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The Cat Who... #8
The Cat Who Sniffed Glue
Living in the peaceful city of Pickax may be restful, but it certainly isn't dull. At least not for one of the most eligible bachelors in town, veteran newspaperman Jim Qwilleran.
Having inherited millions, Qwilleran and his two feline companions, Koko and Yum Yum, are preparing to settle down into a life of purrfect luxury. That is, until the son of a rich banker and his wife are found murdered.
To the police, it looks like a robbery gone awry. But then Koko develops an odd appetite for glue. Qwilleran doesn't spot the clue until his beloved Siamese's taste for paste tangles them in a web of love, danger, and their stickiest case yet!
Having inherited millions, Qwilleran and his two feline companions, Koko and Yum Yum, are preparing to settle down into a life of purrfect luxury. That is, until the son of a rich banker and his wife are found murdered.
To the police, it looks like a robbery gone awry. But then Koko develops an odd appetite for glue. Qwilleran doesn't spot the clue until his beloved Siamese's taste for paste tangles them in a web of love, danger, and their stickiest case yet!
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 29, 1988
326 people are currently reading
2135 people want to read
About the author
Lilian Jackson Braun
193 books1,713 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 - 30 of 376 reviews
September 18, 2017
Book Review
3 of 5 stars to The Cat Who Sniffed Glue, the 8th entry in the "Cat Who" cozy mystery series written in 1988 by Lilian Jackson Braun. Moose County is certainly a memorable town. It's full of insanely eccentric characters who bring a bunch of laughs, whether it's over their appearance, action or words. And while Pickax, the town where Qwill, Koko and YumYum live has been the focus for the last couple of books, we're introduced to Chipmunk, the next town over, in this installment. And Chipmunk must be the bad side of town, as they have all the hoodlums who cause crime. How could a town called Chipmunk be so bad? I must put this place on my bucket list; sounds fun... but on a lighter note, this one made me think of The Cat Who Played Post Office, simply due to the postage stamp adhesive and now the glue Koko and YumYum become obsessed with... focuses on the crazy hijinks at a bank, a robbery possibly turned murder, and Qwill's decoration of his new pad... and a few added laughs when the woman gives Polly a run for her money in trying to capture Qwill's heart. I love when there's Polly competition because she and Qwill can be super boring -- sometimes. Not always... and it's nice how it's only a little tease, believable, but never a real threat.
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.
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3 of 5 stars to The Cat Who Sniffed Glue, the 8th entry in the "Cat Who" cozy mystery series written in 1988 by Lilian Jackson Braun. Moose County is certainly a memorable town. It's full of insanely eccentric characters who bring a bunch of laughs, whether it's over their appearance, action or words. And while Pickax, the town where Qwill, Koko and YumYum live has been the focus for the last couple of books, we're introduced to Chipmunk, the next town over, in this installment. And Chipmunk must be the bad side of town, as they have all the hoodlums who cause crime. How could a town called Chipmunk be so bad? I must put this place on my bucket list; sounds fun... but on a lighter note, this one made me think of The Cat Who Played Post Office, simply due to the postage stamp adhesive and now the glue Koko and YumYum become obsessed with... focuses on the crazy hijinks at a bank, a robbery possibly turned murder, and Qwill's decoration of his new pad... and a few added laughs when the woman gives Polly a run for her money in trying to capture Qwill's heart. I love when there's Polly competition because she and Qwill can be super boring -- sometimes. Not always... and it's nice how it's only a little tease, believable, but never a real threat.
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.
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July 26, 2025
'The Cat Who Sniffed Glue' by Lilian Jackson Braun is another delightful mystery in the The Cat Who series! Since it's number eight in the series and there are continuing situations and characters, I suggest beginning with The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, number one, first.
The author's style changes slightly from the first novels, but all of the novels are witty. Scenes and action are offered in the form of brief sketches which are very much clues despite the breezy tone and lighthearted fun. Murder is done and physical attacks happen, so the books are not G-rated, but these books are definitely PG-13 cozies with a lively touch!
The two cats, Koko and Yum Yum, who 'help' fifty-year-old Jim Qwilleran, retired journalist, solve murders, are simple and ordinary Siamese cats full of charm and kitty hijinks true to real life. Well. That is if real life involved a cat who appears to be psychic! However, his owner, Jim Qwilleran, isn't very good at reading Koko's attempts to show Jim clues, such as Koko rubbing his jaw on articles of furniture or art or people in a rather pointed fashion. Qwilleran still has to do a lot of legwork and visit or call people to ask questions. Frankly, I think the many characters he talks to in his new home, the small northern town of Pickax City where he has inherited a house and money, all appear guilty! But by the end, it is obvious Koko somehow knew who the murderer was by page 30 or so!
In this mystery, Koko's interest in licking glue off of stamps meant more than about getting high! Or was Koko just interested in the taste? The author almost always leaves readers in a state of doubt about Koko, as well as the fact Qwilleran never seems to actually solve murders. His usual routine involves stumbling about stirring up anxieties - but it works! Even if sometimes Qwill is completely wrong, the murderer usually makes an attempt on Qwill's life. However, in past adventures Koko has given a hand, er, paw, to Qwill and saves his life. Not this time, though! Koko and Yum Yum get into trouble after a car wreck!
These stories are pure entertainment for quiet days - or to relax during pandemics....
The author's style changes slightly from the first novels, but all of the novels are witty. Scenes and action are offered in the form of brief sketches which are very much clues despite the breezy tone and lighthearted fun. Murder is done and physical attacks happen, so the books are not G-rated, but these books are definitely PG-13 cozies with a lively touch!
The two cats, Koko and Yum Yum, who 'help' fifty-year-old Jim Qwilleran, retired journalist, solve murders, are simple and ordinary Siamese cats full of charm and kitty hijinks true to real life. Well. That is if real life involved a cat who appears to be psychic! However, his owner, Jim Qwilleran, isn't very good at reading Koko's attempts to show Jim clues, such as Koko rubbing his jaw on articles of furniture or art or people in a rather pointed fashion. Qwilleran still has to do a lot of legwork and visit or call people to ask questions. Frankly, I think the many characters he talks to in his new home, the small northern town of Pickax City where he has inherited a house and money, all appear guilty! But by the end, it is obvious Koko somehow knew who the murderer was by page 30 or so!
In this mystery, Koko's interest in licking glue off of stamps meant more than about getting high! Or was Koko just interested in the taste? The author almost always leaves readers in a state of doubt about Koko, as well as the fact Qwilleran never seems to actually solve murders. His usual routine involves stumbling about stirring up anxieties - but it works! Even if sometimes Qwill is completely wrong, the murderer usually makes an attempt on Qwill's life. However, in past adventures Koko has given a hand, er, paw, to Qwill and saves his life. Not this time, though! Koko and Yum Yum get into trouble after a car wreck!
These stories are pure entertainment for quiet days - or to relax during pandemics....
October 18, 2019
Overall a good book, you will learn few things from it, or at least it will be a good refresher, although it is not bringing any new ideas, worth reading.
March 5, 2018
First Read (1989): Qwill has become retired with his wealth and does some work for the newspaper. Now the son of a banker and his wife are murdered. It appears to be a robbery that went awry, but the cats know better, and they help Qwill figure it out. A good read.
Second Read:
This is Book #8 in the whole series, so quite early. Koko and Yum Yum are Qwill's two Siamese cats, both of whom came to him during the course of solving a mystery. The cats have a tendency to uncover clues. Qwilleran in a previous book inherited a fortune on the condition that he live in the town of Pickax, an upper Midwest mining town, for five years.
In this book Qwilleran has joined the local community theatre group which is preparing a production to be performed in the new theatre space at the Klingenschoen mansion. Koko meanwhile has developed an interest in glue, specifically licking the glue off of envelopes and stamps. He has also developed a bad habit of tilting a painting of a ship which hangs over the sofa.
One night a couple of the actors fail to show up for rehearsal and then the community finds out that Harley Fitch and his wife were shot in their home. The Fitch family has deep roots in Pickax and the father runs the local bank. Harley and his twin brother David are being groomed to take over when their dad retires. The police suspect a group of teenagers from nearby Chipmunk. Harley and David's mother is so upset she has a stroke and dies in the hospital. Their father then goes out and commits suicide rather than live without his wife. Finally, the group of teenagers from Chipmunk are killed in a car-train accident. The community assumes this is the end of the story but Qwilleran thinks there is more to it and Koko is still tilting that painting. So, the snooping begins!
If you are looking for an action-packed thriller then this is not the book for you. But if you like a mystery with well developed characters and a little quirkiness, and especially if you like cats then I think you will really enjoy this book and the others in this series. Enjoy!!!
Second Read:
This is Book #8 in the whole series, so quite early. Koko and Yum Yum are Qwill's two Siamese cats, both of whom came to him during the course of solving a mystery. The cats have a tendency to uncover clues. Qwilleran in a previous book inherited a fortune on the condition that he live in the town of Pickax, an upper Midwest mining town, for five years.
In this book Qwilleran has joined the local community theatre group which is preparing a production to be performed in the new theatre space at the Klingenschoen mansion. Koko meanwhile has developed an interest in glue, specifically licking the glue off of envelopes and stamps. He has also developed a bad habit of tilting a painting of a ship which hangs over the sofa.
One night a couple of the actors fail to show up for rehearsal and then the community finds out that Harley Fitch and his wife were shot in their home. The Fitch family has deep roots in Pickax and the father runs the local bank. Harley and his twin brother David are being groomed to take over when their dad retires. The police suspect a group of teenagers from nearby Chipmunk. Harley and David's mother is so upset she has a stroke and dies in the hospital. Their father then goes out and commits suicide rather than live without his wife. Finally, the group of teenagers from Chipmunk are killed in a car-train accident. The community assumes this is the end of the story but Qwilleran thinks there is more to it and Koko is still tilting that painting. So, the snooping begins!
If you are looking for an action-packed thriller then this is not the book for you. But if you like a mystery with well developed characters and a little quirkiness, and especially if you like cats then I think you will really enjoy this book and the others in this series. Enjoy!!!
February 8, 2021
I read these books twenty years ago and they are just as good the second time around!
The Cat Who... series tells the adventures of Jim Quilleran, a newspaper reporter who retires after inheriting millions from his mother's best friend in the fictional town of Pickax. His two companions, Koko and Yum Yum, are beautiful Siamese cats with an uncanny knack for crime solving and almost humanlike personalities. Together, they settle into a bucolic routine in the charming little town located "400 miles north of everywhere" and populated by a delightful cast of people that can only be described as 'characters.'
The Cat Who... series tells the adventures of Jim Quilleran, a newspaper reporter who retires after inheriting millions from his mother's best friend in the fictional town of Pickax. His two companions, Koko and Yum Yum, are beautiful Siamese cats with an uncanny knack for crime solving and almost humanlike personalities. Together, they settle into a bucolic routine in the charming little town located "400 miles north of everywhere" and populated by a delightful cast of people that can only be described as 'characters.'
December 27, 2019
The Cat Who Sniffed Glue
I can’t believe how fast I’m blowing through these. #8 in the series was another good one, with the most interesting murder so far; involving a set of wealthy twins and a family that did not quite live up to its sterling reputation.
A lot of the now-familiar characters are on hand. Arch Riker, Hixie Rice, and Junior Goodwinter are all involved in the launch of the eagerly awaited newspaper that is replacing the Picaxe Picayune. (That publication went belly up in the last book after the owner/editor was murdered.) A contest to name the new paper came up with “The Moose County Something.” Qwill decides to abandon his ill-conceived plan to write a novel and will be a contributing feature writer. This will give him the opportunity to interview some of Moose County's more colorful characters and gets him back into the career that he has missed since moving from Down Below.
On the romantic front, Qwill has already screwed up his relationship with Polly by getting a little too friendly with Francesca Brodie. She is helping him redecorate his bachelor pad, and is also involved in the local theater group he has recently joined. In a surprise move, Arch Riker proposes to Amanda Goodwinter, Francesca’s cranky boss.
The cats were mentioned frequently but Koko’s role in solving the crime didn’t become obvious until the very end, which involved a neat surprise.
Originally published: 1988
Body Count: 7
Preceded by: The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare
Next Up: The Cat Who Went Underground
I can’t believe how fast I’m blowing through these. #8 in the series was another good one, with the most interesting murder so far; involving a set of wealthy twins and a family that did not quite live up to its sterling reputation.
A lot of the now-familiar characters are on hand. Arch Riker, Hixie Rice, and Junior Goodwinter are all involved in the launch of the eagerly awaited newspaper that is replacing the Picaxe Picayune. (That publication went belly up in the last book after the owner/editor was murdered.) A contest to name the new paper came up with “The Moose County Something.” Qwill decides to abandon his ill-conceived plan to write a novel and will be a contributing feature writer. This will give him the opportunity to interview some of Moose County's more colorful characters and gets him back into the career that he has missed since moving from Down Below.
On the romantic front, Qwill has already screwed up his relationship with Polly by getting a little too friendly with Francesca Brodie. She is helping him redecorate his bachelor pad, and is also involved in the local theater group he has recently joined. In a surprise move, Arch Riker proposes to Amanda Goodwinter, Francesca’s cranky boss.
The cats were mentioned frequently but Koko’s role in solving the crime didn’t become obvious until the very end, which involved a neat surprise.
Originally published: 1988
Body Count: 7
Preceded by: The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare
Next Up: The Cat Who Went Underground
September 11, 2019
I really liked revisiting this story from early in the series, where we are still learning Koko's powers of observation and Yum Yum's ability to get into trouble. In this story, we have the first issue of the Moose County Something coming from Arch Riker, one of Quill's friends from Down Below, and we see what Jim and Polly are first starting out on their relationship. I love how Koko foils the murderer and gives hints by picking out sea faring tales from off Quill's bookshelves. Great story telling and world creating in this episode.
May 17, 2020
3 Stars - book 4 of the quarantine.
Consistent, cozy goodness.
Music: Girls Need Love - Summer Walker
Consistent, cozy goodness.
Music: Girls Need Love - Summer Walker
April 9, 2023
We return to the adventures of Qwillerin, Koko and Yum Yum! Around the time the book The Cat Who Played Post Office I feel like Lilian Jackson Braun had finally hit a level of consistency in her story telling that was very enjoyable. Qwill seem to have settled down into the town a Pick Axe a bit more and the antics portrayed in the last few books are just as good in this one.
However, now that we've moved into the next novel, I can finally complain about the ending of the last one a little bit. One of the things I really enjoyed in the prior books was the antics surrounding the cats as they enjoyed their time in the large mansion. Unfortunately, at the end of the last book Braun decided to have the mansion burn down, I felt like this was rather abrupt and I really wish the cats had had a few more novels to enjoy the lavish luxury. Qwill had, pretty much, always been using the apartments above the garage as his living space, but I did like the stories with the cats getting into various types of mischief exploring the huge house. I just felt like there was so much more to explore there, or there could have been, instead the books with the mansion feature only a few rooms of note. Alas, it is no more.
"The Cat Who Sniffed Glue" brings us into the continuation of Qwill's saga. Qwill has joined the local theater troop and he's planning on acting in an upcoming play. As a result, the book has an interesting format where each chapter tells us the scene and the people we will meet. It's funny because, I remember thinking why didn't she use this setup with the book The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare. Anyway, "the plays the thing," is phrase that rather works well, as the players involved will be involved with the theater in some way. Qwill is also getting involved with the local newspaper and I am elated to see his friend Arch Riker join us again, even though he has a bit of a background role in this story, I look forward to having him in future novels, since I quite liked his character.
Qwill's continuous woman troubles continue and his play for the librarian Polly Duncan seems to be cooling quite a bit in this novel. So, he ends up going to dinner with a string of various women from the local area and Down Below. Polly is an okay match, but I still really preferred the doctor he dated a couple novels ago. At this novel didn't start off with Polly suddenly moving away out of the blue. I think that's part of the tensions of the novels though, we all pine for Qwill to finally meet someone, because he is actively looking after all. It would be different if he had no interest, like Sherlock Holmes. Mrs. Cobb only makes a brief appearance in this book, when Qwill goes to visit her new place at the Goodwinter museum. We are also introduced to a new character, Edd, who runs a book shop in town. I rather liked this character adding in, it gave Qwill someone to talk books with and I thought that was pretty fun.
I feel like there was actually quite a bit of a setup in this novel before the real mystery hits. Eventually a murder takes place at the Fitch mansion and some notorious suspects from the nearby town of Chipmunk are suspected. However, Qwill doesn't feel like that explanation really adds up. Naturally, we need Koko on the case and he is already giving Qwill clues early on with rubbing paintins of ships and pulling out books of a nautical nature, such as Moby-Dick or, the Whale. The clues bring Qwill to various places in pick-axe trying to chase down an old bitter family history concerning the murdered couple. It's a pretty sad tale, but I never guessed who the murderer really was by the end. I will say, in the past novels, I found it hard to guess the murderer because it felt like the mystery was solved so abruptly it came out of nowhere. That wasn't the case this time around. When we get to the end of the book and Koko makes his final play to bring Qwill the answers, the explanation makes perfect sense and I felt it was more well crafted than some of the other stories. Hopefully Braun can keep up this caliber of a mystery in the future novels, it really was one of the most fun so far.
In the end, I really enjoyed this book and I tore through it rather quickly. They're short books, but it was especially so with this novel. The hi-jinx of Koko and Yum Yum are wonderful as usual and it is really great to read about the cat antics amidst the murder mystery. If you've enjoyed Braun's cat mystery books so far, I'd wager you'd enjoy this one as well.
However, now that we've moved into the next novel, I can finally complain about the ending of the last one a little bit. One of the things I really enjoyed in the prior books was the antics surrounding the cats as they enjoyed their time in the large mansion. Unfortunately, at the end of the last book Braun decided to have the mansion burn down, I felt like this was rather abrupt and I really wish the cats had had a few more novels to enjoy the lavish luxury. Qwill had, pretty much, always been using the apartments above the garage as his living space, but I did like the stories with the cats getting into various types of mischief exploring the huge house. I just felt like there was so much more to explore there, or there could have been, instead the books with the mansion feature only a few rooms of note. Alas, it is no more.
"The Cat Who Sniffed Glue" brings us into the continuation of Qwill's saga. Qwill has joined the local theater troop and he's planning on acting in an upcoming play. As a result, the book has an interesting format where each chapter tells us the scene and the people we will meet. It's funny because, I remember thinking why didn't she use this setup with the book The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare. Anyway, "the plays the thing," is phrase that rather works well, as the players involved will be involved with the theater in some way. Qwill is also getting involved with the local newspaper and I am elated to see his friend Arch Riker join us again, even though he has a bit of a background role in this story, I look forward to having him in future novels, since I quite liked his character.
Qwill's continuous woman troubles continue and his play for the librarian Polly Duncan seems to be cooling quite a bit in this novel. So, he ends up going to dinner with a string of various women from the local area and Down Below. Polly is an okay match, but I still really preferred the doctor he dated a couple novels ago. At this novel didn't start off with Polly suddenly moving away out of the blue. I think that's part of the tensions of the novels though, we all pine for Qwill to finally meet someone, because he is actively looking after all. It would be different if he had no interest, like Sherlock Holmes. Mrs. Cobb only makes a brief appearance in this book, when Qwill goes to visit her new place at the Goodwinter museum. We are also introduced to a new character, Edd, who runs a book shop in town. I rather liked this character adding in, it gave Qwill someone to talk books with and I thought that was pretty fun.
I feel like there was actually quite a bit of a setup in this novel before the real mystery hits. Eventually a murder takes place at the Fitch mansion and some notorious suspects from the nearby town of Chipmunk are suspected. However, Qwill doesn't feel like that explanation really adds up. Naturally, we need Koko on the case and he is already giving Qwill clues early on with rubbing paintins of ships and pulling out books of a nautical nature, such as Moby-Dick or, the Whale. The clues bring Qwill to various places in pick-axe trying to chase down an old bitter family history concerning the murdered couple. It's a pretty sad tale, but I never guessed who the murderer really was by the end. I will say, in the past novels, I found it hard to guess the murderer because it felt like the mystery was solved so abruptly it came out of nowhere. That wasn't the case this time around. When we get to the end of the book and Koko makes his final play to bring Qwill the answers, the explanation makes perfect sense and I felt it was more well crafted than some of the other stories. Hopefully Braun can keep up this caliber of a mystery in the future novels, it really was one of the most fun so far.
In the end, I really enjoyed this book and I tore through it rather quickly. They're short books, but it was especially so with this novel. The hi-jinx of Koko and Yum Yum are wonderful as usual and it is really great to read about the cat antics amidst the murder mystery. If you've enjoyed Braun's cat mystery books so far, I'd wager you'd enjoy this one as well.
June 24, 2012
I seem to be finding these books less interesting... the people from Moose County are always excessive excentric and weird, and they always keep getting killed (I don't know how there's still people there!).
And the cats re funny, but the mysteries are just suddenly solved 2 pages from the ending, like it was obvious and Koko and Yum Yum had been mewoing that since the start...
Maybe it's my mood, how knows?...
And the cats re funny, but the mysteries are just suddenly solved 2 pages from the ending, like it was obvious and Koko and Yum Yum had been mewoing that since the start...
Maybe it's my mood, how knows?...
August 27, 2015
Audio version: Can you say Booooring? With a name like The Cat Who Sniffed Glue, I thought I could expect a few laughs at the very minimum. I barely eeked out a chuckle & by the end don't even remember that. Granted I wasn't feeling well & was in bed for most of this 6 1/2 hr audio, but I fell asleep about 30 to 40 times so a lot of rewinding. Oh, and the parts I then had to listen to twice weren't anymore interesting. The storyline itself could have been interesting but this author didn't make it so. I'm having trouble figuring out why this series is so popular, but I guess boring works for some people. Since I only read 1 other in this series and it was a long time ago and don't remember much, I may try another but not for some time AND I will look for one that is the highest rated to see if I can even be interested in that one. The silver lining is I needed a male Q for a challenge and luckily this was a short book/audio.
In this book, Jim Qwilleran and his 2 cats (Coco & Yum Yum) are getting there house remodeled while 2 women are fighting over Jim (if you want to call it that, it was lame either way) and Jim goes back to writing a column for the new newspaper, when the towns banker and his wife (or was it the son & daughter-in-law of the town banker) were killed. The brother and his wife found him, but their mother had a stroke from it all and soon passes and the father kills himself b/c he can't live without the wife and everything else that's happening. There are a variety of quirky town people that all seem to know this family's business. I never met so many quirky ppl in a book and it still managed to be incredibly dull and boring. At the same time, there are some burglaries and some rowdy kids in town that they try to blame for all this but, of course, doesn't turn out to be the case. I was just glad Jim with the help of his cats found the murderer(s) b/c it meant the end was near!
In this book, Jim Qwilleran and his 2 cats (Coco & Yum Yum) are getting there house remodeled while 2 women are fighting over Jim (if you want to call it that, it was lame either way) and Jim goes back to writing a column for the new newspaper, when the towns banker and his wife (or was it the son & daughter-in-law of the town banker) were killed. The brother and his wife found him, but their mother had a stroke from it all and soon passes and the father kills himself b/c he can't live without the wife and everything else that's happening. There are a variety of quirky town people that all seem to know this family's business. I never met so many quirky ppl in a book and it still managed to be incredibly dull and boring. At the same time, there are some burglaries and some rowdy kids in town that they try to blame for all this but, of course, doesn't turn out to be the case. I was just glad Jim with the help of his cats found the murderer(s) b/c it meant the end was near!
April 9, 2024
The small town of Pickax sure isn't a dull one, especially not for the most eligible bachelor and his two feline friends. Settling down into the life of luxury, Qwill finally feels rested. That is until a rich banker and his wife are found murdered. Police say it's a robbery gone wrong, but Qwill and Koko know better.
June 9, 2023
#8 in The Cat Who... mystery series
We're getting to know Qwilleran and the townpeople pretty well at this point, and all are interesting and entertaining. This time Qwill gets involved with the theater group, but then things come to a stop because of a major murder scene involving a couple of the key players. The Fitch family is very prominent in Moose County, and the murder of a son and DIL, as well as the subsequent deaths of others in the family, shock everyone. Qwill decides to do some investigating of his own, which turns into some danger for himself and his loved ones (mainly, the cats). He and Polly have a tiff, and Fran (the interior designer) takes advantage. Koko tries to lead the investigation in the right direction, but Qwill ignores his hints. Oddly, Arch Ryker and Amanda Goodwinter get engaged. Not what I would call an exciting mystery, but it moved forward quickly, and I actually was surprised at the results.
We're getting to know Qwilleran and the townpeople pretty well at this point, and all are interesting and entertaining. This time Qwill gets involved with the theater group, but then things come to a stop because of a major murder scene involving a couple of the key players. The Fitch family is very prominent in Moose County, and the murder of a son and DIL, as well as the subsequent deaths of others in the family, shock everyone. Qwill decides to do some investigating of his own, which turns into some danger for himself and his loved ones (mainly, the cats). He and Polly have a tiff, and Fran (the interior designer) takes advantage. Koko tries to lead the investigation in the right direction, but Qwill ignores his hints. Oddly, Arch Ryker and Amanda Goodwinter get engaged. Not what I would call an exciting mystery, but it moved forward quickly, and I actually was surprised at the results.
May 26, 2022
Living 400 miles north of everywhere has its perks for amateur sleuth Jim Qwilleran. But when a banker and his young wife end up murdered, Qwill can't shake the feeling that all is not as it seems. With the help of his two Siamese cats, Qwill gets to the bottom of the mystery. I really enjoy the Cat Who series. Each book reads well as a stand alone mystery, but even better when read in order as part of the 29 volume series.
August 9, 2022
3.5 stars, but rounding up because I liked this one. It has a little less of Qwilleran the womanizer, it felt a bit more like an actual mystery, and the name of the newly establihsed newspaper, The Moose County Something made me laugh aloud.
December 2, 2019
Another reread of a long ago listened to audio book, just as good as the first time. The series really hit it's stride with a mystery, small town life, journalism and Shakespeare.
May 8, 2019
In this book James Qwilleran, Koko and Yum Yum have moved to the city of Pickax, a fictional city somewhere north of everything. Qwill has inherited millions from a former friend of his mother and is trying to settle into life as one of the idle rich. He joins the local theatre group and is caught up in the mystery as one of the twin sons of a local banker is murdered, the son is a newlywed and his bride is killed as well. As usual, Koko and Yum Yum seem to be the only ones who can figure out the clues to who done it. It's a cozy mystery so it isn't as suspenseful as some mysteries out there but I love the storyline. I remember figuring out some of what was happening prior to the end when I first read the book, but I was extremely surprised by the twist the author threw in at the end.
March 17, 2016
koko and yum yum never fails to amaze.
qwill behaving like a spendthrift whilst flaunting his wealth at the same time is one of the funny scenes. the cats getting dosed by a is another.
my edition got denser content per page and starts chapters on even pages, resulting to only 200 pages (making this the shortest book in the series so far, i think. i'll know more tomorrow once i see my book checklist). i hope my copy of the next installment reverts to the original format.
i should be catching some z's now 'cause i gotta be up early tomorrow to finish my electrical project at home but i had to finish this book and write this review.
qwill behaving like a spendthrift whilst flaunting his wealth at the same time is one of the funny scenes. the cats getting dosed by a is another.
my edition got denser content per page and starts chapters on even pages, resulting to only 200 pages (making this the shortest book in the series so far, i think. i'll know more tomorrow once i see my book checklist). i hope my copy of the next installment reverts to the original format.
i should be catching some z's now 'cause i gotta be up early tomorrow to finish my electrical project at home but i had to finish this book and write this review.
August 15, 2011
Often when I choose a book on tape to listen to, I select a book that I wouldn't normally actually read. This book is one of those. I'd seen these "The Cat Who . . . ." books before and decided to try one out. It started off pretty slow, but by the end I was really enjoying it. The characters were interesting and even though I'm not a cat lover, I enjoyed the descriptions of the cats and their antics. It was a fun book to try and while I probably wouldn't actually read one of these books, I will definitely try another one one tape.
August 18, 2017
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I like the main character in this series and his hometown characteristics. It's fun to tag along and experience his quirky lifestyle. I don't care for cats, but his don't demand too much attention.
This episode was especially interesting.
I like the main character in this series and his hometown characteristics. It's fun to tag along and experience his quirky lifestyle. I don't care for cats, but his don't demand too much attention.
This episode was especially interesting.
June 4, 2022
This was the first time I'd tried one of these books on audio and it actually was quite entertaining on my walks into work the last couple of days. I liked the quality of the narrator's voice for Qwill. This is probably one of my favorite of the series so far. I liked that this mystery was a little more complex and more was going on so all the pieces didn't come together until the very end. I found myself still having a bit of surprise which hasn't been the case with most of this series.
Of course the stars of this series are always Koko and Yum Yum who were up to their usual antics. I love these two cats. I can always picture exactly what the author's describing, imagining their antics. Especially now that I've got a cat of my own to drive me batty.
The slight downside of this story for me was all the shenanigans between Qwill and Polly. That man needs to learn how to be direct and actually talk to a woman. I felt bad for Polly. Qwill likes the attention from younger woman and doesn't do anything to dissuade their flirtations, but even to himself he does admit he'd rather spend time with Polly. So I got annoyed with him for a large portion of this book and how he was handling things.
Still I enjoyed this installment and I'll happily continue to see what other antics the cats can get up to.
Of course the stars of this series are always Koko and Yum Yum who were up to their usual antics. I love these two cats. I can always picture exactly what the author's describing, imagining their antics. Especially now that I've got a cat of my own to drive me batty.
The slight downside of this story for me was all the shenanigans between Qwill and Polly. That man needs to learn how to be direct and actually talk to a woman. I felt bad for Polly. Qwill likes the attention from younger woman and doesn't do anything to dissuade their flirtations, but even to himself he does admit he'd rather spend time with Polly. So I got annoyed with him for a large portion of this book and how he was handling things.
Still I enjoyed this installment and I'll happily continue to see what other antics the cats can get up to.
December 16, 2017
Een nieuw avontuur in deze bekende en steengoede reeks. Een paar nieuwe karakters maar ook vele oude bekenden, waar wel een paar onverwachte en nieuwe aspecten van naar buiten komen. Een gezapig boek over een gezapig levende man en zijn twee katten. Een snuifje paranormaal gedrag zonder het echt te erkennen of op de voorgrond te zetten. De lezer mag er het zijne van denken - voor of tegen, het heeft geen invloed op de kern van het verhaal. Doet een beetje aan Mrs. Marple dorpje denken waar achter de schermen zich veel meer afspeelt dan wat je in zo'n rustig plaatsje zou verwachten. Opnieuw een voltreffer.
July 9, 2018
What an absolute delight to spend reading time with favorite characters Jim Qwilleran with Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum. Regardless of what Jim Qwilleran is describing - daily habits with Koko and Yum Yum and his dining adventures with various female friends and acquaintances, he can make the ordinary become extraordinary. As Jim is back on the trail for a good story to meet new deadlines, this one definitely becomes one of my favorites of the series.
One hurries to enjoy the adventures and how murder and mayhem play a part but the story is always over too soon. Thankfully, there are many more in the series to read and savor.
One hurries to enjoy the adventures and how murder and mayhem play a part but the story is always over too soon. Thankfully, there are many more in the series to read and savor.
May 17, 2019
While I didn't enjoy this one as much as some in the series, I have to admit that the cats have become some of my favorite cozy characters ... and I love finding out what their next antics will be. Qwill is also a lovable gentleman, so I continue to enjoy the mysteries.
April 7, 2021
this book, as you can probably presume from the title and cover, is absolutely dreadful. I received it as a gag gift a few years ago and finally got around to reading it and it's really. hm
first of all it's 200 pages long and the murder happens on page 50
second of all almost nothing happens
third of all ..... what am I doing why am I seriously analyzing "the cat who sniffed glue"
the only reason this is getting 2 stars instead of 1 is bc it's my own fault for reading this in the first place
first of all it's 200 pages long and the murder happens on page 50
second of all almost nothing happens
third of all ..... what am I doing why am I seriously analyzing "the cat who sniffed glue"
the only reason this is getting 2 stars instead of 1 is bc it's my own fault for reading this in the first place
December 31, 2019
Lost the review again but suffice it to say it was not one of her better books. I have no idea why this issue of saving a review is constantly throwing an error now.
I will read on in the series as I like Mr. Q.
I will read on in the series as I like Mr. Q.
July 1, 2019
Amazing! The clues are there all along throughout the book yet I had no idea who murdered the banker until it was discovered in the end!
March 23, 2018
This is a very interesting read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Koko was into the glue! The hypothesis that he was interested in it because of bookworms, however, never really resolved. I would have liked to see him discovering a bookworm infestation and giving our bibliophile, Ed, a job!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2021
I enjoy the eccentric characters in these books.
I think this may have been the first book in the series that I read many years ago. I followed the series to its end after the death of Lilian Jackson Braun and then started the series at its beginning with audiobooks.
I think this may have been the first book in the series that I read many years ago. I followed the series to its end after the death of Lilian Jackson Braun and then started the series at its beginning with audiobooks.
December 27, 2014
Jim Qwilleran and his cats Koko and Yum Yum are three of my all time favorite book characters. This book is the 8th in "The Cat Who" series.
First some background: Jim Qwilleran is a newspaper reporter with a hobby of unraveling mysteries. Koko and Yum Yum are his two Siamese cats, both of whom came to him during the course of solving a mystery. The cats have a tendency to uncover clues. Qwilleran in a previous book inherited a fortune on the condition that he live in the town of Pickax, an upper Midwest mining town, for five years.
In this book Qwilleran has joined the local community theatre group which is preparing a production to be performed in the new theatre space at the Klingenschoen mansion. Koko meanwhile has developed an interest in glue, specifically licking the glue off of envelopes and stamps. He has also developed a bad habit of tilting a painting of a ship which hangs over the sofa.
One night a couple of the actors fail to show up for rehearsal and then the community finds out that Harley Fitch and his wife were shot in their home. The Fitch family has deep roots in Pickax and the father runs the local bank. Harley and his twin brother David are being groomed to take over when their dad retires. The police suspect a group of teenagers from nearby Chipmunk. Harley and David's mother is so upset she has a stroke and dies in the hospital. Their father then goes out and commits suicide rather than live without his wife. Finally, the group of teenagers from Chipmunk are killed in a car-train accident. The community assumes this is the end of the story but Qwilleran thinks there is more to it and Koko is still tilting that painting. And so, the snooping begins!
If you are looking for an action-packed thriller than this is not the book for you. But if you like a mystery with well developed characters and a little quirkiness, and especially if you like cats than I think you will really enjoy this book and the others in this series. Happy reading!
First some background: Jim Qwilleran is a newspaper reporter with a hobby of unraveling mysteries. Koko and Yum Yum are his two Siamese cats, both of whom came to him during the course of solving a mystery. The cats have a tendency to uncover clues. Qwilleran in a previous book inherited a fortune on the condition that he live in the town of Pickax, an upper Midwest mining town, for five years.
In this book Qwilleran has joined the local community theatre group which is preparing a production to be performed in the new theatre space at the Klingenschoen mansion. Koko meanwhile has developed an interest in glue, specifically licking the glue off of envelopes and stamps. He has also developed a bad habit of tilting a painting of a ship which hangs over the sofa.
One night a couple of the actors fail to show up for rehearsal and then the community finds out that Harley Fitch and his wife were shot in their home. The Fitch family has deep roots in Pickax and the father runs the local bank. Harley and his twin brother David are being groomed to take over when their dad retires. The police suspect a group of teenagers from nearby Chipmunk. Harley and David's mother is so upset she has a stroke and dies in the hospital. Their father then goes out and commits suicide rather than live without his wife. Finally, the group of teenagers from Chipmunk are killed in a car-train accident. The community assumes this is the end of the story but Qwilleran thinks there is more to it and Koko is still tilting that painting. And so, the snooping begins!
If you are looking for an action-packed thriller than this is not the book for you. But if you like a mystery with well developed characters and a little quirkiness, and especially if you like cats than I think you will really enjoy this book and the others in this series. Happy reading!
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