The Cat Who... Companion

Our bathroom has a bookrack, and this book is my everyday helper when I get stumped with a place or person, I can find it there. Sometime when reading a "Cat Who..." mystery, I quickly turn to the front of the book, for the map, but have to remember it is in The Companion BOOK. I can't fault this book in any way. I always am on the lookout for any new books, about or by Lilian Jackson Braun, this one is a treasure, NOW to get the earlier edition!!

I bought this as a gift for my wife, who is a big fan of the "Cat Who" books. (I like them too, so she lets me borrow her book now and then). Like all such reference books, the purpose of this one is to help you keep track of all the various characters and places from previous stories that might be mentioned in passing during sequels, etc. It doesn't give you a whole lot of new info, but it does help organize what you already know about the world of Qwilleran and his two amazing Siamese. Of course, if you haven't read all the episodes yet, then the synopses could be real spoilers for these whodunits. In that case, the solution is very simple: refrain from reading the summaries until you've read the original book(s) first! (Duh. I can't believe some reviewers actually complained about this feature. What use would such a reference work be if it didn't explain the plots?) The one complaint I have is that the map of Moose County is a bit primitive and not drawn to scale. Maybe there will be an upgrade in the next edition???

Like the author, I discovered The Cat Who series in the early 1990's and my family has read all her cat books. There hasn't been much written about Braun's personal background until this book which reveals much in common with Qwill and other characters, as well as her history of "being owned by cats". The Cat Who Companion refreshes your memory in that year-long stretch between new titles. Maps in front help you visualize the fictional landscape and town layouts. An adequate amount of information (without ruining the plots for newcomers) jogs your memory of favorite plots, characters, buildings, and interior decoration, and especially those memorable scrumptious dishes! I have re-read some of the books 3 times. However, the Cat Who Quiz in the back stumped us on many of the questions!I was disappointed with one thing in the 1998 edition: there is no current photo of Braun, her cats, her deceased husband, or her second husband. I would have liked to have seen a photo section.Several books ago, on one or two titles only, I detected a change in style and wondered if she was preparing a ghost-writer to carry on the series into the future. Wouldn't you like to know how far in the future we can hope to be entertained by KoKo and YumYum's antics?

A boon for any "CAT WHO" fan. If you like the Cat Who books and have faithfully collected and read each one, you know that keeping characters, locations and incidents in mind, especially when books come out only one time a year, is tough. This book helps. Love the map of the county!

Anyone who has read Lillian Jackson Braun's feline mysteries "The Cat Who ..."have probably read the entire series. The two Siamese detectives (Koko and Yum Yum) and their human bachelor (reporter James Mackintos Quilliman) have become cult favorites. Sharon A. Feaster, a fan of the series, has compiled a compendium of information, about her favorite detectives. There is a wealth of information contained in this trade paperback. This includes an alphabetical listing of all the characters (people and animals) who have appeared in the novels. There is also a summary of each book, which bring back fond memories of books read several years ago. There is also an in-depth interview with Ms. Braun. Anyone who is not already a fan will be converted after reading THE CAT WHO...COMPANION.Harriet Klausner