"The Cat Who..." series by Lillian Jackson Braun

I first published this review October 13, 2010 
One of my high school friends, Kris, suggested these books to me several years ago. She knew that I enjoyed reading mysteries and thought I would enjoy these. She was right!

Lillian Jackson Braun created James Qwilleran, known as Qwill, and his two sidekicks, KoKo and Yum Yum, two Siamese cats.

Qwill is a journalist in his upper 40's to mid 50's, a good looking man. His past included the service, a lost love, writing a book on crime, alcoholism, losing his job because of the alcoholism, having an accident that woke him to reality then getting help with the alcoholism and then beginning work at "The Daily Fluxion."

After the first few books he moves "400 miles north of everything" to Pickax in Moose County. He has to live in Pickax for 5 years to inherit billions of dollars. He didn't think he would like small town living but found that he loves it.

He also discovered that being a billionaire is a nuisance so he establishes a philanthropic organization dedicated to improving life in Moose County.

One characteristic he is well known for is his "luxurious mustache." This mustache is more than just looks - it also  "tingles" when Qwill gets a suspicion that something is wrong. While reading the books, this characteristic is not as corny as it sounds!

 The first of his sidekicks is KoKo - full name Kao K'o Kung. KoKo's most notable characteristic is his 6th sense.  Qwill believes KoKo has his 6th sense because he has 30 whiskers on each side of his face, while most cats have 24.

Yum Yum was added to the household when Qwill realized KoKo was lonely while he was at work. Yum Yum was being mistreated by her owners so Qwill adopted her.

The bond between Qwill and his cats is very strong and  they help him solve many murders. Qwill is known to put himself in great danger when the cats are threatened.

I realize many cat lovers pick these books because of the cats.  I pick these books because I enjoy the story.  How many times have you played the game "If I won a million dollars I would...." Well, these books live that out in Qwill's circumstances.

Plus I love a good mystery. Especially the "cozies".  Cozies are books without a lot of gory details or explicit situations and most are in a series. Light entertainment. 

The characters in Braun's books become old friends!

     

Lillian Jackson Braun is very protective of her private life so there isn't much known about her.  She doesn't have the ever popular author web site. In looking up information about her, one website says she was born in 1913 another says 1916. Either one, she in an older  author.

In 1966 and 1968 she had 3 novels published: "The Cat Who Could Read Backwards" "The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern" and "The Cat Who Turned On and Off".

She then disappeared from the publishing scene for 18 years.  She now has 34 titles in this series.  Number 35 "The Cat Who Smelled Smoke" was to be released in 2008, was postponed to be released in 2009, then was later canceled by the publisher.

I don't like the early books - before he moved to Moose County - as well as the ones written with him in Moose County. Her last few books aren't up to her usual standard. It's thought that either she wasn't doing the writing or she just wasn't writing as well because of her age. - They still carry on the same story.