The Cat Who Robbed a Bank

The Cat Who... #22

by Lilian Jackson Braun

The residents of Pickax are thrilled to see the moldering Pickax Hotel restored and reopened under new ownership, but when one of the first guests turns up dead, the victim of foul play, Qwilleran and his snooping Siamese cats are soon prowling around for clues. 155,000 first printing.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Cats, Animals, Audiobook, Cozy

242 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1999

About the author

Lilian 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.

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review
3 out of 5 stars to The Cat Who Robbed a Bank, the 22nd book in the "Cat Who" cozy mystery series, written in 1999 by Lilian Jackson Braun. In this catscapade (I think I am coining a new word here... probably not), a smooth ladies man or sorts descends on Pickax, taking ladies to tea. It's not as fun as it sounds... he's murdered. And his assistant looks guilty. But was it really her? Qwill gets to wear a disguise. The Scottish roots and heritage are in full play, which I love. And the characters all come out for this one. Overall, it wasn't a favorite in the series. It had a few open plot points and too many disconnects, but it was also strong with the humor, characters and connection. So it evened out. The series was just about starting to wind down around here. I envisioned a true bank robbery, but as always, there is a play on words!

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.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first the 'Cat Who' books were REAL mysteries but - somewhere along the line - they became stories about a colorful community where murders happen to occur. In this 22nd book in the series, a jewelry dealer is killed and journalist Jim Qwilleran becomes interested in the case. The book can be read as a standalone.

*****

Jim Qwilleran (Qwill) was a crime journalist in Chicago when he inherited a huge fortune from his mother's friend Fanny Klingenschoen. To receive the money Qwill had to move to the city of Pickax in Moose County, which is '400 miles north of everywhere.' Qwill and his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, relocated to Pickax. There Qwill set up the Klingenschoen Fund, which supports projects that benefit the community.



In this book the citizens of Pickax are excited about several upcoming events: the grand opening of the Mackintosh Inn, which is named for Qwill's deceased mother Anne;



The Mark Twain Festival - which includes programs and lectures;



The Scottish Games - which features ethnic food and sports competitions;




A traditional Scottish sport is the camber toss

The unveiling of the new bookmobile;



And an exclusive afternoon tea hosted by Mr. Delacamp - a jeweler who visits every five years to buy and sell VERY valuable gems.



Qwill - being a nosybody newspaperman - makes it his business to attend almost all local activities but he has to engage in subterfuge to attend Delacamp's tea.....which is for hat-wearing ladies only. Qwill is bemused by the jeweler, a poseur who dresses like a sultan, kisses women's hands, and does all his business in cash. This turns out to be a bad idea.



Delacamp's dead body is found in his hotel room a few mornings after the tea, and his young 'niece' is missing with the money. Qwill isn't completely surprised by this because his psychic cat Koko - who acts out when a crime occurs - was yowling at 2:00 AM....which turns out to be the approximate time of Delacamp's death.



Over the next few days Koko provides clues about the killer by unrolling paper towels; licking photographs; pawing Qwill's copy of 'Oedipus Rex'; stealing pennies; and so on. Qwill racks his brain to decipher the clues, but doesn't figure them all out until the crime is solved.

Meanwhile, the journalist engages in his usual endeavors, which include: seeing his lady friend Polly (the head librarian); inviting friends out to lunch and dinner; having people over for drinks and snacks; collecting folk tales from Moose County residents; composing his column for the 'Moose County Something'; attending festivals and games; going to committee meetings; etc.

In this book Qwill also learns something about his ancestry. Qwill was raised by a single mother who told him nothing about his father or other relatives. After the death of Fanny Klingenschoen's lawyer, Qwill is given a box of correspondence between his mom and Fanny.....which has information about Qwill's dad and grandparents.



I wouldn't recommend this book as a mystery novel, but readers who like amusing stories about interesting people would probably like it.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

In , Pickax City’s smartest cat is at it again! Kao K’o Kung, better known as Koko, is a Siamese male with a proclivity for sniffing out criminal activity. His female compatriot is Yum Yum, a shy, delicate girl who is nowhere near the detective but not immune to a small amount of mischief. When a guest jeweler is found dead in the newly re-opened hotel, which is now a more high-end inn, Koko begins leaving cryptic clues. Or are they merely new-found feline fixations?

Jim Qwilleran, known to his friends as Qwill, is a wealthy, middle-aged newspaper columnist for the Moose County Something. He inherited his money and has established a foundation that benefits the community. He is a large man of Scottish heritage who sports a bushy moustache. He writes human-interest stories and is generally a snoop, which is a good thing to be when you’re a reporter. Everyone seems to know and like Qwill. His lady friend is Polly Duncan, the chief librarian. While they make a compatible pair, it seems no mention is ever made of making the relationship purr-manent.

It seemed fitting that I finished this book on Fathers’ Day. One of Koko’s purr-sistent requests is for Qwill to choose Oedipus Rex for his daily literary diversion. Could this have a bearing on the mystery? Or is Koko merely a connoisseur of Greek literature? Not only that, but later on Qwill is bequeathed a set of letters that were written by his mother as a young woman. As he purr-uses them, he garners information about his father, a man he never met.

If you are expecting a heart-stopping thriller or purr-haps even a serious mystery, do not look to Lilian Jackson Braun. That is not to say that there is not a bit of intrigue in her stories. However, mysteries aside, I find Ms Braun’s Qwilleran and feline friend books to be a nice slice-of-life escape from the "real world" of discord and tension. There is always a touch of humor mixed with bits of literary references. Pickax and Moose County could be anywhere, even northern Minnesota, where I grew up. I sort of get a sense that it is in the UP of Michigan, however, but that’s a guess. To everyone in Moose County, areas to the south are referred to as “Down Below”. The author had a good feel for small towns and the people who lived there. As a cat lover, her knowledge and affection for felines definitely comes through in her books. So paw-sibly, her books are not for everyone, but if you like a cozy mystery now and then, and if you are a fan of felines, you will purr-obably like the writing of the late, great Lilian Jackson Braun.

4 Paws

[Piepie | The Napping Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read! I love how you can jump in anywhere in this series and I love the author's way with words!

[Libbeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the first one in the series I have read and I gather it is very late in the series. I am sure I must have just picked a poor one to start with. There are dozens in the series so they must be very popular and surely must normally have a little more substance to them. I would imagine that if you read them in order you have the chance to warm to the characters and enjoy revisiting.
My goodness, how it droned on about what people were eating and wearing and what the rooms looked like.
***SPOILERISH FROM HERE, but not much******************************
I gather that the setting is miles from anywhere but it seems to be the cultural and social centre of the middle of nowhere. Busy, busy, busy.
I didn't see the point of the cats showing us clues as Qwilleran seemed to be only half heartedly "sleuthing" and some of the clues even the reader couldn't really pick up on until the final "reveal" and you think "oh yeah, that was the point of the endless banging on about...whatever". There wasn't really a mystery anyway, you know who did it but expect a twist that never comes, just holes to pick in the plot.
On the up side, if you approach the book NOT as a mystery but as a day to day description of life and socialising in the area, with references to mystic cats, with not much point to it all, then it is a nice light read.

[ꕥ Ange_Lives_To_Read ꕥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before reading:
Qwill and I spent too much time together in 2018, so we've been on a break. Lately I've started to miss him so I'm giving him another chance.

Review:
Well, I'm not sure we're getting back together. This is another in the "Cat Who..." series where I am pretty sure I would never have picked up a second one if this had been my first. The new Pickax hotel has its Grand Reopening - it got blown up in an earlier book - and is immediately the site of a murder that is barely described, of a character who is hardly mentioned, by another character who barely registers but nevertheless was the prime suspect from the word go. Just really not good.

There wasn't much time to describe the murder, yet there was TONS of description of some Scottish festival that might be more fascinating if you are of that nationality. Koko performed a few of his tricks, leading to clues that are interesting in retrospect but of absolutely no value in solving the crime.

There is a bit of interesting background stuff where we find about Qwill's father, his mother, and her relationship to Aunt Fanny who left all that money to Qwill. These revelations come in the form of letters discovered .... I forget where ... but in the absolute worst development in the book, Qwill decides he doesn't want to know anymore and throws the letters into the fireplace. That was seriously dumb and out of character, especially as he had been saying earlier that he had no idea about his family.

I literally just finished reading it and I can't think of anything else to say about it.

[Carol Jones-Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Read: As usual, I enjoyed getting back with the old gang of quirky characters in the Cat Who series. But that's about it. I certainly don't read these fluffy short novels for the mystery elements as this one once again proves. The crime is straight forward and the perp is identified pretty early on. I kept half expecting that to be a red herring but it was not to be. The rest of the novel is packed full of daily small town life in the northern US and includes numerous vignettes of the townsfolk telling humorous stories from their past. We do get to learn some of our protagonist's (Jim Qwilleran's) past via some old letters handed to him authored by his mother during her early life but otherwise, there is not much new here.

The author, I've learned, passed away earlier this year at the age of 97 so there will be no more Cat Who books, unless another author picks it up. There have been rumors, due to the author's age, that some of these later books were, in fact, penned by somebody else, but I don't think so. They are just too consistent for that to be the case. I think I liked my second read of this book much more than the first read. I seemed to get a lot more out of the story with this read.

First Read: Read this one about 5-6 months ago, and it is an ok read. I've read a pile of these, and this one has not been my favorite. It is ok in some aspects, and weak in others. The character development is a bit different in this one. The solving of the mystery is ok but not great.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I began reading this Lillian Jackson Braun cozy mystery series shortly after it began. It is one of my favorite cozy mystery series containing all the elements that make one top notch: 1) It takes place in the small, quaint town of Pickax (somewhere in a wooded area) of the US. 2) The mystery solver is an unusual person with a great deal of perception. Jim Qwilleran is a writer fascinated with books and has two Siamese cats who tend to do things that give clues that help his detective instincts along. He is also good friends and well liked by all of Pickax citizenry. 3) The small town is filled with an unusual cast of characters that reappear in each book and soon become your best friends and a favorite book "family." 4) There is a smidgen of romance. In this case, it is between middle-aged Jim Qwilleran and Polly Duncan the head librarian of the Pickax library.

This book is filled with the usual "catescapades" of Koko and Yum-Yum. It also has a delightful touch of humor that adds to the cozy mystery. If you are a cozy mystery fan and have missed this series, I definitely recommend it. If you get hooked, there are 29 books in the series with the last written shortly before Braun's death at almost 98.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mysterious Delacamp is making an appearance in Moose County, ready to charm the ladies into buying or selling their family heirlooms, and Qwill suspects no one can be as cheesy and get away with it. He arrives with his 'niece', and when he is killed in his sleep, the police and Qwill begin the hunt for the killer(s). It's up to Koko, with his usual clues, to give his understanding of the situation and help bring the perpetrators to justice. This one also sees the restoration of the Hotel, bombed in a previous novel. It is dedicated to Qwill's mother, and we learn a little bit more about his past and especially about his father.

Returning to Moose County is always fun, and this book is no exception. Love the Cat who books! :)

[Una Tiers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the earlier books in the series,with a nice plot and fun character antics.

[Garrison Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim “Q” Qwilleran and his Siamese kitties Koko and Yum Yum are thrust into another mystery when a jewelry dealer winds up dead in a hotel room and the salesman’s assistant as well as a local Highland Games athlete go missing shortly after. Koko, being the psychic kitty he is, drops little hints in front of Q that could be mistaken for hyperactive playing. The closer Q gets to solving this case, the more he realizes that Koko really is a genius and that even the strangest clues can pan out from time to time.

I’ve been a reader of Lilian Jackson Braun’s “Cat Who” books since the early 2010’s. Every time I read one of these novels, the tropes she relies on become more and more apparent. The small town atmosphere, local gossiping, and constant lunch and dinner dates are just small examples. Others include the G-rated way in which the dead meet their fates, the townsfolk’s love of ancient literature, the typical elderly hobbies such as silhouette cutting and wood turning, and the relaxed sense of urgency when these mysteries move along. I believe it’s safe to say that if you’ve read one Cat Who book, you’ve read them all.

And yet I keep going back to them because of their relaxing nature and light reading material. This is especially comforting whenever it’s raining or otherwise cold outside. Just snuggle up with your favorite kitty and wrap yourself in a blanket for a nice afternoon or evening of easy reading. Notice how I’m using themes of comfort and relaxation with these books rather than boredom. You can be chilled out and still have lots of fun reading whatever it is you’re reading. Think of it as being like getting a chair massage with new age music playing in the background. After you’ve had your low-key fun for the day, snuggle in bed and take a nice long nap with the rain tapping on your window.

If you want to read something nice and pleasant with a double dose of feline sweetness, look no further than “The Cat Who Robbed a Bank”, or any other Cat Who book for that matter. Ms. Braun has left behind a legacy of lovability with this series alone. Yes, she had a nagging tendency to tell instead of show, but if you’re patient, it won’t matter after you’ve delved far enough into the easy-paced mystery. Easy on the eyes, easy on the soul, easy on your warm toasty kitty-loving heart. A passing grade not only for this particular book, but for the series as a whole.

[givemeabook · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read in the Cat Who... series, because I love my cats and was hoping for another good read. Qwill has a very strong attachment to Koko and Yum-Yum. The Cat Who Robbed a Bank was not a bad book and the overall story was somewhat entertaining, but it just wasn't a great book.
A few parts were confusing, like I could not understand how Qwill could burn the letters from his dead mother without finishing reading them. After all, it was still an ok read for a lazy afternoon.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the last book in this series I was wondering if they'd all be duds from here on out, but this one was wonderful!

[Challice · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a mystery novel, meh. For a interesting story with lots of random facts, wide range of characters, and cats that are smart and helpful to our main character, this may suite you well. I enjoy the clean aspect to this story. For something that's a refreshing read, this series may fit the bill.

[PagesOfRaleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always enjoyed these books and it’s been awhile since I read one last. But the characters and there personalities were memorable. I love KoKo and Yum Yum, always keeping Qwill on his toes! Ended a little too dramatically, like the word count on the book reached its max, but it won’t keep me from reading more of these 3 friends!!!

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The town of Pickax is aflutter with the news that Mr. Delacamp is coming back. He buys and sells antiques and has a females-only tea party. Qwilleran plays security guard, with the help of some friends.

The hotel is renovated and everyone is in awe of the new look, new eateries, and the newly named "Mark Twain" suite, which Mr. Delacamp was in. Mr. Delacamp had an assistant, a very demure young woman to some, a flirt to others. She disappeared when he was murdered, taking a lot of valuable things and leaving her own.

Qwilleran attended the Scottish games, where a gold medal was won by John "Boze" Campbell, who told Lenny a secret.
Lenny asked Qwill what to do, and Qwill brought in legal help. Qwill bought a mechanical coin bank which is in the shape of a Scottish man in a kilt, and Koko opened it, taking the money.

When an old lawyer in town dies, Qwill receives old letters telling about his mother's love and marriage before his birth. He finds that the ideal of romance does not line up with the situation given in the letters and burns them.

Who done it? Mr. Delacamp's assistant seduced John "Boze" Campbell into killing Mr. Delacamp. Boze confided in Lenny and then, after Lenny told the authorities, Boze went on the run - resulting in several escapades. Boze died when he fell down a shaft house. The assistant was identified as Helen Penney and arrested when boarding a plane to Brazil. Koko was interested in pennies and Brazil nuts, paper towels and pencils.

[Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure if I've read this one before! I love this series. The characters are like old friends. Their lives change slightly with every book. Additionally, the setting reminds me of home (Michigan), and I think it's fascinating how things change over time - from a small town with nothing going on to this bustling place with a community college, a newly renovated inn, all kinds of restaurants... most of which is thanks to Qwill's fortune. I love how LJB develops her world. in this story, Qwill has a chance to learn more about his mother, a particularly sad subplot. These books are like comfort food for me.

[Savannah Riestenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A random book on my shelf that I thought I should finally read. I didn't expect to like it, it seemed to "doctor's waiting room" quality, but I did end up liking it! It was a carefree little crime novel that wasn't heavy and depressing. Plus all of the cats scattered throughout the town always made me smile.

[Sophia H · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute book. I expected more mystery in it though, and it was a bit slow of a book. I didn't really like the ending either, it just didn't seem to resolve things. But it was enjoyable to read, just kind of a stroll through the life of Jim Quilleran (the main character) and it was fun!

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haven't read a book from this series in quite awhile. What a pleasure to read one again. His two Siamese cats Koko and Yum Yum are such characters. She writes in such an enjoyable manner. Quill and his friends become your friends and you smile quite often while reading.

[Susan Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt this one was a little rushed in trying to show guilt on someone, how they did it, why they did it, all that got lost somewhere. Not as good a story and the other ones I have read.

[Dawn Ireland · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cat Who series is always a great read!

[Tommy Verhaegen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Het duurt lang voor er in dit boek sprake is van moord. En dan is het niet echt spannend voor de lezer. Hoewel de politie nog in het duister tast en het verkeerde spoor volgt, is het eigenlijk al direct duidelijk wie de echte moordenaar is. Daar maakt Lilian Jackson Braun dan ook helemaal geen woorden meer aan vuil. Ze gaat gewoon over tot de order van de dag en concentreert zich op Qwill en de perikelen van zijn siamese katten.
Het dagelijkse leven in Pickax biedt niet echt verrassingen al zijn er natuurlijk altijd enkele nieuwkomers die daarom geen blijvers zullen zijn. En er vinden tussen de oudere bewoners altijd sterfevallen plaats. Levensecht en een kenmerk van de boeken van Braun maar niet altijd even leuk. De schrijfstijl nodigt uit om mee te leven met de karakters die al heel wat boeken meegaan, hun dood moet dan even verwerkt worden. Qwill doet zich altijd als een gewone man zonder veel geld voor maar laat ondertussen hetzelfde geld wel rollen. Hij geeft veel geld uit, voor zichzelf, zijn katten, zijn vrienden, een goed doel...
Er worden zoals gebruikelijk weer enkele tot nu toe onderbelichte plaatsjes meer gedetailleerd beschreven.

[Lynnette · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot going on in this little tale, so much that the mystery feels more like a side story. The competing interest is more information revealed about Qwilleran's parents. As always a quick, fun read.

[Lisa Elkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent

[Becky Beaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful! As with all of the "The Cat Who..." books, this one is a little simple and a little silly, and that is just fine. Fun and quick to read. Highly recommended. Read in 2023

[Lee W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable.

[GCDiam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been wanting to read this series for years - was fascinated by the titles... "The Cat Who....." - We have a Mr. K's Used Books, Music, and More nearby and I have been able to get the titles in order - every once in awhile I find a book not available and will go to Amazon and order it. I have learned to not get too involved emotionally with second tier characters as the author had a nasty habit of offing them once they became interesting. I have to say that the ending of this book left me saddened. Much is made over the life of the series about Qwilleran's and Arch Riker's lifelong relationships. I was struck with the difference in the childhood / adulthood relationships of this books characters Lenny Inchpot and Boze Campbell. I do look forward to seeing more about the mysterious rare book author who has just moved into Quill's and Polly's building. A good read - I do enjoy this series and the mysterious inputs of KoKo the siamese.

[Lynne Tull · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I forget these books are cataloged "Mystery". I get caught up in the story of Qwill's life as a big fish in a little pond. His two Siamese cats help with this "feel good" story. This is like a TV series that has been renewed for many seasons. The characters become friends and you wish you were really part of their story. Of course, since this series is a Mystery series, there is always a murder and a killer. More often than not the killers in Ms. Braun's books are sympathetic characters that are from the Pickax area and have been duped into killing the victim. This duper is usually from down below and is captured by the end of the book. Of course, Koko has been feeding Qwill clues since the beginning of the book. No matter that Qwill is an intelligent journalist, he never seems to plug into these clues except in an abstract manner. Only five more books to go.

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Warning of mild spoiler) Not a whole lot of mystery here, which gives the books more drama, this one was more like a soap opera of sorts, just visiting friends and finding out about the characters. This is the downside of this series, the mysteries become a bit weaker as the series gets toward the end. However, at this point I can read them just to visit with the character I like and at times, skim past parts that repeat past info.


(Spoiler) In this one Qwill receives a bundle of letters that his mother wrote her friend, and he ends up burning them... what is wrong with this man. He knows what happened but he should have kept the letters as a way to at least have a memento that he claims to want earlier. Very frustrating to read this.