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The Cat Who... #4-6
The Cat Who... Omnibus 02 (Books 4-6): The Cat Who Saw Red / The Cat Who Played Brahms / The Cat Who Played Post Office
The Cat Who Saw Red (Bk 4) — When Jim Qwilleran is sent to "Maus Haus" on a gastronomical quest, strange things occur. A startling scream pierces the night air and Joy Graham, the red-headed flame from Jim's past, disappears. Jim and his feline companions, Koko and Yum Yum, investigate. — The Cat Who Played ... more »
Reporter turned detective Jim Qwilleran heads for a cabin in the country with his two cats, Koko and Yum Yum. But from the moment he arrives there, things turn strange. Soon Qwilleran enters into a game of cat and mouse with a killer and Koko develops a fondness for classical music.
The Cat Who Played Post Office (Bk 6)
Inheriting millions has left reporter Jim Qwilleran extremely satisfied and Koko and Yum Yum adjusting to being 'fat cats' in an enormous mansion. A missing house-maid and shocking murder soon show them the seedier side of upper crust life, and Koko sets out on the trail of a murderer.
Reporter turned detective Jim Qwilleran heads for a cabin in the country with his two cats, Koko and Yum Yum. But from the moment he arrives there, things turn strange. Soon Qwilleran enters into a game of cat and mouse with a killer and Koko develops a fondness for classical music.
The Cat Who Played Post Office (Bk 6)
Inheriting millions has left reporter Jim Qwilleran extremely satisfied and Koko and Yum Yum adjusting to being 'fat cats' in an enormous mansion. A missing house-maid and shocking murder soon show them the seedier side of upper crust life, and Koko sets out on the trail of a murderer.
605 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 1993
4 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Lilian Jackson Braun
194 books1,719 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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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 5, 2007
So I have to explain my "Cat Who" obsession. Not only are these books fun, easy reads, but I love their references to art and literature. I'm also entranced by the reclusive woman who writes these books: Lilian Jackson Braun. She was born in 1913. After a career as a journalist, she wrote her first book when she retired in 1966 (at the age of 53). After three books, she disappeared for almost twenty years and then began writing again in 1986. Since that time, she has published a book every single year. Her last book "The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers" was released in 2007 (yes, when she was 94 years old), and her thirtieth book "The Cat Who Smelled Smoke" is scheduled to be released April 1, 2008. Wikipedia has this to say about Braun: "Not much is really known about Braun, as she prefers 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." Truly though, she is a fascinating (not to mention energetic) woman who never fails to amuse and entertain me with her tall cat tails. : )
July 2, 2020
Check out my reviews on the main versions of each book.
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September 23, 2020This was the first 3 books about Jim Qwilleran and his crime solving cats Koko and Yum Yum. I have read several other books over the years as I ran across them but it was wonderful to finally read from the beginning. Now I know how he became such a rich man and why he lives where he does. It's always interesting to see how Koko helps him figure out the strange goings on and solve crimes. Easy to read and quite enjoyable.
December 12, 2021
I don’t understand the difference between a foyer & a vestibule, but Qwill has both in his new home. I enjoyed each of these stories, but I now know I’d rather not get 3 volumes in one again—it was heavy & cumbersome! I was appalled at 2 healthy cats being “euthanized” just because their owners were splitting up, one didn’t want them & the other couldn’t take them where he’d gone to live! Why would this cat-loving author include such a thing in one of her stories?! In order to make us feel appalled & angry? It wasn’t portrayed that way. It was portrayed as a perfectly reasonable choice! Qwill didn’t even react to it! The person who didn’t want them was moving to a place where Qwill had lived, so obviously they could have gone there. How could she not want them?! They’d been members of their family for years! (10? I forget how old they were.) And to just ASSUME they couldn’t find someone else to take them just because they’re older?! And the vet DID IT—without even trying to find them a new home?! He could’ve put a poster in his waiting room at least! This may be a small detail in the last story, but I’m involved in rescue & getting cats adopted so I’m just appalled at this.
July 1, 2023
These three books about Qwilleran, Koko and Yum Yum are similar with murder, Koko's help and Qwill trying to keep up with Koko. This cat finds a new hobby in each of the books.
"The Cat Who Saw Red" finds Qwill and the cats moving to yet another new abode. He is now on the restaurant review beat. Maus House's owner is a gourmet cook. It's various residents are artists or restaurant owners. It has a working pottery to make clay for making pottery.
First a cat, then an old friend (former girlfriend), finally a houseboy disappear. People pass these off for many reasons. Koko and Qwill are positive they are murders and set out to prove it.
"The Cat Who Played Brahms" finds Qwill and the cats spending the summer in a log cabin up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, guests of his 'Aunt Fanny' who was a friend of Qwill's mother. Koko discovers how to turn on a cassette player for music and more. The more soon evolves into murder when Qwill goes fishing on a Lake boat and hooks a corpse which the boat owners cut loose and no one will do anything about. When Aunt Fanny becomes a victim, Qwill and the cats are offered a chance to stay in the UP and inheriting a fortune or moving back to Chicago and a life in poverty.
"The Cat Who Played Post Office" finds Qwill and the cats living in a mansion in the UP. One of the servant apartments over the garage is painted in daisies. Koko has taken up the piano playing the introduction to "Daisy, Daisy" piquing Qwill's curiosity as to what happened to the artist Daisy. His curiosity leads to murder almost including his own.
These are like the rest of the series: fun, fast reading although the plots amble along. Koko defies the common conception of a cat, but is not really unbelievable. Cats are often very clever animals.
"The Cat Who Saw Red" finds Qwill and the cats moving to yet another new abode. He is now on the restaurant review beat. Maus House's owner is a gourmet cook. It's various residents are artists or restaurant owners. It has a working pottery to make clay for making pottery.
First a cat, then an old friend (former girlfriend), finally a houseboy disappear. People pass these off for many reasons. Koko and Qwill are positive they are murders and set out to prove it.
"The Cat Who Played Brahms" finds Qwill and the cats spending the summer in a log cabin up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, guests of his 'Aunt Fanny' who was a friend of Qwill's mother. Koko discovers how to turn on a cassette player for music and more. The more soon evolves into murder when Qwill goes fishing on a Lake boat and hooks a corpse which the boat owners cut loose and no one will do anything about. When Aunt Fanny becomes a victim, Qwill and the cats are offered a chance to stay in the UP and inheriting a fortune or moving back to Chicago and a life in poverty.
"The Cat Who Played Post Office" finds Qwill and the cats living in a mansion in the UP. One of the servant apartments over the garage is painted in daisies. Koko has taken up the piano playing the introduction to "Daisy, Daisy" piquing Qwill's curiosity as to what happened to the artist Daisy. His curiosity leads to murder almost including his own.
These are like the rest of the series: fun, fast reading although the plots amble along. Koko defies the common conception of a cat, but is not really unbelievable. Cats are often very clever animals.
June 11, 2025
This is a review of just the third book of the volume, The Cat Who Played Post Office. Books 4 and 5 are reviewed separately under the individual titles.
To my great surprise, I'm fairly certain of never having previously read this book. It is also the first one of the series in which Braun unceremoniously dumps an unbelievable amount of action/explanation into a single brief final chapter, although it is better prepared for than will be the case in some later books. This is the unpleasant stylistic quirk that I had noted her moving away from in the most recent entries I've read thus far, and a major motivation in my rereading of the series as a whole. Imagine my surprise at the discovery that the earliest novels were in some respects better structured than later ones, and that the worst offenders were not the first to be published following the hiatus! No easy explanations here. A notable oddity of this particular volume is the abrupt change in attitude of Dr. Melinda Goodwinter, introduced in The Cat Who Played Brahms as actively discouraging Qwill's attentions, whereas this book sees them fully involved. It is further distinguished by a uniquely abrupt opening in medias res as Qwilleran returns to consciousness in a hospital bed. Was he in an accident, or did he narrowly escape an attempt on his life? Quite a lot gets packed into this one, and despite compositional concerns, it's worth the read to find out.
To my great surprise, I'm fairly certain of never having previously read this book. It is also the first one of the series in which Braun unceremoniously dumps an unbelievable amount of action/explanation into a single brief final chapter, although it is better prepared for than will be the case in some later books. This is the unpleasant stylistic quirk that I had noted her moving away from in the most recent entries I've read thus far, and a major motivation in my rereading of the series as a whole. Imagine my surprise at the discovery that the earliest novels were in some respects better structured than later ones, and that the worst offenders were not the first to be published following the hiatus! No easy explanations here. A notable oddity of this particular volume is the abrupt change in attitude of Dr. Melinda Goodwinter, introduced in The Cat Who Played Brahms as actively discouraging Qwill's attentions, whereas this book sees them fully involved. It is further distinguished by a uniquely abrupt opening in medias res as Qwilleran returns to consciousness in a hospital bed. Was he in an accident, or did he narrowly escape an attempt on his life? Quite a lot gets packed into this one, and despite compositional concerns, it's worth the read to find out.
April 2, 2018
I just finished THE CAT WHO SAW RED. An old sweetheart of Qwill's goes 'missing' and her husband seems unconcerned saying that 'she will cool off and come back soon.' Then the houseboy goes missing too. This sets Qwill's and Koko's whiskers twitching, and low and behold, murder is afoot. This story shows how true is the saying 'jealousy is rottenness to the bones.' I enjoyed this story as I have the 1st 3 in this quirky series. On to #5 THE CAT WHO PLAYED BRAHMS...
These cats crack me up - ...Koko and Yum Yum gave Qwilleran the hungry eye. He scooped the filling from half a pasty, mashed it into a gray paste warmed it slightly, and spread it on what looked like a handmake raku plate. The Siamese approached the food in a slow motion, sniffed it incredulously, walked around it in an effort to discover its purpose, withdrew in disdain, and looked a Qwilleran in silent rebuke, shaking their front paws in a gesture of loathing."
Ok, so I just finished #6 "...Played Post Office" and I am highly disappointed in the writing. The first 4 stories were very entertaining. Maybe it was the over 10-year gap in between Braun's writings or that she went from poor to rich that makes me feel that the prose is weak, the descriptions are disappointing, the wit has gone, the characters have become farcical whereas before they were quirky, interesting and fun. Also, I don't know that I am satisfied with the changing dynamics of the relationship between Qwill and Koko - that the cat is smarter than the human. That does not appeal to me. I am uncertain of continuing the series.
These cats crack me up - ...Koko and Yum Yum gave Qwilleran the hungry eye. He scooped the filling from half a pasty, mashed it into a gray paste warmed it slightly, and spread it on what looked like a handmake raku plate. The Siamese approached the food in a slow motion, sniffed it incredulously, walked around it in an effort to discover its purpose, withdrew in disdain, and looked a Qwilleran in silent rebuke, shaking their front paws in a gesture of loathing."
Ok, so I just finished #6 "...Played Post Office" and I am highly disappointed in the writing. The first 4 stories were very entertaining. Maybe it was the over 10-year gap in between Braun's writings or that she went from poor to rich that makes me feel that the prose is weak, the descriptions are disappointing, the wit has gone, the characters have become farcical whereas before they were quirky, interesting and fun. Also, I don't know that I am satisfied with the changing dynamics of the relationship between Qwill and Koko - that the cat is smarter than the human. That does not appeal to me. I am uncertain of continuing the series.
January 26, 2022
The Cat Who Saw Red - This story is noteworthy because it is the first book released after an almost 20-year hiatus. It felt a little different than the previous books, but I still enjoy the series. I am finding that I either like cozy mysteries or books about cats...or maybe both.
The Cat Who Played Brahms - I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I liked seeing the main character get out of the city and explore a new town. I liked that this story was set in a small mountain town.
The Cat Who Played Post Office - I thoroughly enjoyed this one too. I feel I can't say much about this because this story and the previous one tie in together. I did not see the ending happening exactly as it did. This one had me questioning to the end.
The Cat Who Played Brahms - I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I liked seeing the main character get out of the city and explore a new town. I liked that this story was set in a small mountain town.
The Cat Who Played Post Office - I thoroughly enjoyed this one too. I feel I can't say much about this because this story and the previous one tie in together. I did not see the ending happening exactly as it did. This one had me questioning to the end.
July 24, 2018
As I actually did read all three of the books in this omnibus right in a row as published, I will review them collectively because that's how I read them. Like the first three books in the "Cat who..." series, these next three books were well written. As usual, I found the characters to be well drawn and interesting; plus, I am starting to like Qwilleran more and more as I get further in the series, but he won't ever be one of my favorite protagonists. In any case, I enjoyed reading this omnibus containing books four, five, and six of the "Cat who.." series.
February 20, 2025
This collection of "The Cat Who..." mysteries was my second foray into these novels, after being aware of them for many years. These are short, easily digestible books with lots of humor and good story telling, fun characters (cats who know things, mustaches that sense vibes) and enough of a mystery to keep things moving but not really being too important. They are a little dated now, in terms of culture and mores, but make a fun time capsule.
August 12, 2018
I truly love this series, but this book has some irritating editing mistakes, or possibly type setting errors.
September 20, 2020
I loved it! An awesome collection! This is a must read series!
August 10, 2009
I was really loving this series and I hate to have to give this anthology two stars! Apparently, the first three books in the series were written in the 60s and The Cat Who Saw Red wasn't published until the 80s. None of these books are quite as good.
The Cat Who Saw Red - Most closely follows the formula set up in the first three books and I enjoyed it the most of the three.
The Cat Who Played Brahms follows Qwill as he takes a vacation and gets wrapped up in all sorts of suspicious events. The plot went a million different directions and wrapped up in a clunky, unsatisfying way.
The Cat Who Played Post Office was an absolute bore as Qwill investigates into a girl that went missing over five years ago. Yawn.
I also have to mention that this edition is so poorly edited that the previous reader resorted to penciling in corrections (missing punctuation, misspellings, etc.) in the last portion of the book. Overall it was terribly disappointing and now I have to find some other novel series that stars cats to satisfy my fiction sweet-tooth.
The Cat Who Saw Red - Most closely follows the formula set up in the first three books and I enjoyed it the most of the three.
The Cat Who Played Brahms follows Qwill as he takes a vacation and gets wrapped up in all sorts of suspicious events. The plot went a million different directions and wrapped up in a clunky, unsatisfying way.
The Cat Who Played Post Office was an absolute bore as Qwill investigates into a girl that went missing over five years ago. Yawn.
I also have to mention that this edition is so poorly edited that the previous reader resorted to penciling in corrections (missing punctuation, misspellings, etc.) in the last portion of the book. Overall it was terribly disappointing and now I have to find some other novel series that stars cats to satisfy my fiction sweet-tooth.
August 1, 2015
I really like these books but if you can't imagine how a cat can be like these cats, you wouldn't like them. Also, the co-star, Qwill, is mature and true to himself but not full of himself; he's still curious, open to change and adventure but not extreme. The stories are quick to read even when I'm tired, and take my mind off my problems and politics.
February 11, 2016
Lilian writes about cats and in most cases, from the cat's perspective. Excellent writer and sometimes very funny. In some cases, she writes about how a cat saves its mistress or master; detective type cats, etc. You will love it.
September 16, 2009
My son can't seem to get enough of Koko and Yum Yum. This is my second time through this book also.
August 15, 2013
With every book Ko ko's getting smarter. All three books were very enjoyable. The ending on the last book blew me away.
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August 5, 2014loved it
April 12, 2016
Great fun to enter the world of Qwill and his cats. Murder mysteries find him, just like Jessica Fletcher.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews