The Cat Who Sang for the Birds

I love all Lilian Jackson Braun's books. When I am stressed to the max I pick one up and read for a bit. Then, all stress is gone!

This was such a good book! The funeral scene brought tears to my eyes. Qwill spends a lot of time at the new art center. He befriends a young artist who paint butterflies. She is in a state of flux and wants to move in with her boyfriend. The lady who lives across the road from the art center is Maude Coggin. She is an interesting lady who is ninety three. Qwill interviews her and discovers that she takes in stray dogs. Koko wakes Qwill up one night to find that Mrs. Coggin's house is on fire. More mysteries abound and Koko knows what is going on and tries to communicate with Qwill. This was a great book and I enjoyed it very much.

Spring has sprung in Moose County, and that means that the beauty of nature is quickly unfolding. From butterflies emerging from their cocoons, to baby birds hatching and chirping left and right; even romance blooming in the sunny days. But not everything is peaceful and quiet within Moose County. Underneath the beautiful façade are secrets, local vandalism, cruelty, and many other strange events. Strange events that Qwill just can't stop himself from poking his nose into. Even though he came from Down Under, Jim Qwilleran has found that residing in Moose County - 400 miles from everywhere - couldn't be more pleasant. He has good friends, keeps good company with his prized felines Koko and Yum Yum, enjoys the perks of being a reporter for the Moose County Something, and spends his days sniffing out stories. When some unexpected, and out-of-the-ordinary acts of vandalism occur within little Moose County, the residents are sent into a tizzy, trying to figure out who would commit such a disgraceful crime. Qwill, however, is one of the only people interested enough to do a little investigating to finger the criminal. But as he continues digging, he begins to uncover some very unexpected things, such as strange events involving some of the local political candidates. To Qwill, vandalism is one thing, but when a murder takes place, he knows that he'll have to enlist the help of both Koko and Yum Yum to assist him in catching the culprit. Qwill would prefer simply spending time with a remarkable local artist known as Butterfly Girl, and savoring the opening of the new Art Center. But he'll have to solve the crime before his mind can finally rest, and he can enjoy the new beauty springing up all over Moose County. The beauty of Lillian Jackson Braun's work does not necessarily lie in the mystery contained within the pages of her books, but, rather, the character development she weaves in her tales. That character development is quite prevalent within THE CAT WHO SANG FOR THE BIRDS. The descriptions of Butterfly Girl, and the nosiness of the people of Moose County does overshadow the mystery that Qwill, along with Koko and Yum Yum are investigating; but for those looking for a quaint read, it is not perturbing in the least, and actually makes for a refreshing trip through a cute community, where we have the opportunity to catch up with new and old friends. Mystery light, but still a delight! Erika Sorocco Freelance Reviewer

Lilian Jackson Braun amazes me at her quaint, but fun style. I enjoy all her books, and especially this one which I just heard on tape. It is refreshing to get to know her characters as they grow in their relationships. She doesn't use foul language or sex or violent descriptions to make a mystery story very intriguing.Thank you, Ms. Braun.

Although a lot of diehard fans argue that this is the first "The Cat Who" book that may provide evidence that Lillian Jackson Braun is no longer writing the series, I honestly think that "The Cat Who Sang for the Birds" is a wonderful book. It is a great addition to any "Cat Who" collection. The characters in this book are given much care and thought, and it is a definite page turner. It was this book that made me wish for a real Pickax, so that I could go live among these wonderful people. Qwilleran becomes more compassionate in these pages, Polly loses her constant doubting attitude, and the rest of the residents of Pickax become more than just "characters" in Qwill's life. If Lilian Jackson Braun did indeed pass on her pen, then the author of this book would be an excellent successor. Long live the Siamese!

I just purchased 2 of Braun's books, this one and "The Cat Who Saw Stars." I inadvertently read them out of order. This book, the predecesor to Stars, was by far the best work that Braun has released in recent years. Second only to Backwards (for the older books ) and Cheese (for the newer ones). Her work is always superlative and Qwill and their Royal Catlinesses are wonderful. If you like the "Cat Who" series, buy this one. I'll even recommend the Stars, simply because Braun wrote it.