What do you think?
Rate this book
The Cat Who... #26
The Cat Who Talked Turkey
The good people of Moose County are in a fever of excitement. It's almost time for the gala groundbreaking of the Pickax bookstore - and the town of Brrr is preparing for its bicentennial celebration. All the festivities, however; are spoiled by the discovery of a man's body on James Qwilleran's property. Could it be the work of a killer who used the same MO in northern Michigan? To solve the case, Qwill and his feline pals, Koko and Yum Yum, will have to prick up their ears and determine who committed this fowl deed.
181 pages, Hardcover
First published January 26, 2004
146 people are currently reading
2219 people want to read
About the author
Lilian Jackson Braun
194 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 357 reviews
April 30, 2023
Book Review
3- out of 5 stars for The Cat Who Talked Turkey, the 26th book in the "Cat Who" cozy mystery series, written in 2004 by Lilian Jackson Braun. It sounded like a great book. Brrr is celebrating a huge milestone in its history, and I love that little town almost as much as Pickax. Pickax is getting a new bookstore -- how fun! Combines books inside of books, that's just a perfect read. And a dead body outside Qwill's converted barn. It's gotta be a great story. Oh.... it had potential, but given the series was just about coming to a conclusion, it wasn't. Sad. I hate when things go downhill and not for a good reason. Too many different stories going on... felt more like a diary entry. It's not horrible or I would have given it a 2, but it's not too far off. You gotta read it when you're this far into a series, right?
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.
3- out of 5 stars for The Cat Who Talked Turkey, the 26th book in the "Cat Who" cozy mystery series, written in 2004 by Lilian Jackson Braun. It sounded like a great book. Brrr is celebrating a huge milestone in its history, and I love that little town almost as much as Pickax. Pickax is getting a new bookstore -- how fun! Combines books inside of books, that's just a perfect read. And a dead body outside Qwill's converted barn. It's gotta be a great story. Oh.... it had potential, but given the series was just about coming to a conclusion, it wasn't. Sad. I hate when things go downhill and not for a good reason. Too many different stories going on... felt more like a diary entry. It's not horrible or I would have given it a 2, but it's not too far off. You gotta read it when you're this far into a series, right?
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.
June 7, 2012
I admit that I have read every single one of Lilian Jackson Braun's "Cat Who" books. I used to relish every single one, but I agree with the other reviewers: Lately the books have been getting lamer and lamer.
I, too, think the books are now being ghost-written by someone else. I think the ghost-writing began about five or six books ago. It's not just that the mystery, never central, is now utterly an afterthought in these books. Nor is it that the resolution relies not on acute detective work on the part of Qwilleran or KoKo, but on deus ex machina. (Qwill and KoKo used to really sniff around, so to speak.) Nor is it that the style is much coyer than what Ms. Jackson Braun used to use. (I've had it with the endless references to the salt-and-pepper mustache already! It's getting to be a parody of itself!) No, the clincher is the many errors and inconsistencies in The Cat Who Talked Turkey.
Someone has already pointed out that the Siamese take a car trip in perfect harmony in The Cat Who Talked Turkey. We all remember that Yum-Yum howls whenever she's in the car. And what happened to taking KoKo out on the leash? And the last time we were privy to the love life of Gary Pratt, owner of the Black Bear Café, he was mourning a dead girlfriend. When did he pick up the wife who plays such a big role in this book?
The ghost writer not only hasn't read all the "Cat Who" books, s/he hasn't even done much research. In the book, Qwilleran wonders how KoKo could know something if he can't read. But the very first book posits that KoKo can read backwards. Remember the title of the very first book in this series? The ghost writer clearly doesn't!
Also, Eddington Smith's great-grandfather or grandfather is described as a pirate. But, in the original story, wasn't he a highwayman, instead?
The change in tone comes in the very first sentence when there's a quote from the "Qwill Pen": "A town without a bookstore is like a chicken with one leg." Now, the "Qwill Pen," while not exactly Art Buchwald, has never been this ridiculous.
I've been a faithful reader until now, but this book is the last straw. I suspect that there's not one ghost writer, but more than one, and that's why the books aren't just inconsistent with the real "Cat Who" books, but they don't really match each other, either. I hate to say it, but I'm finished with this series.
I, too, think the books are now being ghost-written by someone else. I think the ghost-writing began about five or six books ago. It's not just that the mystery, never central, is now utterly an afterthought in these books. Nor is it that the resolution relies not on acute detective work on the part of Qwilleran or KoKo, but on deus ex machina. (Qwill and KoKo used to really sniff around, so to speak.) Nor is it that the style is much coyer than what Ms. Jackson Braun used to use. (I've had it with the endless references to the salt-and-pepper mustache already! It's getting to be a parody of itself!) No, the clincher is the many errors and inconsistencies in The Cat Who Talked Turkey.
Someone has already pointed out that the Siamese take a car trip in perfect harmony in The Cat Who Talked Turkey. We all remember that Yum-Yum howls whenever she's in the car. And what happened to taking KoKo out on the leash? And the last time we were privy to the love life of Gary Pratt, owner of the Black Bear Café, he was mourning a dead girlfriend. When did he pick up the wife who plays such a big role in this book?
The ghost writer not only hasn't read all the "Cat Who" books, s/he hasn't even done much research. In the book, Qwilleran wonders how KoKo could know something if he can't read. But the very first book posits that KoKo can read backwards. Remember the title of the very first book in this series? The ghost writer clearly doesn't!
Also, Eddington Smith's great-grandfather or grandfather is described as a pirate. But, in the original story, wasn't he a highwayman, instead?
The change in tone comes in the very first sentence when there's a quote from the "Qwill Pen": "A town without a bookstore is like a chicken with one leg." Now, the "Qwill Pen," while not exactly Art Buchwald, has never been this ridiculous.
I've been a faithful reader until now, but this book is the last straw. I suspect that there's not one ghost writer, but more than one, and that's why the books aren't just inconsistent with the real "Cat Who" books, but they don't really match each other, either. I hate to say it, but I'm finished with this series.
January 2, 2018
I look these books up when I am looking for some lighter reading. A cozy mystery where no one dwells on gore, sex and the language is decent. Qwill has retired to Moose County along with his two Siamese, Koko and Yum Yum. KoKo has strange insight and he howls whenever there is a murder...and over the series we've seen many. I listen to them on my ipad and George Guidall's voice makes the books a pleasure to listen to. He does have a talent for bringing the characters to life.
The first 20 or so books of this series are great, but then things sort of drop down from the quality of the earlier books. (Unfortunately almost to be expected with long running series...). But giving it the boost to 3 stars for my own personal nostalgia related to the series and it's characters.
But the way it goes downhill is odd. There's repetition that seems like it could have been edited out (or that you might expect if a novel is written in a serial fashion with chapters coming out on a weekly/biweekly/monthly basis). If you're sitting down with a whole book, you don't need to be reminded each chapter of what transpired in the last.
The mystery itself is also, for the most part, something that happens around Qwill and the cats. Something that's mostly just Koko commenting on it with his death yowls. Familiar characters and things were good, and the resolution showed an aspect of Koko's book-knocking-off-shelf behavior that I hadn't guessed at--but left the obvious connection unstated.
Just sad with a beloved series -- my Mother got me into them years and years ago when there were only a few in print! So quality or not, these characters will always bring her to mind. I might have to re-read the older ones. Enjoy!!!!
The first 20 or so books of this series are great, but then things sort of drop down from the quality of the earlier books. (Unfortunately almost to be expected with long running series...). But giving it the boost to 3 stars for my own personal nostalgia related to the series and it's characters.
But the way it goes downhill is odd. There's repetition that seems like it could have been edited out (or that you might expect if a novel is written in a serial fashion with chapters coming out on a weekly/biweekly/monthly basis). If you're sitting down with a whole book, you don't need to be reminded each chapter of what transpired in the last.
The mystery itself is also, for the most part, something that happens around Qwill and the cats. Something that's mostly just Koko commenting on it with his death yowls. Familiar characters and things were good, and the resolution showed an aspect of Koko's book-knocking-off-shelf behavior that I hadn't guessed at--but left the obvious connection unstated.
Just sad with a beloved series -- my Mother got me into them years and years ago when there were only a few in print! So quality or not, these characters will always bring her to mind. I might have to re-read the older ones. Enjoy!!!!
July 30, 2014
Well, it is downhill from here to the end. I am going to read one more and stop. This was a very disjointed story. It was almost a collection of short anecdotes with a very short mystery in between each one. The platform was a repeat of The Great Fire, but this was The Great Storm in Brrr. It was to be performed during their 200th birthday celebration. The title of the book related to an anecdote that had nothing to do with the mystery the best I could tell. The Publisher should have cried "Uncle" before they sent this to press. You will not miss much it you don't read this one. Stop! Now! Keep all the good memories of the wonderful years with good stories about Qwill and his cats, Koko and Yum-Yum.
May 16, 2024
This is another fun installment in The Cat Who series; I've read 4 others over the years. Qwill is asked to write and perform a one man show about a historic storm in a different town in Moose County that is celebrating its bicentennial. In the mean time, there is at least one murder that KoKo seems psychically tuned to and some rather colourful characters show up that we don't see in every book. Qwill is not an amateur detective in this, nor does he seek clues, but is involved in the revelation of who it is.
October 17, 2017
Not much of a mystery. The dead person was a stranger and barely mentioned. The killer confessed at the end for no reason - and there was barely any reason given for why the murder was committed. (I don't consider "Possibly disappearing with the loot" to be a satisfactory explanation. That was all it said.)
I've read some of these books before and I don't see why everyone treats Quill like a celebrity. I grew up in a small town and outsiders were pretty much - "Oh, them. Whatever." Few folks would have gone goo-goo eyed over a newspaper reporter.
The best part of the book was the reenactment of the Great Storm of 1913 that Quill put on. It was very interesting. The rest of the book not so much.
I've read some of these books before and I don't see why everyone treats Quill like a celebrity. I grew up in a small town and outsiders were pretty much - "Oh, them. Whatever." Few folks would have gone goo-goo eyed over a newspaper reporter.
The best part of the book was the reenactment of the Great Storm of 1913 that Quill put on. It was very interesting. The rest of the book not so much.
November 23, 2010
There were so many issues with this book that made it frustratingly unenjoyable to read. The cats were used mainly as props rather than individual characters like I remember them in previous novels (although I admit it's been awhile). Qwill had some really macho thoughts regarding Polly that were a bit of a turn off, and I find it hard to believe that he wasn't able to recognize a turkey... They're a little distinctive and I think most Americans know what a turkey looks like. Qwill didn't really solve the mystery so much as the answer showed up at his doorstep. I found the whole planning of the bookstore (Pirate's Chest is a stupid name for a bookstore btw) and the 150th and 200th celebrations of Pick Ax and Brrr were entirely irrelevant to the plot and only acted as a means of inserting more of "Qwill's" writing to show us how so very clever he is and what an all-around likable guy. Gee, he sure is keen. This can only be considered cozy if you enjoy the warm feeling of being smothered by a pillow called boredom.
The reviewer is an alumna of Antioch College (history) and Kent State (Masters of Library Science). She is also the author of the blog A Librarian's Life in Books.
The reviewer is an alumna of Antioch College (history) and Kent State (Masters of Library Science). She is also the author of the blog A Librarian's Life in Books.
August 31, 2016
The Cat Who… series features a writer, a clairvoyant Siamese cat, and the folks and doings of Moose County, Michigan. They are cozy mysteries. Very cozy mysteries.
At some point, in the last ten years or so, I listened or read two books in this series. This book, number 26 in the series has been sitting on my computer for many years. I decided to finally listen to it. It was b-o-r-i-n-g. Very b-o-r-i-n-g. It can’t really be considered a mystery as the murder is a very minor part of the story. Fortunately this audio book was only four hours long and now I can delete it from my computer. I don’t intend to read or listen to any other books in the series. At one time The Cat Who … might have been considered a good series, but the times have changed and there are many better cozy mysteries.
At some point, in the last ten years or so, I listened or read two books in this series. This book, number 26 in the series has been sitting on my computer for many years. I decided to finally listen to it. It was b-o-r-i-n-g. Very b-o-r-i-n-g. It can’t really be considered a mystery as the murder is a very minor part of the story. Fortunately this audio book was only four hours long and now I can delete it from my computer. I don’t intend to read or listen to any other books in the series. At one time The Cat Who … might have been considered a good series, but the times have changed and there are many better cozy mysteries.
May 21, 2020
With each book, I'm getting to know Qwill and his cats a little bit more. I love it! I give this book 3.5 stars***!
5/17/20 ..... still a fun quick read :D
5/17/20 ..... still a fun quick read :D
July 18, 2017
As a librarian, I am keenly aware that it is never my job to dump on a book, but on Goodreads, I'm amongst friends, not customers. So I'd like to go on the record and say this is perhaps the worst book I've ever read. It's not even a mystery--it is casually mentioned once that someone died, then after a few hundred pages of anachronistic fake old-timey radio shows and banter that is anything but witty, there's a killer. This was me trying to diversify genres that I read, but there are just so many things about it that I hated. I am most definitely not the audience for this book.
May 11, 2023
Wat me vooral bijbleef van dit boek is dat Lilian Jackson Braun 1 van de verhalen die Qwill voor zijn boek over plaatselijke kortverhalen en anecdotes verzameld integraal opnieuw afdrukt. Wijst dit op een gebrek aan inspiratie? Het boek is met zijn 130 bladzijden ook een derde korter dan de andere delen uit de reeks.
Een ergename duikt op in Moose County na jaren afwezigheid. Nu probeert ze zich bij haar tante in te werken om zo haar erfenis veilig te stellen. Dat tante haar grote huis met rijk interieur liever zou bewaren en openstellen als museum interesseert haar niet. Ze maakt er geen geheim van dat ze alles zo snel mogelijk wil verkopen om te laten platslaan en er iets winstgevends op te laten zetten.
Er gebeuren weer enkele moorden, op onbekenden deze keer, en de Koko geeft cryptische aanwijzingen. Qwill heeft weer last om ze te ontcijferen en is ook druk bezig met de viering van een honderdjarige.
Uit een van de eerste boeken hebben we onthouden dat Qwill een hoorspel bracht over een ramp die heel Pickax in de ban hield. Nu wordt hem iets gelijkaardigs gevraagd, maar dan over een vreselijke storm waar vele doden bij vielen. Nieuwe karakters en enkel personen die zich van een andere dan de reeds bekende kant laten zien.
Het bekende concept in steeds weer nieuwe variaties - al wordt het wel redelijk voorspelbaar. Maar het vertrouwde en comfortabele gevoel blijft overheersen.
Een ergename duikt op in Moose County na jaren afwezigheid. Nu probeert ze zich bij haar tante in te werken om zo haar erfenis veilig te stellen. Dat tante haar grote huis met rijk interieur liever zou bewaren en openstellen als museum interesseert haar niet. Ze maakt er geen geheim van dat ze alles zo snel mogelijk wil verkopen om te laten platslaan en er iets winstgevends op te laten zetten.
Er gebeuren weer enkele moorden, op onbekenden deze keer, en de Koko geeft cryptische aanwijzingen. Qwill heeft weer last om ze te ontcijferen en is ook druk bezig met de viering van een honderdjarige.
Uit een van de eerste boeken hebben we onthouden dat Qwill een hoorspel bracht over een ramp die heel Pickax in de ban hield. Nu wordt hem iets gelijkaardigs gevraagd, maar dan over een vreselijke storm waar vele doden bij vielen. Nieuwe karakters en enkel personen die zich van een andere dan de reeds bekende kant laten zien.
Het bekende concept in steeds weer nieuwe variaties - al wordt het wel redelijk voorspelbaar. Maar het vertrouwde en comfortabele gevoel blijft overheersen.
September 26, 2014
It probably wasn't the best place to start with 20+ other novels featuring Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum and Moose County journalist Jim Qwilleran prior to this, but I still found the book easy to get in to. I'm sure previous books would fill me in on the back stories of some of the secondary characters, as well as incidents referred to in the narrative.
I don't generally read 'cozy' mysteries, but it is a nice change of pace from some of the recent books where the body count has been pretty high and the violence not 'off camera' as it is here. We have so many of Braun's other books and they are so popular in our Library collection that I felt it was about time to check them out. Not sure how I feel about a possibly psychic cat, Siamese or not, but it was a fun read and I'm probably going to grab a few more.
Here Qwill, as he's known to his friends, is working on a one-man presentation about a famous storm that took place decades earlier that had a big impact on Moose County. He's also making plans for the wedding of a friend, and the opening of a new bookstore in the community. Naturaly, since it is a mystery, a dead body turns up on his property and a short time later a similar murder takes place in another community. Are they connected and why is Koko so interested in a book that neither he or Qwill especially like?
Not great but a quick and pleasant read, whether you are a cat lover or not.
I don't generally read 'cozy' mysteries, but it is a nice change of pace from some of the recent books where the body count has been pretty high and the violence not 'off camera' as it is here. We have so many of Braun's other books and they are so popular in our Library collection that I felt it was about time to check them out. Not sure how I feel about a possibly psychic cat, Siamese or not, but it was a fun read and I'm probably going to grab a few more.
Here Qwill, as he's known to his friends, is working on a one-man presentation about a famous storm that took place decades earlier that had a big impact on Moose County. He's also making plans for the wedding of a friend, and the opening of a new bookstore in the community. Naturaly, since it is a mystery, a dead body turns up on his property and a short time later a similar murder takes place in another community. Are they connected and why is Koko so interested in a book that neither he or Qwill especially like?
Not great but a quick and pleasant read, whether you are a cat lover or not.
July 16, 2021
Sometimes there is a longing to visit with old friends and when you do there is a delight that is unparalleled.
One of my biggest smiles came when Qwill had locked himself into his 1st floor writing studio with his thermal coffee decanter in order to accomplish some needed writing. Apparently, whenever Qwill's Siamese cats, Koko and Yum-Yum, wanted him to come out from behind closed doors they staged a squabble so that he would come out and investigate. In this case, he opened the door and they tumbled into the studio and as quick as paws allowed they raced down the ramp. Thankfully, Qwill understood that the message was clear. Their patience had expired and on this beautiful June day it was time to enjoy their favorite activities in the gazebo. As any loving pet owner (or should I say caregiver in residence) will do, he fulfilled their wishes.
As always there is a mystery to solve but it really takes a backseat in this writing but is still a joy to read for all who love the series.
One of my biggest smiles came when Qwill had locked himself into his 1st floor writing studio with his thermal coffee decanter in order to accomplish some needed writing. Apparently, whenever Qwill's Siamese cats, Koko and Yum-Yum, wanted him to come out from behind closed doors they staged a squabble so that he would come out and investigate. In this case, he opened the door and they tumbled into the studio and as quick as paws allowed they raced down the ramp. Thankfully, Qwill understood that the message was clear. Their patience had expired and on this beautiful June day it was time to enjoy their favorite activities in the gazebo. As any loving pet owner (or should I say caregiver in residence) will do, he fulfilled their wishes.
As always there is a mystery to solve but it really takes a backseat in this writing but is still a joy to read for all who love the series.
July 2, 2014
This book is a turkey - a really weak story in this series that I otherwise love. The story is too loose and just not interesting. The cats are only involved in a secondary way. The characters are dull. I don't really like Polly - I never really have, but this installment certainly increased my dislike.
Koko alerts us to a murder on page 8. The victim is discovered on page 18. There is a mention in passing on page 78. Koko alerts us to another murder on page 102 and it is again mentioned, barely, on page 106. A similar kind of murder is discussed on page 158. And it is all wrapped up on page 173. Probably less than 30 sentences. What was the point? It was boring and undeveloped. The story with Lish was a yawner. There were repetitive sections.
I love this series, but this was a boring and unnecessary addition. I actually own this book and will give it away since it isn't worth ever reading again.
Koko alerts us to a murder on page 8. The victim is discovered on page 18. There is a mention in passing on page 78. Koko alerts us to another murder on page 102 and it is again mentioned, barely, on page 106. A similar kind of murder is discussed on page 158. And it is all wrapped up on page 173. Probably less than 30 sentences. What was the point? It was boring and undeveloped. The story with Lish was a yawner. There were repetitive sections.
I love this series, but this was a boring and unnecessary addition. I actually own this book and will give it away since it isn't worth ever reading again.
November 30, 2017
The Cat Who Talked Turkey (Cat Who... Book 26) by [Braun, Lilian Jackson]These books by Lilian Jackson Braun are so addicting. In this one the Pickax bookstore is having its groundbreaking. At the same time Brrr, yes that is the name of the town, is having a celebration for their bicentennial. Of course, the events are ruined when a man's body is located on James Qwilleran's land. This brings Qwill and his mystery solving cats, Koko and Yum Yum to the thing they like most, determining who committed this crime.
These books are so much fun, this is the 26th in "The Cat Who..." series and I have enjoyed every one. This is an enjoyable read for when the reader is looking for a mystery that is not too heavy.
These books are so much fun, this is the 26th in "The Cat Who..." series and I have enjoyed every one. This is an enjoyable read for when the reader is looking for a mystery that is not too heavy.
January 22, 2019
I have enjoyed this series because the main character is ... quite a character, and his side-kick, the psychic cat Koko is adorable. This book had a lot of interesting pieces, history of this fictional area, tons of background information that was, actually, quite charming. However, the mystery in this cozy mystery was almost non-existent. The murder was barely recognized; there was no interest in the murder, or in solving it. In the end, it basically solved itself, and some of the ends were tied just a little too neatly to suit me.
December 12, 2015
A cute-because of the cats, quick, entertaining mystery. I will definitely grab another book from this series as a easy listen audiobook.
November 9, 2020
Was I blown away by this book? No. Am I mad that I read it? No. 2-stars doesn't mean that it was bad; just that I don't see myself reading it again, or likely to recommend it to a friend.
The writing isn't Pulitzer Prize material or anything, which is fine because it was about what I expect from a cozy mystery. This one just had less "mystery" than I was expecting. A few dead bodies are mentioned early on, but the majority of the book revolves around the daily life of Qwill, the journalist, and his Siamese cats. The mystery isn't really even circled back to until the 2nd to last chapter, and then its basically just a confession to the murders no one was even investigating.
There are a lot of characters introduced in this story, but none of them felt very developed except for Qwill and he just seemed very full of himself. He's all important, everyone in the town knows him and loves him, and he's treated like he holds more clout with the town than the mayor.
The book was fine for a cozy mystery. I got out of it what I expected; which was a light, easy read. Something to cleanse my reading palate and a breezy break from the denser spooky stories I've been reading this season. I was drawn to this particular book because of its title. I have turkeys myself, and a Siamese cat, so I thought it would be a quirky book in the least. I will say that I was pretty disappointed in the minimal cat-turkey interactions. It could have been removed from the story and it wouldn't have changed the plot in the least. I was looking forward to the cat-turkey bits.
The writing isn't Pulitzer Prize material or anything, which is fine because it was about what I expect from a cozy mystery. This one just had less "mystery" than I was expecting. A few dead bodies are mentioned early on, but the majority of the book revolves around the daily life of Qwill, the journalist, and his Siamese cats. The mystery isn't really even circled back to until the 2nd to last chapter, and then its basically just a confession to the murders no one was even investigating.
There are a lot of characters introduced in this story, but none of them felt very developed except for Qwill and he just seemed very full of himself. He's all important, everyone in the town knows him and loves him, and he's treated like he holds more clout with the town than the mayor.
The book was fine for a cozy mystery. I got out of it what I expected; which was a light, easy read. Something to cleanse my reading palate and a breezy break from the denser spooky stories I've been reading this season. I was drawn to this particular book because of its title. I have turkeys myself, and a Siamese cat, so I thought it would be a quirky book in the least. I will say that I was pretty disappointed in the minimal cat-turkey interactions. It could have been removed from the story and it wouldn't have changed the plot in the least. I was looking forward to the cat-turkey bits.
March 18, 2024
Somehow, I must have missed reviewing this one when I finished it. I did enjoy this one, though I don't recall it being one of the most shocking/exciting ones of the series. Still, even if I do occasionally find that a book in this series is not up to the caliber of the others (especially the earliest ones), I do still enjoy them greatly. I recommend this series to anyone who wants to read cozies!
August 17, 2019
It’s really a 3.5 but I love these books & this one is quick & lovely. It’s nice to be back with this characters after a break.
February 27, 2020
Not the best one, but it was short and cute. Even though it was a bit predictable, I still very much enjoyed it.
November 5, 2022
This a cute little book that I enjoyed.
May 24, 2024
Pas très fluide à lire et à suivre la trame. Pas très intéressant et peu divertissant. Je n’ai pas aimé le style du tout et je ne comprenais rien sauf à la fin
August 13, 2019
When I’m stumped and just want a light romp, I always fall for these. I have ready just about all the series and am thinking...I might want to start over and re-introduce myself to the characters again.
May 15, 2016
The first 20 or so books of this series are great, but then things sort of drop down from the quality of the earlier books. (Unfortunately almost to be expected with long running series...)
2.5, but giving it the boost to 3 stars for my own personal nostalgia related to the series and it's characters.
But the way it goes downhill is odd. There's repetition that seems like it could have been edited out (or that you might expect if a novel is written in a serial fashion with chapters coming out on a weekly/biweekly/monthly basis). If you're sitting down with a whole book, you don't need to be reminded each chapter of what transpired in the last.
The mystery itself is also, for the most part, something that happens around Qwill and the cats. Something that's mostly just Koko commenting on it with his death yowls. Familiar characters and things were good, and the resolution showed an aspect of Koko's book-knocking-off-shelf behavior that I hadn't guessed at--but left the obvious connection unstated.
Just sad with a beloved series -- my Grandmother got me into them years and years ago when there were only a few in print! So quality or not, these characters will always bring her to mind. I might have to re-read the older ones since I'm only one away from having read them all (though this is the only series I've read so out of order!) other than the short stories.
2.5, but giving it the boost to 3 stars for my own personal nostalgia related to the series and it's characters.
But the way it goes downhill is odd. There's repetition that seems like it could have been edited out (or that you might expect if a novel is written in a serial fashion with chapters coming out on a weekly/biweekly/monthly basis). If you're sitting down with a whole book, you don't need to be reminded each chapter of what transpired in the last.
The mystery itself is also, for the most part, something that happens around Qwill and the cats. Something that's mostly just Koko commenting on it with his death yowls. Familiar characters and things were good, and the resolution showed an aspect of Koko's book-knocking-off-shelf behavior that I hadn't guessed at--but left the obvious connection unstated.
Just sad with a beloved series -- my Grandmother got me into them years and years ago when there were only a few in print! So quality or not, these characters will always bring her to mind. I might have to re-read the older ones since I'm only one away from having read them all (though this is the only series I've read so out of order!) other than the short stories.
April 16, 2017
Koko's talking turkey, and luring the strange creatures from the woods behind the barn. Exciting new things are happening because of the K fund, including the new bookstore of which Polly will be the manager, and word is the new name will be the Pirate's chest. Qwill has another body turn up on his property, and the return of a relative is causing drama in Brrr. Koko's giving clues as always, but it's up to Qwill to figure it all out.
Another in the series, although I find this one really short and a very fast read. I liked reading about the great storm, another of the radio type shows Qwill writes (similar to the big burning). Polly is at her nauseating worst for this book, having nothing to talk about than book aisle sizes. I sometimes wonder why the unflappable Qwill stays with Polly, who seems to be constantly stressing over stupid things. Take a chill pill, Lady!
Other than that, I love this series. This is one of the last ones, and understandably not as good as the first in the series. Still, love a book on Pickax!
Another in the series, although I find this one really short and a very fast read. I liked reading about the great storm, another of the radio type shows Qwill writes (similar to the big burning). Polly is at her nauseating worst for this book, having nothing to talk about than book aisle sizes. I sometimes wonder why the unflappable Qwill stays with Polly, who seems to be constantly stressing over stupid things. Take a chill pill, Lady!
Other than that, I love this series. This is one of the last ones, and understandably not as good as the first in the series. Still, love a book on Pickax!
July 9, 2017
I'm at a loss for words....almost. This is the first book I've read by this author. I gather from other readers' comments, this is part of a series. Many of the fans of this series did not like this book. You know what? I get it. I was expecting a mystery. What I got was some blathering, rambling story about a town and people I couldn't care less about. Oh yeah, there's a murder but it's barely mentioned and doesn't factor into the story until the last chapter or two. No one seems to care about the fact that some guy's been shot/murdered and his body found on the main character's property. Ehh. Why should you care...none of the characters in the story care much. I even found the cats annoying and I didn't think that possible. Too cutesy (an apartment called Ittibittiwasee? Ugh). Dialog that's beyond unreal. I can't get rid of this book quick enough. How is it this book had so many stars?!?
March 26, 2024
Brrr will turn 200 and has celebrations planned. Of course, Qwill will be involved with a new reading about a 1913 Great Storm. This is how he first meets Alicia Carroll who is supposed to help him with the program, but doesn't. Koko doesn't like her.
Koko gives his death howl. Only the death is someone up near Qwill's cabin on the lake, someone unknown. He gives it again when there is another death, in lower Michigan this time. And his book pick is Return of the Snark which neither Qwill nor the cats like.
Through Qwill's influence, Brrr will get an historical museum. Except it is a house Alicia thought she would inherit.
Polly will leave the library and run a book store.
And wild turkeys come calling around Qwill's gazebo. Koko talks to them. The problem is that there are no wild turkeys in Moose County.
There are lots of happenings in this book. It is a fast, relaxing book to read.
Koko gives his death howl. Only the death is someone up near Qwill's cabin on the lake, someone unknown. He gives it again when there is another death, in lower Michigan this time. And his book pick is Return of the Snark which neither Qwill nor the cats like.
Through Qwill's influence, Brrr will get an historical museum. Except it is a house Alicia thought she would inherit.
Polly will leave the library and run a book store.
And wild turkeys come calling around Qwill's gazebo. Koko talks to them. The problem is that there are no wild turkeys in Moose County.
There are lots of happenings in this book. It is a fast, relaxing book to read.
April 15, 2012
I always enjoy reading about Jim Qwilleran, prizewinning reporter, and his extraordinary Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum---the most unlikely, most unusual, most delightful team in detective fiction! And this week-end was no exception. I wanted a fun, relaxing book to read this week-end, pulled this one off my bookshelf, and it hit the spot, so to speak. About once a year I enjoy reading one of the many "Cat Who" books. I view these books as a letter from a dear friend. There really wasn't much of a mystery in this book, but, I enjoyed reading about the comings and goings of the town folks in Moose County 400 miles from everywhere. I especially like reading about the cats and Mr. Q.
Favorite Quote..."A town without a bookstore is like a chicken with one leg."
Since I enjoyed this book I am awarding it 3***
Favorite Quote..."A town without a bookstore is like a chicken with one leg."
Since I enjoyed this book I am awarding it 3***
Displaying 1 - 30 of 357 reviews