries... with a cat. I just love cats OK XD
In all seriousness, this is the ninth book in a series and having not read the other eight before, this seemed to be a little set-up for a confusing ride. Which it was a little. Set in a cabin, main character Qwill is having a much-needed vacation with his cats until some murders start happening and suspicions fall onto him. Nothing much really happened for about 3/4 of the book until the discovery of one of the murder victims. That did increase my interest but by then, it was the conclusion. Not sure if I would try this series again.
In all seriousness, this is the ninth book in a series and having not read the other eight before, this seemed to be a little set-up for a confusing ride. Which it was a little. Set in a cabin, main character Qwill is having a much-needed vacation with his cats until some murders start happening and suspicions fall onto him. Nothing much really happened for about 3/4 of the book until the discovery of one of the murder victims. That did increase my interest but by then, it was the conclusion. Not sure if I would try this series again.
December 27, 2019
I’ve read many reviews of “The Cat Who…” books where people complain about the character James Qwilleran, but I’ve never found him unlikeable, just human. Maybe Qwill and I have been spending too much together lately, but in this 9th outing, he got on my nerves a bit.
As the novel opens, Qwill has decided to load Koko and YumYum into their traveling picnic hamper and leave Pickaxe to spend some time at the Klingenschoen cabin by the lake in Moose County. Once there, despite the beauty of his surroundings he proceeded to piss and moan and generally be useless about all the little things that needed to be done to “rough it” in the luxurious cabin. Maybe all that money is going to his head. Maybe he’s grouchy and horny because Polly was away in England for the summer. Whatever, he was just annoying. Sorry but I unapologetically prefer a man who knows how to check the damn pilot light, can hammer a nail, and isn’t freaked out by a few spiders.
As a rule I don’t mind the leisurely pace of these novels, but this one seemed to have even less forward momentum than usual. The mystery took quite a while to solidify, and the solution was both far-fetched and sad.
All in all, not my favorite but I’m sure Qwill and the cats will be back in my good graces with the next installment.
Originally published: 1989
Body Count: 6
Preceded by: The Cat Who Sniffed Glue
Next Up: The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts
As the novel opens, Qwill has decided to load Koko and YumYum into their traveling picnic hamper and leave Pickaxe to spend some time at the Klingenschoen cabin by the lake in Moose County. Once there, despite the beauty of his surroundings he proceeded to piss and moan and generally be useless about all the little things that needed to be done to “rough it” in the luxurious cabin. Maybe all that money is going to his head. Maybe he’s grouchy and horny because Polly was away in England for the summer. Whatever, he was just annoying. Sorry but I unapologetically prefer a man who knows how to check the damn pilot light, can hammer a nail, and isn’t freaked out by a few spiders.
As a rule I don’t mind the leisurely pace of these novels, but this one seemed to have even less forward momentum than usual. The mystery took quite a while to solidify, and the solution was both far-fetched and sad.
All in all, not my favorite but I’m sure Qwill and the cats will be back in my good graces with the next installment.
Originally published: 1989
Body Count: 6
Preceded by: The Cat Who Sniffed Glue
Next Up: The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts
December 2, 2019
My mom got me started reading these books probably 20 or so years ago. They are cute, pleasant, easy reads that aren't deep, and you can truly have a laugh at some of the shenanigans that goes on. Jim Qwilleran decides to take Koko and Yum Yum back to the log cabin in Moose County. While there, he encounters joys of home-ownership when a variety of items are in need of repair: plumbing, electrical, etc. He also decides against the advice of his neighbors, to add a wing to the cabin. His first problem is to find a carpenter to do it. His next problem is keeping the carpenter from disappearing! He ends up hiring a lazy unlicensed carpenter named Iggy. Leave it to Koko to be on the case of finding the missing carpetners. This was a fun read. I especially enjoyed Qwilleran's adventure on Three Tree Island
March 1, 2020
Am going to do a better review on The Pewter Wolf, but honestly, the gif is enough. I was BORED.
Plus, don't promise me a cosy murder mystery, only for the body to be discovered at 83% (and we know he was alive several % back) and then the case to be solved 10-12% later. What's the point of the rest of the book?
October 7, 2022
I'm reading these books so fast that I'm bundling my ratings/reviews! They're like eating popcorn, just what I've needed this year. These are fast and entertaining reads, if a little uneven in quality. Braun really knows cats! Just finished this one, on the heels of The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare and The Cat Who Sniffed Glue.
February 8, 2020
Mr Q packs up his summer clothes and the roasting pan and the special food for his cats, and of course Yum Yum and Koko and goes to Mooseville on the lake for the summer. After getting there, he realizes the place is too small so decides to build an addition. Finding a carpenter is not very easy though since they appear to be dropping like flies.
Another mystery is solved after a harrowing experience on the lake and a grizzly find.
I like the series as it is well written but not being a true cat lover, sometimes the antics of the two cats get a bit overwhelming.
Another mystery is solved after a harrowing experience on the lake and a grizzly find.
I like the series as it is well written but not being a true cat lover, sometimes the antics of the two cats get a bit overwhelming.
December 11, 2019
3 ½ stars, I prefer Pickax City to Mooseville for the setting, I think because I like the cast of regular characters in Pickax better then those in Mooseville. Still it was a decent mystery and the cats are always entertaining no matter the setting.
September 22, 2020
3.5 Stars
It takes a while to get to the murder and mayhem. A longer build up; but the bodies piled up quickly.
It takes a while to get to the murder and mayhem. A longer build up; but the bodies piled up quickly.
January 14, 2024
This was another fun and enjoyable mystery book starring Qwilleran and his two cats Koko and Yum Yum. In this novel we return with Qwill to the log cabin he first stayed in a few novels ago in Moose County. Now he is not just staying there to work on his writing, now he is the owner of the place. His new love interest is away in England for the summer, so this is why Qwill winds up there on his own. (Please note, if I accidentally type "Moosehead," it is because my own family had a cabin in Maine on Moosehead Lake many years ago and I also went there for the summers sometimes. So, I apologize for any confusion.)
While hoping for a nice relaxing summer with his feline companions we, naturally, find that Qwill's ability to relax is constantly being interrupted by mysterious happenstances of the murderous kind. Only he and Koko will be able to figure out what is going on, but to make matters worse, Qwilleran keeps running into problems with the cabins general disrepair! First it's a plumbing issue, then an electrical issue, it's a nonstop repair person coming and going fiasco.
Amidst this, Qwill decides to give himself and the cats some more breathing room and wants to put an addition onto the cabin. This is easier said than done, because apparently the availability of carpenters in the summer is quite scarce. Unfortunately, this leads Qwill to ask around to see if anyone is up for the job and he's in luck! He manages to find a wonderful one that seems competent and punctual, something Qwill really appreciates. Eventually the guy just up and disappears one day. This brings Qwill into finding out that this happens with carpenters on the regular in Moose County and a lot of the townsfolk are used to dealing with transigent carpenters in the summer. One guy starts one a job and then wanders off then another comes along and finishes it. It takes years to get any projects done! However, Qwill is shocked at the attitude concerning his carpenter, since he's a local man too. Sadly, this puts Qwill in the same position as everyone else and hires another transigent carpenter... but then he disappears too!
Not to worry, Koko is on the case! Qwill is certain foul play is involved and he's sure Koko agrees, but everyone else is quite dismissive of the mystery. Needless to say the mystery is always solved with the help of Koko, but I felt this was a far more tragic tale than some of her previous novels. The motivations of the killers were a bit more typical, although I do appreciate Braun switching it up a little bit, but this one ends on a far more tragic note than usual.
Despite the tragic back story of our killer this time around, there are many wonderful antics with the cats and the, often, hilarious cast of characters Braun brings into our world. She had a lot to work with in this "who-done-it," because it's a popular vacation spot, so there are a lot of new people that can come and go for little or no reason. This really helps to keep us guessing throughout the book. Anyway, if you've enjoyed the prior novels, this one keeps up the same level of quality as the past few books.
While hoping for a nice relaxing summer with his feline companions we, naturally, find that Qwill's ability to relax is constantly being interrupted by mysterious happenstances of the murderous kind. Only he and Koko will be able to figure out what is going on, but to make matters worse, Qwilleran keeps running into problems with the cabins general disrepair! First it's a plumbing issue, then an electrical issue, it's a nonstop repair person coming and going fiasco.
Amidst this, Qwill decides to give himself and the cats some more breathing room and wants to put an addition onto the cabin. This is easier said than done, because apparently the availability of carpenters in the summer is quite scarce. Unfortunately, this leads Qwill to ask around to see if anyone is up for the job and he's in luck! He manages to find a wonderful one that seems competent and punctual, something Qwill really appreciates. Eventually the guy just up and disappears one day. This brings Qwill into finding out that this happens with carpenters on the regular in Moose County and a lot of the townsfolk are used to dealing with transigent carpenters in the summer. One guy starts one a job and then wanders off then another comes along and finishes it. It takes years to get any projects done! However, Qwill is shocked at the attitude concerning his carpenter, since he's a local man too. Sadly, this puts Qwill in the same position as everyone else and hires another transigent carpenter... but then he disappears too!
Not to worry, Koko is on the case! Qwill is certain foul play is involved and he's sure Koko agrees, but everyone else is quite dismissive of the mystery. Needless to say the mystery is always solved with the help of Koko, but I felt this was a far more tragic tale than some of her previous novels. The motivations of the killers were a bit more typical, although I do appreciate Braun switching it up a little bit, but this one ends on a far more tragic note than usual.
Despite the tragic back story of our killer this time around, there are many wonderful antics with the cats and the, often, hilarious cast of characters Braun brings into our world. She had a lot to work with in this "who-done-it," because it's a popular vacation spot, so there are a lot of new people that can come and go for little or no reason. This really helps to keep us guessing throughout the book. Anyway, if you've enjoyed the prior novels, this one keeps up the same level of quality as the past few books.
October 19, 2023
#9 in The Cat Who... cozy mystery series
In this book, Qwill and the cats head to Mooseville for a summer vacation on the lake. However, the K cabin turns out to have plenty of problems with plumbing, sump pump, and other irritations. Qwill is forced to join a group headed by the Glinkos, an eccentric couple who are contacts for all laborers in the county. The small cabin needs an addition, so Qwill enters the underground carpenter world. (Apparently it's tough to get a good carpenter, so people are forced to rely on itinerant carpenters of questionable skill and work ethic.) When his first successful carpenter disappears, Qwill takes on another, but soon he is gone also. Where are they? Are they being killed? With Koko leading the way, a body found "underground" answers that question. This was interesting, although I was surprised at the problems they all seemed to have with finding good workers. There was an exciting boat trip with Roger and Bushy. And a tornado brought some further excitement. The cats weren't really as big a part of the story as usual, I didn't think. We get to know Mildred a little better, and Arch and Amanda are still an item. I look forward to the next in the series.
In this book, Qwill and the cats head to Mooseville for a summer vacation on the lake. However, the K cabin turns out to have plenty of problems with plumbing, sump pump, and other irritations. Qwill is forced to join a group headed by the Glinkos, an eccentric couple who are contacts for all laborers in the county. The small cabin needs an addition, so Qwill enters the underground carpenter world. (Apparently it's tough to get a good carpenter, so people are forced to rely on itinerant carpenters of questionable skill and work ethic.) When his first successful carpenter disappears, Qwill takes on another, but soon he is gone also. Where are they? Are they being killed? With Koko leading the way, a body found "underground" answers that question. This was interesting, although I was surprised at the problems they all seemed to have with finding good workers. There was an exciting boat trip with Roger and Bushy. And a tornado brought some further excitement. The cats weren't really as big a part of the story as usual, I didn't think. We get to know Mildred a little better, and Arch and Amanda are still an item. I look forward to the next in the series.
September 7, 2024
Enjoyed! The twist was meh though
September 22, 2017
Jim, che ormai deve vivere nella tranquilla cittadina vicino al lago, per via dell'eredità, decide che per l'estate vuole ritornare nel suo cottage sul lago e vuole ampliarlo, anche per permettere ai suoi siamesi una giusta sistemazione. I lavori iniziano, ma i carpentieri spariscono nel nulla troppo velocemente.Sarà proprio Koko a captare l'odore di sangue e trovare il corpo di uno di essi e a Jim Qwilleran spetterà il compito di scovare l'assassino.
Finora, è la storia che più mi ha incuriosita ed è quella che più rispecchia l'amore che Jim ha per i suoi due gatti siamesi speciali, Koko e Yum Yum.
Finora, è la storia che più mi ha incuriosita ed è quella che più rispecchia l'amore che Jim ha per i suoi due gatti siamesi speciali, Koko e Yum Yum.
August 28, 2017
.
I like the main character in this series and his hometown characteristics. It's fun to tag along and experience his quirky lifestyle. I don't care for cats, but his don't demand too much attention.
Happily skipping along through these adventures.
I like the main character in this series and his hometown characteristics. It's fun to tag along and experience his quirky lifestyle. I don't care for cats, but his don't demand too much attention.
Happily skipping along through these adventures.
April 9, 2024
In need of some summer fun, Qwill packs up Koko and Yum Yum and heads back to the cabin in the woods. He's hoping to spend some time writing his book, but when dead bodies start piling up Qwill knows he needs to find the killer. Their vacation is turning out to be more of a hassle than imagined.
January 1, 2019
This is another of Braun's charming mysteries about James Qwilleran, of the famous huge mustache (I always picture him as Sam Elliott). Former crime reporter from the big city, he's inherited a fortune, but only if he lives in Pickax, in rustic Moose County ("400 miles north of everywhere") which comes complete with a rotating cast of curious characters, questionable dealings, murder suspects, and love interests. Qwill writes a column for the local paper, so he's always investigating for stories -- some of which (you guessed it) turn out to be true mysteries. He's aided in his cogitations by his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, his constant companions.
I love the northern American setting of these mysteries; the people and settings remind me of my hometown and travels in rural Michigan (and indeed, are based on Braun's life in Bad Axe, MI). These books are even better if you're a cat lover, because Braun depicts Koko and Yum Yum as true characters. They don't talk, but they do communicate quite clearly, the way real cats do, and Koko seems to have a sixth sense about mysteries. In this story, Qwill gets away from Pickax and tries to relax in his new cabin by the lake, only to find a whole new set of odd characters, not to mention never-ending problems with repairs on that old cabin. I'll put it this way: anyone who's contracted to have an addition built onto their house can easily imagine how it can turn into a murder mystery!
Mysteries tend to do a lot of setting-up of characters and questionable events (and red herrings) before the actual murder occurs -- especially cozy mysteries in small towns. This particular story takes that even farther, in that we don't even learn for certain what crime has been committed until fairly late in the book. Some readers might find this to be slow pacing, but so many other things go wrong for poor Qwill during this book that I was amused throughout.
This is the ninth of Braun's 29 "The Cat Who...." books. It's not my favorite of these books, but I enjoyed it. They don't have to be read in order, although you'll get more out of them if you do, as the various friendships, romantic relationships, and jobs do develop and change over time. This probably isn't the best one to start with, but I'd definitely recommend it to anyone already familiar with the series: it's a fine addition.
I love the northern American setting of these mysteries; the people and settings remind me of my hometown and travels in rural Michigan (and indeed, are based on Braun's life in Bad Axe, MI). These books are even better if you're a cat lover, because Braun depicts Koko and Yum Yum as true characters. They don't talk, but they do communicate quite clearly, the way real cats do, and Koko seems to have a sixth sense about mysteries. In this story, Qwill gets away from Pickax and tries to relax in his new cabin by the lake, only to find a whole new set of odd characters, not to mention never-ending problems with repairs on that old cabin. I'll put it this way: anyone who's contracted to have an addition built onto their house can easily imagine how it can turn into a murder mystery!
Mysteries tend to do a lot of setting-up of characters and questionable events (and red herrings) before the actual murder occurs -- especially cozy mysteries in small towns. This particular story takes that even farther, in that we don't even learn for certain what crime has been committed until fairly late in the book. Some readers might find this to be slow pacing, but so many other things go wrong for poor Qwill during this book that I was amused throughout.
This is the ninth of Braun's 29 "The Cat Who...." books. It's not my favorite of these books, but I enjoyed it. They don't have to be read in order, although you'll get more out of them if you do, as the various friendships, romantic relationships, and jobs do develop and change over time. This probably isn't the best one to start with, but I'd definitely recommend it to anyone already familiar with the series: it's a fine addition.
June 28, 2018
I really enjoy these books ... its the mysteries I don't really enjoy. The characters are truly lovable. The cats are so much fun, so much trouble, and so much adorable! And maybe psychic? There are several deaths/murders in this particular book, but there is no real mystery solving. There are many really nice stories! Descriptions of the scenery is lovely! The cabin is a very comfortable place, even though there are a lot of hilarious mishaps there. I just would like a little more of the mystery to be solved by the protagonist before it is suddenly all figured out. I really did enjoy this one, though ... more than I thought I was going to.
January 4, 2024
Un’altra bella avventura del giornalista quasi in pensione Qwill ed i suoi siamesi, che va in vacanza nel suo cottage in riva al lago, che abbiamo avuto di conoscere nei primi libri della serie. Nonostante la presenza dei gatti sia un po’ più limitata rispetto agli altri gialli, il contributo di Koko è stato comunque fondamentale per l’individuazione del colpevole. La storia è originale e scorre veloce, ma accadono così tante sventure al protagonista da cadere troppo nell’assurdo, se solo avesse avuto l'abitudine di leggere l'oroscopo prima di intraprendere qualsiasi attività... 😅🤪😁
Tre stelle e mezzo
Tre stelle e mezzo
June 12, 2022
Someone is killing the carpenters. In Moose county, four hundred miles north of everywhere, Jim Qwilleran wants to add on to the cabin he inherited. But all the major contractors are booked for the summer. So he decides to hire an unlicensed carpenter. Then the said carpenter turns up dead, and Qwill is the prime suspect!!! Watch as Koko solves this murder mystery. A very enjoyable summer read!!!
March 19, 2023
This series is one of those that I keep reading, but really find to be only ok. I do love the cats though. Koko and Yum-Yum are awesome and their antics are really the reason to read this series. This particular novel and a few too many obnoxious things for me to really like it. Qwill's attitude towards women bugs me more and more each book. He's supposed to be in this sort of relationship with Polly but with her out of town I swear he notices every other woman around and wonders what it would be like, or if he should, take them out to dinner. Grrrrr.
The mystery in this novel also makes little sense. Sure, figuring out who did it wasn't hard, but the clues that reveal that person were on the absurd side.
The mystery in this novel also makes little sense. Sure, figuring out who did it wasn't hard, but the clues that reveal that person were on the absurd side.
January 3, 2020
All these unexpected and incredible things that happen to Qwill! It was a lovely read
July 4, 2025
I’ve come to really enjoy my visits with Quill and his cats KoKo and Yum Yum. The books are sorta silly but without being inane, sorta light but never fluffy, sorta unfocussed but leading to a satisfactory ending…you get the picture. In fact, lately, after reading something unsettling or unsatisfactory it’s become my antidote to reach for one of Braun’s books - I can’t give them better praise than that!
October 6, 2021
Not enough cat in this cat cozy mystery.
September 26, 2025
I really love this series. The themes can be a little goofy, but I think that makes them more charming.
I'm looking forward to reading the next one!
I'm looking forward to reading the next one!
July 20, 2010
Humor, strange characters mark latest cat "cozy" mystery...
We wanted to try a more recent (1989) entry in Braun's "Cat Who..." series, this one written some 23 years and 7 or 8 novels since the inaugural "Cat Who Could Read Backwards" published in 1966. We thought this one might be a bit more modern, but that was not to be the case as our leading man Jim Qwilleran, and his main cat Koko, solve another light mystery set in rural Mooseville, a northern backwoods. Apparently Qwill has inherited a large fortune since the first outing, making his decision to spend summer vacation in a dumpy cottage in a dumpy little town rather questionable. Don't expect much of a mystery, as unrelated humor, extraneous characters and irrelevant happenings dominate the tale. The plot itself is little more than a short story about carpenters disappearing (a connection nobody but our hero can discern), culminating in a dead body discovered by Koko in the sandy crawl space under Qwill's cabin. All too conveniently, the books contrived ending depends upon a literal list of victims graciously provided by the perpetrator and discovered by you know who.
There are some funny passages in the book -- the transportation of the fat lady, the machinations of the repair firm Glinkos, the strange speech habits and big teeth of "underground builder" Iggy -- provide some mirth. And there are interesting characters and events galore -- the nursing home woman that hears cat scratching, the reclusive neighbor woman Russell who hardly talks, the storm that maroons our hero, the UFO sightings, etc -- unfortunately, none of which have a whit to do with our plot. And believe us when we say that the cats eat better than any human we know -- Qwill even takes them home lobster meat on one occasion!
Our 3-star rating is really 4 for good writing, 1 for story line. Is the book light and pleasant -- yes. Are the characters engaging and funny -- mostly. Are Qwilleran and Koko and Yum Yum (the latter two, the cats) likable and clever -- mostly. If that's good enough -- go for it; but mystery buffs per se better stay away.
We wanted to try a more recent (1989) entry in Braun's "Cat Who..." series, this one written some 23 years and 7 or 8 novels since the inaugural "Cat Who Could Read Backwards" published in 1966. We thought this one might be a bit more modern, but that was not to be the case as our leading man Jim Qwilleran, and his main cat Koko, solve another light mystery set in rural Mooseville, a northern backwoods. Apparently Qwill has inherited a large fortune since the first outing, making his decision to spend summer vacation in a dumpy cottage in a dumpy little town rather questionable. Don't expect much of a mystery, as unrelated humor, extraneous characters and irrelevant happenings dominate the tale. The plot itself is little more than a short story about carpenters disappearing (a connection nobody but our hero can discern), culminating in a dead body discovered by Koko in the sandy crawl space under Qwill's cabin. All too conveniently, the books contrived ending depends upon a literal list of victims graciously provided by the perpetrator and discovered by you know who.
There are some funny passages in the book -- the transportation of the fat lady, the machinations of the repair firm Glinkos, the strange speech habits and big teeth of "underground builder" Iggy -- provide some mirth. And there are interesting characters and events galore -- the nursing home woman that hears cat scratching, the reclusive neighbor woman Russell who hardly talks, the storm that maroons our hero, the UFO sightings, etc -- unfortunately, none of which have a whit to do with our plot. And believe us when we say that the cats eat better than any human we know -- Qwill even takes them home lobster meat on one occasion!
Our 3-star rating is really 4 for good writing, 1 for story line. Is the book light and pleasant -- yes. Are the characters engaging and funny -- mostly. Are Qwilleran and Koko and Yum Yum (the latter two, the cats) likable and clever -- mostly. If that's good enough -- go for it; but mystery buffs per se better stay away.
June 23, 2017
When Qwill decides a summer at the cabin is just what he and the cats need, he had no idea what he was getting himself into. The cabin is in need of repairs and no longer large enough to accommodate he and the Siamese. Between repairwomen and on-again, off-again contractors, one week is proving too much.
This story isn't one of my faves. What I like about this series is the lighthearted nature of it, and this one went to a darker place than usual. Still going to finish the series though, all twenty-nine of them.
This story isn't one of my faves. What I like about this series is the lighthearted nature of it, and this one went to a darker place than usual. Still going to finish the series though, all twenty-nine of them.
January 2, 2015
I am a big fan of the Cat Who series. Braun's side stories of adventure (3 Tree Island) and local culture make the story more a taste of small town flavor than a pure mystery story. However this mystery - the timing of the reveal, subject matter and plausibility - was my least favorite of this series.
I did, however, enjoy the audio rendition, as I caught more of the subtle humor in this book than I had in previous reads in the series.
I did, however, enjoy the audio rendition, as I caught more of the subtle humor in this book than I had in previous reads in the series.
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