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The Cat Who... #18
The Cat Who Said Cheese
As a food exposition is about to open in Pickax City, a bomb shatters the town's hotel, killing a woman. Newspaper columnist Jim Qwilleran and his sleuthing Siamese cats, Yum Yum and Koko, take time off from tasting cheese to investigate. By the author of The Cat Who Blew the Whistle.
245 pages, Hardcover
First published December 28, 1995
About the author
Lilian Jackson Braun
202 books1,757 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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January 8, 2012
Book Review
4 of 5 stars to The Cat Who Said Cheese, the 18th book in the "Cat Who" cozy mystery series, published in 1995 and written by Lilian Jackson Braun. Braun had a solid edition with this one, full of great characters, small town charm and a tasty murder or two. The cat are at it again with a flair for different cheeses... and after all, when the cat's away, the mice will play. I enjoyed this book, and it's one of the better ones in the series. The Great Food Expo hits Pickax, and we know this town loves food. When a murder happens, everyone's surprised... even tho it's at least the 18th time in 5 years. People just die in this town, quite frequently; however, that's what makes it so fun. In this one, all the townspeople try to help Qwill figure out who did the deed... and they expect him to solve it. His mustache is twitching and that usually means he's on to something. When you live in a small town, people will talk. When out-of-towners from outside the county venture in, people will talk. But in the end, it's all those helpful clues which make the puzzle that much more easy to solve. These are fun books to devour in a single sitting for a few hours... makes for a doozy of an afternoon when you need some light reading.
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.
4 of 5 stars to The Cat Who Said Cheese, the 18th book in the "Cat Who" cozy mystery series, published in 1995 and written by Lilian Jackson Braun. Braun had a solid edition with this one, full of great characters, small town charm and a tasty murder or two. The cat are at it again with a flair for different cheeses... and after all, when the cat's away, the mice will play. I enjoyed this book, and it's one of the better ones in the series. The Great Food Expo hits Pickax, and we know this town loves food. When a murder happens, everyone's surprised... even tho it's at least the 18th time in 5 years. People just die in this town, quite frequently; however, that's what makes it so fun. In this one, all the townspeople try to help Qwill figure out who did the deed... and they expect him to solve it. His mustache is twitching and that usually means he's on to something. When you live in a small town, people will talk. When out-of-towners from outside the county venture in, people will talk. But in the end, it's all those helpful clues which make the puzzle that much more easy to solve. These are fun books to devour in a single sitting for a few hours... makes for a doozy of an afternoon when you need some light reading.
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 15, 2010
Alison Lurie writes that some artists have the ability to create "what J. R. R. Tolkien called a 'secondary world'--a fully imagined universe, as consistent as our own or possibly more so." This gift is not always given to those of the first rank, and as she points out, "can even coexist with a level of skill that would keep its possessor out of most galleries today."
Braun has a chair near the head of the high table on the mediocre-author dais where they create those secondary worlds. What's wrong with her Cat Who books? Oh, how can I count the ways?
First, she can't write dialogue worth a damn. Katie declared, "Her characters speak as if they were trying to conform to the standards of my high-school freshman year English teacher, who insisted on complete sentences without violations of standard English grammar. She wouldn't allow deviations from this even in dialogue!" Braun does make the occasional exception for some old redneck with no education, for the sake of verisimilitude, I guess, but egregious displays of elitism do an author no credit.
Second, she uses too many exclamation points! It weakens her writing! She tries to make things more exciting by throwing in exclamation points and instead they damp down the thrill. She’s trying to spice up plodding prose that can’t handle the excitement of the plot.
Speaking of writing, the protagonist, Qwill, is supposed to be a terrifically popular local columnist. His columns are excerpted in the books and they sound like something from a reading-comprehension test. Also, if he is so interested in people and gets along with everyone so well, how did he get to be such a snob? Actually, it does explain his interest in Polly, librarian and colossal bore. She contradicts everything he says, she never so much as pecks him on the cheek, and he follows her around like a puppy.
Did I mention that the books are aimed at cat lovers? I knew a Siamese once and he was a jerk, but Koko and Yum Yum seem all right. The only major problem I have with Cat Who books is that in their world, everybody has, and loves, cats, so I can’t go there.
So why do you keep reading them, Katie? Why write a really long Goodreads review when you consigned Terry Pratchett to a seven-word hell?
It's that secondary world she is creating, Moose County, a rural community "400 miles north of everywhere." You can believe in Moose County and its people. Braun clearly knows her place and researches what she writes about, and every book introduces more people and places that will pop up again and again, in new clothes. The characters are consistent, stilted dialogue and all. Polly always talks like my grandma quoting a grammar book. The chief of police always wisecracks and shouts. Celia Robinson is always the only one who talks like a normal human being. Their histories, their appearances, their proclivities and failings carry from one appearance to the next.
I assume Moose County is somewhere on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, or possibly Minnesota. Now, I live in a town approximately the size of Pickax, and we lack many of the amenities it enjoys, such as a museum, a community college, a daily paper, and a rockin' arts community. We have many things Pickax doesn't have, such as McDonald's, Hardees, KFC, chain grocery stores, illness, and a lot more churches. Maybe that’s the difference between MI and VA, but I suspect that Tazewell Co. is a bit more typical than Moose Co. All that is beside the point; Pickax is a place you could go to, if you could find the airport code.
Confidential to Mrs. Braun: The fact that I am severely allergic to cats does not make me a likely murderer any more than the fact that you write like a ninth grader makes you one.
Braun has a chair near the head of the high table on the mediocre-author dais where they create those secondary worlds. What's wrong with her Cat Who books? Oh, how can I count the ways?
First, she can't write dialogue worth a damn. Katie declared, "Her characters speak as if they were trying to conform to the standards of my high-school freshman year English teacher, who insisted on complete sentences without violations of standard English grammar. She wouldn't allow deviations from this even in dialogue!" Braun does make the occasional exception for some old redneck with no education, for the sake of verisimilitude, I guess, but egregious displays of elitism do an author no credit.
Second, she uses too many exclamation points! It weakens her writing! She tries to make things more exciting by throwing in exclamation points and instead they damp down the thrill. She’s trying to spice up plodding prose that can’t handle the excitement of the plot.
Speaking of writing, the protagonist, Qwill, is supposed to be a terrifically popular local columnist. His columns are excerpted in the books and they sound like something from a reading-comprehension test. Also, if he is so interested in people and gets along with everyone so well, how did he get to be such a snob? Actually, it does explain his interest in Polly, librarian and colossal bore. She contradicts everything he says, she never so much as pecks him on the cheek, and he follows her around like a puppy.
Did I mention that the books are aimed at cat lovers? I knew a Siamese once and he was a jerk, but Koko and Yum Yum seem all right. The only major problem I have with Cat Who books is that in their world, everybody has, and loves, cats, so I can’t go there.
So why do you keep reading them, Katie? Why write a really long Goodreads review when you consigned Terry Pratchett to a seven-word hell?
It's that secondary world she is creating, Moose County, a rural community "400 miles north of everywhere." You can believe in Moose County and its people. Braun clearly knows her place and researches what she writes about, and every book introduces more people and places that will pop up again and again, in new clothes. The characters are consistent, stilted dialogue and all. Polly always talks like my grandma quoting a grammar book. The chief of police always wisecracks and shouts. Celia Robinson is always the only one who talks like a normal human being. Their histories, their appearances, their proclivities and failings carry from one appearance to the next.
I assume Moose County is somewhere on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, or possibly Minnesota. Now, I live in a town approximately the size of Pickax, and we lack many of the amenities it enjoys, such as a museum, a community college, a daily paper, and a rockin' arts community. We have many things Pickax doesn't have, such as McDonald's, Hardees, KFC, chain grocery stores, illness, and a lot more churches. Maybe that’s the difference between MI and VA, but I suspect that Tazewell Co. is a bit more typical than Moose Co. All that is beside the point; Pickax is a place you could go to, if you could find the airport code.
Confidential to Mrs. Braun: The fact that I am severely allergic to cats does not make me a likely murderer any more than the fact that you write like a ninth grader makes you one.
October 26, 2013
This is one of a few of these books that I've read, and I have found all of them, so far, to be easy and light reading, but thoroughly enjoyable. When I'm ready to "come down" a bit after reading a few heavy, gritty novels, it's nice to find something delightful and fun to read, and that is exactly how I describe Lillian Jackson Braun's Cat mysteries. Always lots of twists and turns, and I am never convinced that either of the cats have helped in the least, but it's always fun trying to catch their "telling" behavior, as they try to alert Mr. "Q" as to what is going on. One thing is certain, I'll be reading more of these.
July 4, 2017
The Cat Who Said Cheese by Lilian Jackson Braun is the 18th book in the Cat Who mystery series. A bomb explodes in the Pickax Hotel killing a housekeeper and meant for a mysterious stranger.Pickax is holding a Food Festival and Koko and Yum Yum have developed an interest in cheese. With their help, Quill investigates.This is the first book that I have read in this series and I loved it. I liked how Quill interacts with his cats, and the way they lead him to clues. A lighthearted charming mystery with interesting and entertaining characters. Quills moustache makes me think of Hercule Poirot.
February 21, 2012
Such a splendid cozy series. Even better listened to than read.
January 30, 2020
I remember reading this series described as light-hearted and as I finished another novel in the series I would heartily agree that as I read about James Qwilleran (Mr. Q and Qwill to his friends), his extraordinary Siamese cats Koko and Yum-Yum, and all of their acquaintances and friends my heart becomes light. Definitions of light-hearted are "amusing and entertaining" and "of a person or their behavior cheerful and carefree." Without a doubt, Qwill is always cheerful and carefree and the cats amusing and entertaining.
One of the delights of this series is that I never know what new names were created for people, animals, locations, and things alike. There are of course favorites from previous novels like Wetherby Goode, Sip 'n' Nibble Shop, Ittibittiwassee Road, Mudville, Whannell MacWhannell of the MacWhannell & Shaw accountant office, and the Klingenschoen Foundation but there is always a new array of interesting names. To name just a few "The Cat Who Said Cheese" introduces us to Onoosh Dolmathakia, The Spoonery, and goats March, April, May, June, and Holiday.
I also learned some marvelous new things about different kinds of cheese and their country of origin. I hope I can remember some of the different cheese characteristics when I visit one of my favorite grocery stores in a nearby town that offers a wide selection of cheeses so that I can purchase some new choices for my husband and I to enjoy. This novel also reminded me of a wonderful fine dining restaurant called "Glockenspiel" that was within a short drive to the college I attended. After each meal a large Lazy Susan was placed in the center of the table that was filled with different kinds of cheese and fresh fruit in season. Everyone was invited to 'graze' and enjoy further visitations or celebrations. In the winter it was fun to arrive earlier than your reservation as then you could enjoy a warm cup of cider in front of the fireplace. I can easily imagine Qwill, Polly, and the Rikers enjoying dinner there together and Qwill taking some cheese samples home for Koko and Yum-Yum. Polly and Hixie would definitely visit the lovely gift shop after dinner too!
One of the delights of this series is that I never know what new names were created for people, animals, locations, and things alike. There are of course favorites from previous novels like Wetherby Goode, Sip 'n' Nibble Shop, Ittibittiwassee Road, Mudville, Whannell MacWhannell of the MacWhannell & Shaw accountant office, and the Klingenschoen Foundation but there is always a new array of interesting names. To name just a few "The Cat Who Said Cheese" introduces us to Onoosh Dolmathakia, The Spoonery, and goats March, April, May, June, and Holiday.
I also learned some marvelous new things about different kinds of cheese and their country of origin. I hope I can remember some of the different cheese characteristics when I visit one of my favorite grocery stores in a nearby town that offers a wide selection of cheeses so that I can purchase some new choices for my husband and I to enjoy. This novel also reminded me of a wonderful fine dining restaurant called "Glockenspiel" that was within a short drive to the college I attended. After each meal a large Lazy Susan was placed in the center of the table that was filled with different kinds of cheese and fresh fruit in season. Everyone was invited to 'graze' and enjoy further visitations or celebrations. In the winter it was fun to arrive earlier than your reservation as then you could enjoy a warm cup of cider in front of the fireplace. I can easily imagine Qwill, Polly, and the Rikers enjoying dinner there together and Qwill taking some cheese samples home for Koko and Yum-Yum. Polly and Hixie would definitely visit the lovely gift shop after dinner too!
January 22, 2012
The Cat who said cheese! Why is Koko reacting to the names of different cheeses? Because they all sound like the names of whomever it was behind the boming of the hotel! It's the food explo week, and foodies like Qwill are out in force to sample some of the new delicacies being offered at new stores funded/backed by the K fund. Among them is Sip and Nibble, a store specializing in cheeses and other small snacks. Qwill meets a woman by the name of Onnosh at his summer cabin, and slowing the reasons as to why the hotel was targeted are revealed.
I really liked Qwill in this one, he seems to have suffered a shock when the leading lady in his life had a health scare, and seems more likely to befriend unexpected people, and be a bit nicer all round. Aubrey Scotten is a good example of this. I also liked the bit with Sarah Plensdorf, and thought he handled his role as a celebrity well.
I have another book I'm currently reading, but put it down in order to continue my exploration of Pickax. I definitely recommend this one, it's one of the earlier books, and the mystery is suspenseful and exciting.
I really liked Qwill in this one, he seems to have suffered a shock when the leading lady in his life had a health scare, and seems more likely to befriend unexpected people, and be a bit nicer all round. Aubrey Scotten is a good example of this. I also liked the bit with Sarah Plensdorf, and thought he handled his role as a celebrity well.
I have another book I'm currently reading, but put it down in order to continue my exploration of Pickax. I definitely recommend this one, it's one of the earlier books, and the mystery is suspenseful and exciting.
September 4, 2018
The 18th …Cat Who… finds Qwill and the cats once again residing in the converted apple barn – maybe the first time they've lived in the same place two books in a row. Polly is recovering from her heart attack at the home of Lynette, the sister of her late husband. As the last of the Duncans, Lynette inherited the family’s gorgeous, antique-filled victorian mansion in Pickax. The lack of privacy this arrangement affords Qwill and Polly marks a turning point in their relationship as it becomes clear that although they have both vowed never to marry again, they really care for each other.
The big focus is the Food Explo being planned for the town of Pickax, involving the opening of several new eateries, a cooking competition, a bachelor/ bachelorette auction, etc. all designed to bring attention and tourism to the area.
Unfortunately, a pall is cast over the town when an explosion at the hotel kills a local girl working as a maid. When the bomb went off, she was cleaning the room of a woman who had been staying there for several weeks. No one knows who the mystery woman is - was she the target or the bomber? The girl who was killed happens to be the girlfriend of Lois Inchpot’s son. The cranky proprietor of Lois’ Luncheonette, a popular hangout featured in most of the series, is so disheartened by this sad event as well as the new upscale competition she closes up shop, which causes much dismay in Pickax.
The Explo rolls on, despite the tragedy. As a local celebrity, Qwill gamely helps Mildred Riker with a “just for men” cooking class; hosts a gala wine and cheese event at the apple barn; and agrees to be one of the bachelors auctioned off for charity –it’s not Polly, or the new vamp in town Danielle, who “wins” him but someone completely unexpected. He is also a judge in the big pasty competition. The pasty - rhymes with “nasty” - is a beloved local specialty. It is a meat and vegetable turnover that used to be taken into the mines as a hand-held lunch in the old mining days of Moose County. (Qwill’s involvement in this competition indirectly leads to the recovery of Iris Cobb’s famous cookbook, which was stolen after her murder back in #10….Talked to Ghosts.)
Of course Qwill, Koko and YumYum help to solve the mystery of the explosion, but this installment of the series was back to the format I like best - the mystery is almost beside the point and the action takes place in Pickax with all the familiar characters and charming details of small-town life and customs.
Originally published: 1997
Body Count: 4
Preceded by: The Cat Who Blew the Whistle
Next Up: The Cat Who Tailed A Thief
The big focus is the Food Explo being planned for the town of Pickax, involving the opening of several new eateries, a cooking competition, a bachelor/ bachelorette auction, etc. all designed to bring attention and tourism to the area.
Unfortunately, a pall is cast over the town when an explosion at the hotel kills a local girl working as a maid. When the bomb went off, she was cleaning the room of a woman who had been staying there for several weeks. No one knows who the mystery woman is - was she the target or the bomber? The girl who was killed happens to be the girlfriend of Lois Inchpot’s son. The cranky proprietor of Lois’ Luncheonette, a popular hangout featured in most of the series, is so disheartened by this sad event as well as the new upscale competition she closes up shop, which causes much dismay in Pickax.
The Explo rolls on, despite the tragedy. As a local celebrity, Qwill gamely helps Mildred Riker with a “just for men” cooking class; hosts a gala wine and cheese event at the apple barn; and agrees to be one of the bachelors auctioned off for charity –it’s not Polly, or the new vamp in town Danielle, who “wins” him but someone completely unexpected. He is also a judge in the big pasty competition. The pasty - rhymes with “nasty” - is a beloved local specialty. It is a meat and vegetable turnover that used to be taken into the mines as a hand-held lunch in the old mining days of Moose County. (Qwill’s involvement in this competition indirectly leads to the recovery of Iris Cobb’s famous cookbook, which was stolen after her murder back in #10….Talked to Ghosts.)
Of course Qwill, Koko and YumYum help to solve the mystery of the explosion, but this installment of the series was back to the format I like best - the mystery is almost beside the point and the action takes place in Pickax with all the familiar characters and charming details of small-town life and customs.
Originally published: 1997
Body Count: 4
Preceded by: The Cat Who Blew the Whistle
Next Up: The Cat Who Tailed A Thief
February 23, 2018
This is a tricky book to rate and review. When you read a Cat Who... book, you always know what you're going to get. There will be mostly nice characters, some who are over-the-top quaint, in a rural setting that is totally unrealistic in its shops, restaurants, and assortment of people. There will be details about interesting areas like mushroom culture or book binding, preternaturally clever Siamese cats, and a mystery with a number of possible suspects. The experienced mystery reader will narrow it down pretty easily using, perhaps,
These books don't compare to Christie at her best and aren't particularly suspenseful. The better stories will move well and keep the readers attention. Some of them seem to drag to me, or get just plain bizarre. This had neither of those problems, and I enjoyed revisiting a series I haven't read in ages, though I remembered it as it unfolded.
These books don't compare to Christie at her best and aren't particularly suspenseful. The better stories will move well and keep the readers attention. Some of them seem to drag to me, or get just plain bizarre. This had neither of those problems, and I enjoyed revisiting a series I haven't read in ages, though I remembered it as it unfolded.
April 5, 2017
I don't usually read this series but I needed a book with cheese on the cover. Do you know how difficult that is to find? Anyway, this one wasn't as annoying as the other one I read. I'm a cat person and these books are still annoying. I can't imagine a non-cat person sitting through a reading of one of them.
The mystery was not suspenseful so much as enticing with it's little tidbits. I tend to enjoy cozy mysteries but all the "town talk" really annoyed me in this one. Very little of it had anything to do with the murders and seemed just to be filler.
The mystery was not suspenseful so much as enticing with it's little tidbits. I tend to enjoy cozy mysteries but all the "town talk" really annoyed me in this one. Very little of it had anything to do with the murders and seemed just to be filler.
January 6, 2015
I’m sure my reviews of Lilian Braun’s books are no longer needed. I’m well into this series and still thoroughly enjoying these little cozy mysteries. They certainly follow a formula, yet are each unique enough to make me want to keep reading until the very last book.
In this one...Qwill, Koko, and Yum Yum are knee deep in murder...and cheese. And if this review isn’t cheesy enough to make you want to read this series, I don’t know what is :)
In this one...Qwill, Koko, and Yum Yum are knee deep in murder...and cheese. And if this review isn’t cheesy enough to make you want to read this series, I don’t know what is :)
June 3, 2013
Some cute characters, nicely developed, weak story line, but consistent development and pacing. Overall, you read this only if you find it on the seat next to you on the plane. Otherwise, buy something else.
August 4, 2019
I enjoyed this book ... of course I love cheese, so the mentions of so many varieties got me wishing for a trip to the cheese market. The mystery was intriguing with a few twists that I didn't expect, and of course Qwill and his cats are always fun.
March 29, 2014
Novelty read, interesting enough so I'd read author again. Non-offensive. Narrated well by George Gwydell.
March 27, 2019
They[re gearing up for the food expo in Pickax City. Everyone’s coming, and of course, Jim Qwilleran is on hand both to write about the event and to judge a contest or two. He of the twitching mustache is in great demand, and that just increases when a bomb explodes in the town’s only hotel, killing a housekeeper. Just who is that mysterious woman with the accent who is staying in the hotel and who is cooking an exotic dinner for Qwilleran when the hotel goes boom? She doesn’t stay in town long enough to provide any answers.
Qwilleran and the cats are on the case, but it’s a race against time and murder as the bodies stack up.
Being most decidedly a non-cat person, I find I have to take this series in small doses and read them months if not years apart. But it was another Goodreads reviewer who helped me understand why I keep reading the series. It really is about the bizarre and occasionally lovable characters in Pickax city.
Qwilleran and the cats are on the case, but it’s a race against time and murder as the bodies stack up.
Being most decidedly a non-cat person, I find I have to take this series in small doses and read them months if not years apart. But it was another Goodreads reviewer who helped me understand why I keep reading the series. It really is about the bizarre and occasionally lovable characters in Pickax city.
February 9, 2020
A very cleverly written cozy mystery. Emphasis is on the characters, their unique quirks, good food, and the cats of course! Highly enjoyable for a mystery novel without a complex plot. Likable characters and overall a feel-good mystery.
April 29, 2016
very nice: multiple food topics researched for this book
plus, another character (or two) to look forward to
plus, another character (or two) to look forward to
July 24, 2026
Autumn is coming to Pickaxe City in Moose County. Jim Qwilleran 's girlfriend Polly Duncan is recovering well from health complications and surgery. And the town is wondering who the mystery woman at the New Pickaxe Hotel is. Further excitement is in the air when the Foo Explo is announced a celebration of food and food related things to bring attention to the new restaurants and food related businesses that are starting in Pickaxe. This is something that food loving Qwill and his gourmet cats can get excited about especially the cheese both Koko and Yum Yum love cheese. He is going to cover it in his twice weekly Qwill Pen colomn in The Moose County Something. He is also fortunate enough to bump into the mysterious woman who introduces herself as Ona Dolman. But Before he can get to know her better a explosion damaged the New Pickaxe Hotel and causes the passing of a young beloved citizen. Ona disappears leaving Qwill to wonder was she the intended victim or one of the culprits ?It will take all of Koko's cunning and Yum Yum 's patience to help Qwill solve this puzzle. This was a humorous fast paced read with plenty of catly hijinks lots of delicious food and a charming cast of eccentric characters. I loved this mystery with it's adorable cat detective duo and their charmingly grumpy human. Perfect for food and cat lovers this would be a welcome addition to your Autumn TBR.
January 16, 2020
#18 continues where 17 left off. Polly is recuperating from her heart attack and surgery. The K Fund has sponsored several new restaurants in town. Iris' cookbook is still missing. And now there's a mystery woman staying in town.
When there's a bombing and one of the locals is killed, the suspects are slim. But it's related to the mystery woman, who has disappeared.
I enjoyed this one much more than others in the series. Well written and the mystery solution made sense (well, there are a couple of mysteries going on in this one, and they dovetailed nicely).
When there's a bombing and one of the locals is killed, the suspects are slim. But it's related to the mystery woman, who has disappeared.
I enjoyed this one much more than others in the series. Well written and the mystery solution made sense (well, there are a couple of mysteries going on in this one, and they dovetailed nicely).
September 13, 2025
Enjoyable and light reading as the soap opera of our hero’s life continues. His cats are cute in their scenes and obviously are experts at crime solving. But the crime is less important and the solving of the mystery is hardly the point of the story. It is the story of a small town and a man with a mustache who loves his life there. Don’t expect an exciting mystery. Just expect to have a relaxing read.
August 11, 2023
Had a pause between audiobook holds so listened the a few of this series. A reread, of sorts and still one of my all time favorite series!
May 12, 2021
Pleasant cozy.
June 22, 2023
Koko and Qwill have done it again.
August 15, 2026
I do not know about other fans of this series, but I'm always amused at how the threads are brought together with the cat's behavior and the connections to the mystery.
February 1, 2017
I've reached the point in this series where I am no longer re-reading books I read years ago. This is officially the first new-to-me "Cat Who..." mystery, and I enjoyed it just as much as the ones I felt such nostalgia for. This one centered on a "Food Explo" (yes, "Explo," not "Expo"), where cheese and pasties are featured! Oh, how I love cheese and pasties! If anyone was unsure whether the fictional Moose County was in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, this offers fairly solid proof. Having grown up in the land of cheese and pasties myself, I fully appreciated the subtleties Braun lent to the discussion of pasties - she even helpfully incorporated the pronunciation by explaining that pasty rhymes with "nasty" not "hasty" (because that is very, very different). The ingredients were explained - from the use of animal fat in the crust to the only acceptable meat (beef and/or pork) and vegetables (onion, potato, rutabaga) for the filling, to the controversies of whether or not turnip should be included, to the very staunch position against outsiders coming up from Down Below to try and get creative with the Yooper delicacy. There was even a moment of vandalism committed in outrage, against such outsiders: a brick was thrown through the window of a gourmet pasty shop where customers could choose their fillings from a variety of meats and veggies that have NO PLACE in a pasty. There was even a pasty cook-off where entrants competed in turnip and turnip-less categories, and those who used contraband ingredients like broccoli or turkey were disqualified. The only thing that would have made the discussion of pasties more complete is if there was a debate on the use of ketchup as an acceptable condiment. (It is not!!)
Oh, as for the actual plot - I still can't figure on the use of "Explo" - maybe it's short for "exploration"? - rather than "Expo" by the group in the novel who planned the Food Explo, but clearly Braun used it to tie into the first shocking criminal act - an explosion at the local Pickax Hotel! A mysterious middle eastern woman is staying in the room that was bombed, and then she mysteriously disappears and the book pretty much forgets about her for a while. But then there are other suspicious deaths - one of the potential witnesses of the bomber is shot in his flower shop, and another mysterious person is swarmed by bees at a local beekeeper's honey workshop. And for some reason, everyone's from OHIO! (We all know that can only mean bad things.) While Koko is pulling books having to do with honey from the bookshelves and chomping on turkey (not in pasties...) and cheese, Qwill is doing his human best to figure out what it all means. Will he catch the killer and solve the mystery?
OK, of course he will. It's a cozy. I love these books for their quirkiness and characters. I love the role that books, cats, writing, coffee, the UP, and even the Chicago Cubs play in these books - all of my favorite things. I even appreciate Braun's penchant for alliteration and ten-dollar words mixed into simple sentence and uncomplicated plots. However, I would only recommend them to people who like cozies or simplistic, cutesy reads, or have any sort of nostalgia for a place like Moose County or the actual UP.
Oh, as for the actual plot - I still can't figure on the use of "Explo" - maybe it's short for "exploration"? - rather than "Expo" by the group in the novel who planned the Food Explo, but clearly Braun used it to tie into the first shocking criminal act - an explosion at the local Pickax Hotel! A mysterious middle eastern woman is staying in the room that was bombed, and then she mysteriously disappears and the book pretty much forgets about her for a while. But then there are other suspicious deaths - one of the potential witnesses of the bomber is shot in his flower shop, and another mysterious person is swarmed by bees at a local beekeeper's honey workshop. And for some reason, everyone's from OHIO! (We all know that can only mean bad things.) While Koko is pulling books having to do with honey from the bookshelves and chomping on turkey (not in pasties...) and cheese, Qwill is doing his human best to figure out what it all means. Will he catch the killer and solve the mystery?
OK, of course he will. It's a cozy. I love these books for their quirkiness and characters. I love the role that books, cats, writing, coffee, the UP, and even the Chicago Cubs play in these books - all of my favorite things. I even appreciate Braun's penchant for alliteration and ten-dollar words mixed into simple sentence and uncomplicated plots. However, I would only recommend them to people who like cozies or simplistic, cutesy reads, or have any sort of nostalgia for a place like Moose County or the actual UP.
August 13, 2012
I love cats. Maybe it is because the initials of my maiden name equaled CAT or maybe because I was not really allowed to have a cat as a child. Whatever the case, I love cats.
Several years ago when a friend pointed me toward Lillian Jackson Braun’s The Cat Who series, I had to read them. Somehow, I missed The Cat Who Said Cheese, and when I realized I had not read it, I had to.
In this mystery, Braun tossed in a few red herrings, described a big hefty guy as a gentle puss ‘n’ boots, included a bombing which killed one person, another person died from bees, and another was murdered in a floral shop. She takes us on a journey that has twists turns, forks in the road, brick walls, shady characters, a journalist named Qwill and his cat Koko.
How many whiskers does a cat have? This is a question that comes up in the book. I had to count my cat’s whiskers. Each has 24 whiskers including the eye whiskers.
Koko has 30 whiskers.
The next question that arose in the book, is a cat smarter if it has more than 24 whiskers? Possibly.
Koko likes cheese and he responds when Qwill mentions the names of cheese. So the reader can conclude that Koko is a smart cat. A house cat. A cat that never leaves home unless Qwill takes him.
So, how does the cat know about the happenings around his town of Pickax?
He is smart. Koko listens to Qwill’s conversations with other people. He makes his own conclusions and has his own way of telling Qwill everything he needs to know to solve the problem, all from responding to the names of cheese.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a light, yet enjoyable book.
Several years ago when a friend pointed me toward Lillian Jackson Braun’s The Cat Who series, I had to read them. Somehow, I missed The Cat Who Said Cheese, and when I realized I had not read it, I had to.
In this mystery, Braun tossed in a few red herrings, described a big hefty guy as a gentle puss ‘n’ boots, included a bombing which killed one person, another person died from bees, and another was murdered in a floral shop. She takes us on a journey that has twists turns, forks in the road, brick walls, shady characters, a journalist named Qwill and his cat Koko.
How many whiskers does a cat have? This is a question that comes up in the book. I had to count my cat’s whiskers. Each has 24 whiskers including the eye whiskers.
Koko has 30 whiskers.
The next question that arose in the book, is a cat smarter if it has more than 24 whiskers? Possibly.
Koko likes cheese and he responds when Qwill mentions the names of cheese. So the reader can conclude that Koko is a smart cat. A house cat. A cat that never leaves home unless Qwill takes him.
So, how does the cat know about the happenings around his town of Pickax?
He is smart. Koko listens to Qwill’s conversations with other people. He makes his own conclusions and has his own way of telling Qwill everything he needs to know to solve the problem, all from responding to the names of cheese.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a light, yet enjoyable book.
April 20, 2025
Overall one of the better entries in this series, while it does leave me with some mixed feelings. One of the upsides of the book is how few appearances are made by Qwilleran's supposed love interest, Polly Duncan. At one point the narrator specifically identifies topics which, while very significant to him, must be avoided in conversation with either her, or his "lifelong friend" Arch. How close to him can these two really be, if they remain closed off from such important aspects of his life as criminal investigation and how he interacts with his cats? The last few books have introduced two, maybe three women who seem to have more in common with him than Polly, and he seems to share more time and confidences with Chief Andrew Brody than with fellow journalist Riker. I'm interested to see if these apparent undercurrents will actually develop in subsequent books, or are simply wishful thinking 🤔 on my part.
September 14, 2014
The town of Pickax is preparing for the Great Food Explo with a large number of food events and new stores highlighted. The kick-off is marred, however, by an explosion at the hotel destroying several rooms and resulting in one death and some injuries. A few days later there is a robbery and murder at the florist shop. Qwill and the cats investigate.
It has been quite awhile since I've read one of this series; perhaps that contributed to my enjoyment of this one, knowing the series to be light fluff. All the usual cast of characters and locations is included. The wrapping up of details is a bit too neat and tidy. I keep reading these more for the characters than for the story lines.
It has been quite awhile since I've read one of this series; perhaps that contributed to my enjoyment of this one, knowing the series to be light fluff. All the usual cast of characters and locations is included. The wrapping up of details is a bit too neat and tidy. I keep reading these more for the characters than for the story lines.
April 26, 2015
Ce n'est pas très original mais encore une fois c'est avec joie que j'ai retrouvé toute la troupe du comté de Moose. Dans ce nouvel opus, Qwill mène l'enquête pour retrouver le poseur de bombe qui a fait exploser la façade du nouvel hôtel entraînant la mort d'une employée.
Entre les histoires de nourriture (du pâté et du fromage essentiellement) et le mystère à résoudre, je ne me suis pas ennuyée une seconde à la lecture de ce livre. C'était un peu court mais très intense.
En bref : à lire d'urgence !
Entre les histoires de nourriture (du pâté et du fromage essentiellement) et le mystère à résoudre, je ne me suis pas ennuyée une seconde à la lecture de ce livre. C'était un peu court mais très intense.
En bref : à lire d'urgence !
June 3, 2021
Another tale of Koko the supernaturally intelligent cat solving a mystery and trying, with little luck, to tell his person what's going on. Two murders and a bizarre accident (?) are all tied together in a way that only the one person in the know, and Koko of course, can discern.
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