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book_concierge's review
3.0
Book on CD read by George Guidall
This is book four in a delightful cozy mystery series starring newspaper reporter Jim Qwilleran and his two Siamese - Koko and Yum Yum. As the novel opens, Qwill has started a new diet, which is complicated when he’s assigned to write a new gourmet column for the paper. He starts by attending a gourmet club meeting at Maus Haus, the home of an attorney, where he meets an old flame.
This is an entertaining series with a very likeable main character who is appropriately nosy, given his journalism background. His relationship with his cats is nicely portrayed without being overly saccharine. Of course, Koko, in particular, does seem to have a knack for helping Quill solve the cases – he can even type!
Braun includes a large cast of suspects, acquaintances, and passers by. Maus Haus is a sort of boarding house catering to the arts community, and it seems that everyone is in everyone else’s business. That certainly complicates Qwill’s efforts at finding the truth. Still, for all that, the action is somewhat slow. People go missing, and odd things happen, but no one is concerned but Qwill and the police are never involved.
George Guidall does a satisfactory job of reading the audiobook. I was not a big fan of the quality of his voice, however. I read about a third of it in text as that was faster.
This is book four in a delightful cozy mystery series starring newspaper reporter Jim Qwilleran and his two Siamese - Koko and Yum Yum. As the novel opens, Qwill has started a new diet, which is complicated when he’s assigned to write a new gourmet column for the paper. He starts by attending a gourmet club meeting at Maus Haus, the home of an attorney, where he meets an old flame.
This is an entertaining series with a very likeable main character who is appropriately nosy, given his journalism background. His relationship with his cats is nicely portrayed without being overly saccharine. Of course, Koko, in particular, does seem to have a knack for helping Quill solve the cases – he can even type!
Braun includes a large cast of suspects, acquaintances, and passers by. Maus Haus is a sort of boarding house catering to the arts community, and it seems that everyone is in everyone else’s business. That certainly complicates Qwill’s efforts at finding the truth. Still, for all that, the action is somewhat slow. People go missing, and odd things happen, but no one is concerned but Qwill and the police are never involved.
George Guidall does a satisfactory job of reading the audiobook. I was not a big fan of the quality of his voice, however. I read about a third of it in text as that was faster.
alidottie's review
3.0
3 and 1/2 stars
I was really curious to read this "The Cat Who . . ." book because after Braun wrote the first 3 in the '60's, she picked up the series and continued it in '80's--twenty years later!
I was so surprised that this story picked right up where the last on had left off! I couldn't tell for sure since now the '80's are thirty years ago themselves, but I think it was still set in a '60's world. I do enjoy the appropriate lack of technology and forensics that we use so heavily in today's solutions to crimes. It is fun that the cat's and Qwilleran's intuition (or might I say Qwill's mustache's intuition!!)is many times the key to moving things along.
Light and fun and a trip back in time to boot!
I was really curious to read this "The Cat Who . . ." book because after Braun wrote the first 3 in the '60's, she picked up the series and continued it in '80's--twenty years later!
I was so surprised that this story picked right up where the last on had left off! I couldn't tell for sure since now the '80's are thirty years ago themselves, but I think it was still set in a '60's world. I do enjoy the appropriate lack of technology and forensics that we use so heavily in today's solutions to crimes. It is fun that the cat's and Qwilleran's intuition (or might I say Qwill's mustache's intuition!!)is many times the key to moving things along.
Light and fun and a trip back in time to boot!
moshalala's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
jackie_marion's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
misspiggyx's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
cstaude's review
4.0
This was a good one! I suspected the right killer this time. The real fun of this one was the cast of quirky gourmet types Braun added to the mix. A nice cozy mystery for fall. These cat novels are a tad addictive- be warned!
showell's review
3.0
This series continues to be fun, and every time I start reading one I am rewarded by the arrival of a plump orange tabby into my lap. Koko is apparently my cat’s hero.
That said, I find I enjoy the books more when I listen to them on audio. (I read this one in print, and there were fewer smiles at kokos antics.)
That said, I find I enjoy the books more when I listen to them on audio. (I read this one in print, and there were fewer smiles at kokos antics.)