The Cat Who Blew the Whistle

In the 17th book in the Cat Who Mystery series, James Qwilleran aka "Qwill", is thrilled to be able to enjoy the latest economic development to hit Moose County (400 miles north of everywhere). It seems that a prominent local businessman, Floyd Trevelyan, has purchased and restored an old steam locomotive, and has plans to use it as a new attraction in town. Floyd has made money in both the building and banking industries, and when Floyd goes missing with the bank's funds right before a large audit, everyone assumes he has fled to avoid prosecution for fraud. Floyd has been seen around town with his beautiful secretary, leaving his ailing wife at home alone, and absconding with the money could give him a way to start a new life. But Qwill's suspicious mind does not immediately believe that this case is as simple as it sounds, and he is determined to poke around in the lives of the Trevelyan family. Hiring a friend from Down Below, Celia Robinson, to work with the sickly Mrs. Trevelyan, Qwill and his feisty felines put the pieces of this family puzzle back into place and solves yet another mystery in Moose County. This is my favorite cozy mystery series! I had read all of the books in the past, and wanted to read them again for a second time. This time around, I have chosen to listen to them on CD, as I love the voice of George Guidall. Many fans enjoy the homey, familiar feel of the town and the characters themselves. I just love the character of Celia, and was glad to see a kindly elderly "replacement" for the dear Mrs. Cobb. I was shocked with the health issues of Qwill's love-interest, Polly Duncan, and touched to see his reactions to her health scare. If you are looking for a hardcore thriller, this would not be the series for you. However, if you are a fan of small town cozies, give this series a try. You might just find that you have become an avid "Cat Who" fan before the book is even finished. This is a great series by my favorite author! The first book in the series is called "The Cat who Could Read Backwards". Enjoy!

This is the best "Cat Who" book I have read, and I've read them all! It was written during the golden years of "The Cat Who" series. It takes quite a skilled writer to kill off a beloved character while still keeping up the momentum of the story. I thought the mystery was well-developed, and the fun and quirky characters definitely come alive in this particular story. The switch from Down Below to Moose County feels justified after reading this book.

I am an avid reader of the mystery genre. Lilian Jackson Braun has a way of turning the mystery in her book into a fun, exciting sideline. As a cat lover, I instantly adored her style of putting the two Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum, into the spotlight. Qwilleran, one of the main characters, is a wonderful guy (and owner of Koko and Yum Yum) with a great sense of humor. The hubbub in The Cat Who Blew the Whistle is hilarious, yet the mystery is a deadly revolving point. It keeps you on your toes as you find everything ties into each other. I relate well with Qwilleran- my cat is also intelligent, but it has an insatiable urge to chew on everything and anything in sight. The dialogue in this book is interesting-it is "train lingo." This is a complex mystery comedy that I suggest to cat-lovers, train-lovers, mystery-lovers, and comedy-lovers everywhere.

There's a new attraction in Moose County, 400 miles north of everywhere: a luxury train, pulled by a beautifully restored steam locomotive. But it only gets to make one run before the Lumbertown Credit Union is locked up by state investigators, and the bank's owner, who also owns the train, disappears. Then there's a dog shot, and a murder at a tavern frequented by railroad people. Can Kao K'o Kung somehow communicate what he knows to his human, Qwill, with just a well-placed "YOW!"?

Being a cat lover and knowing how felines can be, I decided to read Ms. Brauns books. When I started they became clear that not only does Mr Q have a great pair of cats but he loves them very much. In all of the books I have read of this series so far, Ms. Braun hints at who the "bad guy" might be then she has Koko and Mr. Q work together to solve the mystery. It is fun, reading what Koko and Yum Yum are doing then seeing my own cats "talk" as they do in the books. Mr. Q, with all his billions, works for a living, cares for his friends and loves his cats. I have yet to see where he uses his money to look "better" than any other person in the book. Reading this and others of this series puts beautiful pictures in your mind of what Moose County may look like and how it would be to ive "400 miles north of everywhere".