Cat Who series
Encyclopedia
The Cat Who... is a novel series of murder mystery
novel
s by Lilian Jackson Braun
. This series is called the "Cat Who..." series because each book title in this series begins with the words "The Cat Who. . .".
"Cat Who..." books feature a reporter named James Qwilleran and his Siamese cats
, Kao K'o-Kung (Koko for short) and Yum-Yum. The first book in the series was written in 1966, with two more following in 1967 and 1968. Eighteen years passed until Jackson Braun published the next book in the series, and through 2007 a new "Cat Who..." title was published with some regularity. Lawrence Block
once wrote in one of his Burglar books the rather facetious comment that the next book in the series ought to be entitled 'The Cat Who Lived Forever'.
, so he could not stay in his theater group. Qwill’s grandparents strongly disapproved of this relationship, and broke off all contact with his mother; Dana, deprived of work opportunities because of the economic depression, fell into evil ways and was eventually shot dead while attempting burglary. Because of this, Qwill never knew any family other than his mother. But he does remember his mother’s friend Francesca Klingenschoen, known to Qwilleran as Aunt Fanny.
He grew up with Arch Riker, who would be his life-long friend, and with a love of literature. He was very smart at school, won many spelling bees and was always very fond of language and baseball. One of his English teachers was particularly influential, cultivating his ability to compose an interesting essay on any topic. When he was seventeen, his girlfriend, Joy Wheatley (she later returns in The Cat Who Saw Red
) left to "find herself" and Qwill joined the service. It is never explicitly stated which war he fought in, but it is likely that he served during Operation Torch during World War II, since several times throughout the series he uses a curse he learned while in North Africa. He came out of it with an injured knee and so could not have the career in baseball he always desired. So he went to college, participated in some acting, but found it was journalism for which he had a natural knack.
In this light he decided to become a journalist, and encountered great success in this field. He primarily reported on crime for major newspapers, and even wrote a book, "City of Brotherly Crime" (a best-seller), and won many awards. He then married Miriam, an advertising executive who resembled Joy. But the marriage was bad and ended in a shattering divorce that left Miriam in an insane asylum and Qwill feeling depressed and guilty. This led him to become an alcoholic
and lose his job. One night while drunk, he fell into the path of a subway train and was rescued just in time. This brought him back to reality and he got help.
After resolving never to touch alcohol again, he was virtually broke. Qwill went to "the city" (no name is given, but it is most likely in the Great Lakes
area, probably Detroit based on Lilian's residence and its 2 newspapers that are delivered throughout the state) to get a job at "The Daily Fluxion." The books continue the story from this point.
One summer, he and his cats go for a quiet retreat, vacationing in the north woods, and visit Aunt Fanny on the way. Soon after, Aunt Fanny dies, and Quill is surprised to learn that her will leaves the vast Klingenschoen fortune to him -- provided he lives in Moose County for the next 5 years.
So Qwilleran moves to Moose County in the northern part of the state, and the next few books record this adjustment -- for him, and his cats. Despite the initial culture shock of small-town life, Qwilleran makes friends and, after determining that being a billionaire is a nuisance, establishes the Klingenschoen Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to improving life in Moose County and surrounds.
After a while, his life settles into a yearly pattern. He spends springs and autumns at the four-story apple barn he'd had converted into a residence; he spends summers at a cabin on the shore of one of the Great Lakes; and he spends his winters in a condo development, as the barn is impractical to live in during the winter, being four stories of open interior space and therefore impossible to heat evenly.
’s. (Elsewhere it is compared to those of Mark Twain
- who is alleged to have visited Moose County in 1895 - and Charles Rennie Mackintosh
.) But his moustache is more than just facial hair. It often provides clues to help Qwilleran solve the various mysteries that confront him. Whenever Qwilleran gets a suspicion that something is wrong or his instincts are right, he will get "a tingling sensation on his upper lip." Depending upon the strength of the sensation, he may be seen "stroking it with his fingertips" to "pounding [his mustache] with his knuckles".
He has a willingness to listen, which is described as part curiosity and part professional interest. He also has a strong desire to investigate things that are not his business and could endanger him, and these investigations make up the plot of the various books.
, and was formerly owned by Fluxion art critic George Bonifield Mountclemens III, who was highly fond of cats. Mountclemens claimed that the cat "...himself has the dignity and grace of Chinese art
." He fed Koko a gourmet diet of lobster, chicken and many other high-class meals. Koko will not accept normal cat food, leaving Qwilleran to provide for his expensive diet.
He has the appearance of a prize winning show-cat and an obstinate attitude toward anything he does not like. He often goes out of his way to annoy or embarrass female humans he does not approve of. He also has a habit of watching birds and knocking books off shelves, and these books are normally read to the cats by Qwilleran. Though it would seem he would be able to do fine on his own, when Qwill had to go to work, Koko became lonely and this led to Qwill to get Yum-Yum. Of course, because Koko eats food like salmon and crab, Yum-Yum had the privilege of eating this food as well. Qwilleran always feeds them such meals throughout the series.
Qwilleran believes Koko has his sixth sense because he has 30 whiskers on each side of his face (60 in total), while most cats have 24 (48 in total). Whiskers are significant in the stories because, as mentioned earlier, Qwill often has a tingling sensation in his moustache when he is on the right train of thought when a case is involved, and a moustache can be called "whiskers."
, but it can be summed up rather briefly. Qwilleran got Yum-Yum as a kitten from the Taits, rich folk who did not treat Yum-Yum properly and did not even truly decide on her name. Mr. Tait, a jade collector, named her Yu after a variety of jade, while Mrs. Tait, whose family originates from Aarhus
, Denmark
calls her Freya
, after the Norse goddess of love.
Qwilleran adopted her partially because he could not stand her circumstances (explained in The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern
) and partially because, after consulting an expert, Qwilleran realized Koko needed someone to keep him company. Yum-Yum is named after a character in the opera The Mikado
by Gilbert and Sullivan
who is also the ward of a man named Ko-Ko.
In addition, the novels above are sometimes published as 3-in-1 volumes or omnibus box sets under various names playing on the general title themes (such as Two Cats, Three Tales or The Cat Who Put Four in a Box).
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s by Lilian Jackson Braun
Lilian Jackson Braun
Lilian Jackson Braun was an American writer, well known for her light-hearted series of "The Cat Who..." mystery novels...
. This series is called the "Cat Who..." series because each book title in this series begins with the words "The Cat Who. . .".
"Cat Who..." books feature a reporter named James Qwilleran and his Siamese cats
Siamese (cat)
The Siamese is one of the first distinctly recognized breeds of Oriental cat. The origins of the breed are unknown, but it is believed to be from Thailand. In Thailand, where they are one of several native breeds, they are called Wichian Mat...
, Kao K'o-Kung (Koko for short) and Yum-Yum. The first book in the series was written in 1966, with two more following in 1967 and 1968. Eighteen years passed until Jackson Braun published the next book in the series, and through 2007 a new "Cat Who..." title was published with some regularity. Lawrence Block
Lawrence Block
Lawrence Block is an acclaimed contemporary American crime writer best known for two long-running New York–set series, about the recovering alcoholic P.I. Matthew Scudder and gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, respectively...
once wrote in one of his Burglar books the rather facetious comment that the next book in the series ought to be entitled 'The Cat Who Lived Forever'.
James Mackintosh Qwilleran
Qwilleran, or Qwill as his friends call him, is the main human character in the books. He was born Merlin James Qwilleran, a fact explained by his mother (in a letter to Francesca Klingenschoen) as a product of reading King Arthur during her pregnancy. His father, Dana, was a talented theater actor who toured the country. When he met Qwill’s mother, Anne Mackintosh, they chose to stay in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, so he could not stay in his theater group. Qwill’s grandparents strongly disapproved of this relationship, and broke off all contact with his mother; Dana, deprived of work opportunities because of the economic depression, fell into evil ways and was eventually shot dead while attempting burglary. Because of this, Qwill never knew any family other than his mother. But he does remember his mother’s friend Francesca Klingenschoen, known to Qwilleran as Aunt Fanny.
He grew up with Arch Riker, who would be his life-long friend, and with a love of literature. He was very smart at school, won many spelling bees and was always very fond of language and baseball. One of his English teachers was particularly influential, cultivating his ability to compose an interesting essay on any topic. When he was seventeen, his girlfriend, Joy Wheatley (she later returns in The Cat Who Saw Red
The Cat Who Saw Red
The Cat Who Saw Red is the fourth book in the Cat Who series of mystery novels by Lilian Jackson Braun, published in 1986.- Plot summary :...
) left to "find herself" and Qwill joined the service. It is never explicitly stated which war he fought in, but it is likely that he served during Operation Torch during World War II, since several times throughout the series he uses a curse he learned while in North Africa. He came out of it with an injured knee and so could not have the career in baseball he always desired. So he went to college, participated in some acting, but found it was journalism for which he had a natural knack.
In this light he decided to become a journalist, and encountered great success in this field. He primarily reported on crime for major newspapers, and even wrote a book, "City of Brotherly Crime" (a best-seller), and won many awards. He then married Miriam, an advertising executive who resembled Joy. But the marriage was bad and ended in a shattering divorce that left Miriam in an insane asylum and Qwill feeling depressed and guilty. This led him to become an alcoholic
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and lose his job. One night while drunk, he fell into the path of a subway train and was rescued just in time. This brought him back to reality and he got help.
After resolving never to touch alcohol again, he was virtually broke. Qwill went to "the city" (no name is given, but it is most likely in the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
area, probably Detroit based on Lilian's residence and its 2 newspapers that are delivered throughout the state) to get a job at "The Daily Fluxion." The books continue the story from this point.
One summer, he and his cats go for a quiet retreat, vacationing in the north woods, and visit Aunt Fanny on the way. Soon after, Aunt Fanny dies, and Quill is surprised to learn that her will leaves the vast Klingenschoen fortune to him -- provided he lives in Moose County for the next 5 years.
So Qwilleran moves to Moose County in the northern part of the state, and the next few books record this adjustment -- for him, and his cats. Despite the initial culture shock of small-town life, Qwilleran makes friends and, after determining that being a billionaire is a nuisance, establishes the Klingenschoen Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to improving life in Moose County and surrounds.
After a while, his life settles into a yearly pattern. He spends springs and autumns at the four-story apple barn he'd had converted into a residence; he spends summers at a cabin on the shore of one of the Great Lakes; and he spends his winters in a condo development, as the barn is impractical to live in during the winter, being four stories of open interior space and therefore impossible to heat evenly.
Appearance and Moustache
Qwilleran is a man of upper forties to mid fifties. He's six feet, two inches tall, with dark brooding eyes and salt-and-pepper hair (he can still claim that it's mostly pepper). His weight varies from being slightly over weight in the early books to an average weight in the mid-to-late books. He is often described as looking melancholy or brooding, but he is witty and enjoyable company. His most distinguishing feature is his "luxurious moustache," which is considered attractive by many women, and Polly Duncan describes it as being similar to the composer Edward MacDowellEdward MacDowell
Edward Alexander MacDowell was an American composer and pianist of the Romantic period. He was best known for his second piano concerto and his piano suites "Woodland Sketches", "Sea Pieces", and "New England Idylls". "Woodland Sketches" includes his most popular short piece, "To a Wild Rose"...
’s. (Elsewhere it is compared to those of Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
- who is alleged to have visited Moose County in 1895 - and Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a Scottish architect, designer, watercolourist and artist. He was a designer in the Arts and Crafts movement and also the main representative of Art Nouveau in the United Kingdom. He had a considerable influence on European design...
.) But his moustache is more than just facial hair. It often provides clues to help Qwilleran solve the various mysteries that confront him. Whenever Qwilleran gets a suspicion that something is wrong or his instincts are right, he will get "a tingling sensation on his upper lip." Depending upon the strength of the sensation, he may be seen "stroking it with his fingertips" to "pounding [his mustache] with his knuckles".
He has a willingness to listen, which is described as part curiosity and part professional interest. He also has a strong desire to investigate things that are not his business and could endanger him, and these investigations make up the plot of the various books.
Koko
"Kao K’o-Kung" is the full name of the Siamese cat who is almost always referred to as "Koko". He is named after a 13th century Chinese artist of the same name, also known as Gao KegongGao Kegong
Gao Kegong was a Chinese painter, and sometimes poet, born during the Yuan dynasty, he was known for his landscapes.He was a good friend and colleague of Zhao Mengfu, and his paintings showed an artistic combination between Han and other minorities during the Yuan Dynasty.-External links:*...
, and was formerly owned by Fluxion art critic George Bonifield Mountclemens III, who was highly fond of cats. Mountclemens claimed that the cat "...himself has the dignity and grace of Chinese art
Chinese art
Chinese art is visual art that, whether ancient or modern, originated in or is practiced in China or by Chinese artists or performers. Early so-called "stone age art" dates back to 10,000 BC, mostly consisting of simple pottery and sculptures. This early period was followed by a series of art...
." He fed Koko a gourmet diet of lobster, chicken and many other high-class meals. Koko will not accept normal cat food, leaving Qwilleran to provide for his expensive diet.
He has the appearance of a prize winning show-cat and an obstinate attitude toward anything he does not like. He often goes out of his way to annoy or embarrass female humans he does not approve of. He also has a habit of watching birds and knocking books off shelves, and these books are normally read to the cats by Qwilleran. Though it would seem he would be able to do fine on his own, when Qwill had to go to work, Koko became lonely and this led to Qwill to get Yum-Yum. Of course, because Koko eats food like salmon and crab, Yum-Yum had the privilege of eating this food as well. Qwilleran always feeds them such meals throughout the series.
6th Sense
Koko’s most notable characteristic is his sixth sense. His actions are not that extraordinary, they mainly involve digging up small pieces of evidence, pointing things out to Qwilleran by acting extremely attracted to them, using body language to communicate things, making a “death howl” whenever a death is caused by foul play, and doing things that make Qwilleran think of something that turns out to be a clue. Sometimes Qwilleran does not immediately recognize the significance of Koko’s actions, and sometimes will not recognize them at all (if they occur before Qwill has the slightest idea of any misdemeanor). During the several occasions in which Qwill’s life has been threatened, Koko has come to his aid and been instrumental in the defeat of Qwill’s assailant. Koko’s action made him famous among members of The Press Club in the city, where he received an official membership signed by the Chief of Police.Qwilleran believes Koko has his sixth sense because he has 30 whiskers on each side of his face (60 in total), while most cats have 24 (48 in total). Whiskers are significant in the stories because, as mentioned earlier, Qwill often has a tingling sensation in his moustache when he is on the right train of thought when a case is involved, and a moustache can be called "whiskers."
Yum-Yum
"Yum-Yum" does not play as active a role in the mysteries, but is still a major character in the series. She is also Siamese, and had a troubled past. Her history is fully explained in The Cat Who Ate Danish ModernThe Cat Who Ate Danish Modern
The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern is the second novel in Lilian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who..." series, published in 1967. This book introduces Yum Yum, who will become a permanent character in the series.-Plot introduction:...
, but it can be summed up rather briefly. Qwilleran got Yum-Yum as a kitten from the Taits, rich folk who did not treat Yum-Yum properly and did not even truly decide on her name. Mr. Tait, a jade collector, named her Yu after a variety of jade, while Mrs. Tait, whose family originates from Aarhus
Aarhus
Aarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
calls her Freya
Freya
In Norse mythology, Freyja is a goddess associated with love, beauty, fertility, gold, seiðr, war, and death. Freyja is the owner of the necklace Brísingamen, rides a chariot driven by two cats, owns the boar Hildisvíni, possesses a cloak of falcon feathers, and, by her husband Óðr, is the mother...
, after the Norse goddess of love.
Qwilleran adopted her partially because he could not stand her circumstances (explained in The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern
The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern
The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern is the second novel in Lilian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who..." series, published in 1967. This book introduces Yum Yum, who will become a permanent character in the series.-Plot introduction:...
) and partially because, after consulting an expert, Qwilleran realized Koko needed someone to keep him company. Yum-Yum is named after a character in the opera The Mikado
The Mikado
The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations...
by Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
who is also the ward of a man named Ko-Ko.
Traits
Yum-Yum is described as being smaller than Koko. Her beautiful blue eyes are charmingly crossed. She likes to pilfer small objects, which often turn out to be clues to solving the current mystery. She has a lot of dexterity, being able to open drawers, operate switches, and so forth. This last trait has earned her the nickname "Yum-Yum The Paw."Qwilleran’s relationship with his cats
Qwilleran has a very strong attachment to Koko and Yum-Yum. Qwilleran is not affected by matters that could threaten his own life, but becomes extremely anxious when matters involve the cats. During the several occasions where they had gone missing, he has risked his own life to save them, and he does not know what he would do without them. He often thinks that his old acquaintances would never believe he could love his cats as he does, and can hardly believe it himself sometimes. There is, however, no question that Qwilleran has an extremely strong bond with his cats.Books
The "Cat Who" series comprises 29 novels and three related volumes to date. A thirtieth novel, originally announced for 2008 publication, was postponed indefinitely by its publisher, and then canceled after the author's death.Novels
The novels in the series are, in order:- The Cat Who Could Read BackwardsThe Cat Who Could Read BackwardsThe Cat Who Could Read Backwards is the first novel in Lilian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who..." series, published in 1966.-Plot introduction:...
, 1966 (ISBN 0-515-09017-4): Qwill and Koko's first meeting. - The Cat Who Ate Danish ModernThe Cat Who Ate Danish ModernThe Cat Who Ate Danish Modern is the second novel in Lilian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who..." series, published in 1967. This book introduces Yum Yum, who will become a permanent character in the series.-Plot introduction:...
, 1967 (ISBN 0-515-08712-2): Qwill is given the interior design beat for his newspaper. He also meets Yum Yum. - The Cat Who Turned On and OffThe Cat Who Turned On and OffThe Cat Who Turned On and Off is the third novel in a series of murder mystery novels by Lilian Jackson Braun.- Plot introduction :Qwill and his two lovable Siamese, Koko and Yum Yum find themselves in a rundown section of the city known as Junktown...
, 1968 (ISBN 0-515-08794-7): Qwill goes to Junktown to write a Christmas feature series. - The Cat Who Saw RedThe Cat Who Saw RedThe Cat Who Saw Red is the fourth book in the Cat Who series of mystery novels by Lilian Jackson Braun, published in 1986.- Plot summary :...
, 1986 (ISBN 0-515-09016-6): Qwill gets assigned to the culinary beat and reunites with an old flame. - The Cat Who Played BrahmsThe Cat Who Played BrahmsThe Cat Who Played Brahms is the fifth book in The Cat Who Series, published in 1987. In this book, Jim Qwilleran decides to get out of the city for a while and go on vacation to Moose County, Pickax, in the countryside. He stays at a lakeside cabin, owned by his old friend, Aunt Fanny...
, 1987 (ISBN 0-515-09050-6): A contemplative Qwill withdraws from the big city to visit his Aunt Fanny in Moose County. - The Cat Who Played Post OfficeThe Cat Who Played Post OfficeThe Cat Who Played Post Office is the sixth book in The Cat Who Series, published in 1987. Jim Qwilleran has acquired a large mansion, from Aunt Fanny, and of course a mystery. Iris Cobb joins him in Pickax as the mansion's caretaker, along with Koko and Yum-Yum. Koko keeps trying to tell Qwill...
, 1988 (ISBN 0-515-09320-3): A bicycling mishap and a brightly painted room have Qwill's mustache twitching. - The Cat Who Knew ShakespeareThe Cat Who Knew ShakespeareThe Cat Who Knew Shakespeare is the seventh book in The Cat Who Series by Lilian Jackson Braun, published in 1988....
, 1988 (ISBN 0-515-09582-6): Fire and death at the newspaper offices. - The Cat Who Sniffed GlueThe Cat Who Sniffed GlueThe Cat Who Sniffed Glue is the eighth book in The Cat Who Series by Lilian Jackson Braun, published in 1988.Pickax City is first disrupted by vandalism, then by murder. Harley Fitch, vice-president of the Pickax Bank, and his wife, Belle, are found shot to death, and vandals from neighboring...
, 1988 (ISBN 0-515-09954-6): Vandalism appears in Pickax and a couple is murdered. - The Cat Who Went UndergroundThe Cat Who Went UndergroundThe Cat Who Went Underground is the ninth novel in the Cat Who series of murder mystery novels by Lilian Jackson Braun.-Plot introduction:This summary is taken from the back cover of the Recorded Books version of the book:...
, 1989 (ISBN 0-515-10123-0): Qwill goes on vacation and carpenters in the area start dying. - The Cat Who Talked to GhostsThe Cat Who Talked to GhostsThe Cat Who Talked to Ghosts is the tenth novel in the Cat Who series of murder mystery novels by Lilian Jackson Braun.Late Sunday night, Jim Qwilleran is interrupted while listening to Otello by a phone call from an Iris Cobb, his former landlady, and now manager of the Goodwinter Farm Museum. ...
, 1990 (ISBN 0-515-10265-2): One of Qwill's friends is found scared to death in her own home. - The Cat Who Lived HighThe Cat Who Lived HighThe Cat Who Lived High is the 11th novel in the Cat Who series of murder mystery novels by Lilian Jackson Braun.Jim Qwilleran receives a request for help from Amberina, one of the three weird sisters in Junktown, to come back and help save the historic Art Deco Casablanca apartment building from...
, 1990 (ISBN 0-515-10566-X): Qwill returns to Junktown to try to restore an old apartment building. - The Cat Who Knew a CardinalThe Cat Who Knew a CardinalThe Cat Who Knew a Cardinal is the twelfth book in the Cat Who series of mystery novels by Lilian Jackson Braun, published in 1991.-Plot summary:...
, 1991 (ISBN 0-515-10786-7): Pickax's principal is found fatally shot after a party at Qwill's barn. - The Cat Who Moved a Mountain, 1991 (ISBN 0-515-10950-9): Qwill and the cats go on retreat in the Potatoes.
- The Cat Who Wasn't There, 1992 (ISBN 0-515-11127-9): Sixteen Moose County residents go on group tour to Scotland.
- The Cat Who Went Into the Closet, 1993 (ISBN 0-515-11332-8): Qwill attempts to solve a murder mystery long distance.
- The Cat Who Came to BreakfastThe Cat Who Came to BreakfastThe Cat Who Came to Breakfast is the sixteenth mystery novel by Lilian Jackson Braun, one of the Cat Who series.Qwilleran and his cats solve another mystery, this time at the newly sprouted Breakfast Island, a resort hot spot with an attractive history...
, 1994 (ISBN 0-515-11564-9): Qwill and his felines take a trip to Breakfast Island resort. - The Cat Who Blew the Whistle, 1995 (ISBN 0-515-11824-9): A railroad buff and president of a local bank disappears.
- The Cat Who Said Cheese, 1996 (ISBN 0-515-12027-8): A stranger checks into the New Pickax Hotel. Not too long after, the hotel is bombed.
- The Cat Who Tailed a ThiefThe Cat Who Tailed a ThiefThe Cat Who Tailed a Thief is the nineteenth book in the Cat Who series of mystery novels by Lilian Jackson Braun, published in 1997.-Plot summary:...
, 1997 (ISBN 0-515-12240-8): Small actions of theft are occurring in Pickax and a few people are found dead. - The Cat Who Sang for the Birds, 1998 (ISBN 0-515-12463-X): An old barn across from the new art center burns down.
- The Cat Who Saw Stars, 1999 (ISBN 0-515-12739-6): Qwill takes a vacation in Mooseville.
- The Cat Who Robbed a Bank, 2000 (ISBN 0-515-12994-1): A jewelry dealer from Chicago comes to visit and is murdered.
- The Cat Who Smelled a Rat, 2001 (ISBN 0-399-14665-2): A very dry year and concerns about wildfires have everyone praying for snow.
- The Cat Who Went Up the Creek, 2002 (ISBN 0-515-13438-4): Qwill and the cats stay at a riverside inn in Black Creek.
- The Cat Who Brought Down the HouseThe Cat Who Brought Down the HouseThe Cat Who Brought Down the House is the 25th novel in the Cat Who series and is written by Lillian Jackson Braun.-Plot introduction:...
, 2003 (ISBN 0-515-13655-7): An aging film star retires to Pickax. - The Cat Who Talked TurkeyThe Cat Who Talked TurkeyThe Cat Who Talked Turkey is the 26th novel in the Cat Who series and is written by Lilian Jackson Braun.-Plot introduction:A gentleman gets shot and dies in the woods on Qwill's property, Koko howls his "death howl" at the exact time of the murder. The death is almost neglected because of the...
, 2004 (ISBN 0-399-15107-9): The long-absent turkey population begins to return to Pickax. - The Cat Who Went BananasThe Cat Who Went BananasThe Cat Who Went Bananas is the 2005 novel in the Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun.- Plot introduction:Jim Qwilleran reviews the local play for the Moose County Something. Polly is busy with the grand opening of The Pirates Chest, a local bookstore funded by the K Fund...
, 2005 (ISBN 0-399-15224-5): A new bookstore opens. - The Cat Who Dropped a BombshellThe Cat Who Dropped a BombshellThe Cat Who Dropped A Bombshell is the twenty-eighth book in the Cat Who series by Lilian Jackson Braun. This book contains a fictional interview between Ms...
, 2006 (ISBN 0-399-15307-1): Moose County prepares for its 150th anniversary. - The Cat Who Had 60 WhiskersThe Cat Who Had 60 WhiskersThe Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers is the 29th book in the Cat Who series. It was released in 2007 and is written by Lilian Jackson Braun.-Plot introduction:The Old Hulk, being developed for a senior center, mysteriously burns to the ground...
, 2007 (ISBN 978-0399153907): Polly unexpectedly takes a library job in Paris, leaving without even saying goodbye to Qwill, and a gardener's so-called accidental death does not seem so accidental. - The Cat Who Smelled Smoke (ISBN 978-0399154744): The book was supposed to be released in 2008 but was first postponed until 2009 and later canceled by publisher Putnam Books.
Other books in collection
- The Cat Who Had 14 Tales, 1988 (ISBN 0-515-09497-8): an anthology of unrelated short stories involving various cats. Note that Qwilleran, Koko and Yum Yum DO NOT appear in these tales.
- Short and Tall Tales: Moose County Legends Collected by James Mackintosh Qwilleran, 2002 (ISBN 0-515-13635-2): collected anecdotes and regional folklore from residents of Pickax & environs
- The Private Life of the Cat Who ...: Tales of Koko and Yum Yum (from the Journals of James Mackintosh Qwilleran), 2004 (ISBN 0-515-13832-0): collection of extracts from several previous works with limited new material
In addition, the novels above are sometimes published as 3-in-1 volumes or omnibus box sets under various names playing on the general title themes (such as Two Cats, Three Tales or The Cat Who Put Four in a Box).
Related books by other authors
- The Cat Who...Companion, 1998 (ISBN 0-425-18642-3) by Sharon A. Feaster, including Braun interview
- The Cat Who... Quiz Book, 2003 (ISBN 0-425-19187-7) by Robert J. Headrick, Jr., with introduction by Braun
- The Cat Who... Cookbook, 2000 (ISBN 0-425-17674-6) by Julie Murphy and Sally Abney Stempinski, with foreword by Braun
- The Cat Who... Reunion Cookbook, 2006 (ISBN 0-425-21188-6) by Julie Murphy and Sally Abney Stempinski, with foreword by Braun
- The Cat Who Killed Lilian Jackson Braun, 2003 (ISBN 1-893-22484-8), a parody novel by Robert Kaplow
See also
- List of fictional cats in literature
- The Cat Who Came for ChristmasThe Cat Who Came for ChristmasThe Cat Who Came for Christmas is the first book written by Cleveland Amory, an American author who wrote extensively about animal rights. In this book Amory recounts his rescue and adoption of Polar Bear, a cat he featured in several more books....
, a 1987 novel by Cleveland AmoryCleveland AmoryCleveland Amory was an American author who devoted his life to promoting animal rights. He was perhaps best known for his books about his cat, named Polar Bear, whom he saved from the Manhattan streets on Christmas Eve 1977...
which bears no relation to the Cat Who ... series, despite the similarity in the title. - The Cat Who Walks Through WallsThe Cat Who Walks Through WallsThe Cat Who Walks Through Walls: A Comedy of Manners is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1985. Like many of his later novels, it features Lazarus Long and Jubal Harshaw as supporting characters.-Plot summary:...
, a 1985 novel by Robert A. HeinleinRobert A. HeinleinRobert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
should also not be confused with the Cat Who... series.