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The Cat Who... #10
The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts
An alternative cover edition for this ISBN can be found here.
Jim Qwilleran and his cats Koko and Yum Yum try to solve a haunting mystery in a historic farmhouse in this New York Times bestseller in the Cat Who series.
When Mrs. Cobb heard unearthly noises in the antique-filled farmhouse, she called Jim Qwilleran for help. But he was too late. It looked as if his kindly ex-housekeeper had been frightened to death—but by whom? Or what? Now Qwilleran’s moved into the historic farmhouse with his two cat companions—and Koko the Siamese is spooked. Is it a figment of feline imagination—or the clue to a murder in Moose County? And does Qwilleran have a ghost of a chance of solving this haunting mystery?
Jim Qwilleran and his cats Koko and Yum Yum try to solve a haunting mystery in a historic farmhouse in this New York Times bestseller in the Cat Who series.
When Mrs. Cobb heard unearthly noises in the antique-filled farmhouse, she called Jim Qwilleran for help. But he was too late. It looked as if his kindly ex-housekeeper had been frightened to death—but by whom? Or what? Now Qwilleran’s moved into the historic farmhouse with his two cat companions—and Koko the Siamese is spooked. Is it a figment of feline imagination—or the clue to a murder in Moose County? And does Qwilleran have a ghost of a chance of solving this haunting mystery?
284 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 30, 1990
299 people are currently reading
2325 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 380 reviews
April 6, 2020
Book Review
4 out of 5 stars to The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts, the 10th book in the Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun. Ugh... this was such a sad one to read. I loved the series and read a bunch all in a row. This was mixed in the middle of the long read, towards the early middle part of the entire series... but poor Iris Cobb is killed. It's not a spoiler, as it says so in the book jacket cover. But she was my favor transplant from Down Below... when she came up with her antique business and kept Qwill company... I was so happy for him. I didn't want them to get together romantically, but I loved the friendship. I think it was a huge series change, but also a big mistake, for this character to be murdered. Don't you hate it when the author does something like that? All in all, it was a good book. I loved the concept of ghosts. I liked the mystery. I was happy with the emotions and sentiments around the funeral. And it ended on a good note... but I will always wonder what could have been, had Iris Cobb made it a few more books!
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
4 out of 5 stars to The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts, the 10th book in the Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun. Ugh... this was such a sad one to read. I loved the series and read a bunch all in a row. This was mixed in the middle of the long read, towards the early middle part of the entire series... but poor Iris Cobb is killed. It's not a spoiler, as it says so in the book jacket cover. But she was my favor transplant from Down Below... when she came up with her antique business and kept Qwill company... I was so happy for him. I didn't want them to get together romantically, but I loved the friendship. I think it was a huge series change, but also a big mistake, for this character to be murdered. Don't you hate it when the author does something like that? All in all, it was a good book. I loved the concept of ghosts. I liked the mystery. I was happy with the emotions and sentiments around the funeral. And it ended on a good note... but I will always wonder what could have been, had Iris Cobb made it a few more books!
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.
December 16, 2019
3.5 stars
I was sorry to see that Braun killed off one of my favorite characters. Mrs Cobb was always entertaining.
Good mystery, and as always interesting characters, the historical mystery was also
I was sorry to see that Braun killed off one of my favorite characters. Mrs Cobb was always entertaining.
Good mystery, and as always interesting characters, the historical mystery was also
July 26, 2025
'The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts' by Lilian Jackson Braun, number 10 in this cozy series, is another delightful mystery!
The cover blurb describes it perfectly:
"When Mrs. Cobb heard unearthly noises in the antique-filled farmhouse, she called Jim Qwilleran for help. But he was too late. It looked as if his kindly ex-housekeeper had been frightened to death--but by whom? Or what? Now Qwilleran's moved into the historic farmhouse with his two cat companions--and Koko the Siamese is spooked. Is it a figment of feline imagination--or the clue to a murder in Moose County? And does Qwilleran have a ghost of a chance of solving this haunting mystery?"
Wooo! 👻 Loved it!
For those of you unaware of how Koko the Siamese cat solves mysteries, the cat exhibits psychic abilities! In all ways, Koko is an ordinary cat 90% of the time. Sometimes when he is curious about things as cats are by nature, Koko becomes very explicit in what he wants to examine or sniff, definitely trying to direct Qwill's attention to a specific object. Every time something significant is about to happen or has happened, Koko knocks books off shelves that have a similar scene in its plot to what has happened or is about to happen. Or he will sniff around an object over and over. Or stare fixedly at something.
Strange as it seems, Qwill is often remarkably slow in realizing Koko is trying to communicate or pass along clues to a mystery. As a reader, I have often hissed my anxiety at Qwill when it is obvious Koko wants him to investigate something going on. Qwill being a fifty-year-old man is often more inclined to wait until morning if Koko is acting out at night, or even later (like a week!), to check out Koko's oblique posturing, for example. Or Qwill thinks Koko is playing a kitty game with Yum Yum, who is an entirely normal Siamese cat, since the two cats often play and tussle. Lately, though, Qwill is paying more attention. In this novel, he is putting Koko on a harness and follows as Koko sniffs out a clue down a dangerous path.
Gentle reader, my hair was standing on end! Grrrrr, if anything happens to Koko....
Readers should start with The Cat Who Could Read Backwards. There are continuing situations with friends.
The cover blurb describes it perfectly:
"When Mrs. Cobb heard unearthly noises in the antique-filled farmhouse, she called Jim Qwilleran for help. But he was too late. It looked as if his kindly ex-housekeeper had been frightened to death--but by whom? Or what? Now Qwilleran's moved into the historic farmhouse with his two cat companions--and Koko the Siamese is spooked. Is it a figment of feline imagination--or the clue to a murder in Moose County? And does Qwilleran have a ghost of a chance of solving this haunting mystery?"
Wooo! 👻 Loved it!
For those of you unaware of how Koko the Siamese cat solves mysteries, the cat exhibits psychic abilities! In all ways, Koko is an ordinary cat 90% of the time. Sometimes when he is curious about things as cats are by nature, Koko becomes very explicit in what he wants to examine or sniff, definitely trying to direct Qwill's attention to a specific object. Every time something significant is about to happen or has happened, Koko knocks books off shelves that have a similar scene in its plot to what has happened or is about to happen. Or he will sniff around an object over and over. Or stare fixedly at something.
Strange as it seems, Qwill is often remarkably slow in realizing Koko is trying to communicate or pass along clues to a mystery. As a reader, I have often hissed my anxiety at Qwill when it is obvious Koko wants him to investigate something going on. Qwill being a fifty-year-old man is often more inclined to wait until morning if Koko is acting out at night, or even later (like a week!), to check out Koko's oblique posturing, for example. Or Qwill thinks Koko is playing a kitty game with Yum Yum, who is an entirely normal Siamese cat, since the two cats often play and tussle. Lately, though, Qwill is paying more attention. In this novel, he is putting Koko on a harness and follows as Koko sniffs out a clue down a dangerous path.
Gentle reader, my hair was standing on end! Grrrrr, if anything happens to Koko....
Readers should start with The Cat Who Could Read Backwards. There are continuing situations with friends.
March 28, 2020
Another walk-the-dog audiobooks. It was good writing and the narrator , George Guidall, is always a pleasure to listen to. The plot on the other hand was less than engaging. That's why I dropped it one star. The characters were interesting and all in all a good story.
March 20, 2019
Read for March Mystery Madness challenge Blue
Re-read 2019
In this story, Jim Qwilleran is trying to find out who frightened one of his friends to death. I believe that this is the first story where Qwill is trying to solve a mystery involving the death of someone he considered a close friend. When I first read this I remember being horrified that the author chose this secondary character to die, I absolutely loved them. Re-reading this after so many years, I still remembered the murderer but enjoyed the strange methods and reasons that the author chose to use. It was something different compared to other mysteries I had read at the time. Each book could technically be read as a standalone, but you will miss how the author builds the narrative around Qwill and his rags to riches story. Even though these books are older they are still great reads.
Re-read 2019
In this story, Jim Qwilleran is trying to find out who frightened one of his friends to death. I believe that this is the first story where Qwill is trying to solve a mystery involving the death of someone he considered a close friend. When I first read this I remember being horrified that the author chose this secondary character to die, I absolutely loved them. Re-reading this after so many years, I still remembered the murderer but enjoyed the strange methods and reasons that the author chose to use. It was something different compared to other mysteries I had read at the time. Each book could technically be read as a standalone, but you will miss how the author builds the narrative around Qwill and his rags to riches story. Even though these books are older they are still great reads.
March 30, 2017
I always enjoy these books, purely for their simplicity. We learn a lot about Qwill's everyday life, but somehow, that just makes you get to know the character more and doesn't get tiring as it does in other books. He sure eats some nice sounding food!
Koko and Yum Yum were the reason I first read these books. I love books about animals, and had never read any about animal detectives when I first read these. I was pleasantly surprised, and despite reading others like them, Lillian Jackson Braun's will always be my favorite.
In this one, we see the mysterious murder of Iris Cobb, a murder believed of course, to be a death of natural causes by the rest of the town. Qwill and his all knowing cat get on the case, and through wriggling, burrowing and macabre dancing Koko lets Qwill in on the clues. Polly also gets a new cat, much to the disgust of Qwill (and to me, I've never really enjoyed reading the Polly scenes)
Expect a nice dollop of Pickaxe and the surrounds history, and a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end!
Koko and Yum Yum were the reason I first read these books. I love books about animals, and had never read any about animal detectives when I first read these. I was pleasantly surprised, and despite reading others like them, Lillian Jackson Braun's will always be my favorite.
In this one, we see the mysterious murder of Iris Cobb, a murder believed of course, to be a death of natural causes by the rest of the town. Qwill and his all knowing cat get on the case, and through wriggling, burrowing and macabre dancing Koko lets Qwill in on the clues. Polly also gets a new cat, much to the disgust of Qwill (and to me, I've never really enjoyed reading the Polly scenes)
Expect a nice dollop of Pickaxe and the surrounds history, and a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end!
May 31, 2017
I'm re-reading the cat who series which I enjoy. I'd forgotten how obnoxious Polly Duncan is- what does Qwill see in her?!
February 8, 2018
Second Read: In Mackintosh Qwilleran is a newspaper writer for the crime column of the Moose County Something. He writes about crimes. There are lots of crimes in Pickax, 400 miles north of everywhere. Qwilleran is a very rich, kind-hearted man, and when his landlady/ housekeeper calls, saying she hears weird noises, he is determined to go check. But he is already too late. Iris Cobb lies dead on the floor, not moving a muscle, nor breathing the air. He is devastated. The police come, and they pester him with questions. Then he and the police plunge into the mystery.
I think the author has such a suspenseful way of writing things, because she always says thing like, "Qwilleran felt the same tingling sensation in his mustache. He pounded his mustache gently with his knuckles, and thought, 'What murder was commited just now?' " When Qwilleran feels his mustache tingle, is means that just now, a murder was being committed. Same goes for his unusual Siamese cat, Koko. Koko has 60 whiskers instead of the usual 48, and when he senses murder, his whiskers tingle. I just love these books. I have an 18 year old cat. We and the vet are quite concerned he may not have that long to live. I'm having a really hard time of it. He's my special little guy as I don't have children of my own. It hits my heart to the depths of the love that I have for him. Qwill doesn't believe in ghosts and suspects that the fatal fright was deliberate. Now Koko is behaving oddly, talking to himself and staring off into empty space. Is Qwill's cat communicating with ghosts? Or has the intuitive feline solved this mystery. I loved this book. Thought it was one of the better ones. Recommend.
First Read: My Mom and I used to read these books together. It was a lot of fun as we enjoyed them so much. First time I read it was in 1989/90. Been a long time, but I'm having some fun going back and reading some of these again. Qwill's former housekeeper, Iris Cobb, is frightened to death one evening at the Goodwinter Farm Museum, where she is the curator. Qwill offers to live at the farm until a new curator can be found, and he investigates what could have happened to scare her. Polly also adopts a Siamese kitten named Bootsie and Qwill doesn't like the kitten, just like he doesn't like the neighbour's little girl, Baby. Koko displays odd behaviour and this eventually leads Qwill to the solution of the mystery. A little different than some of her other books, but it is a good read.
I think the author has such a suspenseful way of writing things, because she always says thing like, "Qwilleran felt the same tingling sensation in his mustache. He pounded his mustache gently with his knuckles, and thought, 'What murder was commited just now?' " When Qwilleran feels his mustache tingle, is means that just now, a murder was being committed. Same goes for his unusual Siamese cat, Koko. Koko has 60 whiskers instead of the usual 48, and when he senses murder, his whiskers tingle. I just love these books. I have an 18 year old cat. We and the vet are quite concerned he may not have that long to live. I'm having a really hard time of it. He's my special little guy as I don't have children of my own. It hits my heart to the depths of the love that I have for him. Qwill doesn't believe in ghosts and suspects that the fatal fright was deliberate. Now Koko is behaving oddly, talking to himself and staring off into empty space. Is Qwill's cat communicating with ghosts? Or has the intuitive feline solved this mystery. I loved this book. Thought it was one of the better ones. Recommend.
First Read: My Mom and I used to read these books together. It was a lot of fun as we enjoyed them so much. First time I read it was in 1989/90. Been a long time, but I'm having some fun going back and reading some of these again. Qwill's former housekeeper, Iris Cobb, is frightened to death one evening at the Goodwinter Farm Museum, where she is the curator. Qwill offers to live at the farm until a new curator can be found, and he investigates what could have happened to scare her. Polly also adopts a Siamese kitten named Bootsie and Qwill doesn't like the kitten, just like he doesn't like the neighbour's little girl, Baby. Koko displays odd behaviour and this eventually leads Qwill to the solution of the mystery. A little different than some of her other books, but it is a good read.
September 22, 2016
I'm a big fan of the Cat Who series. This is a cosy mystery series that is among the best in this genre, even before this genre became mainstream. Despite a slow progress in the mystery and its resolution, I just cannot put down the book for long. Koko is a genius and Qwilleran is a great journalist - together they make an adorable pair. The books are a great blend of the serious and the amusing. It is not mandatory to read the series in the right order, but having a background of the setting (Moose County and Pickax) helps.
My only problem is how Qwilleran reacts to deaths - he seems very clinical and unemotional, which prevents the reader from empathising with the other characters. Maybe that's done intentionally by Braun to make sure we don't get caught up in the characters but remain with the story.
My only problem is how Qwilleran reacts to deaths - he seems very clinical and unemotional, which prevents the reader from empathising with the other characters. Maybe that's done intentionally by Braun to make sure we don't get caught up in the characters but remain with the story.
October 11, 2016
OMG, was The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts written by Ms. Braun or George R. R. Martin? Mrs. Cobb, a well-loved and important character in many previous Cat Who novels, is found dead before the story is barely even started! Ms. Braun does make some daring moves with her characters from time to time, but this one quite honestly shocked me. I can imagine that she angered quite a few loyal fans with her decision.
Still, I can think of few other characters whose murders Jim Qwilleran (Qwill) and his ingenious cat Koko would be more keen to solve. Though subdued, the show of grief Qwill felt at her passing was surprising... and so sharp that I could feel the knife passing through my own heart at its description. Right away, the two of them, along with Yum Yum, move into the small apartment adjacent to the Goodwinter museum, where poor Mrs. Cobb's body was found, and begin their investigations.
I was surprised at Ms. Braun's depiction of Qwill when he came face to face with the 2 year old, 'Baby'. Though it doesn't surprise me that Qwill would be the type of adult who is un-fond of young children, I would not have though he would behave so rudely toward one, at least initially (he does warm up to her toward the end). In previous novels, he was quite keen to note when someone around him was being rude and Qwill didn't strike me as the kind of person who wouldn't practice what he preached. I found myself sympathizing with 'Baby', wanting her to give Qwill the 'Mr. Wilson' treatment.
But in the end, it became obvious that the death of Mrs. Cobb affected him quite deeply because he behaved a little out of character at other points as well. He was much more... touchy. He became too easily annoyed with Mr. Bosworth or with Poly's treatment of her new pet Siamese kitten. Honestly, though still at his core the same being, I thought Ms. Braun's portrayal of Qwill was a bit... off.. and in too noticable a fashion - enough for me to call it out. In the end, it makes sense, but it still made the novel a bit difficult to read.
On the other hand, I really like how Ms. Braun built upon the Goodwinter family history as described in previous novels. As so many other authors fail to do when expanding upon previously published material, she did so in a way that made you feel like you were getting a deeper history, not a contrary one.
This deeper history is also a critical aspect of the mystery itself, and given the character killed, Ms. Braun needed to provide us with an excellent mystery in this novel. I don't think she disappoints. Though the murderer ends up being no surprise in the end. the clues are spaced out appropriately. Koko's clues, though some are becoming overused (like the titles of books that he knocks off of shelves) are provided in the catly, not-human, fashion that makes her depictions of him so entertaining.
All in all, the good outweighs the bad, and I award the novel 4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you for the novel, Lilian!
Still, I can think of few other characters whose murders Jim Qwilleran (Qwill) and his ingenious cat Koko would be more keen to solve. Though subdued, the show of grief Qwill felt at her passing was surprising... and so sharp that I could feel the knife passing through my own heart at its description. Right away, the two of them, along with Yum Yum, move into the small apartment adjacent to the Goodwinter museum, where poor Mrs. Cobb's body was found, and begin their investigations.
I was surprised at Ms. Braun's depiction of Qwill when he came face to face with the 2 year old, 'Baby'. Though it doesn't surprise me that Qwill would be the type of adult who is un-fond of young children, I would not have though he would behave so rudely toward one, at least initially (he does warm up to her toward the end). In previous novels, he was quite keen to note when someone around him was being rude and Qwill didn't strike me as the kind of person who wouldn't practice what he preached. I found myself sympathizing with 'Baby', wanting her to give Qwill the 'Mr. Wilson' treatment.
But in the end, it became obvious that the death of Mrs. Cobb affected him quite deeply because he behaved a little out of character at other points as well. He was much more... touchy. He became too easily annoyed with Mr. Bosworth or with Poly's treatment of her new pet Siamese kitten. Honestly, though still at his core the same being, I thought Ms. Braun's portrayal of Qwill was a bit... off.. and in too noticable a fashion - enough for me to call it out. In the end, it makes sense, but it still made the novel a bit difficult to read.
On the other hand, I really like how Ms. Braun built upon the Goodwinter family history as described in previous novels. As so many other authors fail to do when expanding upon previously published material, she did so in a way that made you feel like you were getting a deeper history, not a contrary one.
This deeper history is also a critical aspect of the mystery itself, and given the character killed, Ms. Braun needed to provide us with an excellent mystery in this novel. I don't think she disappoints. Though the murderer ends up being no surprise in the end. the clues are spaced out appropriately. Koko's clues, though some are becoming overused (like the titles of books that he knocks off of shelves) are provided in the catly, not-human, fashion that makes her depictions of him so entertaining.
All in all, the good outweighs the bad, and I award the novel 4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you for the novel, Lilian!
December 27, 2019
*** Mild Spoilers ***
The 10th entry in the series has Qwill once again moving temporarily. He seems to be settling back into the vagabond ways that characterized his life in the first few books. This time he and the cats move into the caretaker’s apartment at the Goodwinter museum formerly occupied by Iris Cobb after she sadly passes away from an apparent heart attack.
Unsurprisingly, Qwill soon suspects foul play. His main squeeze, Polly Duncan, has returned from her sabbatical in London and they have the following hilarious exchange:
“It’s my theory,” he said, “that Iris Cobb’s death was a case of murder.”
When Polly heard the word “murder” she was aghast. In Moose County homicide was traditionally considered the exclusive property of the cities Down Below.
My reaction to this: wait, are you KIDDING? I don’t know if Polly is just not the most observant person on the planet; or maybe that she’s in denial because she enjoys being romanced by a multi-millionaire. But I’ve been keeping track (literally, if you check my previous reviews) and the body count just since Qwill moved to Moose County is …. TWENTY NINE. That’s right, 29 people have been murdered or died under mysterious circumstances since he showed up. I think if I lived there, I would carry around a crucifix and a bottle of holy water to hurl at Qwill in case I ever accidentally crossed his path. That guy is the freaking Angel of Death.
While I’m besmirching Qwill’s character, I might as well point out that while I found him mildly annoying in the last installment, here he graduates to full-fledged jackass. He’s rude to everyone. He is too selfish to let the little neighbor girl meet Koko and YumYum even though she loves cats. Supposedly he’s all about Polly, but he regresses to Old Lecher mode when he meets Kristi, a pretty young woman who lives down the street from the museum and raises (doomed) goats. But the crowning offense in my opinion was how snotty he was about Polly’s joyful love for her newly acquired kitten, Bootsie. He actually refused to cat-sit for her! But finally he relented, which led to one of the funniest scenes so far in the series, where Bootsie basically kicked Qwill’s ass. I enjoyed it immensely.
So even though I didn't like Qwill so much, I enjoyed the book. It was quick and breezy, with the usual cast of Moose County characters and some new ones. We learn nothing further about Qwill’s past life but there is a surprising development in the recurring story of old Ephraim Goodwinter – original owner of the farm - who either committed suicide or was lynched back in 1904. Koko provides his psychic assistance to the best of his ability and the mystery of Mrs. Cobb’s murder is eventually solved.
Originally published: 1990
Body Count: 2
Preceded by: The Cat Who Went Underground
Next Up: The Cat Who Lived High
The 10th entry in the series has Qwill once again moving temporarily. He seems to be settling back into the vagabond ways that characterized his life in the first few books. This time he and the cats move into the caretaker’s apartment at the Goodwinter museum formerly occupied by Iris Cobb after she sadly passes away from an apparent heart attack.
Unsurprisingly, Qwill soon suspects foul play. His main squeeze, Polly Duncan, has returned from her sabbatical in London and they have the following hilarious exchange:
“It’s my theory,” he said, “that Iris Cobb’s death was a case of murder.”
When Polly heard the word “murder” she was aghast. In Moose County homicide was traditionally considered the exclusive property of the cities Down Below.
My reaction to this: wait, are you KIDDING? I don’t know if Polly is just not the most observant person on the planet; or maybe that she’s in denial because she enjoys being romanced by a multi-millionaire. But I’ve been keeping track (literally, if you check my previous reviews) and the body count just since Qwill moved to Moose County is …. TWENTY NINE. That’s right, 29 people have been murdered or died under mysterious circumstances since he showed up. I think if I lived there, I would carry around a crucifix and a bottle of holy water to hurl at Qwill in case I ever accidentally crossed his path. That guy is the freaking Angel of Death.
While I’m besmirching Qwill’s character, I might as well point out that while I found him mildly annoying in the last installment, here he graduates to full-fledged jackass. He’s rude to everyone. He is too selfish to let the little neighbor girl meet Koko and YumYum even though she loves cats. Supposedly he’s all about Polly, but he regresses to Old Lecher mode when he meets Kristi, a pretty young woman who lives down the street from the museum and raises (doomed) goats. But the crowning offense in my opinion was how snotty he was about Polly’s joyful love for her newly acquired kitten, Bootsie. He actually refused to cat-sit for her! But finally he relented, which led to one of the funniest scenes so far in the series, where Bootsie basically kicked Qwill’s ass. I enjoyed it immensely.
So even though I didn't like Qwill so much, I enjoyed the book. It was quick and breezy, with the usual cast of Moose County characters and some new ones. We learn nothing further about Qwill’s past life but there is a surprising development in the recurring story of old Ephraim Goodwinter – original owner of the farm - who either committed suicide or was lynched back in 1904. Koko provides his psychic assistance to the best of his ability and the mystery of Mrs. Cobb’s murder is eventually solved.
Originally published: 1990
Body Count: 2
Preceded by: The Cat Who Went Underground
Next Up: The Cat Who Lived High
February 5, 2017
One of my favorite mysteries of all time!
A well-written mystery filled with funny antics of Jim Qwilleran and his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum. A good friend of Jim’s is hearing noises and calls on Jim for help one late night. By the time Jim arrives, she is lying dead and appears to have been scared to death. Jim decides to move into her place and figure out what happened. A really great mystery and one that had me in stitches. I highly recommend this mystery and the whole series, in fact.
I received this book as a Christmas gift years ago.
My Rating: 5 stars
This review first appeared: https://princessofthelight.wordpress....
A well-written mystery filled with funny antics of Jim Qwilleran and his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum. A good friend of Jim’s is hearing noises and calls on Jim for help one late night. By the time Jim arrives, she is lying dead and appears to have been scared to death. Jim decides to move into her place and figure out what happened. A really great mystery and one that had me in stitches. I highly recommend this mystery and the whole series, in fact.
I received this book as a Christmas gift years ago.
My Rating: 5 stars
This review first appeared: https://princessofthelight.wordpress....
April 9, 2024
Qwill's exhousekeeper has asked him to investigate some spooky noises at her farmhouse, but when the gang shows up they're already too late. She was frightened to death, but by what? After moving into the farmhouse himself, Qwill and cats begin to hear eerie things. Is it all in their imagination or can they solve this haunting murder.
January 28, 2014
I love the earlier Cat Who books, like this one.
July 31, 2020
Quill is called in the middle of the night by his old landlady Mrs. Cobb. She is hysterical believing something is after her. When Quill gets to her house it is to find her dead on the floor of her kitchen. Quill agrees to move to the museum that Mrs. Cobb was proprietor of until they can get a new manager. So Quill, Koko and Yum Yum move residences.
A new set of characters are involved in the new town and very interesting. Quill's mustache is tingling and he suspects there is more than what is apparent on the surface.
This was a very good mystery and I enjoyed it because of the new characters and the old that helped the story along. This one had good pacing, good characters and a good mystery. Well done!
A new set of characters are involved in the new town and very interesting. Quill's mustache is tingling and he suspects there is more than what is apparent on the surface.
This was a very good mystery and I enjoyed it because of the new characters and the old that helped the story along. This one had good pacing, good characters and a good mystery. Well done!
August 13, 2021
People complain of George RR Martin killing off characters, but he doesn’t have anything on Ms. Braun. One of the longest-appearing characters is killed off in this book, from an apparent heart attack that of course turns out to be murder. Qwilleran uncovers that murderer, with Koko’s help and uncovers more Moose County secrets.
May 28, 2022
When Jim Qwilleran's former landlady turns up dead, Qwill suspects there is foul play involved. The rest of the book deals with solving the mystery. It involves a mining accident, a staged funeral, and buried treasure!!! Seriously though, if you've never read the Cat Who series, I hope you'll find them as enjoyable as I did!!!
March 8, 2019
This book is a wonderful cozy mystery ... the mystery seems complete, the characters are wonderful, some of them are new to the series, as Qwill goes to a different (but nearby) town for a while, and of course, the cats are wonderful!
October 15, 2016
After a series of mysterious events cause a museum owner named Iris Cobb to have a heart attack, Jim “Qwill” Qwilleran and his two Siamese cats Koko and Yum-Yum move into the office to try to solve her indirect murder. As the mystery progresses, Qwill uncovers a conspiracy almost a century in the making that involves a lynching of a mine tycoon that could be interpreted as either suicide or murder depending on who’s talking. The two deaths don’t seem connected at first, but Qwill begins to wonder as he digs deeper. In between tracking clues and interviewing suspects and witnesses, Qwill likes to unwind by having dinner at fancy restaurants with his friends and snuggling up to his Siamese kitties. Downtime is the detective’s best friend.
I’ve been a fan of Lilian Jackson Braun for a long time. Having said that, I’ve never noticed until after reading this book how much she tends to tell instead of show. All this time, I’ve modeled my own writing style off of someone with an almost minimalist approach to descriptive writing. However, what’s stopping me from giving this book a mixed grade instead of a passing one is the fact that the writing style was by design. These “Cat Who” books are considered light reading and easy on the eyes with a smooth pace. Sometimes descriptive language has to be sacrificed to achieve such mellow reading. I can accept that. Therefore, this paragraph isn’t really a criticism, because I enjoy a relaxing book every now and then.
The mystery in this book is one that is well constructed, probably the best one I’ve read in the “Cat Who” series so far. Though this is mostly a G-rated mystery, the deaths and violence that do take place will leave a lasting impression and will give a greater urgency for the crimes to be solved. This isn’t about fingerprint taking and crime lab work. This is about researching a conspiracy that goes back to the early 1900’s and how it connects with the mystery of the present time. Without the extensive interviews and reading, this case probably would have gotten cold. While I won’t give away the results of the mystery, I will tell you that you can expect some serious homework to be done on the part of Qwill.
And of course, what would a “Cat Who” mystery be without, you guessed it, kitties? Koko is such an inquisitive little feline who always plays a pivotal role in solving even the coldest of crimes. Yum Yum is a cutie pie who loves to roll around and play with everyone. Qwill’s girlfriend, Polly Duncan, even has a tiny little ball of fur named Bootsie, who has more energy in one leap than athletic runners have in a whole sprint. There’s even a scene where Bootsie digs his claws so deep into Qwill’s back that he needs help prying the little guy off. But at the end of the day, all three kitties are worthy of eating a well-cooked meatloaf, turkey sandwich, ribeye steak, or whatever Qwill happens to bring home from his favorite restaurants.
Another Lilian Jackson Braun mystery is in the books, pun definitely intended. We’ve got a smooth, gentle pace, smooth, gentle kitties, and a main character with a smooth, gentle disposition (even during moments of grumpiness). If you want something light to read that won’t put too much strain on your eyeballs, I suggest grabbing a copy of “The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts”. Relax in your favorite easy chair, grab a kitty, and start reading!
I’ve been a fan of Lilian Jackson Braun for a long time. Having said that, I’ve never noticed until after reading this book how much she tends to tell instead of show. All this time, I’ve modeled my own writing style off of someone with an almost minimalist approach to descriptive writing. However, what’s stopping me from giving this book a mixed grade instead of a passing one is the fact that the writing style was by design. These “Cat Who” books are considered light reading and easy on the eyes with a smooth pace. Sometimes descriptive language has to be sacrificed to achieve such mellow reading. I can accept that. Therefore, this paragraph isn’t really a criticism, because I enjoy a relaxing book every now and then.
The mystery in this book is one that is well constructed, probably the best one I’ve read in the “Cat Who” series so far. Though this is mostly a G-rated mystery, the deaths and violence that do take place will leave a lasting impression and will give a greater urgency for the crimes to be solved. This isn’t about fingerprint taking and crime lab work. This is about researching a conspiracy that goes back to the early 1900’s and how it connects with the mystery of the present time. Without the extensive interviews and reading, this case probably would have gotten cold. While I won’t give away the results of the mystery, I will tell you that you can expect some serious homework to be done on the part of Qwill.
And of course, what would a “Cat Who” mystery be without, you guessed it, kitties? Koko is such an inquisitive little feline who always plays a pivotal role in solving even the coldest of crimes. Yum Yum is a cutie pie who loves to roll around and play with everyone. Qwill’s girlfriend, Polly Duncan, even has a tiny little ball of fur named Bootsie, who has more energy in one leap than athletic runners have in a whole sprint. There’s even a scene where Bootsie digs his claws so deep into Qwill’s back that he needs help prying the little guy off. But at the end of the day, all three kitties are worthy of eating a well-cooked meatloaf, turkey sandwich, ribeye steak, or whatever Qwill happens to bring home from his favorite restaurants.
Another Lilian Jackson Braun mystery is in the books, pun definitely intended. We’ve got a smooth, gentle pace, smooth, gentle kitties, and a main character with a smooth, gentle disposition (even during moments of grumpiness). If you want something light to read that won’t put too much strain on your eyeballs, I suggest grabbing a copy of “The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts”. Relax in your favorite easy chair, grab a kitty, and start reading!
July 30, 2017
Wat de typische sfeer betreft missschien wel het beste boek in de reeks. Jammer is wel dat weer een bekend en geleifd personage overlijdt in - dit keer al van bij het begin - verdachte omstandigheden. Het plot bevat niet al te veel verrassingen, het is al direct duidelijk wie de slechte is en dus ook wel de dader zal zijn. De ingewikkelde intrige - zoasl gewoonlijk pas duidelijk op het einde - is niet echt nodig om de ontknoping grotendeels al te zien aankomen. De avonturen van de katten en de snor van Qwill vormen natuurlijk weer een rode draad doorheen het verhaal, net zoals de beschrijvingen van eten en drinken. Voor wie al wat ouder wordt is het altijd leuk om te lezen over de krasse 90-plussers die blijven functioneren en niet kapot te krijgen zijn. Weer enkele hints in verband mogelijke bovennatuurlijke krachten die later grotendeels maar nooit allemaal verklaard worden als doodgewone zaken. Wel jammer dat Qwill het normaal vind om een deel van de geschiedenis verborgen te houden en zo net zoals vandaag aan het gebeuren is, zijn eigen vorm van geschiedenis te (her)schrijven. Ethish in mijn ogen totaal verwerpelijk.
October 23, 2019
Iris called Qwill because she was hearing strange noises, and when he arrived, he found her dead. Apparently frightened to death. In this 10th installment of the Cat Who series, Qwill moves into the museum apartment that Iris occupied as manager of the museum to determine what was going on that frightened her so much. OF course, he brings the cats with him. They are the real crime solvers.
In this one, Qwill continues to be irritated with Polly, a trait that continues through the book series. We are introduced to characters that evolve over the series, and get the first glimpse of what wil be
Qwill's barn home in later books in the series.
There was a lot going on at the end of the book....and not sure I felt that there was total closure.
In this one, Qwill continues to be irritated with Polly, a trait that continues through the book series. We are introduced to characters that evolve over the series, and get the first glimpse of what wil be
Qwill's barn home in later books in the series.
There was a lot going on at the end of the book....and not sure I felt that there was total closure.
May 25, 2021
Qwilleran and his Siamese cats are back, this time filling in at the museum after the onsite manager is literally scared to death.
I love how many cozy mysteries are out there. One person's saccharine or cloying is another person's comfort. I'm a fan of Qwilleran and Moose County. I appreciate Jackson Braun's willingness to kill off longterm characters, as she does here, and I like all the low stakes drama of living in a small town. This one isn't a standout entry in the series, but it was serviceable and entertained me while I read.
I love how many cozy mysteries are out there. One person's saccharine or cloying is another person's comfort. I'm a fan of Qwilleran and Moose County. I appreciate Jackson Braun's willingness to kill off longterm characters, as she does here, and I like all the low stakes drama of living in a small town. This one isn't a standout entry in the series, but it was serviceable and entertained me while I read.
March 21, 2023
Oh man, what a way to start. Poor Iris. I always liked her. This was actually my favorite of recent books. There was a lot more to the mystery this time. And while Qwill's attitude towards women (and kids) still bugged me in this one, the rest of the story was a step up. The ancient history of the area and the convoluted familial relationships therein made this one crazy mystery to solve.
This was another quick read and all the shenanigans made it fly by. Koko had the number of the killer from the beginning. He knew what was going on and it just took Qwill awhile to catch up. Poor cats stuck with a crazy kitten coming into their space as well.
I enjoyed this novel and I'm sure I'll be back for more Moose County shenanigans again soon.
This was another quick read and all the shenanigans made it fly by. Koko had the number of the killer from the beginning. He knew what was going on and it just took Qwill awhile to catch up. Poor cats stuck with a crazy kitten coming into their space as well.
I enjoyed this novel and I'm sure I'll be back for more Moose County shenanigans again soon.
May 31, 2020
Another cute mystery whose resolution is figured out by Koko the Siamese cat, before the humans.
March 30, 2024
Really enjoyed this one. A more involved storyline with back history on some of the characters.
February 4, 2020
I would rate this 3.5 if a could.
May 30, 2023
Very upset that this character is gone now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2025
cute story! I love how it takes place when people still called landlines, read newspapers etc. refreshing setting for a murder mystery, nice plot that is actually pretty mild for a murder.
October 14, 2012
I really liked this book; I liked the mystery, I liked Qwill, I liked the cats. What I didn't like:
Qwill, who is a billionaire, is Morally Cheap. By that, I mean the guy has money, but he doesn't want to spend it. He has to buy a suit for a funeral, and doesn't want to pay the tailor. Does he think the tailor is free? Does he think the tailor has no employees to pay? He has the money, he should at least not begrudge the guy a living. I sure hope he's not this cheap in the rest of his books (I'm not saying give the money away, I'm saying recognize other people have to make a living).
His girlfriend(?): She COULD be his girlfriend, I don't know. She's a librarian and wears grey tailored suits. I've yet to meet a librarian who dresses like that. It's not like she owns every library in the state. That's odd enough, but then she drives a separate car to their 'dates' because she doesn't want people to know. Really? They're both in their 50's and they have to hide it like one of them is married or something? If I was dating the richest guy around, I'd want everyone to know so that he wouldn't be chased by other women. That alone is just stupid.
He eats at places that have 'meat you have to gnaw at but has really good flavor'. I'm sorry, but if the meat is chewy, it DOESN'T have really good flavor. It's a bad cut of meat and the people don't know how to cook. He's got the money, he can afford to eat at a decent restaurant. And a restaurant with 'chewy' meat wouldn't be in business long.
Other than that, a good book.
Qwill, who is a billionaire, is Morally Cheap. By that, I mean the guy has money, but he doesn't want to spend it. He has to buy a suit for a funeral, and doesn't want to pay the tailor. Does he think the tailor is free? Does he think the tailor has no employees to pay? He has the money, he should at least not begrudge the guy a living. I sure hope he's not this cheap in the rest of his books (I'm not saying give the money away, I'm saying recognize other people have to make a living).
His girlfriend(?): She COULD be his girlfriend, I don't know. She's a librarian and wears grey tailored suits. I've yet to meet a librarian who dresses like that. It's not like she owns every library in the state. That's odd enough, but then she drives a separate car to their 'dates' because she doesn't want people to know. Really? They're both in their 50's and they have to hide it like one of them is married or something? If I was dating the richest guy around, I'd want everyone to know so that he wouldn't be chased by other women. That alone is just stupid.
He eats at places that have 'meat you have to gnaw at but has really good flavor'. I'm sorry, but if the meat is chewy, it DOESN'T have really good flavor. It's a bad cut of meat and the people don't know how to cook. He's got the money, he can afford to eat at a decent restaurant. And a restaurant with 'chewy' meat wouldn't be in business long.
Other than that, a good book.
April 11, 2014
In this story, Qwill gets a call in the dead of night from a terrified Iris Cobb. By the time Qwill arrives to help her, he finds her dead and suspects foul play with good reason. It's a sad point in the series as Iris Cobb was a good soul and has appeared in a couple of the books. Without her help, Qwill would have not have had a place to live, help with his move up north, and a good all round friend.
The story has Qwill investigating the present and the past and finds answers to various myths that have sprung up around Moose County. So, if you've been reading the series it finally answers some of the situations that have been clouded by gossip.
Qwill also is having a hard time with Polly, his current lady, since she has gotten a kitten of her own. He is less tolerant of her goofy love of a kitten than is necessary, and in this you find he has the itch to investigate on his own. You get the feeling he's feeling a bit ready to get out of town for a bit.
As usual, many interesting stories are uncovered, and some very sad and tragic... but at least the murder of Iris is uncovered as well.
This one moves really well.
The story has Qwill investigating the present and the past and finds answers to various myths that have sprung up around Moose County. So, if you've been reading the series it finally answers some of the situations that have been clouded by gossip.
Qwill also is having a hard time with Polly, his current lady, since she has gotten a kitten of her own. He is less tolerant of her goofy love of a kitten than is necessary, and in this you find he has the itch to investigate on his own. You get the feeling he's feeling a bit ready to get out of town for a bit.
As usual, many interesting stories are uncovered, and some very sad and tragic... but at least the murder of Iris is uncovered as well.
This one moves really well.
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