Lilian Jackson Braun
The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell (2006)
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
Genre: Mystery
Plot Summary:
Columnist James Qwilleran’s Siamese cat Koko has taken up a new hobby: dropping from their house’s balcony. When young Harvey Ledfield and his journalist fiancee, Clarissa Moore, visit Qwill's home for Harvey to make some sketches, Koko drops right onto Harvey's head. Shortly thereafter there is an accident at a family reunion and Harvey's relatives fall gravely and mysteriously ill. Meanwhile Qwill helps the town's inhabitants pull off its year-long sesquicentennial celebration.
Geographical Setting: Pickax (fictional setting)
Time Period: Present day (2006)
Series: The Cat Who... series, Book #28
Appeal Characteristics:
This book has lots of offbeat, small-town characters with great names, and nearly all of them are cat lovers. People who live in a small town will no doubt identify with the Pickax personalities. It is a light, fast read, perfect for a cozy evening at home.
Read-alikes:
Try The Cat Who Saw Red by Lilian Jackson Braun, Whisker of Evil by Rita Mae Brown, Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor, Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke, and Licence to Koi by Carole Nelson Douglas
Red Flags: None
The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers (2007)
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
Genre: Mystery (Amateur Detective/Cozy)
Plot Summary:
James (Quill) Quilleran, a journalist for the Moose County Something, is always looking for a story to feature in his weekly newspaper column; and lately, there have been plenty of events going on in town, including the opening of a new senior center, a mansion-recently-turned-museum opening, a display of art hats and even a production of the musical, CATS. However, the real news in town is the death of Libby Simms, office manager at the new museum, from a bee sting. Although most assume Libby simply forgot to take her bee sting kit with her when she went into the garden, Quill is sure that Libby died under suspicious circumstances. Koko, one of Quill's two Siamese cats, is psychic, and when Libby died, Koko used his death howl to let Quill know someone had been murdered. The problem is, even though Quill believes Koko is right, how could he convince anyone else of that fact? SPOILER: Quill suspects that Alma James, curator of antiques at the museum, has been up to something illegal and murdered Libby to cover up her crimes, but the only evidence he has is Koko's recent behavior. Koko has shown unusual interest in a cardboard box from the museum (later known to have recently held an illegally-sold antique from the museum), he tried to scare Alma when she came to visit, then later shredded a catalog given to Quill by the curator. Fortunately, one of the museum's other employees finds Libby's bee sting kit, hidden in a box in one of the museum's rooms, and Alma is later seen leaving the museum in the company of thieves. Quill hopes that will be enough evidence for the police, since not many people would believe in a psychic cat!
Geographical Setting: Pickax (fictional midwest small city)
Time Period: Present Day (2007)
Series: 29th book in The Cat Who... series
Appeal Characteristics:
The book has a story that unfolds at a leisurely, relaxed pace, but at the same time, the book moves quickly because the plot is fairly straight line, and the story has a lot of dialog. Quill's character is established through his interactions with the secondary characters and both main and secondary characters are well developed and interesting. Many readers will identify with Quill's laid-back character, and because it is part of a series, most will already be "old friends" with most of the characters in the book. Braun includes little snippets of personality and quirkyness that allow readers to see each character as an individual. The storyline is light and the atmosphere comfortable and homey, with some wry humor thrown in for good measure. The crimes and problems in the storyline are given a lighter touch by the focus on the events rather than characters' inner thoughts. The frame of the book makes the reader think of small towns where everyone knows everyone else, even though certain details indicate this story must take place in a medium sized city. The tone is light and comic and this is reinforced by little details about events, the town and the inhabitants themselves, making the reader feel that they're in "Anywhere, U.S.A." The style of writing is natural and unpretentious.
Read-alikes: Readers who liked this book should also check out Lillian Jackson Braun's other The Cat Who... books. For a book with a similar pace, and a main character as frank, kind and up-front as Quill, readers could try Bill Crider's Murder Among the Owls. The secondary characters in the book are very well developed and the entire story has a humorous outlook reminiscent of the town of Mayberry. This particular book also would appeal to cat lovers, as the main character, Sheriff Dan Rhodes, somewhat grudgingly takes in a cat that is part of his murder investigation. Although it looks like Helen Harris's death is accidental, Sherriff Rhodes can't help but suspect that she has actually been murdered, since Helen never allowed the cat to go outdoors, indicating that someone else must have let the cat out of Helen's house. Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity series, the first of which is titled Aunt Dimity's Death, will appeal to readers who enjoyed Braun's humor and quirky characters. Main character Lori Shepherd comes face to face with the ghost of her aunt (and the mystery of Aunt Dimity's WWII romance) when she travels to England on estate business. Shirley Damsgaard has written a series of books about a psychic librarian named Ophelia Jenson (who unwillingly becomes an amateur detective) and her witch grandmother. The first, Witch Way to Murder, relates how Ophelia, who just wants to live a normal life, sans magic, finds herself drawn into the investigation of a murder when a dead body appears in her backyard. It was nominated for an Agatha Award, and is a humorous mystery cozy. The main character has an intelligent, humorous outlook that feels similar to Quill, though more sarcastic. Rita Mae Brown's Mrs. Murphy series would be good for readers who enjoyed cats as protagonists. In the first book of the series, Wish You Were Here, the reader is introduced to Mary (Harry) Harristeen and her dog (Tucker) and cat (Mrs. Murphy). She begins to investigate when she notices that all the recent murder victims received mysterious postcards shortly before their deaths. The series has clever dialog and well developed characters (including those with four feet, who contribute some humorous dialog to the story). Carole Nelson Douglas's books are also appealing to readers who liked cats as protagonists. Her Midnight Louie series features amateur detective and public relations liason Temple Barr and her cat, Midnight Louie. Temple has an upbeat feel to her character that is similar to Quill. In Catnap, the first of the series, the two solve the mystery of a death at an American Bookseller's Association Convention in Las Vegas.
Red Flags: none
The Cat Who Saw Red (1986)
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
Genre: Mystery (Amateur Detective/Cozy)
Plot Summary:
Jim "Qwill" Qwilleran, a newspaper reporter, and his two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum have just moved into a new apartment in the mysterious Maus House. Soon after moving in they are awakened by a scream in the night. Qwill awakes the next morning to find his old girlfriend, and new neighboring tenant, has disappeared with the sizable check he had recently lent her. Soon another tenant, a young houseboy, also goes missing and Qwill begins to uncover information about a questionable "suicide" in Maus House's past. With help from Koko, Quill sets out to solve the mystery of the recent disappearances. In the meantime, Qwill is determined to stick to a diet while working on his new assignment to the "gourmet beat."
Geographical Setting: A large town in the Midwest
Time Period: mid 1980's
Series: Book 4 in The Cat Who... series
Appeal Characteristics:
This story unfolds at a leisurely pace, allowing the reader to get to know the characters and the setting. The main series characters, Qwill, Koko, and Yum Yum, who are likable and quirky, dominate the story. It contains several descriptions of cat mischief that would appeal to cat lovers. There are also many intriguing secondary characters, including a few series characters. The tone is light and sometimes humorous. It has a relatively straight-line plot and is written in a conversational style. The book also contains some background detail on cooking and gastronomy.
Read-alikes: Readers might want to try the other books by Lilian Jackson Braun in The Cat Who series. Those who enjoyed the central role of the cats or the lighthearted feel of this mystery might also enjoy books by Rita Mae Brown in the Mrs. Murphy series that include a cat and a cast of animals who help to solve mysteries. Books by Marian Babson, like Canapes for the Kitties or those by Garrison Allen, like Baseball Cat, would also appeal to readers that enjoy cats who help to solve mysteries and also to those who like a greater emphasis on a cast of eccentric characters. Books in Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity series would also be a good bet for readers who like quirky characters or even a little humor and a light, cozy mystery. Readers who liked the details about gastronomy or cooking might try the Monsieur Pamplemousse mysteries by Michael Bond that center around a food critic and amateur sleuth who also happens to have a dog sidekick.
Red Flags: none
The Cat Who Talked Turkey (2004)
Author: Lilian Jackson Braun
Genre (and subgenre): Mystery (amateur detective, cozy)
Plot Summary:
Journalist Jim Qwilleran (Qwill) and his girlfriend Polly Duncan are opening a bookstore in Pickax. During the groundbreaking ceremonies, the body of a well-dressed man is found on Qwill’s beachfront property. Police Chief Andy Brodie, who has seen the unusual talents of Qwill’s cats (KoKo and Yum Yum) in action before, asks for any help the three can give in the investigation. Meanwhile, Qwill writes a program to perform for the bicentennial preparations of Brrr, a neighboring town. Seeking an assistant for the program, he meets Alicia (Lish) Carroll, the granddaughter of Mrs. Carroll, a prominent woman in Pickax. Lish and her chauffer, being outsiders, are a source for town gossip. SPOILER: A second body, in a similar setting, is found. Suspicion grows that Lish may have been involved in the murders. Qwill meets with Mrs. Carroll and persuades her to disinherit Lish. Enraged at this turn of events, Lish robs her grandmother, but she is killed in a car crash while escaping. Her chauffer, who assisted in the murders, confesses to Qwill before shooting himself.
Geographical Setting: Pickax and Brrr, Moose County (fictional)
Time Period: Present day
Series: The Cat Who Series (#26)
Appeal Characteristics:
The book has a humorous tone and a cast of quirky characters. It is a light, enjoyable read in the cozy category. The subplot involves the return of wild turkeys to Moose County. Like the other books in the series, it gives interesting information on a particular topic—in this case, wild turkeys.
Similar Authors: Rita Mae Brown
Red Flags: None
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