Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable, but certainly not the best in the series
Review: As a hooked fan of the series, I have read every one of the Cat Who books. Like most serial novels, there is a comfortable sameness to every edition that I find charming. Alas, this one was below par but I enjoyed it nonetheless. As has been mentioned before, this would not be a good starting place to get acquainted with Mr. Q and the cats. Too much prior knowledge is assumed of the reader. As for my criticism of this book, it seemed to have been written to length rather than written to a logical or dramatic conclusion. At the last page I was left thinking, "Is that all there is?" It almost seemed like it was an abridged version (but it wasn't). I don't want to be too critical of this book and scare off future readers because there are some real gems in the series. (The Cat Who Read Shakespeare hooked me first.) Any fan of light mystery will find hours of pleasure working his or her way through them all. I suggest with this or any other series to start at the first book and move forward through them.
Rating: 
Summary: This was a fun read
Review: When I read all the poor ratings I wondered if I should even bother reading the book. I'm glad I did. It was a fun read and I wish it had been longer. There were a few things I thought the writer could have pursued, like what was in the drawers and what really happened to Elsa, instead of the Short & Tall Tale of the Rubbish Heap that assumed what happened to her. Mildred could have been right. Also was the wildlife photographer after his wife's money? In spite of the things that could have been followed up that would have made it even more enticing I enjoyed the book.
Worth the time.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Read This Book First!
Review: This was the first "Cat Who" book I read and I, for the life of me, couldn't figure out why people enjoyed them so much! I gave them a second chance and have since read the entire series. I HIGHLY reccomend the other books - but this one leaves a lot to be desired.
Rating:
Summary: I'm still trying to figure out what the mystery was.
Review: As so many others, I too have read & reread all of The "Cat Who" books. They have always brought me such pleasure. They are easy to read, are never insulting to my senses and leave me in a pleasant frame of mind. Not this one! I felt as if I had been taken up the creek and left there without a plot. Just a lot of menu ideas for a dinner party. Could Lillian have been on a diet while she was writing this book?I can only hope that her next "Cat Who" puts us both back on solid ground.
Rating:
Summary: Another fan bids adieu to Moose County
Review: Plainly evident from this installment of the "Cat Who" series is that the author is dead--or has been kidnapped by aliens. Presumably, when a publisher decides to hire a ghost-writer, rather than retire an enormously popular series gracefully, said publisher should at least make an effort to engage the services of a writer who can produce a reasonable facsimile of the writing s/he is trying to ape. Not so, here, I'm afraid.
When has Andrew Brodie ever said "Yep" or "m'wife"? When does Qwill ever abbreviate someone's name (e.g., "Rog" for Roger)? And since when does Qwill, who has always prided himself on feeding clues to Brodie with as little reference to Koko as possible, walk around blabbing about "Koko knew this" and "Koko did that" and "Some cats are smarter than some people", etc.
And what is with those ellipses? And starting sentences with and...and linking clauses beginning with "and" through several lines of text and not using a comma or other grammatically acceptable separator and leaving the reader to wonder what the point of the sentence was to begin with....
Ms. Braun, who has always delighted readers with her keen attention to detail and her well-constructed and pleasant prose, did not write this book. Nor, I suspect, will she have a hand in any succeeding volumes purporting to be "Cat Who" installments. It's not a question of being spoiled by decades of good writing, only to be disappointed by a piece that doesn't meet previous standards. It's a question of recognizing a fake--smelling a rat, as it were--when you read one.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I am a fan of Braun, have all her books, reread them from time to time and have enjoyed them all -- except this one. I felt the characters -- even the returning ones -- were flat, "Quill" didn't exhibit his usual witty repartee and the book didn't flow with Braun's normal intelligence. Quill seemed more preoccupied with who he was taking to dinner and what he was eating than the actual mystery. While reading, I wondered if this, in fact, was a draft that was published for whatever reason. If this had been the first book of the series that I had read, I don't think I would have read any of the others.Keep in mind, though, that Braun has set some very high standards for her readers. I shouldn't expect her to hit the mark every time, and yet she has until this book. I admit, she's spoiled me. I'm looking forward to the next one with the hope that she will again be back on top.
Rating: 
Summary: I LOVE THIS BOOK!!
Review: I thought that this book was very enjoyable! I love all of Lilian Jackson Braun's books but I liked this one a little better than some of her others. I can't wait for her next book.
Rating:
Summary: What happened?
Review: I have read all the books in this series; they are my reading "comfort food" when I need something warm and cosy. The eccentric population of Moose County are, for the most part, the type of warm and kind people I would like to have in my own life. However, there is very little of that in this book. Most of the regulars are not heard from. The cats are too much like my own rather untalented critters (although I love them dearly, they can't find their dishes without my help, let alone solve mysteries!), and Qwill seems unfocused and not very interested in this mystery, either. It is the only one of these books I haven't re-read, and I can't bring myself to do so.
I see that there is to be a new book due out in January. Let's hope that this one will be " the cat who did something".
Rating:
Summary: I Haven't read an obituary....BUT
Review: I TOTALLY agree with "GhostWriter" and "Former Glory". These books are not being written by LJB any longer. The style is completely different and the stories are non existant. Read the first one, "The Cat Who Read Backwards", and then read this one and tell me it is written by the same person! Not to mention the fact LJB wrote the first book in 1966 and she was old THEN, she must be something like in her 90's. I am convinced if she is still alive, someone is writing the books in her name. Goodbye Lilian, rest in peace but this is the last Cat Who...for me.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Delightful!
Review: I'm afraid that I dont' agree with some of the previous reviewers. I was wondering when I read this 24th book in the series, how Ms. Braun manages to keep each book original and entertaining. It's an easy reading mystery like these books are, but it's purely delightful. In this book Qwilleran is taking a short vacation just a little ways away from his home. Of course his two cats go with him. Koko proceeds to find out everything that's wrong at this idyllic little vacation spot, and predicts murder and mayhem as usual. I was actually sorry to finish the book, because I have caught up in the series, and now must wait for Ms. Braun to write the next one. These books are pure enjoyment!
|
